Total Bridges
872
Public highway bridges in Delaware
State profile · Below median Poor share
Delaware bridge safety
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, condition ratings, load ratings, and Poor-condition shares for every public highway bridge in Delaware.
- 872
- Public bridges
- 40.5%
- Good condition
- 1.3%
- Poor condition
Delaware holds 872 public highway bridges (#50 of 52 by inventory) with a 1.26% Poor share (#49 of 52 by Poor share).
That is 1.3% of the state's inventory, against an average of 7.5% across the 54 states and territories with Poor-rated bridges on file, which places it 4 of 54 ordered from the lowest Poor share upward. A bridge is rated Poor when its weakest applicable component scores 4 or below on the inspecting agency's 0-9 scale, so the category is a maintenance and funding signal rather than a closure order or a live crossing-safety verdict.
Inventory: FHWA NBI 2024 · last ETL August 2026
Good Condition
40.5%
353 bridges rated 7-9
-9.5pp vs 50% benchmark
Poor Condition
1.3%
11 bridges whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4
-6.3pp vs national avg 7.5%
Delaware vs national bridge condition
Delaware - Good condition share 40.5%
National avg
Share of bridges rated 7-9 on the FHWA 0-9 scale (deck, superstructure, substructure all good).
Delaware - Poor-condition share 4.2%
National avg
Lower is better. Bar maxes at 30% (worst-state ceiling). National average sits at 7.5%.
Delaware in the national condition pattern
Each point is a state or territory in the FHWA NBI; the highlighted point is this profile.
Delaware vs all states by public bridge inventory
Where this state's FHWA NBI public-highway bridge count sits among every state and territory on PlainBridges
872 50th of 54 higher than 4 of 54 states
States and territories, banded by public bridge inventory size
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source FHWA National Bridge Inventory · 2024
Read the rank neighborhood for Delaware
The highlighted point is Delaware: 872 bridges and 1.26% in Poor condition, rank #4 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The five jurisdictions immediately above and below Delaware on that same Poor-share ordering:
- Arizona: 8,573 bridges · 1.15% Poor
- Texas: 56,729 bridges · 1.23% Poor
- Delaware: 872 bridges · 1.26% Poor
- Georgia: 15,069 bridges · 1.59% Poor
- District of Columbia: 257 bridges · 1.95% Poor
The full national sortable table lives on the rankings page.
Material families in Delaware
Exclusive FHWA material families across all 872 bridges in this state; continuous variants fold into the parent family. Orthogonal to the Poor-share scatter above.
Who maintains Delaware’s inventory
State agency holds 96.6% of the 872 public highway bridges filed under Delaware in the 2024 NBI, the agency-of-record split for this state, not a condition verdict.
When Delaware’s bridges were built
Pre-1950 construction accounts for 14.0% of the 872 bridges with a recorded original year in Delaware. Era bands are orthogonal to the Poor-share ranking above.
Condition Distribution
Counties (3)
Delaware vs nearby ranks
Adjacent states by Poor-condition share (lower share = better)
States are ranked by the share of bridges whose lowest applicable component rating is 4 or below. This describes recorded condition; it does not measure funding effectiveness or live crossing safety. States here sit immediately above and below Delaware on the same metric.
AZ
Arizona
1.15% top marginal rate
TX
Texas
1.23% top marginal rate
DE
Delaware
1.26% top marginal rate
GA
Georgia
1.59% top marginal rate
DC
District of Columbia
1.95% top marginal rate
Bridges Needing Most Attention in Delaware
Six lowest-condition bridges in Delaware, ranked by the portal's composite display score. Inspection intervals are risk-based under current NBIS rules.
CODS ROAD
PoorOver: SLAUGHTER CREEK
WEST OF FOWLER BEACH, Sussex, DE
Built 1931 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 77
US ROUTE 13
PoorOver: C & D CANAL
4.5 MI. W. OF REEDY PT., Kent, DE
Built 1941 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 10,208
LEBANON RD/SR10 WB
PoorOver: ST. JONES RIVER
SOUTH OF DOVER, Kent, DE
Built 1965 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 8,726
MAPLE AVE
PoorOver: MISPILLION RIVER
MILFORD, Kent, DE
Built 1977 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 99
CRAIGS MILL RD
PoorOver: CRAIGS POND SPILLWAY
WEST OF SEAFORD, Sussex, DE
Built 1973 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 200
PRIVATE/PARK ROAD
PoorOver: RED CLAY CREEK
YORKLYN AREA, New Castle, DE
Built 1915 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 99
All Bridges in Delaware
POPLAR ST
FairOver: BROAD CREEK
LAUREL, Sussex, DE
Built 1915 Load: 5.8 t ADT: 3,164
S.W. FRONT ST
FairOver: MISPILLION RIVER
MILFORD, Kent, DE
Built 1900 Load: 8.4 t ADT: 99
FRONT ST
FairOver: NANTICOKE RIVER
SEAFORD, Sussex, DE
Built 1926 Load: 12.6 t ADT: 8,634
FOURTH STREET
FairOver: CHRISTINA RIVER
WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1980 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 9,973
BRENFORD RD
FairOver: MASSEYS POND/LEIPSIC RIV
MASSEYS MILLPOND, Kent, DE
Built 1933 Load: 17.5 t ADT: 1,602
CAPITAL TRAIL/SR2
FairOver: MUDDY RUN
EAST OF NEWARK, New Castle, DE
Built 1948 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 24,998
S. WALNUT ST.
FairOver: CHRISTINA RIVER
WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1957 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 14,363
I 295 N & US 40 E
FairOver: DELAWARE RIVER
NEW CASTLE, New Castle, DE
Built 1951 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 48,349
RISING SUN LANE
FairOver: BRANDYWINE CREEK
N/W WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1928 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 2,265
SOUTH HEALD ST
FairOver: NORFOLK SOUTHERN
SOUTH WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1942 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 8,515
PAPER MILL RD
FairOver: WHITE CLAY CREEK
NORTH NEWARK, New Castle, DE
Built 1947 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 16,955
S. WALNUT ST/US13
FairOver: NORFOLK SOUTHERN
SOUTH OF WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1938 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 27,266
SR7 & SR4
FairOver: WHITE CLAY CREEK
STANTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1981 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 26,432
FOURTH ST
FairOver: CSX RAILROAD
WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1900 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 99
I 95 RD 59
FairOver: BRANDYWINE CK
WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1964 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 65,124
I 495
FairOver: CHRISTINA RIVER N/S RR
WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1974 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 92,029
KIRKWOOD HWY/SR2
FairOver: LITTLE MILL CREEK
ELSMERE, New Castle, DE
Built 1939 Load: 20.7 t ADT: 29,701
ROCKLAND RD
FairOver: BRANDYWINE CREEK
ROCKLAND, New Castle, DE
Built 1933 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 3,561
SR141/BARLEY MILL
FairOver: BRANDYWINE CREEK RD 260
N/W WILMINGTON-GREENVILLE, New Castle, DE
Built 1951 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 24,974
DEL 896 US71 301S
FairOver: C&D CANAL
9 MI W OF REEDY POINT, New Castle, DE
Built 1959 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 26,840
DELAWARE RT. 9
FairOver: C&D CANAL
1/2 MI S OF DEL. CITY, New Castle, DE
Built 1969 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 1,203
HIGHLAND AVE
FairOver: SR 141
NEWPORT, New Castle, DE
Built 1976 Load: 21.4 t ADT: 99
SALEM CHURCH RD
FairOver: BECKS POND/BELLTOWN RUN
S/E OF NEWARK, New Castle, DE
Built 1979 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 6,297
REHOBOTH BLVD.
FairOver: MISPILLION RIVER
MILFORD, Kent, DE
Built 1929 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 8,098
OLD BALTIMORE PIKE
FairOver: TRIB. TO CHRISTINA CREEK
S. OF NEWARK, New Castle, DE
Built 2000 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 13,109
I 95
FairOver: CITY STREETS & AMTRAK
SOUTH OF WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1964 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 63,420
AUGUSTINE CUTOFF
FairOver: BRANDYWINE CREEK
WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1900 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 9,627
I 295 S & US 40 W
FairOver: DELAWARE RIVER
NEW CASTLE, New Castle, DE
Built 1968 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 50,098
SR6/WOODLAND BEACH
FairOver: MILL CREEK
EAST OF SMYRNA, Kent, DE
Built 1996 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 1,560
OLD CAPITAL TRAIL
FairOver: RED CLAY CREEK
MARSHALLTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1931 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 10,072
LIBRARY AVE/SR 72
FairOver: AMTRAK
NEWARK, New Castle, DE
Built 1979 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 29,899
I 495 SB
FairOver: I 95 NB
CHRISTIANA INTERCHANGE, New Castle, DE
Built 1965 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 26,041
SMYRNA-LEIPSIC RD
FairOver: LEIPSIC RIVER
LEIPSIC, Kent, DE
Built 1952 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 2,255
BURNSIDE BLVD
FairOver: SR 141
NORTH OF NEWPORT, New Castle, DE
Built 1976 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 100
JFK MEM HGY/I95 SB
FairOver: TALLEY ROAD
N.E. OF WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1968 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 23,320
DUPONT HWY / US13N
FairOver: LITTLE DUCK CREEK
GARRISON LAKE, Kent, DE
Built 1934 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 14,174
BROADKILL RD/SR16
FairOver: BROADKILL SOUND
BROADKILL BEACH, Sussex, DE
Built 1977 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 2,331
CREEK RD/SR82
FairOver: RED CLAY CREEK
ASHLAND, New Castle, DE
Built 1939 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 2,428
SOUTH MARKET ST
FairOver: CHRISTINA RIVER
WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1927 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 28,725
DUPONT HWY / US13S
FairOver: LEIPSIC RIVER
S. OF SMYRNA, Kent, DE
Built 1929 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 1,419
WHITELEYSBURG RD
FairOver: MARSHYHOPE DITCH
WEST OF HARRINGTON, Kent, DE
Built 1931 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 1,571
ZOAR RD.
FairOver: MORRIS MILL POND
NORTH OF MILLSBORO, Sussex, DE
Built 1932 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 6,149
SR 273
FairOver: SR 4
OGLETOWN, New Castle, DE
Built 1997 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 24,266
SOUTH LINCOLN ST
FairOver: CANBY PARK VIADUCT
WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1963 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 20,027
DUPONT BLVD/US113
FairOver: WARTONS BRANCH
NORTH OF DAGSBORO, Sussex, DE
Built 1911 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 23,985
BASIN RD/SR 141
FairOver: RD 333 CENTERVILLE RD
S/W OF ELSMERE, New Castle, DE
Built 1974 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 50,659
US13/DUPONT HWGY
FairOver: PUNCHEON RUN
DOVER, Kent, DE
Built 1951 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 22,808
KENTON RD/SR15
FairOver: FORK BRANCH
SOUTH OF CHESWOLD, Kent, DE
Built 1934 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 6,183
RED MILL RD
FairOver: AMTRAK
EAST OF NEWARK, New Castle, DE
Built 1978 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 14,697
CHURCH RD.
FairOver: CHRISTINA CREEK
N/W NEWARK, New Castle, DE
Built 1968 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 446
Showing 1-50 of 872 bridges
Related
Data sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI), latest released cycle. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI). Poor condition is an inspection-record category, not a closure or unsafe-to-cross designation. Consult the bridge owner for current status.
Understanding Bridge Conditions
How FHWA rates bridge condition on a 0-9 scale.
Check Your Daily Bridges
How to look up bridge condition data for bridges on your route.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
What to do with this
Use Delaware's inventory picture to drill to a county or a specific span.
- Browse counties in Delaware and open the highest-Poor shares first. County list
- See where this state sits among peers on Poor-condition share. State rankings
- Compare this state with another jurisdiction on the same measures. State compare
NBI condition ratings are inventory snapshots, not live crossing-safety verdicts.
Every figure on PlainBridges is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Delaware Good/Fair/Poor shares and county rollups on this page are computed from the same NBI extract as the national boards; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2024 NBI release. NBI condition categories reflect the latest reported inventory record, not a live safety, closure, or travel decision.