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
I 95 SB
FairOver: GLENROCK DRIVE
S/E OF ARDEN, New Castle, DE
Built 1966 Load: 53.1 t ADT: 20,210
NEW RD
FairOver: CANARY CREEK
WEST OF LEWES, Sussex, DE
Built 1989 Load: 53.3 t ADT: 4,677
MILLER RD.
FairOver: MATSON RUN
NORTH WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1980 Load: 53.5 t ADT: 2,675
I 95
FairOver: NORFOLK SOUTHERN
NORTH OF CHRISTIANA INTER, New Castle, DE
Built 1962 Load: 53.5 t ADT: 65,707
HOURGLASS RD
FairOver: TAPPAHANNA DITCH
N.E. OF MARYDEL, Kent, DE
Built 1958 Load: 53.5 t ADT: 881
I 495 NB
FairOver: SHELLPOT CREEK
EAST OF WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1975 Load: 53.8 t ADT: 46,776
I 495 SB
FairOver: SHELLPOT CREEK
EAST OF WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1975 Load: 53.8 t ADT: 93,552
THOMPSON BRIDGE RD
FairOver: BRANDYWINE CREEK
E. OF GUYENCOURT, New Castle, DE
Built 1990 Load: 54.1 t ADT: 8,218
FORREST AVE
FairOver: CHESTNUT RUN
ELSMERE, New Castle, DE
Built 1996 Load: 54.1 t ADT: 99
FAULKLAND RD/SR34
FairOver: LITTLE MILL CREEK
NORTH OF PRICES CORNER, New Castle, DE
Built 1967 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 9,597
ROCKLAND RD
FairOver: WILSON RUN
ROCKLAND, New Castle, DE
Built 1925 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 64,449
LIMESTONE RD / SR7
FairOver: CSX RAILROAD
N/W OF STANTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1960 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 46,557
M.L.K. JR. BLVD.
FairOver: ST. JONES RIVER
DOVER, Kent, DE
Built 1957 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 9,607
MULBERRY ST
FairOver: BROADKILL CREEK
MILTON, Sussex, DE
Built 1992 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 4,042
CARPENTER BRIDGE
FairOver: MURDERKILL RIVER
S.W. OF FREDERICA, Kent, DE
Built 1962 Load: 55.4 t ADT: 2,333
MUDMILL RD
FairOver: MUDMILL POND & CHOPTANK
N/W OF SANDTOWN, Kent, DE
Built 1976 Load: 55.7 t ADT: 589
SR 1
FairOver: SCHOOL BELL RD
NEAR BEAR, New Castle, DE
Built 1990 Load: 56.1 t ADT: 46,484
PADDOCK RD.
FairOver: SAW MILL BRANCH
CHAMBERSVILLE, New Castle, DE
Built 1961 Load: 56.4 t ADT: 376
ARMORY RD.
FairOver: VINES CREEK
WEST OF OMAR, Sussex, DE
Built 1982 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 4,458
COASTAL HWY/SR1 SB
FairOver: CEDAR CREEK
S/E OF MILFORD, Sussex, DE
Built 1972 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 12,515
FOULK RD/SR261
FairOver: SHELLPOT CREEK
FAIRFAX, New Castle, DE
Built 1959 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 12,295
FAULKLAND RD/SR34
FairOver: RED CLAY CREEK
N.W. OF PRICES CORNER, New Castle, DE
Built 1967 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 4,704
SIXTH ST
FairOver: CSX
WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1950 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 99
SR1 SB/COASTAL HWY
FairOver: WAPLES POND
NORTH OF MILTON, Sussex, DE
Built 1973 Load: 57.7 t ADT: 9,151
MT CUBA ROAD
FairOver: RED CLAY CREEK
S/E OF ASHLAND, New Castle, DE
Built 1969 Load: 58.6 t ADT: 294
DARLEY RD
FairOver: CSX RAILROAD
N/W OF CLAYMONT, New Castle, DE
Built 1953 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 7,677
REDDEN RD.
FairOver: NANTICOKE RIVER
EAST OF BRIDGEVILLE, Sussex, DE
Built 1957 Load: 59.3 t ADT: 3,013
JOHN WILLIAMS HGWY
FairOver: LOVE CREEK
WEST OF REHOBOTH BEACH, Sussex, DE
Built 1992 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 15,735
OLD BALTIMORE PK
FairOver: TRIB OF CHRISTINA CRK
S/E OF NEWARK, New Castle, DE
Built 1982 Load: 59.9 t ADT: 18,628
SR 9 / RIVER ROAD
FairOver: VALERO OIL PIPE LINES
W. OF DELAWARE CITY, New Castle, DE
Built 1955 Load: 60.3 t ADT: 3,961
FAWN RD
FairOver: NANTICOKE RIVER
NE OF BRIDGEVILLE, Sussex, DE
Built 1930 Load: 60.3 t ADT: 931
S. COLLEGE AVE
FairOver: AMTRAK & CONRAIL
NEWARK, New Castle, DE
Built 1936 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 18,140
SMITH BRIDGE RD
FairOver: BRANDYWINE CREEK
N. OF BRANDYWINE CREEK SP, New Castle, DE
Built 1839 Load: 61.9 t ADT: 3,224
TWELTH ST
FairOver: I-495 RD 60
WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1977 Load: 64.5 t ADT: 6,253
NEWPORT GAP PIKE
FairOver: RED CLAY CREEK
WEST OF ELSMERE, New Castle, DE
Built 1989 Load: 64.8 t ADT: 16,338
MAIN ST/CHRISTIANA
FairOver: CHRISTINA RIVER
CHRISTIANA, New Castle, DE
Built 1937 Load: 64.8 t ADT: 4,121
SR896
FairOver: MUDDY RUN
NORTH OF GLASGOW, New Castle, DE
Built 1991 Load: 66.1 t ADT: 16,773
KOREAN VET MEM HWY
FairOver: DUPONT HGWY/ US13
S. OF TOWNSEND, New Castle, DE
Built 2003 Load: 66.1 t ADT: 26,437
ROUND POLE BRIDGE
FairOver: BEAVERDAM CREEK
EAST OF MILTON, Sussex, DE
Built 1985 Load: 66.1 t ADT: 129
LANCASTER PK/SR48
FairOver: CSX RAILROAD
WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1900 Load: 66.7 t ADT: 25,639
CHURCHMANS RD.
FairOver: I 95
SOUTH OF STANTON, New Castle, DE
Built 2006 Load: 66.7 t ADT: 19,267
FOULK RD/SR261
FairOver: SOUTH BRANCH NAAMANS CK
NORTH OF WILMINGTON, New Castle, DE
Built 1965 Load: 67.7 t ADT: 14,252
SR1/KOREAN VET WAR
FairOver: RD 331/DYKE BRANCH RD
N.E. OF DOVER, Kent, DE
Built 1992 Load: 67.7 t ADT: 21,019
KOREAN VET MEM HWY
FairOver: BLACK DIAMOND RD
NORTH OF SMYRNA, New Castle, DE
Built 2003 Load: 69.3 t ADT: 28,060
KOREAN VET MEM HWY
FairOver: BLACK DIAMOND RD
NORTH OF SMYRNA, New Castle, DE
Built 2003 Load: 69.3 t ADT: 28,060
KOREAN WAR VET HWY
FairOver: BIG OAK RD
S.E. OF SYMRNA, Kent, DE
Built 1992 Load: 69.7 t ADT: 26,405
KOREAN WAR VET HGW
FairOver: RD 331/DYKE BRANCH RD
N.E. OF DOVER, Kent, DE
Built 1992 Load: 69.7 t ADT: 21,019
CANTERBURY RD/SR15
FairOver: McCOLLEYS POND
McCOLLEYS POND, Kent, DE
Built 1984 Load: 71.6 t ADT: 5,231
LIMESTONE RD / SR7
FairOver: MILL CREEK
S. OF DELCASTLE REC. AREA, New Castle, DE
Built 1962 Load: 71.9 t ADT: 33,443
MAPLE AVE
FairOver: CHESTNUT RUN
ELSMERE, New Castle, DE
Built 1978 Load: 74.4 t ADT: 99
Showing 451-500 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.