State profile · Above median Poor share

Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island.

783
Public bridges
22.9%
Good condition
15.2%
Poor condition

Rhode Island holds 783 public highway bridges (#51 of 52 by inventory) with a 15.2% Poor share (#5 of 52 by Poor share).

That is 15.2% 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 49 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

Total Bridges

783

Public highway bridges in Rhode Island

Good Condition

22.9%

179 bridges rated 7-9

-27.1pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

15.2%

119 bridges whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

7.7pp vs national avg 7.5%

Rhode Island vs national bridge condition

Rhode Island - Good condition share 22.9%
National avg

Share of bridges rated 7-9 on the FHWA 0-9 scale (deck, superstructure, substructure all good).

Rhode Island - Poor-condition share 50.7%
National avg

Lower is better. Bar maxes at 30% (worst-state ceiling). National average sits at 7.5%.

Rhode Island in the national condition pattern

Each point is a state or territory in the FHWA NBI; the highlighted point is this profile.

Inventory size and Poor-condition share are different measures: Rhode Island has 783 bridges and a 15.2% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #49 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The dashed comparisons mark the national average state rate and the midpoint of the plotted inventory range; neither is a live safety or closure threshold. Scatter plot of 54 data points. 0%10%20%30%40% 0k20k40k60k Public bridges in inventory (thousands) Poor-condition share (%) RI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 15.2%AL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 16.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 3.35%AK, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 1.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.89%AZ, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.15%AR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.43%CA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 25.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.91%CO, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 9k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.82%CT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.72%DE, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.26%DC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.95%FL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.79%GA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 15.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.59%GU, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0k · Poor-condition share (%): 12.77%HI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 1.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.53%ID, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.9%IL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 26.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 9.35%IN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 19.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.22%IA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 23.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 19.16%KS, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 24.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.26%KY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.37%LA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 12.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 11.48%ME, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 15.41%MD, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.56%MA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 8.88%MI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 11.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 11.27%MN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.44%MS, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 16.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.03%MO, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 24.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 8.95%MT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.81%NE, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 15.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.9%NV, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.14%NH, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.51%NJ, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 6.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.01%NM, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.51%NY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 17.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 9.43%NC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 19.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.76%ND, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 10.98%OH, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 26.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.74%OK, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 22.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.7%OR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.61%PA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 23.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 12.58%PR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 13.92%SC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 9.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.17%SD, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 16.36%TN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 20.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.41%TX, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 56.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.23%UT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 3.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.91%VT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.9%VI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0k · Poor-condition share (%): 29.17%VA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 3.39%WA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.45%WV, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 7.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 18.64%WI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.52%WY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 3.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.51%
Inventory size and Poor-condition share are different measures: Rhode Island has 783 bridges and a 15.2% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #49 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The dashed comparisons mark the national average state rate and the midpoint of the plotted inventory range; neither is a live safety or closure threshold.

Rhode Island 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

783 51st of 54 higher than 3 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 Rhode Island

The highlighted point is Rhode Island: 783 bridges and 15.20% in Poor condition, rank #49 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The five jurisdictions immediately above and below Rhode Island on that same Poor-share ordering:

  • Guam: 47 bridges · 12.77% Poor
  • Puerto Rico: 2,385 bridges · 13.92% Poor
  • Rhode Island: 783 bridges · 15.20% Poor
  • Maine: 2,518 bridges · 15.41% Poor
  • South Dakota: 5,887 bridges · 16.36% Poor

The full national sortable table lives on the rankings page.

Material families in Rhode Island

Exclusive FHWA material families across all 783 bridges in this state; continuous variants fold into the parent family. Orthogonal to the Poor-share scatter above.

Who maintains Rhode Island’s inventory

State agency holds 78.3% of the 783 public highway bridges filed under Rhode Island in the 2024 NBI, the agency-of-record split for this state, not a condition verdict.

When Rhode Island’s bridges were built

Pre-1950 construction accounts for 21.7% of the 783 bridges with a recorded original year in Rhode Island. Era bands are orthogonal to the Poor-share ranking above.

Condition Distribution

Rhode Island22.9%61.9%15.2%GoodFairPoor
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix - Rhode Island (FHWA NBI)

Counties (5)

Bristol 10 Kent 115 Newport 37 Providence 476 Washington 145

Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island on the same metric.

GU

Guam

12.77% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$47

PR

Puerto Rico

13.92% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$2,385
Selected

RI

Rhode Island

15.20% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$783

ME

Maine

15.41% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$2,518

SD

South Dakota

16.36% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$5,887

Bridges Needing Most Attention in Rhode Island

Six lowest-condition bridges in Rhode Island, ranked by the portal's composite display score. Inspection intervals are risk-based under current NBIS rules.

SNEECH POND RD

Poor

Over: ABBOTT RUN

0.2 Mi N of JCT RI 120, Providence, RI

Built 1886 Load: 0.0 t

HILL ST

Poor

Over: PAWTUXET RIVER N BRANCH

0.1 Mi S of JCT Main St, Kent, RI

Built 1888 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 910

HEMLOCK RD

Poor

Over: BARDEN RESERVOIR

2.0 Mi E of RI 94, Providence, RI

Built 1960 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 200

GREYSTONE AV

Poor

Over: WOONASQUATUCKET RIVER

0.1 Mi N of JCT RI 104, Providence, RI

Built 1949 Load: 3.6 t ADT: 2,965

BARTON ST

Poor

Over: AMTRAK & P&W RR

@ INT of Broad St, Providence, RI

Built 1915 Load: 3.6 t ADT: 1,010

LINCOLN AV

Poor

Over: PAWTUXET RIVER N BRANCH

0.1 Mi E of JCT MAIN ST, Kent, RI

Built 1919 Load: 4.2 t ADT: 1,756

All Bridges in Rhode Island

I-295 SB

Poor

Over: ABBOTT RUN VALLEY RD

0.7 Mi E OF Jct RI 114, Providence, RI

Built 1965 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 25,800

US 1 BROAD STREET

Poor

Over: PAWCATUCK RIVER

0.3 Mi N of JCT US 1A, Washington, RI

Built 1932 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 12,200

COWESETT RD

Poor

Over: I-95 NB & SB

1.0 Mi W of JCT US 1, Kent, RI

Built 1965 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 7,979

I-295 NB

Poor

Over: RI 146 EDDIE DOWLING HWY

1.0 Mi N of JCT RI 116, Providence, RI

Built 1969 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 27,992

HIGGINSON AV

Poor

Over: MOSHASSUCK RIVER

0.3 Mi E of JCT RI 126, Providence, RI

Built 1962 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 6,464

RI 37 EB & WB

Poor

Over: US 1 POST RD

1.0 Mi E of JCT I-95, Kent, RI

Built 1965 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 46,000

US 6A HARTFRD AV

Poor

Over: US 6

1 Mi E JCT RI 5, Providence, RI

Built 1969 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 7,504

SHANNOCK RD

Poor

Over: PAWCATUCK RIVER

1.0 Mi S of JCT RI 91, Washington, RI

Built 1926 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 830

RI 37 EB & WB

Poor

Over: CRANSTON ST

0.5 Mi E of JCT Natick Av, Providence, RI

Built 1968 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 30,528

ROCKY HOLLOW RD

Poor

Over: AMTRAK

0.3 Mi E of JCT US 1, Kent, RI

Built 1988 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 1,534

MAPLE VALLEY RD

Poor

Over: FLAT RIVER

0.3 Mi N of JCT RI 117, Kent, RI

Built 1978 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 1,386

RI 146 ED DOWL HWY

Poor

Over: RI 15 MINERAL SPRING AV

0.8 Mi S of JCT CHRLES ST, Providence, RI

Built 1957 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 69,109

RI 37 RAMP

Poor

Over: CRANSTON ST

0.2 Mi E of PHENIX AV, Providence, RI

Built 1968 Load: 35.3 t ADT: 14,390

I-195 WB

Poor

Over: SEEKONK RIVER

0.2 Mi W of JCT US 6, Providence, RI

Built 1969 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 80,500

FACTORY ST

Poor

Over: MILL TAIL RACE

0.1 Mi E of JCT RI 33, Kent, RI

Built 1956 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 2,241

PONTIAC AV

Poor

Over: RI 10 HUNTINGTON EXPRESS

0.1 Mi W of JCT I-95, Providence, RI

Built 1966 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 10,682

RI 146 ED DOWL HWY

Poor

Over: COBBLE HILL RD

2.0 Mi S of JCT RI 123, Providence, RI

Built 1956 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 47,393

RI 102 BRONCO HWY

Poor

Over: WHIPPLE AV

2.2 Mi S of JCT RI 7, Providence, RI

Built 1964 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 9,200

RI 37 EB & WB

Poor

Over: RI 2 NEW LONDON AV

JCT of RI 2 & RI 37, Providence, RI

Built 1965 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 47,871

I-95 NB & SB

Poor

Over: THURBERS AV

1.3 Mi S of JCT I-195, Providence, RI

Built 1963 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 156,790

RI 114 DMND HLL RD

Poor

Over: I-295 NB & SB

0.4 Mi N of JCT RI 116, Providence, RI

Built 1963 Load: 42.8 t ADT: 17,455

RI 37 EB

Poor

Over: AMTRAK

0.5 Mi E of Jct I-95, Kent, RI

Built 1963 Load: 43.1 t ADT: 47,277

MAGNAN RD

Poor

Over: AMTRAK

0.5 Mi E Jct RI 10, Providence, RI

Built 1960 Load: 43.4 t ADT: 2,000

RI 104 SO MAIN ST

Poor

Over: BLACKSTONE RIVER

0.1 Mi W of Arnold St, Providence, RI

Built 1903 Load: 43.4 t ADT: 13,424

RI 37 WB

Poor

Over: AMTRAK

0.3 Mi E of JCT I-95, Kent, RI

Built 1963 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 25,765

HIGH ST

Poor

Over: PASCOAG RIVER

0.1 Mi W of Main St, Providence, RI

Built 1865 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 5,800

I-95 NB & SB

Poor

Over: US 1 ELMWOOD AV

0.6 Mi N of JCT RI 10, Providence, RI

Built 1965 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 129,532

BROADWAY

Poor

Over: AMTRAK & P&W RR

0.4 Mi N of JCT US 6, Providence, RI

Built 1994 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 20,278

RI 15&114 XCHNG ST

Poor

Over: BLACKSTONE RIVER

0.2 Mi W of JCT I-95, Providence, RI

Built 1928 Load: 73.5 t ADT: 12,626

MANVILLE RD

Poor

Over: MANVILLE MILL TRENCH

0.1 Mi E JCT NEW RIVER RD, Providence, RI

Built 1901 Load: 77.7 t ADT: 7,800

RI 7 DOUGLAS PIKE

Poor

Over: BRANCH RIVER

0.3 Mi S of JCT RI 102, Providence, RI

Built 1907 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 5,454

CLADRASTIS AVE

Poor

Over: CUNLIFFS LAKE

1.0 Mi E of JCT US 1, Providence, RI

Built 1897 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 2,551

RI 104 SO MAIN ST

Poor

Over: BLACKSTONE RIVER

0.1 Mi W of Arnold St, Providence, RI

Built 1903 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 13,424

Showing 751-783 of 783 bridges

Related

All states → | National rankings → | Understanding conditions → | Retired SD term explained →
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 Rhode Island's inventory picture to drill to a county or a specific span.

  • Browse counties in Rhode Island 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. Rhode Island 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.