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)

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.

All Bridges in Rhode Island

RI 104 FARNUM PIKE

Fair

Over: I-295 NB

1.0 Mi S of JCT RI 5, Providence, RI

Built 1974 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 5,070

RI 104 FARNUM PIKE

Fair

Over: I-295 SB

1.0 Mi S of JCT RI 5, Providence, RI

Built 1974 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 5,070

SOUTH MAIN ST

Fair

Over: PAWTUXET RIVER SW BRANCH

0.01 Mi S of JCT RI 117, Kent, RI

Built 1919 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 9,625

RI 91 ALTN BRAD RD

Fair

Over: PAWCATUCK RIVER

0.5 Mi W of JCT RI 216, Washington, RI

Built 1930 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 6,243

ATWELLS AV

Fair

Over: I-95 RAMPS BC&CA

1.0 Mi N of JCT BROADWAY, Providence, RI

Built 1965 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 10,989

I-95 SB

Fair

Over: US 6 WOON RVR AMTRAK

0.25 Mi N ATWELLS AV, Providence, RI

Built 2016 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 236,230

I-295 NB

Fair

Over: ABBOTT RUN VALLEY RD

0.7 Mi E of JCT RI 114, Providence, RI

Built 1965 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 26,200

RI 113 MAIN AV

Fair

Over: US 1 POST RD

1.0 Mi E of JCT RI 5, Kent, RI

Built 1976 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 34,118

I-95 RAMP BD

Fair

Over: US 6 W EXCHANGE ST RAMPS

0.1 Mi N Jct US 6, Providence, RI

Built 1988 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 15,300

MEMORIAL BLVD

Fair

Over: PROVIDENCE RIVER

0.5 Mi E of I-95, Providence, RI

Built 1996 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 22,000

HUDSON POND ROAD

Fair

Over: Kelley Brook

0.11Mi SofJct Muddy Br RD, Washington, RI

Built 1950 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 65

RI 116 PLSNT VW AV

Fair

Over: GREENVILLE BROOK

1.1 Mi N of JCT US 44, Providence, RI

Built 1929 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 15,861

US 1 SB POST RD

Fair

Over: RI 108 KING RD&PT JDH RD

0.1 Mi N of Scenic 1A, Washington, RI

Built 1962 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 11,225

WALCOTT ST

Fair

Over: I-95 NB & SB

0.1 Mi E of BROADWAY INT, Providence, RI

Built 1958 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 13,837

RI 37 WB

Fair

Over: I-95 NB & SB

1.2 Mi E of JCT RI 2, Kent, RI

Built 1966 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 25,000

Kendall Dr

Fair

Over: Known Brook

0.1 Mi w of JCT RI 246, Providence, RI

Built 1980 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 200

GLENHILLS DRIVE

Fair

Over: RI 37 EB & WB

0.3 Mi NW of JCT RIs2&37, Providence, RI

Built 1968 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 6,487

ACORN ST

Fair

Over: WOONASQUATUCKET RIVER

0.1 Mi W of P Valley Pkwy, Providence, RI

Built 1987 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 4,502

RI 122 LONSDALE AV

Fair

Over: AMTRAK & P&W RR

0.2 Mi E of JCT RI 15, Providence, RI

Built 1907 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 25,343

RI 24

Fair

Over: EVANS AVENUE

.024mi W of jct Main rd, Bristol, RI

Built 2012 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 43,260

BEACH AV

Fair

Over: HARBOR POND

0.1 Mi W of Corn Neck Rd, Washington, RI

Built 1997 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 1,905

SCHOOL ST

Fair

Over: OLD WORC & BOSTON CANAL

0.8 Mi W of JCT RI 122, Providence, RI

Built 1887 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 4,034

BULLOCKS POINT AV

Fair

Over: E BAY BICYCLE FAC

0.2 Mi S of JCT RI 103, Providence, RI

Built 1992 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 10,950

BISCUIT CITY RD

Fair

Over: PAWCATUCK RIVER

0.3 Mi S of JCT RI 2, Washington, RI

Built 1960 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 100

I-95 RAMP DA

Fair

Over: US 6 W EXCH RmpsCB AC CC

0.5 Mi N of JCT I-195, Providence, RI

Built 1988 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 4,900

MEMORIAL BLVD

Fair

Over: ROOSEVELT LAKE

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

Built 1957 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 3,035

CENTRAL AV

Fair

Over: TEN MILE RIVER

0.75 Mi E of JCT US 1A, Providence, RI

Built 1947 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,757

TRAINING STATION R

Fair

Over: COASTERS HARBOR

620M W OF SR138 ROTARY, Newport, RI

Built 1982 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 1,050

RI 117 WARWICK AV

Fair

Over: PAWTUXET RIVER

0.5 Mi S of JCT RI 12, Providence, RI

Built 1921 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 18,888

DELAINE ST

Fair

Over: WOONASQUATUCKET RIVER

0.1 Mi W of Valley St, Providence, RI

Built 1888 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,445

WOODRUFF AV

Fair

Over: US 1 POST RD

0.1 Mi N of JCT RI 108, Washington, RI

Built 1963 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 12,625

RI 2 NB BLD HLL RD

Fair

Over: PAWTUXET RIVER

0.2 Mi N of JCT RI 113, Kent, RI

Built 1967 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 25,453

RI 2 NB BLD HLL RD

Fair

Over: PAWTUXET RIVER

0.2 Mi N of JCT RI 113, Kent, RI

Built 1967 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 25,453

I-95 RAMP CA

Fair

Over: RAMP CC & W. EXCHANGE ST

0.2 Mi N of JCT I-195, Providence, RI

Built 1988 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 21,100

RI 37 EB & WB

Fair

Over: POWER ROAD

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

Built 1965 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 39,400

RI 24 NB

Fair

Over: TURNPIKE AV

0.8 Mi N of JCT RI 114, Newport, RI

Built 1964 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 19,516

RI 78 WEST BY-PASS

Fair

Over: CANAL STREET

0.5 Mi E of Conn Line, Washington, RI

Built 1976 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 13,100

MOSHASSUCK ROAD

Fair

Over: MOSHASSUCK RIVER

0.5 Mi W of JCT RI 122, Providence, RI

Built 1950 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 300

RAMP AR-5

Fair

Over: I-95 RAMP CA

0.5 Mi N of JCT I 195, Providence, RI

Built 2015 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 13,700

GARDEN CITY DR

Fair

Over: POCASSET RIVER

0.3 Mi N of Pontiac Av, Providence, RI

Built 1948 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 2,955

Winsor Rd

Fair

Over: Winsor Brook

2.0 Mi S of JCT RI 101, Providence, RI

Built 1950 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 122

RI 138

Fair

Over: NEWPORT SEC RR

0.4 Mi S of JCT RI 214, Newport, RI

Built 1969 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 26,700

RI 138

Fair

Over: RI 238 JT Connell Hwy

0.3 Mi S of JCT RI 214, Newport, RI

Built 1969 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 26,700

Rmp SE-95S to 195E

Fair

Over: I95 RmpNP&WS US1 Eddy St

Providence Exit 20, Providence, RI

Built 2009 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 76,400

US 1 ELMWOOD AV

Fair

Over: PAWTUXET RIVER

2.5 Mi S of JCT RI 10, Providence, RI

Built 1918 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 16,443

SHANNOCK RD

Fair

Over: PAWCATUCK RIVER

1.7 Mi E of JCT RI 91, Washington, RI

Built 1974 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 1,314

LOWER RIVER RD

Fair

Over: BLACKSTONE CANAL

0.5 MI W of JCT RI 122, Providence, RI

Built 1950 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 57

WOODVILLE RD

Fair

Over: I-95 NB & SB

1.3 Mi N of CONN LINE, Washington, RI

Built 1969 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 700

RI 24 NB

Fair

Over: EIGHT ROD WAY-FISH RD

0.8 Mi N of JCT RI 138, Newport, RI

Built 1968 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 16,298

BRANCH AV

Fair

Over: I-95 NB & SB

1.3 Mi E of JCT I-95&146, Providence, RI

Built 1965 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 18,200

Showing 151-200 of 783 bridges

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.

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.