State profile · Below median Poor share

Virginia 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 Virginia.

14,120
Public bridges
33.0%
Good condition
3.4%
Poor condition

Virginia holds 14,120 public highway bridges (#20 of 52 by inventory) with a 3.39% Poor share (#42 of 52 by Poor share).

That is 3.4% 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 11 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

14,120

Public highway bridges in Virginia

Good Condition

33.0%

4,660 bridges rated 7-9

-17.0pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

3.4%

478 bridges whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

-4.1pp vs national avg 7.5%

Virginia vs national bridge condition

Virginia - Good condition share 33.0%
National avg

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

Virginia - Poor-condition share 11.3%
National avg

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

Virginia 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: Virginia has 14,120 bridges and a 3.4% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #11 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 (%) VA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 3.39%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%RI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 15.2%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%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: Virginia has 14,120 bridges and a 3.4% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #11 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.

Virginia 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

14,120 20th of 54 higher than 34 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 Virginia

The highlighted point is Virginia: 14,120 bridges and 3.39% in Poor condition, rank #11 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The five jurisdictions immediately above and below Virginia on that same Poor-share ordering:

  • Utah: 3,125 bridges · 2.91% Poor
  • Alabama: 16,205 bridges · 3.35% Poor
  • Virginia: 14,120 bridges · 3.39% Poor
  • Tennessee: 20,379 bridges · 4.41% Poor
  • Minnesota: 13,532 bridges · 4.44% Poor

The full national sortable table lives on the rankings page.

Material families in Virginia

Exclusive FHWA material families across all 14,120 bridges in this state; continuous variants fold into the parent family. Orthogonal to the Poor-share scatter above.

Who maintains Virginia’s inventory

State agency holds 86.3% of the 14,120 public highway bridges filed under Virginia in the 2024 NBI, the agency-of-record split for this state, not a condition verdict.

When Virginia’s bridges were built

Pre-1950 construction accounts for 17.0% of the 14,120 bridges with a recorded original year in Virginia. Era bands are orthogonal to the Poor-share ranking above.

Condition Distribution

Virginia33%63.6%GoodFairPoor
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix - Virginia (FHWA NBI)

Counties (131)

Accomack 31 Albemarle 262 Alexandria city 29 Alleghany 197 Amelia 58 Amherst 157 Appomattox 68 Arlington 183 Augusta 357 Bath 73 Bedford 204 Bland 122 Botetourt 202 Bristol city 34 Brunswick 152 Buchanan 283 Buckingham 72 Buena Vista city 18 Campbell 153 Caroline 107 Carroll 161 Charles City 22 Charlotte 97 Charlottesville city 24 Chesapeake city 187 Chesterfield 322 Clarke 38 Colonial Heights city 9 Covington city 8 Craig 60 Culpeper 99 Cumberland 39 Danville city 50 Dickenson 76 Dinwiddie 151 Emporia city 7 Essex 37 Fairfax 751 Fairfax city 7 Falls Church city 5 Fauquier 229 Floyd 115 Fluvanna 55 Franklin 174 Frederick 168 Fredericksburg city 18 Galax city 5 Giles 96 Gloucester 21 Goochland 87 Grayson 145 Greene 49 Greensville 92 Halifax 161 Hampton city 50 Hanover 161 Harrisonburg city 34 Henrico 352 Henry 135 Highland 53 Hopewell city 5 Isle of Wight 80 James City 60 King George 30 King William 32 King and Queen 32 Lancaster 9 Lee 153 Lexington city 8 Loudoun 442 Louisa 93 Lunenburg 88 Lynchburg city 80 Madison 80 Manassas Park city 3 Manassas city 13 Martinsville city 10 Mathews 5 Mecklenburg 160 Middlesex 10 Montgomery 196 Nelson 136 New Kent 60 Newport News city 60 Norfolk city 199 Northampton 12 Northumberland 16 Norton city 13 Nottoway 67 Orange 71 Page 96 Patrick 145 Petersburg city 41 Pittsylvania 267 Portsmouth city 50 Powhatan 34 Prince Edward 82 Prince George 132 Prince William 303 Pulaski 105 Radford city 2 Rappahannock 87 Richmond 23 Richmond city 125 Roanoke 204 Roanoke city 88 Rockbridge 255 Rockingham 288 Russell 136 Salem city 17 Scott 138 Shenandoah 213 Smyth 190 Southampton 145 Spotsylvania 102 Stafford 112 Staunton city 18 Suffolk city 132 Surry 31 Sussex 105 Tazewell 204 Virginia Beach city 119 Warren 81 Washington 186 Waynesboro city 19 Westmoreland 22 Williamsburg city 12 Winchester city 8 Wise 165 Wythe 181 York 122

Virginia 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 Virginia on the same metric.

UT

Utah

2.91% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$3,125

AL

Alabama

3.35% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$16,205
Selected

VA

Virginia

3.39% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$14,120

TN

Tennessee

4.41% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$20,379

MN

Minnesota

4.44% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$13,532

Bridges Needing Most Attention in Virginia

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

CRAIG SHOP RD.

Poor

Over: MIDDLE RIVER

0.84 RT 900 - 0.54 RT 608, Augusta, VA

Built 1908 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 77

KNIGHTLY MILL RD

Poor

Over: MIDDLE RIVER

0.26 RT 777 - 2.05 RT 608, Augusta, VA

Built 1915 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 309

TILT HAMMER CR.

Poor

Over: CHRISTIANS CREEK

0.18 RT 612 - 0.16 RT 617, Augusta, VA

Built 1900 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 63

Big Branch Road

Poor

Over: DISMAL CREEK

4.25 fr 629; 0.05 to 638, Buchanan, VA

Built 1973 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 211

Jeb Stuart Highway

Poor

Over: Staunton River

0.00-CharCL/ 0.00-HalfxCL, Charlotte, VA

Built 1930 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 464

RAILROAD DRIVE

Poor

Over: NS RAILWAY

.97 FR R659 & .02 TO R11, Smyth, VA

Built 1932 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 949

All Bridges in Virginia

Deskins Road

Poor

Over: PRATER CREEK

.0 FR RT 83-3.45 TO 657, Buchanan, VA

Built 1978 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 818

4TH STREET

Poor

Over: ROUTE I-95

.08 DUVAL & .25 HOSPITAL, Richmond city, VA

Built 1969 Load: 62.1 t ADT: 4,114

SBL ROUTE I-85

Poor

Over: ROANOKE RIVER

3.2 N C LINE& 1.2 TO 903, Mecklenburg, VA

Built 1964 Load: 62.3 t ADT: 13,728

1ST STREET

Poor

Over: ROUTE I-95 (I-64)

.01 E DUVAL .05 E BAKER, Richmond city, VA

Built 1958 Load: 63.0 t ADT: 1,231

LOWMOOR SELMA ROAD

Poor

Over: I-64 & RTEs 60 & 220

.15 TO 1312 & .05 TO 1101, Alleghany, VA

Built 1964 Load: 68.0 t ADT: 5,229

21ST. STREET

Poor

Over: ROUTE I-66

00.15FR29/00.04TON.CT HSE, Arlington, VA

Built 1980 Load: 68.9 t ADT: 5,877

SHERWOOD DRIVE

Poor

Over: SWIFT CREEK

.05FORESTVIE .05SPRINGDAL, Colonial Heights city, VA

Built 1987 Load: 69.2 t ADT: 3,402

14TH STREET

Poor

Over: JAMES RIVER SOUTH DIV @

.07 FR 2ND & .54 TO 60 EB, Richmond city, VA

Built 1913 Load: 70.9 t ADT: 17,082

14TH STREET

Poor

Over: JAMES RIVER NORTH DIV @

.28 FR 2ND & .33 TO 60 EB, Richmond city, VA

Built 1913 Load: 70.9 t ADT: 17,082

RAMP TO 5TH & 95S

Poor

Over: ROUTE I-95

.22 64 WBL .04 5TH/DUVAL, Henrico, VA

Built 1958 Load: 72.2 t ADT: 13,128

Eaglebrook Rd/1330

Poor

Over: Smith Creek

0.02-RT675; 1.48-Dead End, Montgomery, VA

Built 1981 Load: 72.6 t ADT: 316

JERRYS RUN TRAIL

Poor

Over: JERRYS RUN

0.20 TO 64 & 0.26 TO END, Alleghany, VA

Built 1967 Load: 79.8 t ADT: 120

PAW PAW RD

Poor

Over: PAW PAW RUN

0.0 FR 643 & 3.0 TO 644, Buchanan, VA

Built 1980 Load: 83.5 t ADT: 1,263

Bradshaw Rd./629

Poor

Over: Bradshaw Creek

1.05-Rte603; 0.95-Rte622, Montgomery, VA

Built 1921 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 656

Interstate 64

Poor

Over: STONY RUN

.36 TO 33 & 1.82 LABURNUM, Henrico, VA

Built 1968 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 64,877

LEWISTON PLANK RD.

Poor

Over: MALLORYS CREEK

.4 FR.724 & 1.2 TO 650, Nottoway, VA

Built 1974 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 1,736

Millbank Road

Poor

Over: Mud Creek

1.11 to 658 - 0.49 to 660, Prince Edward, VA

Built 1990 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 130

Village Dr 1460

Poor

Over: Br of Beaver Dam Ck

0.00 Rt 619; 0.30 Rt 1461, Bedford, VA

Built 1985 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 521

EBL ROUTE 0460

Poor

Over: RTE 166 & U # 1808

3.75NCL-CHES/2.20 TO 196, Chesapeake city, VA

Built 1948 Load: 90.2 t ADT: 1,707

FOREST ROAD

Poor

Over: ROCKY ROW RUN

OFF SR 812, Amherst, VA

Built 1970 Load: 93.3 t ADT: 25

Showing 14,101-14,120 of 14,120 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 Virginia's inventory picture to drill to a county or a specific span.

  • Browse counties in Virginia 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. Virginia 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.