State profile · Below median Poor share

Washington 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 Washington.

8,474
Public bridges
50.1%
Good condition
5.5%
Poor condition

Washington has 8,474 public highway bridges in the FHWA's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, and 462 of them are rated Poor.

That is 5.5% 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 24 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

8,474

Public highway bridges in Washington

Good Condition

50.1%

4,246 bridges rated 7-9

0.1pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

5.5%

462 bridges whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

-2.1pp vs national avg 7.5%

Washington vs national bridge condition

Washington - Good condition share 50.1%
National avg

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

Washington - Poor-condition share 18.2%
National avg

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

Washington 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: Washington has 8,474 bridges and a 5.5% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #24 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 (%) WA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.45%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%VA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 3.39%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: Washington has 8,474 bridges and a 5.5% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #24 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.

Washington 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

8,474 29th of 54 higher than 25 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 Washington

The highlighted point is Washington: 8,474 bridges and 5.45% in Poor condition, rank #24 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The five jurisdictions immediately above and below Washington on that same Poor-share ordering:

  • Kansas: 24,894 bridges · 5.26% Poor
  • Arkansas: 12,974 bridges · 5.43% Poor
  • Washington: 8,474 bridges · 5.45% Poor
  • California: 25,848 bridges · 5.91% Poor
  • New Jersey: 6,827 bridges · 6.01% Poor

The full national sortable table lives on the rankings page.

Material families in Washington

Exclusive FHWA material families across all 8,474 bridges in this state; continuous variants fold into the parent family. Orthogonal to the Poor-share scatter above.

Who maintains Washington’s inventory

State agency holds 39.9% of the 8,474 public highway bridges filed under Washington in the 2024 NBI, the agency-of-record split for this state, not a condition verdict.

When Washington’s bridges were built

Pre-1950 construction accounts for 12.8% of the 8,474 bridges with a recorded original year in Washington. Era bands are orthogonal to the Poor-share ranking above.

Condition Distribution

Washington50.1%44.4%GoodFairPoor
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix - Washington (FHWA NBI)

Counties (39)

Adams 187 Asotin 29 Benton 167 Chelan 149 Clallam 151 Clark 218 Columbia 86 Cowlitz 160 Douglas 40 Ferry 53 Franklin 134 Garfield 54 Grant 306 Grays Harbor 363 Island 7 Jefferson 99 King 1238 Kitsap 115 Kittitas 308 Klickitat 90 Lewis 419 Lincoln 180 Mason 133 Okanogan 161 Pacific 120 Pend Oreille 71 Pierce 472 San Juan 13 Skagit 254 Skamania 120 Snohomish 500 Spokane 307 Stevens 75 Thurston 205 Wahkiakum 36 Walla Walla 195 Whatcom 354 Whitman 347 Yakima 558

Washington 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 Washington on the same metric.

KS

Kansas

5.26% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$24,894

AR

Arkansas

5.43% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$12,974
Selected

WA

Washington

5.45% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$8,474

CA

California

5.91% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$25,848

NJ

New Jersey

6.01% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$6,827

Bridges Needing Most Attention in Washington

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

STATE ROUTE 509

Poor

Over: PUYALLUP WATERWAY RR

2.5 N JCT I-5, Pierce, WA

Built 1911 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 2,400

I-82

Poor

Over: WASTEWATER NUMBER 3

8.4 E JCT US 97, Yakima, WA

Built 1980 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 28,146

Fish War Mem X-ing

Poor

Over: PUYALLUP RIVER

0.2 N JCT I-5, Pierce, WA

Built 1925 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 15,255

POST STREET

Poor

Over: SPOKANE RIVER

00.6 N OF I-90, Spokane, WA

Built 1917 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 1,685

W Galer Street

Poor

Over: Private Road

Magnolia Seattle, King, WA

Built 1929 Load: 0.0 t

SILVER CK RD 00670

Poor

Over: NINE MILE CREEK

19.05 E SR 21, Ferry, WA

Built 1958 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 47

All Bridges in Washington

WILDCAT ROAD

Good

Over: W FK WILDCAT CREEK

0.4 N JCT ELMA HICKLIN RD, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 2021 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 43

MID. FORK MILL CR.

Good

Over: MIDDLE FORK MILL CREEK

.58 NE SOUTH FORK MILL CR, Stevens, WA

Built 2022 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 9

BUMBLEBEE RD

Good

Over: GOLD CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Okanogan, WA

Built 1967 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 30

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: BAKER CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Mason, WA

Built 1964 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 15

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: JEFFERSON CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Mason, WA

Built 1975 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 10

ROAD

Good

Over: TANEUM CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Kittitas, WA

Built 1960 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 75

DISCOVERY RD.

Good

Over: SOUTH FORK TIETON

NO DATA ENTERED, Yakima, WA

Built 1968 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 20

SR 6

Good

Over: JONES CREEK

5.7 E PACIFIC CO, Lewis, WA

Built 1931 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 2,463

US 12

Good

Over: NP RY

6.1 E GRAYS HBR CO, Thurston, WA

Built 1964 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 13,012

I-5

Good

Over: SR 528 4TH ST

5.3 N JCT US 2, Snohomish, WA

Built 1971 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 59,434

SR 167

Good

Over: THIRD AVE SW

0.5 N PIERCE CO, King, WA

Built 1977 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 99,656

E 36TH STREET

Good

Over: CID CANAL

00.30 E GUM ST, Benton, WA

Built 1971 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 120

LONGMIRE LANE

Good

Over: DRY WASH

00.53 S. OF FINK RD, Yakima, WA

Built 1957 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 400

ESTATE ROAD 30190

Good

Over: CRAB CREEK

2.53 SE CR 9220, Lincoln, WA

Built 1983 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 54

OATFIELD ROAD

Good

Over: LEFT FORK CREEK

0.1E MID VAL RD, Wahkiakum, WA

Built 1979 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 51

COWICHE MILL ROAD

Good

Over: CANAL - ABANDONED

00.49 W THOMPSON RD, Yakima, WA

Built 1957 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 255

WIND RIVER ROAD

Good

Over: WIND RIVER

15.23 NW JCT SR 14, Skamania, WA

Built 1950 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 198

BOYK ROAD 60210

Good

Over: CRAB CREEK

0.64 NE FAS L220, Lincoln, WA

Built 1981 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 50

BRACE STREET

Good

Over: GOOSE CREEK

0.01 S JCT US 2, Lincoln, WA

Built 1989 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 200

PENEWAWA/8100

Good

Over: LITTLE PENEWAWA CREEK

4.45 MI SW SR 26, Whitman, WA

Built 1997 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 31

LAST CHANCE RD

Good

Over: WALLA WALLA RIVER

00.72 N FROG HOLLOW, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1997 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 850

THIRD STREET

Good

Over: REBEL FLAT CREEK

0.01 S INT. DEAN AVE, Whitman, WA

Built 2001 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 50

ROBINSON FORK RD

Good

Over: WOLF FORK

0.02 S JCT 13890, Columbia, WA

Built 2001 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 49

7 RD NW

Good

Over: IRR. CANAL

7 NW 0.8 East of Dodson, Grant, WA

Built 2001 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 193

SMITH SPRINGS RD

Good

Over: COLVILLE GULCH

3.08 N SR 124, Walla Walla, WA

Built 2004 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 100

SUMMIT ROAD

Good

Over: MF WILDCAT CREEK

0.1 S JCT 79740, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 2023 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 639

NE 72ND PLACE

Good

Over: I-405

2.6 N JCT SR 520, King, WA

Built 1970 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 20,179

79TH AVE N.

Good

Over: AHTANUM CREEK

00.13 S RUTHERFORD, Yakima, WA

Built 1963 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 135

STEVENS ROAD

Good

Over: HILINE CANAL

01.17 N I-90, Kittitas, WA

Built 1996 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 62

COUNTY ROAD 1637

Good

Over: BEAVER CREEK

5.4 MI.N.JCT.SR20, Okanogan, WA

Built 1962 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 35

L ROAD SW

Good

Over: LAT. RB4 BLK 82

Adams Rd .6 N of 11 SW, Grant, WA

Built 1990 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 1,034

24 ROAD SW

Good

Over: LAT. WB46 BLK 251

24 SW .6 East of O, Grant, WA

Built 1969 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 1,976

31 NE

Good

Over: ARBUCKLE DRAW

31 NE .4 East of Pinto, Grant, WA

Built 1994 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 65

SEVEN MILE ROAD

Good

Over: HAWK CREEK

1.58 N SR 2, Lincoln, WA

Built 1997 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 8

PRAIRIE VIEW RD

Good

Over: LATAH CREEK

0.1 S. WAVERLY ROAD, Spokane, WA

Built 1998 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 383

I-5

Good

Over: HYLEBOS CREEK

1.7 N JCT SR 99, Pierce, WA

Built 1960 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 94,829

I-5

Good

Over: HYLEBOS CREEK

1.7 N JCT SR 99, Pierce, WA

Built 1960 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 94,829

SR 522

Good

Over: ELLIOTT RD

6.3 E JCT SR 9, Snohomish, WA

Built 1963 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 15,235

SR 231

Good

Over: ROCK CR

9.2 N JCT SR 23, Lincoln, WA

Built 1964 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 278

US 12

Good

Over: CREEK TWIN CANYON

2.6 E JCT SR 122, Lewis, WA

Built 1967 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 4,729

SR 512

Good

Over: WOODLAND AVE

4.6 E JCT SR 7, Pierce, WA

Built 1971 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 44,860

SR 512

Good

Over: WOODLAND AVE

4.6 E JCT SR 7, Pierce, WA

Built 1971 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 44,860

SR 512

Good

Over: FRUITLAND AVE

5.0 E JCT SR 7, Pierce, WA

Built 1971 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 44,860

SR 512

Good

Over: FRUITLAND AVE

5.0 E JCT SR 7, Pierce, WA

Built 1971 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 44,860

US 12

Good

Over: WELLINGTON AVE

2.6 E JCT SR 125, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1971 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 12,126

I-205

Good

Over: SALMON CR/SALMON CR AVE

5.1 N JCT SR 500, Clark, WA

Built 1973 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 37,053

I-205

Good

Over: SALMON CR & AVE

5.1 N JCT SR 500, Clark, WA

Built 1973 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 37,053

I-90

Good

Over: S FK SNOQUALMIE R

7.3 E JCT SR 202, King, WA

Built 1974 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 18,182

SR 900

Good

Over: TIBBETTS CR

9.0 E JCT I-405, King, WA

Built 1975 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 21,488

SR 20

Good

Over: PUGET SND @ PT TOWNSEND

12.9 E JCT US 101, Jefferson, WA

Built 1982 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 1,863

Showing 5,201-5,250 of 8,474 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 Washington's inventory picture to drill to a county or a specific span.

  • Browse counties in Washington 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. Washington 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.