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

WYNOOCHE VALLEY RD

Good

Over: ANDERSON CREEK

33.1 MILES N. SR12, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 2009 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 334

COUNTY ROAD

Good

Over: SMITH CANYON WASTEWAY

1.70 W. OF P-K ROAD, Franklin, WA

Built 2012 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 277

COUNTY ROAD

Good

Over: LATERAL WB 10 CANAL

0.69 W of WAHLUKE ROAD, Franklin, WA

Built 2013 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 402

NW Lindvig Way

Good

Over: Dogfish Creek

Located on NW Lindvig Wy, Kitsap, WA

Built 2003 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 23,262

WARREN DR NW

Good

Over: WARREN CREEK

0.1 S 36TH ST NW, Pierce, WA

Built 2011 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,268

SE LK DOROTHY RD

Good

Over: UNNAMED TRIBUTARY

5.7 MI N OF I-90, King, WA

Built 2015 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 125

WAPATO LAKE RD

Good

Over: LAKE OUTLET

300 FROM MANSON BLVD, Chelan, WA

Built 1996 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 384

Alley

Good

Over: China Creek

0.1 WEST OF ROCK ST, Lewis, WA

Built 2011 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 28

COYOTE LANE

Good

Over: BAXTER CREEK

0.16W OF PH10 (MP 4.15), Cowlitz, WA

Built 2020 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 65

Second Street

Good

Over: Highline Canal

W of Canal Blvd S of 5th, Chelan, WA

Built 2020 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 800

SQUALICUM PKWY

Good

Over: SQUALICUM CR

0.1 MI N OF BIRCHWOOD AVE, Whatcom, WA

Built 2020 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 6,200

137TH ST SE

Good

Over: STREAM

2.0 NW JCT SR 2, Snohomish, WA

Built 2023 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 150

STEPTOE CNY 9280

Good

Over: STEPTOE CREEK

6.14 MILES S OF RD 9270, Whitman, WA

Built 2023 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3

NE W-D RD

Good

Over: TUCK CREEK

1.4 Mi W of SR 203, King, WA

Built 2017 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 10,500

PARKING LOT ROAD

Good

Over: SOUND TRANSIT LIGHT RAIL

W. OF WINTERS HOUSE, King, WA

Built 2023 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

112TH AVE SE

Good

Over: SOUND TRANSIT LIGHT RAIL

0.4 Mi N of Bellevue Way, King, WA

Built 2023 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 500

EUCLID ROAD

Good

Over: BNSF RR TRACKS

1.6 MI N TRAILS RD, Spokane, WA

Built 2023 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 578

PURPLE POINT SERVI

Good

Over: PURPLE CREEK

Service road by public sh, Chelan, WA

Built 1995 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 25

UPPER QUEETS VALLE

Good

Over: PHELAN CREEK

Take Olympic National For, Jefferson, WA

Built 2008 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50

SOL DUC GROUP CAMP

Good

Over: UNNAMED TRIBUTARY TO SOL

11.5 MI. S OF JCT. HWY. 1, Clallam, WA

Built 2016 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 25

E. GATE RD/TANK TR

Good

Over: JOHNSON CREEK

GRID COORD ET378097, Pierce, WA

Built 1997 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,000

NISQUALLY BR. RD.

Good

Over: NISQUALLY RIVER

GRID COORD ET280038, Pierce, WA

Built 1953 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50

PINCUS ROAD

Good

Over: MUCK CREEK

ET370083, Pierce, WA

Built 1996 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 10

30TH INF REGT RD

Good

Over: MUCK CREEK

ET406086, Pierce, WA

Built 1997 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 10

NCO BEACH RD

Good

Over: AMERICAN LAKE

ET311172, Pierce, WA

Built 1995 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 500

MADIGAN AVENUE

Good

Over: MURRAY CREEK

SE OF JACKSON AVE, Pierce, WA

Built 2013 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,500

SR 106

Good

Over: TWANOH CREEK

12.3 E JCT US 101, Mason, WA

Built 2023 Load: 32.8 t ADT: 2,309

SR 101

Good

Over: LELAND CREEK

7.6 S JCT SR 104, Jefferson, WA

Built 2023 Load: 32.8 t ADT: 2,638

SR 539

Good

Over: DUFFNER DITCH

3.6 N JCT SR 544, Whatcom, WA

Built 2023 Load: 32.8 t ADT: 14,149

SR 542

Good

Over: SQUALICUM CREEK

3.4 E JCT I-5, Whatcom, WA

Built 2023 Load: 32.8 t ADT: 32,277

Park Road

Good

Over: Footbridge Trail

0.5 mi west of US 101, Jefferson, WA

Built 2023 Load: 32.8 t ADT: 75

Park Road

Good

Over: Seasonal Creek

1.0 mi. west of SR 121, Thurston, WA

Built 2014 Load: 32.8 t ADT: 75

Park Road

Good

Over: Creek

0.8 mi. west of SR 121, Thurston, WA

Built 2023 Load: 32.8 t ADT: 75

SR 509

Good

Over: RIVER RR PORTLAND AVE

0.7 N JCT I-705, Pierce, WA

Built 1996 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 29,150

NORVYDAN RD

Good

Over: TAYLOR CREEK

0.01 MI N OF SR-18, King, WA

Built 2005 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 1,600

SR 99

Good

Over: CITY STREETS & RAILROAD

3.3 N JCT SR 509, King, WA

Built 2011 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 25,232

SR 97

Good

Over: MILL CREEK

9.5 N JCT SR 970, Kittitas, WA

Built 2018 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 5,697

NORTH FORK RD.

Good

Over: AHTANUM CREEK N. FORK

04.71 NW AHTANUM RD, Yakima, WA

Built 1974 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 310

NE 167TH AVE

Good

Over: SALMON CREEK

0.2S NE 199 ST, Clark, WA

Built 1963 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 1,481

YESLER WAY

Good

Over: 4TH AVE S

4th Ave S & Yesler Way, King, WA

Built 1909 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 8,000

SIMS RD

Good

Over: TOUCHET RIVER

00.19E TOUCHET N RD, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1990 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 32

GEISSLER ROAD

Good

Over: WYNOOCHEE RIVER

00.0 SW JCT 9519, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1995 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 300

HOLLY ROAD

Good

Over: BIG BEEF CREEK

0.7 E JCT SEABECK HOLLY R, Kitsap, WA

Built 1995 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 4,400

LIMESTONE RD. 9619

Good

Over: CRAB CREEK

0.08 N. FAS L220, Lincoln, WA

Built 2002 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 137

OLD TARBOO ROAD

Good

Over: TARBOO CREEK

0.88 E. JCT. CENTER ROAD, Jefferson, WA

Built 2005 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 50

CEMETERY RD

Good

Over: USBR LATURAL EL68

00.49 MI E REYNOLDS, Adams, WA

Built 2008 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 235

4 SE

Good

Over: Irrigation Drainage

4 SE 0.35 East of M SE, Grant, WA

Built 2008 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 106

N 14TH STREET

Good

Over: FISHTRAP CREEK

AT GLENNING, Whatcom, WA

Built 2009 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 2,592

CHATTAROY ROAD

Good

Over: DRAGOON CREEK

1.0 MI. W CHATTAROY RD, Spokane, WA

Built 2010 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 446

4TH AVE NW

Good

Over: NORTH FORK ISSAQUAH CR

0.3 MI N OF GILMAN, King, WA

Built 2011 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 5,500

Showing 5,501-5,550 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.