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

Fort Road

Good

Over: Wanity Slough

Intersection with Elmwood, Yakima, WA

Built 2014 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 10,500

KEAL ROAD

Good

Over: CEDAR CREEK

0.2 N of Copalis Bch Rd, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 2014 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 20

Yakima Valley Hwy

Good

Over: Overflow Canal

.48 E Konnowac Pass Road, Yakima, WA

Built 2015 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 3,472

SOUTH BANK ROAD

Good

Over: EATON CREEK

1.3 W JCT 96540, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 2017 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 832

INDEX-GALENA RD

Good

Over: TRIB NF SKYKOMISH RIVER

6.8 NE JCT SR 2, Snohomish, WA

Built 2023 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 190

COOPER PT RD

Good

Over: US 101

5.0 E JCT SR 8, Thurston, WA

Built 1976 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 22,706

SR 500 N-E RAMP

Good

Over: BURNT BR CK/PED XING

1.2 E JCT I-5, Clark, WA

Built 2012 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 5,004

ALASKAN WAY SOUTH

Good

Over: BNSF RR

3.6 N JCT SR 509, King, WA

Built 2013 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 8,000

NE 139TH ST

Good

Over: I-5 / I-205

5.3 N JCT SR 500, Clark, WA

Built 2014 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 14,913

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: CUB CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Okanogan, WA

Built 2009 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 50

SR 505

Good

Over: LACAMAS CREEK

0.5 E JCT I-5, Lewis, WA

Built 1955 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 3,773

I RD SW

Good

Over: SADDLE MOUNTAIN WASTEWAY

I SW 1.0 S of 24, Grant, WA

Built 1969 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 115

FARMINGTON/1000

Good

Over: PINE CREEK

1.04 MI SW HOLLINGSWORTH, Whitman, WA

Built 1980 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 353

PINE CONE RD.

Good

Over: AGENCY CREEK

00.08 W HAWK ROAD, Yakima, WA

Built 1974 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 65

ROCK LAKE/3010

Good

Over: ROCK CREEK

10.44 MI S BELSBY, Whitman, WA

Built 1978 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 221

R RD SE

Good

Over: Lind Coulee

R SE .1 mile S of 3 SE, Grant, WA

Built 1966 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 436

PUYALLUP AVE

Good

Over: E 24TH&B ST& ABANDONED R

0.5 N JCT I-5&SR7, Pierce, WA

Built 1910 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 13,000

TOUCHET NORTH RD

Good

Over: TOUCHET RIVER

13.455 N SR 12, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1992 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 172

DELPHI ROAD

Good

Over: DEMPSEY CREEK

2. SW BLACK LAKE, Thurston, WA

Built 1995 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 4,432

POM POM RD.

Good

Over: TOPPENISH CREEK

0.55 S. OF MARION DRAIN, Yakima, WA

Built 1998 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 89

WHITETRAIL RD

Good

Over: WEST CANAL BLK 75

5 NW 1.1 W of R, Grant, WA

Built 1997 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 5,128

White River Road

Good

Over: Napeequa River

MP 6.4 White River Road, Chelan, WA

Built 2001 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 111

BRIDGEPORT WY W

Good

Over: LEACH CREEK

0.25 SE JCT. 67TH AV, Pierce, WA

Built 2005 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 26,000

SMITH RD

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

0.08 N SR 12, Walla Walla, WA

Built 2006 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 14

SOUTH BANK ROAD

Good

Over: HARRIS CREEK

0.5 SW JCT SR 12, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 2012 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 1,281

BUFFALO LAKE RD

Good

Over: LITTLE NESPELEM RIVER

1.2 MI SE IND. AGCY, Okanogan, WA

Built 2014 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 244

S 228TH STREET

Good

Over: BNSF RR

0.2 MI W OF SR-167, King, WA

Built 2009 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 2,200

MAIN ST

Good

Over: TOUCHET RIVER

N SIDE OF TOWN ON MAIN ST, Walla Walla, WA

Built 2017 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 275

SNYDER ROAD

Good

Over: HALL CREEK

0.2 E HWY 12, Lewis, WA

Built 2020 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 212

Ruby Creek Rd

Good

Over: North Fork Ruby Creek

3.8 west of SR 20, Pend Oreille, WA

Built 2021 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 50

74th AVE NE

Good

Over: Prairie Creek

0.30 SW JCT SR9, Snohomish, WA

Built 2013 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 1,300

SR 542

Good

Over: SMITH CREEK

0.6 E JCT SR 9, Whatcom, WA

Built 1948 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 9,002

SR 9

Good

Over: RR & CITY STREETS

2.8 N JCT SR 531, Snohomish, WA

Built 1961 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 12,237

MITCHELL AVE

Good

Over: I-5

0.4 N JCT SR 543, Whatcom, WA

Built 1963 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 5,000

SR 6

Good

Over: FERN CREEK

16.8 E JCT US 101, Pacific, WA

Built 1962 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 1,561

CARTY RD

Good

Over: I-5

0.9 N JCT SR 502, Clark, WA

Built 1968 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 590

OLD NISQUALLY RD

Good

Over: I-5

2.0 N THURSTON CO, Pierce, WA

Built 1967 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 5,686

I-5

Good

Over: N-W RAMP E-N RAMP

2.3 N JCT I-90, King, WA

Built 1967 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 14,227

SR 17

Good

Over: MANTON WAY

1.3 N JCT US 395, Franklin, WA

Built 1968 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 5,121

S 156TH ST

Good

Over: SR 509

6.5 N JCT SR 516, King, WA

Built 1970 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 8,754

SR 14

Good

Over: WHITE SALMON RIVER

41.8 E CLARK CO, Klickitat, WA

Built 1971 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 5,801

I-205

Good

Over: LP&N RY

3.1 N JCT SR 500, Clark, WA

Built 1972 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 37,053

I-90

Good

Over: S FK SNOQUALMIE R

7.3 E JCT SR 202, King, WA

Built 1974 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 18,182

US 195

Good

Over: JOHN WAYNE TRAIL

0.7 N JCT SR 271, Whitman, WA

Built 1975 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 4,476

SR 142

Good

Over: KLICKITAT RIVER

10.0 E JCT SR 14, Klickitat, WA

Built 1977 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 715

SR 167

Good

Over: STEWART RD SE

3.6 N JCT SR 410, Pierce, WA

Built 1977 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 42,516

SR 508

Good

Over: BEAR CANYON CREEK

21.4 E JCT I-5, Lewis, WA

Built 1983 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 1,171

TUMWATER BLVD

Good

Over: I-5

2.0 N JCT SR 121, Thurston, WA

Built 1986 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 13,762

US 2

Good

Over: STREAM

25.2 E JCT SR 203, Snohomish, WA

Built 1986 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 5,659

SR 112

Good

Over: DEEP CREEK

11.5 E JCT SR 113, Clallam, WA

Built 1992 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 820

Showing 5,551-5,600 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.