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

RED BRIDGE ROAD

Fair

Over: CRAB CREEK

1.01 E SR 28, Lincoln, WA

Built 1970 Load: 17.5 t ADT: 15

CO RD 30170

Fair

Over: PESHASTIN CR

09.0SW DRYDEN, Chelan, WA

Built 1923 Load: 17.5 t ADT: 440

PARKE CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: HILINE CANAL

00.52 N VANTAGE HWY, Kittitas, WA

Built 1931 Load: 17.5 t ADT: 137

Ahtanum Rd.

Fair

Over: Bachelor Creek

0.04 W Goodman Rd., Yakima, WA

Built 1969 Load: 17.5 t ADT: 10,018

SR 20

Fair

Over: BONAPARTE CREEK

0.9 E JCT US 97, Okanogan, WA

Built 1933 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 1,780

US 101

Fair

Over: DUCKABUSH RIVER

25.1 S JCT SR 104, Jefferson, WA

Built 1934 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 2,604

SR 165

Fair

Over: WILKESON CREEK

16.8 N RAINIER PARK, Pierce, WA

Built 1916 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 3,208

CHUMSTICK HWY

Fair

Over: CHUMSTICK CR

4.2 N JCT SR 2, Chelan, WA

Built 1952 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 2,886

I-90

Fair

Over: SR 281 SPUR

14.0 E JCT SR 26, Grant, WA

Built 1962 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 6,513

US 97

Fair

Over: I-90 WEST ELLENSBURG

JCT I-90, Kittitas, WA

Built 1966 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 10,434

I-90

Fair

Over: HIGH POINT RD

4.4 E JCT SR 900, King, WA

Built 1975 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 32,655

ANDERSON ROAD

Fair

Over: COLUMBIA PLATEAU TRAIL

1.0 E CHENEY-SPOK, Spokane, WA

Built 1971 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 221

WALTERS ROAD

Fair

Over: MOXEE DRAIN

00.25 S OF SR 24, Yakima, WA

Built 1958 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 489

PACIFIC HWY SW

Fair

Over: CLOVER CREEK

.5 NW JCT SR 5, Pierce, WA

Built 1937 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 6,325

QUILLAYUTE ROAD

Fair

Over: SOL DUC RIVER

3.4 W JCT SR101, Clallam, WA

Built 1962 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 452

HAMPTON RD

Fair

Over: DRY WASH

01.04 MI W FOULKES RD, Adams, WA

Built 1900 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 1

N MEYER/9260

Fair

Over: UNION FLAT CREEK

0.66 MI W SR 195, Whitman, WA

Built 1964 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 48

DAYBREAK ROAD

Fair

Over: E FORK LEWIS RIVER

0.1 Mile south of Hyatt R, Clark, WA

Built 1966 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 4,861

SMITH SPRINGS RD

Fair

Over: DRY HOLLOW

13.38 N SR 124, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1932 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 36

SETTLER ROAD

Fair

Over: EAST LATERAL 85

.01 E WAREHOUSE 225, Franklin, WA

Built 1958 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 26

W KETTLE RIV ROAD

Fair

Over: KETTLE RIVER

09.5 N/W SR 21, Ferry, WA

Built 1950 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 235

FOSS RIVER ROAD

Fair

Over: FOSS RIVER

0.8 MI SE SR-2 MP 50.6, King, WA

Built 1951 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 40

TAC SPUR-STAD WAY

Fair

Over: PAC AVE

1.0 N JCT SR 509, Pierce, WA

Built 1974 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 9,360

TAPTEAL LOOP

Fair

Over: COLUMBIA CENTER BLVD

0.21 S SR 240, Benton, WA

Built 1998 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 2,662

NE TOLT HILL RD

Fair

Over: SNOQUALMIE RIVER

0.5 MI W OF SR-203, King, WA

Built 2008 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 3,200

OLD WEST MALAGA RD

Fair

Over: STEMILT CREEK

300 FROM STEMILT CRK RD, Chelan, WA

Built 1936 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 2

ALLWARDT FARM ROAD

Fair

Over: ROZA ID MAIN CANAL

DESMARAIS RD YAKIMA, Yakima, WA

Built 1937 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 15

Farm Access

Fair

Over: West Canal W26C Lateral

West Canal W26C Lateral S, Grant, WA

Built 1987 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 10

SR 161

Fair

Over: OHOP CREEK

4.3 N JCT SR 7, Pierce, WA

Built 1900 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 7,429

SR 125

Fair

Over: TOUCHET RIVER

17.3 N JCT SR 125 SPUR, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1916 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 402

SR 125

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

6.2 N JCT SR 125 SPUR, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1921 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 415

SR 513

Fair

Over: MONTLAKE CUT

0.2 N JCT SR 520, King, WA

Built 1924 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 54,196

I-5

Fair

Over: COLUMBIA RIVER

OREGON LINE, Clark, WA

Built 1916 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 57,550

SERVICE ROAD

Fair

Over: ICICLE CREEK

1.3 MI SSW OF THE OFFICE, Chelan, WA

Built 1939 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 2

SR 153

Fair

Over: METHOW RIVER

22.3 N JCT US 97, Okanogan, WA

Built 1935 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 1,363

MAIN ST (OLD US97)

Fair

Over: AHTANUM CREEK

14.5 N JCT SR 22, Yakima, WA

Built 1941 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 8,981

US 101

Fair

Over: LAKE CRESCENT

25.7 N JCT SR 113, Clallam, WA

Built 1949 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 2,898

I-405

Fair

Over: BNRR & 115 AVE NE

0.2 N JCT SR 520, King, WA

Built 1954 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 65,986

US 395

Fair

Over: CANAL DRIVE

4.8 N JCT I-82, Benton, WA

Built 1956 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 24,266

I-5

Fair

Over: 300TH ST NW/FREEBORN RD

2.4 N JCT SR 532, Snohomish, WA

Built 1957 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 31,489

SR 904

Fair

Over: I-90

16.9 E JCT I-90, Spokane, WA

Built 1966 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 8,404

I-90

Fair

Over: MERCER SLOUGH

6.4 E JCT I-5, King, WA

Built 1970 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 21,966

WASHOUGAL RIVER RD

Fair

Over: WASHOUGAL RIVER

3.81 N OF SALMON FALLS RD, Skamania, WA

Built 1955 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 731

MOHAR ROAD

Fair

Over: HILINE CANAL

00.58 W U PEOH PT R, Kittitas, WA

Built 1976 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 241

ENGLISH GRADE RD

Fair

Over: TRIB.TOM MOORE SL./SKAGI

0.5 S SKAGIT CO., Snohomish, WA

Built 1987 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 163

WAGNER/4110

Fair

Over: IMBLER CREEK

0.17 MI E DAVIS, Whitman, WA

Built 1900 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 13

FLANNEGAN RD

Fair

Over: JOHNSON CR

00.2 N W GARRISON, Whatcom, WA

Built 1955 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 40

CUNNINGHAM RD

Fair

Over: INTERMITTENT STREAM

00.10 MI W SR395, Adams, WA

Built 1958 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 78

JW MANN ROAD

Fair

Over: SKYKOMISH RIVER

0.1 S JCT SR 2, Snohomish, WA

Built 1961 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 1,793

ROCK RD

Fair

Over: SAAR CR

.18 W OF LENHART RD, Whatcom, WA

Built 1966 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 524

Showing 551-600 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.