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

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: WHITE PINE CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Chelan, WA

Built 1991 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 25

DOWNSTREAM ROAD

Good

Over: NORTH FORK TIETON

W. OF CLEAR LAKE, Yakima, WA

Built 1971 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 10

LITTLE NACHES ROAD

Good

Over: LITTLE NACHES

BELOW 1906, Kittitas, WA

Built 1966 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 80

I-5 SBCD

Good

Over: SKOOKUMCHUCK RIVER

0.7 N JCT SR 507, Lewis, WA

Built 2013 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 12,752

TRAFFIC AVE

Good

Over: SR 410 RAMPS

0.5 E JCT SR 167, Pierce, WA

Built 2021 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 10,448

SAM CHRISTOPHERSON

Good

Over: GORST CREEK

0.1 N JCT SR3, Kitsap, WA

Built 1987 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 5,109

DENNY STATION ROAD

Good

Over: CRAB CREEK

2.06 W SR 231, Lincoln, WA

Built 1996 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 15

COUNTY ROAD

Good

Over: ESQUATZEL WASTEWAY

0.10 WEST JCT SR395, Franklin, WA

Built 1998 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 1,145

BORLAND ROAD

Good

Over: TURBINE CANAL

.43 SW UPPER BADGER PKT, Kittitas, WA

Built 2002 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 133

PARVIN RD/5000

Good

Over: TRIB TO FOUR MILE CRK

12.27 MI W SR 195, Whitman, WA

Built 2009 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 52

OIL CITY ROAD

Good

Over: FOSSIL CREEK

9.75 SW JCT SR101, Jefferson, WA

Built 2005 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 30

Russell Road

Good

Over: Mill Creek

0.21 mi. north of SR101, Clallam, WA

Built 2012 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 100

McManamon Rd.

Good

Over: Potholes East Canal

0.86 MI. NW LEE RD, Adams, WA

Built 2019 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 1,238

Route 25880

Good

Over: Lick Creek

0.9 N Teanaway Rd, Kittitas, WA

Built 2021 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 135

NE DAVIS ROAD

Good

Over: 5TH PLAIN CREEK

0.6M E WARD ROAD, Clark, WA

Built 2022 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 3,105

TURNER ROAD

Good

Over: TUCANNON RIVER

12.57 E JCT SR 12, Columbia, WA

Built 1961 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 205

N-E RAMP

Good

Over: TRAIL

4.0 N JCT I-90, King, WA

Built 2011 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 8,000

US 395 SPUR NSC

Good

Over: LINCOLN RD

5.3 N JCT I-90, Spokane, WA

Built 2012 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 6,216

SR99

Good

Over: W. Fk. HYLEBOS CREEK

0.7 N PIERCE CO, King, WA

Built 2015 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 23,660

SR 101

Good

Over: BAGLEY CREEK

6.4 E JCT SR 117, Clallam, WA

Built 2021 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 24,841

SR 20

Good

Over: FISH CREEK

21.7 E JCT SR 9, Skagit, WA

Built 2021 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 5,327

ALDERWOOD MALL BLV

Good

Over: CITY MAINT STORAGE

1.6 E JCT SR 99, Snohomish, WA

Built 2001 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 19,198

EDEN VALLEY ROAD

Good

Over: CROOKED CREEK

0.8 E UPPER LND RD, Wahkiakum, WA

Built 1976 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 47

BENDER RD

Good

Over: FISH TRAP CR

0.4 N DRAYTON ST, Whatcom, WA

Built 1992 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 5,445

OLYMPIC LANE

Good

Over: GC CREEK

0.02 JCT BEAVER POND DR N, Skagit, WA

Built 2004 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 50

F ROAD NE

Good

Over: MAIN CANAL

F NE .43 mile N of 23, Grant, WA

Built 2008 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 18

QUINAULT S SHORE

Good

Over: GATTON CREEK

2.8 NE OF JCT SR 101, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 2011 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 1,000

SOUTHWORTH DRIVE

Good

Over: CURLEY CREEK

8.3 MI E OF JCT SR 16, Kitsap, WA

Built 2011 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 4,251

POTTER RD

Good

Over: SOUTH FORK NOOKSACK

0.3 W HWY 9, Whatcom, WA

Built 2015 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 557

NW TAYLOR ROAD

Good

Over: DICKERSON CREEK

0.02 W NORTHLAKE WAY, Kitsap, WA

Built 2016 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 277

SLATER RD

Good

Over: JORDAN CREEK

0.1 west of Elder Road, Whatcom, WA

Built 2017 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 15,000

STATE ST ELLIS ST

Good

Over: WHATCOM CREEK

100 N OF YORK ST, Whatcom, WA

Built 2022 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 10,360

I-90 E-S RAMP

Good

Over: I-5/AIRPORT WAY RAMP

JCT I-5, King, WA

Built 1965 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 9,815

SR 24

Good

Over: IRRIGATION CANAL

3.1 E GRANT CO, Adams, WA

Built 1967 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 2,142

US 97

Good

Over: PINE CANYON CREEK

0.1 N JCT US 97 SPUR, Douglas, WA

Built 1959 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 5,893

MOUNTS RD TO I-5

Good

Over: BNRR

2.0 N THURSTON CO, Pierce, WA

Built 1960 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 9,550

SR 8

Good

Over: CLOQUALLUM CR

1.1 E JCT US 12, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1962 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 9,772

SR 8

Good

Over: CLOQUALLUM CR

1.1 E JCT US 12, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1962 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 9,772

I-5

Good

Over: SR 548 (D ST)

JCT SR 548, Whatcom, WA

Built 1963 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 1,143

I-5

Good

Over: SR 503

0.4 N CLARK CO, Cowlitz, WA

Built 1963 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 32,002

SR 401

Good

Over: NASELLE R OVERFLOW

12.0 N JCT US 101, Pacific, WA

Built 1964 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 2,897

S 30TH ST

Good

Over: S-S RAMP

0.1 N JCT I-5, Pierce, WA

Built 1965 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 3,475

I-405

Good

Over: NORTHUP WAY

0.1 N JCT SR 520, King, WA

Built 1965 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 65,986

I-5

Good

Over: MILITARY RD ROSE ST

2.2 N JCT SR 900, King, WA

Built 1966 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 101,485

W-N RAMP

Good

Over: TERRAIN

5.5 N JCT SR 900, King, WA

Built 1967 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 5,951

SR 20

Good

Over: MUDDY CR

10.9 E JCT SR 9, Skagit, WA

Built 1967 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 7,222

7TH AVE SE

Good

Over: SR 512

2.1 E JCT SR 161, Pierce, WA

Built 1972 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 3,508

SR 509

Good

Over: SR 509/DES MOINES MEM

4.7 N JCT SR 516, King, WA

Built 1979 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 14,214

US 101

Good

Over: MILL CREEK

6.1 N JEFFERSON CO, Clallam, WA

Built 1979 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 2,495

I-82

Good

Over: SULPHUR CRK WASTEWAY

9.9 E JCT SR 223, Yakima, WA

Built 1982 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 23,344

Showing 6,551-6,600 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.