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

Country Club Drive

Good

Over: Roza Canal

.06 S of Terrace Hts Dr, Yakima, WA

Built 2006 Load: 45.7 t ADT: 870

ELEANOR LANE

Good

Over: MADDOX CREEK

0.1 E JCT OLD HIGHWAY 99, Skagit, WA

Built 2006 Load: 45.7 t ADT: 460

NICHOLS ROAD

Good

Over: BIG RIVER

0.07 N JCT CR91460, Clallam, WA

Built 2011 Load: 45.7 t ADT: 30

Tucannon Road

Good

Over: Un-named creek

M.P. 14.75 Rd No. 92330, Columbia, WA

Built 2017 Load: 45.7 t ADT: 200

S 116TH ST

Good

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH-RELIEF

0.3 MI W OF SR-99, King, WA

Built 2020 Load: 45.7 t ADT: 6,500

160TH ST NW

Good

Over: HUGE CREEK

0.5 W JCT 118 AVE, Pierce, WA

Built 2021 Load: 45.7 t ADT: 1,650

Cowiche Mill Road

Good

Over: Cowiche Creek

4.53 W Sunset Way, Yakima, WA

Built 2022 Load: 45.7 t ADT: 186

ROAD

Good

Over: BECKLER RIVER

1.0 MI N O HYW 2/65 JCT, Snohomish, WA

Built 1988 Load: 45.8 t ADT: 114

SR 6

Good

Over: WILLAPA RIVER

9.4 E JCT US 101, Pacific, WA

Built 1953 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 1,780

S-W RAMP

Good

Over: W-W RAMP

JCT SR 432, Cowlitz, WA

Built 2011 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 3,939

VANCE CR LOOP

Good

Over: FIR CREEK

NFSR 23 TO NFSR 2230, Mason, WA

Built 2010 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 10

NE 199TH STREET

Good

Over: WOODIN CREEK

0.56 M. E OF SR 503, Clark, WA

Built 2003 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 10,556

RIVERSIDE DRIVE

Good

Over: SKAGIT RIVER

0.7 N JCT SR 538, Skagit, WA

Built 2004 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 21,640

N HARBORVIEW DR

Good

Over: DONKEY CREEK

0.05 NE JCT HARBORVIEW DR, Pierce, WA

Built 2013 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 5,341

OCR 3683

Good

Over: NESPELEM RIVER

5.13 NO. JCT. SR 155, Okanogan, WA

Built 2017 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 51

W. White Swan Road

Good

Over: Simco Creek

0.29 E of Hawk Rd., Yakima, WA

Built 2022 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 530

8817: LONE RANCH N

Good

Over: Lone Ranch Creek

0.4 miles east of Hwy 21, Ferry, WA

Built 2018 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 2

YALE ST RAMP

Good

Over: I-5 REV RAMP

1.8 N JCT I-90, King, WA

Built 1962 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 15,088

SR 12

Good

Over: NP RY

10.0 E JCT SR 107, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1964 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 12,029

I-5 NBCD RAMP

Good

Over: TERRAIN

JCT I-90, King, WA

Built 1965 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 40,483

WARDEN RD/ROAD U

Good

Over: I-90

9.5 E JCT SR 17, Grant, WA

Built 1966 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 913

SR 518

Good

Over: 42ND AVE S

0.4 E JCT SR 99, King, WA

Built 1966 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 60,822

I-90

Good

Over: ISSAQUAH CREEK

0.9 E JCT SR 900, King, WA

Built 1970 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 44,695

I-90

Good

Over: ISSAQUAH CREEK

0.9 E JCT SR 900, King, WA

Built 1970 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 44,695

SR 162

Good

Over: S PRAIRIE CREEK

12.8 E JCT SR 410, Pierce, WA

Built 1969 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 8,532

US 2

Good

Over: W-W RAMP

15.3 E LINCOLN CO, Spokane, WA

Built 1972 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 14,901

NE 78TH ST

Good

Over: I-205

1.7 N JCT SR 500, Clark, WA

Built 1973 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 7,616

SR 170

Good

Over: EAST LOW CANAL

2.4 E JCT SR 17, Grant, WA

Built 1980 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 2,802

SR 4

Good

Over: NASELLE RIVER

1.3 E JCT SR 401, Pacific, WA

Built 1987 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 2,130

US 2

Good

Over: SLOUGH

SNOHOMISH CO LINE, King, WA

Built 1986 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 5,659

US 2

Good

Over: STREAM

0.3 E SNOHOMISH CO, King, WA

Built 1986 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 5,659

PIONEER HWY

Good

Over: FISHER SLOUGH

1.5 SW JCT INTERSTATE 5, Skagit, WA

Built 1987 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 9,516

SR 106

Good

Over: SKOKOMISH RIVER

1.4 E JCT US 101, Mason, WA

Built 1987 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 1,584

SR 4

Good

Over: RANGILA SLOUGH

6.4 E JCT SR 401, Wahkiakum, WA

Built 1990 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 1,472

SR 18 WESTBOUND

Good

Over: SOOSETTE CREEK

4.7 E JCT SR 164, King, WA

Built 1997 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 27,460

PINE ST/BLACK DIAM

Good

Over: US 101

0.4 E JCT SR 117, Clallam, WA

Built 1998 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 1,941

3RD AVE

Good

Over: US 101

18.0 E JCT SR 117, Clallam, WA

Built 1999 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 789

SEQUIM AVE

Good

Over: US 101

18.2 E JCT SR 117, Clallam, WA

Built 1999 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 6,640

US 101

Good

Over: DOSEWALLIPS RIVER

21.5 S JCT SR 104, Jefferson, WA

Built 2000 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 3,222

E-N RAMP

Good

Over: 4TH AVE BUILDINGS

0.2 W JCT I-90, King, WA

Built 2003 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 606

I-5 HOV LANES

Good

Over: SR 524 SPUR/44TH AVE W

3.0 N JCT SR 104, Snohomish, WA

Built 2004 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 996

SR 18

Good

Over: TAYLOR CREEK

1.6 E JCT SR 169, King, WA

Built 2004 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 16,302

SR 240

Good

Over: OLD SR 12/COLUMBIA PK TR

1.7 E JCT I-182, Benton, WA

Built 2006 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 48,296

SR 24/E NOB HILL

Good

Over: I-82 E NOB HILL BLVD

JCT I-82, Yakima, WA

Built 2006 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 24,020

SR 20

Good

Over: HIGGINS SLOUGH

0.1 E JCT SR 536, Skagit, WA

Built 2007 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 13,243

SR 20

Good

Over: HIGGINS SLOUGH

1.2 E JCT SR 356, Skagit, WA

Built 2007 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 14,246

SR 518 EB OFF RAMP

Good

Over: 8TH AVE

0.2 E JCT SR 509, King, WA

Built 2018 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 5,000

SR 506

Good

Over: LACAMAS CREEK

7.0 E COWLITZ CO, Lewis, WA

Built 2020 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 2,052

SR 522

Good

Over: SWAMP CREEK

2.1 E JCT SR 104, King, WA

Built 2008 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 34,238

ROAD

Good

Over: JACKMAN CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Skagit, WA

Built 1985 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 10

Showing 6,951-7,000 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.