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

SR 167 ON RAMP SB

Good

Over: SOATON CREEK

2.1 N JCT SR 410, Pierce, WA

Built 2004 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 4,769

POTATO HILL RD

Good

Over: I-90

1.5 E JCT SR 171, Grant, WA

Built 2006 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 4,037

SR 20

Good

Over: BEAVER CREEK

1.8 E JCT SR 153, Okanogan, WA

Built 2006 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 1,342

US 101

Good

Over: WEST FORK HOQUIAM RIVER

12.0 N JCT SR 109, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 2008 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 2,126

SULTAN BASIN RD

Good

Over: BRANCH OLNEY CREEK

11.8 NE JCT SR 2, Snohomish, WA

Built 1991 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 100

BIG HANAFORD RD.

Good

Over: HANAFORD CREEK

7.5 E. CENTRALIA, Lewis, WA

Built 2003 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 36

SE 248TH ST

Good

Over: ROCK CREEK

1 MI E SR-169 ON SE 248TH, King, WA

Built 2003 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 465

73RD AVE NE

Good

Over: SWAMP CREEK

INTERS. NE 192ND ST, King, WA

Built 2005 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 6,800

12TH ST E

Good

Over: HYLEBOS CREEK

0.34 W HWY 99, Pierce, WA

Built 2023 Load: 47.3 t ADT: 4,225

LAKEMONT BLVD

Good

Over: LEWIS CREEK

1.0 MI S OF I-90, King, WA

Built 1990 Load: 47.3 t ADT: 12,334

SOHM ROAD

Good

Over: EAST LATERAL 85

0.02 EAST OF WAREHOUSE, Franklin, WA

Built 2000 Load: 47.3 t ADT: 41

TIBBETTS CK LN NW

Good

Over: TIBBETS CREEK

0.01 MI S of Shy Bear Way, King, WA

Built 2008 Load: 47.3 t ADT: 525

N 40TH PLACE

Good

Over: MAY CREEK

0.2 MI W OF I-405, King, WA

Built 2007 Load: 47.3 t ADT: 165

SE 424TH ST

Good

Over: WATERCRESS CREEK

0.6 MI W 284TH AVE SE, King, WA

Built 2011 Load: 47.3 t ADT: 140

IDAHO ROAD

Good

Over: SOUTH FORK ROCK CREEK

0.4 MI N OF E TRUAX RD, Spokane, WA

Built 2020 Load: 47.3 t ADT: 36

236th St NE

Good

Over: Unnamed Stream

0.6 E JCT SR5, Snohomish, WA

Built 2022 Load: 47.3 t ADT: 6,201

12TH ST E

Good

Over: WAPATO CREEK

.23 E JCT SR509, Pierce, WA

Built 2023 Load: 47.3 t ADT: 4,225

WESTBOUND I-90

Good

Over: S TRANSIT RR LAKEVIEW A

1.5 E JCT I-5, King, WA

Built 1989 Load: 47.6 t ADT: 63,053

CHAMBER WAY

Good

Over: I-5

1.1 N JCT SR 6, Lewis, WA

Built 2018 Load: 47.6 t ADT: 12,588

SCHOOL AVENUE

Good

Over: RUSSELL CREEK

00.276 N RESER RD, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1995 Load: 47.6 t ADT: 1,220

SOUTH FORK COPPEI

Good

Over: SOUTH FORK COPPEI CREEK

00.1 E OF WALKER RD, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1997 Load: 47.6 t ADT: 61

Franklin Road

Good

Over: Cowiche Creek N.Fork

00.12 so. Of Rosenkranz, Yakima, WA

Built 2002 Load: 47.6 t ADT: 495

LAKE WHATCOM BLVD

Good

Over: AUSTIN CREEK

00.2 LK LOUISE ROAD, Whatcom, WA

Built 2004 Load: 47.6 t ADT: 5,495

Marion Drain Road

Good

Over: Toppenish Creek

.60 mi West of Island Rd., Yakima, WA

Built 2007 Load: 47.6 t ADT: 50

Thorn Hollow Road

Good

Over: Whetstone Creek

0.03 Miles SE JCT 25860, Columbia, WA

Built 2015 Load: 47.6 t ADT: 200

I-90

Good

Over: ANIMAL CROSSING

0.6 E JCT SR 906, Kittitas, WA

Built 2012 Load: 48.0 t ADT: 17,475

124TH AVE NE

Good

Over: LAKE STEVENS OUTFLOW

0.01 S North Lksh Dr, Snohomish, WA

Built 1993 Load: 48.0 t ADT: 6,560

143RD PL NE

Good

Over: TRIB QUILCEDA CREEK

1.4 MI E INT I-5, Snohomish, WA

Built 1997 Load: 48.0 t ADT: 540

STATE STREET

Good

Over: MISSOURI FLAT CREEK

0.07 N JCT SR 195, Whitman, WA

Built 1997 Load: 48.0 t ADT: 4,008

84TH ST NE

Good

Over: LITTLE PILCHUCK CREEK

1.1 W JCT SR 92, Snohomish, WA

Built 2006 Load: 48.0 t ADT: 10,540

YOUMANS ROAD

Good

Over: UNNAMED CREEK

2.3 N JCT HOQ-WISHKAH RD, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 2020 Load: 48.0 t ADT: 949

SR 20

Good

Over: COAL CREEK

3.9 E JCT SR 9, Skagit, WA

Built 1948 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 9,377

N-N RAMP

Good

Over: SR 7 SB RAMP

1.4 N JCT SR 16, Pierce, WA

Built 1964 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 25,622

US 12

Good

Over: TOUCHET RIVER

7.5 E WALLA WAL CO, Columbia, WA

Built 1966 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 5,442

US 12

Good

Over: W-E RAMP

14.6 E JCT SR 410, Yakima, WA

Built 1970 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 6,839

I-5 N-W RAMP

Good

Over: DILLENBAUGH CR

6.8 N JCT SR 508, Lewis, WA

Built 1976 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 3,301

I-82

Good

Over: COFFIN ROAD

9.9 E JCT US 395, Benton, WA

Built 1983 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 10,827

E-NS RAMP I-90

Good

Over: BURLINGTON-NORTHERN RR

12.9 E JCT SR 21, Adams, WA

Built 1985 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 325

SR 167 SB OFF-RAMP

Good

Over: SPRINGBROOK CREEK

1.8 N JCT SR 516, King, WA

Built 1986 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 10,099

SR 3

Good

Over: GORST CREEK

6.3 N MASON CO, Kitsap, WA

Built 1988 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 11,690

SR 512

Good

Over: SR 167

3.2 E JCT SR 161, Pierce, WA

Built 1987 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 22,180

SR 504

Good

Over: MARATTA CREEK

20.6 E JCT SR 504 SP, Cowlitz, WA

Built 1992 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 586

US 101

Good

Over: NORTH NEMAH RIVER

6.3 N JCT SR 4, Pacific, WA

Built 1992 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 2,728

E-N RAMP SR 520

Good

Over: I-405 & SR 520

JCT I-405, King, WA

Built 1993 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 8,270

SR 516

Good

Over: WETLANDS

2.9 E JCT SR 515, King, WA

Built 1994 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 31,532

I-405 RAMP

Good

Over: SOUTHCENTER BLVD

0.9 N JCT I-5, King, WA

Built 1994 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 8,919

SR 18

Good

Over: GREEN RIVER

2.5 E JCT SR 164, King, WA

Built 1995 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 27,460

SR 18

Good

Over: CAREY CREEK

4.0 E JCT SR 169, King, WA

Built 1996 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 15,143

SR 542

Good

Over: OVERFLOW CHANNEL

9.9 E JCT I-5, Whatcom, WA

Built 1999 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 11,016

SR 21

Good

Over: GRANITE CREEK

53.0 N LINCOLN CO, Ferry, WA

Built 2001 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 409

Showing 7,051-7,100 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.