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

BAKERVIEW RD

Good

Over: I-5

1.5 N JCT SR 539, Whatcom, WA

Built 1975 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 22,813

SR 16

Good

Over: SIDNEY ROAD

7.6 N PIERCE CO, Kitsap, WA

Built 1977 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 26,702

SR 16

Good

Over: SIDNEY ROAD

7.6 N PIERCE CO, Kitsap, WA

Built 1977 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 26,702

I-82

Good

Over: SR 223

8.4 E JCT SR 22, Yakima, WA

Built 1981 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 10,295

SR 410

Good

Over: AMERICAN RIVER

14.9 E PIERCE CO, Yakima, WA

Built 1989 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 709

US 101

Good

Over: WEST FORK HOQUIAM RIVER

7.0 N JCT SR 109, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1990 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 2,205

I-5 NB HOV

Good

Over: SOUTHCENTER BLVD

JCT I-405 & SR 518, King, WA

Built 1996 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 6,776

US 101

Good

Over: LOST CREEK

22.4 N GRAYS HBR CO, Jefferson, WA

Built 1999 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 1,183

SR 171

Good

Over: I-90

JCT I-90, Grant, WA

Built 2001 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 9,405

SR 500

Good

Over: THURSTON WAY

3.9 E JCT I-5, Clark, WA

Built 2002 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 49,037

SR 162

Good

Over: VOIGHTS CREEK

9.2 E JCT SR 410, Pierce, WA

Built 2004 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 8,532

I-405

Good

Over: NE 116TH ST

5.0 N JCT SR 520, King, WA

Built 2007 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 80,878

I-405

Good

Over: NE 116TH ST

5.0 N JCT SR 520, King, WA

Built 2006 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 80,878

D STREET

Good

Over: SR 543 NORTHBOUND

0.8 N JCT I-5, Whatcom, WA

Built 2007 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 6,423

SR 539

Good

Over: FISHTRAP CREEK

2.7 N JCT SR 544, Whatcom, WA

Built 2008 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 16,600

SB I-405 RAMP

Good

Over: BENSON ROAD

0.4 N JCT SR 515, King, WA

Built 2010 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 11,338

SR 532

Good

Over: STILLAGUAMISH R / RR

0.5 E SNOHOMISH CO, Snohomish, WA

Built 2010 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 20,742

US 12

Good

Over: CMSTPP RR

7.7 E GRAYS HBR CO, Thurston, WA

Built 2011 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 22,939

SR 9

Good

Over: EVERETT WATER MAIN

1.8 N JCT US 2, Snohomish, WA

Built 2009 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 20,638

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: PINE CREEK

0.8 MI FROM JCT. FS RD 90, Skamania, WA

Built 1986 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 400

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: NO DATA ENTERED

NO DATA ENTERED, Skamania, WA

Built 2005 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 30

ROAD

Good

Over: UNNAMED CREEK

1.7 MI W OF 5403/5405 JCT, King, WA

Built 1995 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 10

ROAD

Good

Over: BOLT CREEK

SEC.24 T26N R11E, King, WA

Built 1997 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 75

ROAD

Good

Over: HARLAN CREEK

4.4 MI N OF HWY 2/65 JCT, King, WA

Built 1991 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 114

ROAD

Good

Over: BURNS CREEK

0.24 MI S OF 68/6835 JCT, King, WA

Built 1999 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 60

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: CABIN CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Mason, WA

Built 1993 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 75

CO RD 47670

Good

Over: ENTIAT RIVER

04.1W ENTIAT, Chelan, WA

Built 1921 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 59

134 ST S

Good

Over: CLOVER CREEK

.2 E JCT SR7, Pierce, WA

Built 1970 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 1,250

TULE LAKE AV S

Good

Over: CLOVER CREEK

1.0 W JCT SR7, Pierce, WA

Built 1967 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 65

Cloquallum Road

Good

Over: CLOQUALLUM CREEK

2.31 S JCT Highland Rd, Mason, WA

Built 1996 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 627

LAKE WA BLVD

Good

Over: MAY CREEK

0.2 MILES SW I-405 EXIT 7, King, WA

Built 1996 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 5,478

INGLEWOOD DR

Good

Over: WESTOVER CREEK

0.03 W ALPHA DR (MP 0.34), Cowlitz, WA

Built 1997 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 1,000

NISQUALLY RD SW

Good

Over: BNSF RAILROAD OVERPASS

1.1 S JCT SR 5, Pierce, WA

Built 2004 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 13,225

INDEX-GALENA RD

Good

Over: LEWIS CREEK

2.2 NE JCT SR 2, Snohomish, WA

Built 2005 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 186

41st St.

Good

Over: BNSF RR & Maple St

0.1 E Jct I-5, Snohomish, WA

Built 2006 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 2,328

MAIN STREET

Good

Over: FISHTRAP CREEK

0.2 W THIRD STREET, Whatcom, WA

Built 2014 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 6,039

WASHINGTON ROUTE 1

Good

Over: LAUGHINGWATER CREEK

2.6 MILES NORTH OF PARK B, Lewis, WA

Built 1994 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 1,375

KEENE RD

Good

Over: I-182

2.4 E JCT I-82, Benton, WA

Built 1982 Load: 49.2 t ADT: 9,593

TWIN BRIDGES ROAD

Good

Over: YAKIMA RIVER

300 SW of SNIVELY ROAD, Benton, WA

Built 1997 Load: 49.2 t ADT: 2,465

J STREET

Good

Over: UNNAMED CREEK

0.07 SE JCT PARKVEIW LN, Skagit, WA

Built 2006 Load: 49.2 t ADT: 50

S. 16th Ave.

Good

Over: Wide Hollow Creek

0.16 mi S of Washington, Yakima, WA

Built 2008 Load: 49.2 t ADT: 7,500

NE WEST KINGSTON

Good

Over: CARPENTER CREEK

1.37 E JCT MILLER BAY RD, Kitsap, WA

Built 2017 Load: 49.2 t ADT: 4,709

S 228th STREET

Good

Over: UPRR

0.3 MI W OF SR-167, King, WA

Built 2021 Load: 49.2 t ADT: 2,200

US 395

Good

Over: MARKET ST

6.9 N JCT I-90, Spokane, WA

Built 2012 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 5,804

NORTH FORK RD SE

Good

Over: N FORK SNOQUALMIE RIVER

14.8 MI N OF I-90, King, WA

Built 2008 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 60

Riverfront BLVD

Good

Over: Bigelow Creek

0.5 mi SE JCT 1-5/41st, Snohomish, WA

Built 2012 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 1,286

S 208TH ST

Good

Over: SR 167 & SPRINGBROOK CR

3.0 N JCT SR 516, King, WA

Built 1963 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 5,460

SR 162

Good

Over: S PRAIRIE CR

13.1 E JCT SR 410, Pierce, WA

Built 1969 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 8,532

LEXINGTON BR DR

Good

Over: I-5

2.8 N JCT SR 4, Cowlitz, WA

Built 1975 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 6,191

SR 512

Good

Over: MERIDIAN ST

1.3 E JCT SR 161, Pierce, WA

Built 1974 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 43,016

Showing 7,151-7,200 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.