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

US 2

Fair

Over: WALLACE RIVER

11.6 E JCT SR 203, Snohomish, WA

Built 1940 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 13,494

SR 109

Fair

Over: HUMPTULIPS RIVER

10.3 N JCT US 101, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1956 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 6,351

SR 99

Fair

Over: SPOKANE ST

2.1 N JCT SR 509, King, WA

Built 1959 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 32,323

I-405

Fair

Over: RR & CITY STREETS

0.2 N JCT SR 181, King, WA

Built 1965 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 153,756

SR 20

Fair

Over: SHIP HBR/GUEMES CHANNEL

7.8N ON SR20 SPUR, Skagit, WA

Built 1959 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 3,227

SR 20

Fair

Over: HARNEY CHANNEL

ON ORCAS ISLAND, San Juan, WA

Built 1979 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 2,150

HAY-LACROSSE/7000

Fair

Over: MUD FLAT CREEK

5.30 MI S SR 26, Whitman, WA

Built 1920 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 65

INDEX-GALENA RD

Fair

Over: TROUT CREEK

6.1 NE JCT SR 2, Snohomish, WA

Built 1966 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 128

V RD SW

Fair

Over: IRRIGATION LATERAL

V SW 0.5 S of Baseline, Grant, WA

Built 1956 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 64

320 ST E

Fair

Over: SOUTH CREEK

1.25 E JCT SR7, Pierce, WA

Built 1967 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 425

O RD NW

Fair

Over: WEST CANAL

O NW 0.6 North of SR 28, Grant, WA

Built 1949 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 313

MILLER HM PLC/3920

Fair

Over: NEGRO CREEK

0.55 MI S BELSBY, Whitman, WA

Built 1913 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 5

PANDORA/0010

Fair

Over: CABBAGE CREEK

4.98 MI E SR 195, Whitman, WA

Built 1969 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 106

LINVILLE GULCH RD

Fair

Over: TATMAN CREEK

1.2 S JCT SR 12, Garfield, WA

Built 1962 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 178

CENTRALIA ALPHA RD

Fair

Over: NO.FK NEWAUKUM RIVER

0.04 SE JCT 46000, Lewis, WA

Built 1960 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 839

TIENHAARA ROAD

Fair

Over: SALMON CREEK

0.1 W WAHKIAKUM CO, Pacific, WA

Built 1980 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 74

BADGER PKT ROAD

Fair

Over: PARKE CREEK

00.73 N CARROLL RD, Kittitas, WA

Built 1955 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 507

Bourgault Rd

Fair

Over: WEAVER CREEK

0.03 W JCT SR101, Mason, WA

Built 1966 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 73

45 ST E

Fair

Over: LAKE TAPPS

1. SE SUMNR TPS HY, Pierce, WA

Built 1970 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 360

NORTH FORK RD.

Fair

Over: S. FORK NEWAUKUM RIVER

0.34 NE 94000, Lewis, WA

Built 1958 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 1,493

MOUNTAIN LOOP HWY.

Fair

Over: SCHWEITZER CREEK

15.8 E JCT SR 92, Snohomish, WA

Built 1952 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 1,666

THIEL RD

Fair

Over: DRY WASH

0.04 MI S LIND-RALSTON, Adams, WA

Built 1916 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 26

WEST BRANCH ROAD

Fair

Over: WB LITTLE SPOKANE RIVER

1.0 MI W OF HWY 2, Spokane, WA

Built 1915 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 98

SIMMONS/1590

Fair

Over: BRANCH SILVER CREEK

0.03 MI S WALTERS, Whitman, WA

Built 1921 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 2

Dewatto Holly rd

Fair

Over: DEWATTO RIVER

2.49 NE JCT Dewatto rd, Mason, WA

Built 1967 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 200

GEARHARDT RD

Fair

Over: LATERAL EL85 STA 2+30.30

00.09 MI N HATTON, Adams, WA

Built 1952 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 10

BOISTFORT RD.

Fair

Over: S.FORK CHEHALIS RIVER

1.08 S SR 6, Lewis, WA

Built 1958 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 686

VALLEY VIEW RD

Fair

Over: CALIFORNIA CR

00.1 N. ARNIE RD., Whatcom, WA

Built 1949 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 365

OLD PACIFIC HWY N

Fair

Over: TOUTLE RIVER

0.29 SE I-5 EXIT 52, Cowlitz, WA

Built 1935 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 509

GARFLD-FRMGTN/1300

Fair

Over: SILVER CREEK

5.39 MI S FARMINGTON, Whitman, WA

Built 1974 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 201

LENHART RD

Fair

Over: SAAR CREEK

00.2 N OF ROCK RD, Whatcom, WA

Built 1953 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 8

ELMA GATE ROAD E

Fair

Over: HARRIS CREEK

00.5 S JCT SR12, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1917 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 347

BYLSMA RD

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

00.7 N E. WISER LK., Whatcom, WA

Built 1951 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 72

HECKARD ROAD

Fair

Over: SLOUGH

3.2 SE JCT 101 & 6, Pacific, WA

Built 1916 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 226

SR 278

Fair

Over: NORTH FORK ROCK CREEK

2.7 E JCT SR 27, Spokane, WA

Built 1956 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 3,143

WALNUT ST

Fair

Over: CHINA CREEK

.4 N JCT. SR 507, Lewis, WA

Built 1946 Load: 19.0 t

OAK ST

Fair

Over: CHINA CREEK

.1 S JCT. FAS1027, Lewis, WA

Built 1941 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 209

MAGONLIA ST

Fair

Over: CHINA CREEK

00.05 W JCT SR 507, Lewis, WA

Built 1941 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 149

W DRAVUS ST

Fair

Over: RAILROAD YARDS

1800 W DRAVUS ST, King, WA

Built 1935 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 26,000

S SPOKANE ST

Fair

Over: E MARGINAL WY 1ST 4TH

S Spokane St & E Marginal, King, WA

Built 1941 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 42,350

SW SPOKANE ST

Fair

Over: DELRIDGE WAY SW

1200 SW Spokane St, King, WA

Built 1983 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 98,700

MAIN ST

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

MAIN AND MILL CR, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1902 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 4,412

CLINTON ST

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

CLINTON AND MILL CR, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1922 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 3,390

W GARFIELD ST

Fair

Over: 15TH AVE W

1600 15th Ave W, King, WA

Built 1957 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 19,500

OLD SR-195

Fair

Over: SPRING VALLEY CREEK

100 FT N OF BABB ROAD, Spokane, WA

Built 1930 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 506

NISQUALLY ENTRANCE

Fair

Over: VAN TRUMP CREEK

10.8 miles northeast of N, Pierce, WA

Built 1928 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 2,000

STEVENS CANYON ROA

Fair

Over: STEVENS CREEK

14.1 MILES WEST OF JCT. U, Lewis, WA

Built 1940 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 1,500

STEVENS CANYON ROA

Fair

Over: OHANAPECOSH RIVER

0.2 MILES NORTHWEST OF JC, Lewis, WA

Built 1956 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 1,375

SUNRISE ROAD

Fair

Over: WHITE RIVER

5.4 miles southwest of jc, Pierce, WA

Built 1930 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 1,786

KESTNER HOMESTEAD

Fair

Over: KESTNER CREEK

Approximately MP 6.2 on N, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 2003 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 1

Showing 701-750 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.