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

I-5 SB

Good

Over: NB & SB HOV RAMPS

3.8 N JCT SR 527, Snohomish, WA

Built 2007 Load: 62.6 t ADT: 93,260

WEBSTER RD E

Good

Over: SOUTH CREEK TRIBUTARY

.32 N JCT KPWN HY, Pierce, WA

Built 1951 Load: 62.6 t ADT: 750

HOPE CREEK RD

Good

Over: HOPE CR.

0.95 S JCT SR 6, Lewis, WA

Built 2000 Load: 62.6 t ADT: 1

MOUNTAIN LOOP HWY

Good

Over: BENSON CREEK

11.2 MI E JCT SR 92, Snohomish, WA

Built 1995 Load: 62.6 t ADT: 3,520

NW 26TH AVENUE

Good

Over: RR TRACKS AT PORT

0.1 M S OF LOWER RIVER RD, Clark, WA

Built 2000 Load: 62.6 t ADT: 270

BLACK CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: BLACK CREEK

03.9 NE JCT 9519, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 2011 Load: 62.6 t ADT: 127

CARPENTER ROAD

Good

Over: LAKE LOIS

0.26 m N Pac Ave SE, Thurston, WA

Built 2014 Load: 62.6 t ADT: 10,192

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: TRIB TO BOCKMAN CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Clallam, WA

Built 1987 Load: 62.7 t ADT: 35

US 395

Good

Over: Ridgeline Drive

0.7 N JCT I-82, Benton, WA

Built 2022 Load: 62.9 t ADT: 17,684

NE 124TH ST

Good

Over: SAMMAMISH RIVER

0.5 MI W OF SR-202, King, WA

Built 2004 Load: 62.9 t ADT: 25,500

BROADWAY

Good

Over: BNSF RAILWAY

1.4 N JCT I-5, Snohomish, WA

Built 2016 Load: 62.9 t ADT: 20,800

GRAF ROAD

Good

Over: SCAMMON CREEK

0.4 W CENTRLIA, Lewis, WA

Built 2020 Load: 62.9 t ADT: 480

US 12

Good

Over: FRENCHTOWN ACCESS RD

19.3 E JCT US 730 SPUR, Walla Walla, WA

Built 2023 Load: 63.2 t ADT: 4,011

Powerhouse Road

Good

Over: Naches River

500 West of S. Naches Rd, Yakima, WA

Built 2008 Load: 63.2 t ADT: 2,420

US 2

Good

Over: NP RY

0.3 E JCT SR 25, Lincoln, WA

Built 1958 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 5,280

I-90

Good

Over: WEST SIDE CANAL

14.7 E JCT SR 970, Kittitas, WA

Built 1966 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 14,344

SR 142

Good

Over: LITTLE KLICKITAT R

18.9 E JCT SR 14, Klickitat, WA

Built 1972 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 409

COLLEGE ST

Good

Over: I-5

4.8 N JCT US 101, Thurston, WA

Built 1988 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 31,602

SR 224

Good

Over: COLUMBIA CANAL

7.9 E JCT I-82, Benton, WA

Built 1993 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 9,243

SR 509

Good

Over: I-705 BNRR DOCK STREET

JCT I-705, Pierce, WA

Built 1996 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 36,578

SR 18

Good

Over: SE 240TH ST

3.5 E JCT SR 516, King, WA

Built 2002 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 19,491

SR 18

Good

Over: 244TH AVE SE

1.2 E JCT SR 169, King, WA

Built 2005 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 395

GAY RD E

Good

Over: BNSF RAILROAD

0.1 NO PIONEER WAY, Pierce, WA

Built 1985 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 810

HERON DRIVE

Good

Over: GEE CREEK

0.12 MI E OF MAIN STREET, Clark, WA

Built 2003 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 100

WOODEN RD

Good

Over: WALKER CANYON

2.223 W LWR MONUMENTAL, Walla Walla, WA

Built 2001 Load: 63.8 t ADT: 32

SR 542

Good

Over: ANDERSON CREEK

6.5 E JCT I-5, Whatcom, WA

Built 2015 Load: 64.2 t ADT: 8,070

264TH AVE SE

Good

Over: PATTERSON CREEK

0.1 MI S OF SR-202, King, WA

Built 2008 Load: 64.2 t ADT: 171

150TH AVE SE

Good

Over: I-90

1.7 E JCT I-405, King, WA

Built 1973 Load: 64.4 t ADT: 18,919

I-82 RAMP

Good

Over: FAIR AVE

2.0 E JCT US 12, Yakima, WA

Built 1996 Load: 64.4 t ADT: 4,561

W-W RAMP

Good

Over: W-N RAMP

4.3 E JCT US 2, Spokane, WA

Built 2001 Load: 64.4 t ADT: 8,788

SB US 395

Good

Over: SR 240 E-N RAMP

JCT SR 240, Benton, WA

Built 2009 Load: 64.4 t ADT: 18,691

OLD MILITARY ROAD

Good

Over: SCATTER CR

0.4 E of JCT 507, Thurston, WA

Built 1999 Load: 64.4 t ADT: 290

US 12

Good

Over: FRENCHTOWN ACCESS RD

19.3 E JCT US 730 SPUR, Walla Walla, WA

Built 2023 Load: 64.5 t ADT: 4,011

ROAD #39

Good

Over: GROUSE CREEK

7.9 MILES FROM SH #542, Whatcom, WA

Built 1996 Load: 64.5 t ADT: 20

"R" Road NE

Good

Over: Field Runoff

R NE 0.5 North of 37, Grant, WA

Built 2010 Load: 64.5 t ADT: 156

MOUNTAIN LOOP HWY

Good

Over: MARTEN CREEK

20.6 E JCT SR 92, Snohomish, WA

Built 2011 Load: 64.5 t ADT: 1,574

NE UNION HILL RD.

Good

Over: EVANS CREEK

2.5 MI E OF SR-202, King, WA

Built 2013 Load: 64.5 t ADT: 12,178

POLSON CAMP ROAD

Good

Over: BIG CREEK

0.3 NE JCT SR 101, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 2017 Load: 64.5 t ADT: 35

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: QUITTER CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Mason, WA

Built 1959 Load: 64.8 t ADT: 50

NB AIRPORT EXPY

Good

Over: SUBSTATION

1.0 MI S OF SR 518, King, WA

Built 2010 Load: 64.8 t ADT: 43,000

NAV LOCK BRIDGE

Good

Over: NAV LOCK CHANNEL

LOWER GRANITE DAM, Garfield, WA

Built 1982 Load: 64.8 t ADT: 150

DETOUR ROAD

Good

Over: CRAB CREEK

1.44 E FAS L221, Lincoln, WA

Built 1900 Load: 65.1 t ADT: 135

MILL CREEK RD

Good

Over: MILL CREEK

8.35 SE ISAACS AVE, Walla Walla, WA

Built 2019 Load: 65.1 t ADT: 380

SR 503

Good

Over: CHELATCHIE CREEK

12.7 N JCT SR 502, Clark, WA

Built 1953 Load: 65.3 t ADT: 3,717

SR 504

Good

Over: EAST CREEK

1.1 E COWLITZ CO, Skamania, WA

Built 1994 Load: 65.3 t ADT: 540

SR 270

Good

Over: S FK PALOUSE

0.2 E SR 270 COPULLMN, Whitman, WA

Built 1996 Load: 65.3 t ADT: 11,051

SR 11

Good

Over: CLIFF

11.9 N JCT I-5, Skagit, WA

Built 1999 Load: 65.3 t ADT: 2,412

WOODS CR RD

Good

Over: WEST FORK WOODS CREEK

4.9 NE JCT SR 2, Snohomish, WA

Built 1991 Load: 65.3 t ADT: 1,481

Plug Mill Road

Good

Over: DRY RUN CREEK

0.05 N Satsop/Cloquallum, Mason, WA

Built 1994 Load: 65.3 t ADT: 37

OLD HWY 99 N

Good

Over: JOE LEARY SL

1.02 MI SO OF COOK RD, Skagit, WA

Built 1997 Load: 65.3 t ADT: 4,635

Showing 7,651-7,700 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.