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

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: BEAR CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Clallam, WA

Built 1995 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 50

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: W BRANCH LECLERC 19.7

NO DATA ENTERED, Pend Oreille, WA

Built 2005 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 50

BADGER POCKET RD.

Good

Over: SELAH SPRINGS

COORDINATES GS038745, Yakima, WA

Built 2000 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 200

MAINTENANCE ROAD

Good

Over: MAIN CANAL

MAIN CANAL 3.88, Grant, WA

Built 1977 Load: 97.8 t ADT: 10

MAINTENANCE ROAD

Good

Over: WEST CANAL

Frenchman Hills WW 5 mi, Grant, WA

Built 2008 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 10

East Low Canal

Good

Over: East Low Canal

Weber Branch Siphon, Grant, WA

Built 1950 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 1

East Low Canal

Good

Over: East Low Canal

Weber Coulee Siphon Inlet, Grant, WA

Built 1950 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 1

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: WEST FORK SWIFT

NO DATA ENTERED, Skamania, WA

Built 1984 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 100

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: S. SITKUM

NO DATA ENTERED, Clallam, WA

Built 2012 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 50

88th St SE

Good

Over: PILCHUCK R. OVERFLOW

0.1 SW INT SR2, Snohomish, WA

Built 1986 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 13,397

QUICK RD

Good

Over: WHITTLE CREEK

0.63 W WSH (MP 0.90), Cowlitz, WA

Built 1999 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 130

STEVENS CANYON ROA

Good

Over: NICKEL CREEK

9.8 MILES WEST OF JCT. U., Lewis, WA

Built 1952 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 1,375

NFSR 7003000

Poor

Over: EAGLE CREEK

ROAD 70 OFF HWY 7, Lewis, WA

Built 1970 ADT: 50

NFSR 7003000

Poor

Over: WEST FORK TILTON

TAKE ROAD 70 OFF HWY 7, Lewis, WA

Built 1970 ADT: 50

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

4TH ST

Poor

Over: MILL CREEK

4TH AND MILL CR, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1908 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 2,624

NO DATA ENTERED

Poor

Over: WEST BRANCH LECLERC CREE

NO DATA ENTERED, Pend Oreille, WA

Built 1954 Load: 3.5 t ADT: 5

STEVENS RD. -IRRIG

Poor

Over: DRAIN

00.26 NO CHAMBERS, Yakima, WA

Built 1965 Load: 3.6 t ADT: 68

PEARL HILL RD

Poor

Over: JORDAN CREEK

1.44 E JCT HILAND ORCH RD, Douglas, WA

Built 1953 Load: 4.2 t ADT: 72

FARM ACCESS

Poor

Over: ROZA ID WASTEWAY NO 3

NR PARKER HEIGHTS WA, Yakima, WA

Built 1955 Load: 4.4 t ADT: 10

ROCKY CREEK RD

Poor

Over: ROCKY CREEK

.54 S JCT ALADDIN RD., Stevens, WA

Built 1964 Load: 4.5 t ADT: 25

SLAYTON RD.

Poor

Over: MARION DRAIN

00.56 S CHAMBERS RD, Yakima, WA

Built 1960 Load: 4.5 t ADT: 40

SKAMANIA LANDING R

Poor

Over: BUTLER SLOUGH

0.12 S JCT SR 14, Skamania, WA

Built 1948 Load: 4.5 t ADT: 209

ROBBINS RD.

Poor

Over: MARION DRAIN

00.01 N MARION DRN, Yakima, WA

Built 1959 Load: 4.9 t ADT: 110

NE INDEX CK RD

Poor

Over: SKYKOMISH RIVER-S FORK

0.1 MI S OF SR-2, King, WA

Built 1930 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 80

ELMA HICKLIN ROAD

Poor

Over: MIDDLE BR WILDCAT CREEK

01.3 NE JCT 9740, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1951 Load: 5.8 t ADT: 804

PORTLAND AVE

Poor

Over: PUYALLUP AVE NPRR

0.2 N JCT I-5 PORT, Pierce, WA

Built 1973 Load: 5.8 t ADT: 19,549

OLD HWY 99 NORTH

Poor

Over: THOMAS CREEK

1.4 N JCT COOK RD., Skagit, WA

Built 1934 Load: 6.2 t ADT: 4,372

MARTIN RD

Poor

Over: ANDERSON CR

00.2 E. ROBERTS RD, Whatcom, WA

Built 1958 Load: 6.3 t ADT: 80

YOUMANS ROAD

Poor

Over: EAST HOQUIAM RIVER

12.4 N HOQUIAM, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1978 Load: 7.1 t ADT: 1,135

HARRIS RD. N.

Poor

Over: DRAIN

00.26 S SO TRACK RD, Yakima, WA

Built 1959 Load: 7.1 t ADT: 31

OLD 99

Poor

Over: PILCHUCK CREEK

2.0 N JCT SR 530, Snohomish, WA

Built 1933 Load: 7.3 t ADT: 428

5TH ST

Poor

Over: MILL CREEK

5TH AND MILL CR, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1916 Load: 7.3 t ADT: 1,970

MI 2.8 THOMPSON

Poor

Over: ROCKY COULEE WASTEWAY

NR MOSES LAKE WA, Grant, WA

Built 1950 Load: 7.5 t ADT: 10

LYONS FERRY RD

Poor

Over: FIELDS GULCH

22.449 N SR 124, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1973 Load: 7.5 t ADT: 160

NORTH FORK RD.

Poor

Over: AHTANUM CREEK N. FORK

05.62 NW AHTANUM RD, Yakima, WA

Built 1953 Load: 7.5 t ADT: 328

CHATTAROY ROAD

Poor

Over: LITTLE SPOKANE RIVER

CHATTAROY, Spokane, WA

Built 1953 Load: 7.5 t ADT: 1,387

BLENZ ROAD 45130

Poor

Over: SINKING CREEK

5.07 SE FAS T220, Lincoln, WA

Built 1936 Load: 7.8 t ADT: 22

284TH AVE NE

Poor

Over: SIKES LAKE

0.6 MI S OF SR-203, King, WA

Built 1978 Load: 8.1 t ADT: 225

CERES HILL ROAD

Poor

Over: CHEHALIS RIVER

6.0 W ADNA, Lewis, WA

Built 1948 Load: 8.1 t ADT: 144

KING GRADE

Poor

Over: TUCANNON RIVER

00.20 MI S CR 9233, Columbia, WA

Built 1974 Load: 8.2 t ADT: 25

S.L.I. ROAD

Poor

Over: ROZA CANAL

00.55 E BETHANY RD, Yakima, WA

Built 1962 Load: 8.2 t ADT: 100

COMMUNITY DRIVE

Poor

Over: SURFSIDE EST. LAGOON

02.77 N END SR 103, Pacific, WA

Built 1967 Load: 8.2 t ADT: 87

MUKILTEO BLVD

Poor

Over: EDGEWATER CREEK

0.07 W JCT SHORE AVE, Snohomish, WA

Built 1946 Load: 8.7 t ADT: 4,883

BROOKLYN ROAD

Poor

Over: GARRARD CREEK

0.6 W JCT 6888, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1970 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 143

Showing 8,001-8,050 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.