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

LAKE SAMISH DR N

Poor

Over: LAKE SAMISH

S END N LK SAMISH, Whatcom, WA

Built 1953 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 955

MONTE ELMA ROAD

Poor

Over: NEWMAN CREEK

0.6 E SATSOP, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1922 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 2,194

SOUTH 10TH AVENUE

Poor

Over: WIDE HOLLOW CREEK

00.04 S OF WHITMAN, Yakima, WA

Built 1955 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 2,000

MAIN STREET

Poor

Over: CHEWELAH CREEK

0.05 W SR 395, Stevens, WA

Built 1935 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 300

COLUMBIA DR

Poor

Over: DRAIN DITCH

1.1 EAST CCB, Benton, WA

Built 1944 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 2,350

LAKEVIEW RANCH

Poor

Over: CRAB CREEK

0.8 miles W of Odessa on, Lincoln, WA

Built 2004 Load: 9.4 t ADT: 4

WEST PARKER HEIGHT

Poor

Over: S.V.I.D. CANAL

00.06 N YAK VAL HWY, Yakima, WA

Built 1919 Load: 9.4 t ADT: 400

ZELLMER ROAD 61240

Poor

Over: CRAB CREEK

0.96 W FAS L221, Lincoln, WA

Built 1918 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 21

BAILEYSBURG ROAD

Poor

Over: NORTH TOUCHET RIVER

0.2 S JCT 9115, Columbia, WA

Built 1975 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 50

SO BEND-PALIX ROAD

Poor

Over: NIAWIAKUM RIVER

12.6 N JCT 4 & 101, Pacific, WA

Built 1965 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 39

42ND AVE SO

Poor

Over: DUWAMISH RIVER

0.04 MI E OF SR-599, King, WA

Built 1949 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 3,185

REST HAVEN ROAD

Poor

Over: SPILLWAY

00.52 W CUT OFF RD, Yakima, WA

Built 1970 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 155

SOUTH PATIT ROAD

Poor

Over: SOUTH PATIT CREEK

0.03 E JCT 1499, Columbia, WA

Built 1962 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 75

DELEZENNE ROAD

Poor

Over: DELEZENNE CREEK

2.6 S JCT 96411, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1972 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 24

MEADOWBROOK WAY SE

Poor

Over: SNOQUALMIE RIVER

0.7 MI NE OF SR-202, King, WA

Built 1921 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 2,458

SE MAY VALLEY RD

Poor

Over: FIFTEEN MILE CREEK

0.2 MI W OF ISS-HOBART RD, King, WA

Built 1932 Load: 10.4 t ADT: 4,279

428TH AVE SE

Poor

Over: N FK SNOQUALMIE R

2.4 MI E OF SR 202, King, WA

Built 1951 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 1,200

ANGIER AVENUE

Poor

Over: MISSION CREEK

00.14 MI W DIVISION, Chelan, WA

Built 1960 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 725

NORTH FORK RD.

Poor

Over: AHTANUM CREEK N. FORK

8.43 NW AHTANUM RD, Yakima, WA

Built 1966 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 235

LITTLE SPOKANE DR.

Poor

Over: LITTLE SPOKANE RIVER

0.25 E PERRY ROAD, Spokane, WA

Built 1951 Load: 11.8 t ADT: 1,109

KNAPPTON ROAD

Poor

Over: DAVIS CREEK

0.37 N JCT SR 401, Pacific, WA

Built 1963 Load: 11.8 t ADT: 79

FOX ISLND BR RD NW

Poor

Over: HALE PASSAGE

0.1 S WARREN DR NW, Pierce, WA

Built 1954 Load: 12.0 t ADT: 5,525

GEIB ROAD 43910

Poor

Over: CORBETT DRAW

1.47 W SR 174, Lincoln, WA

Built 1940 Load: 12.0 t ADT: 35

SECOND AVE

Poor

Over: CHEWELAH CREEK

0.01 S Main St, Stevens, WA

Built 1935 Load: 12.0 t ADT: 100

CLARK STREET

Poor

Over: ESQUATZEL COULEE

0.0 E JCT N 2ND AV, Franklin, WA

Built 1963 Load: 12.0 t ADT: 735

SE MUD MT RD

Poor

Over: BOISE CREEK

0.1 MI SE OF SR-410, King, WA

Built 1956 Load: 12.3 t ADT: 947

MAPLE STREET

Poor

Over: SPOKANE RIVER

0.4 N SR 90, Spokane, WA

Built 1958 Load: 12.6 t ADT: 45,696

(DRIVEWAY)

Poor

Over: MEADOW CREEK

.1 E JCT SR 127, Garfield, WA

Built 1961 Load: 12.6 t ADT: 45

SUNSET BOULEVARD

Poor

Over: LATAH CREEK

1.74 W OF US 2, Spokane, WA

Built 1913 Load: 12.6 t ADT: 14,995

UNION GAP SHOP RD.

Poor

Over: WIDE HOLLOW CREEK

80 EAST OF MAIN ST., Yakima, WA

Built 1965 Load: 12.6 t ADT: 100

S 129TH ST

Poor

Over: I-5

0.5 N JCT SR 599, King, WA

Built 1966 Load: 12.7 t ADT: 6,386

COLBERT ROAD

Poor

Over: LITTLE SPOKANE RIVER

01.3 MI W OF US 2, Spokane, WA

Built 1953 Load: 12.7 t ADT: 2,167

CHAMBER WAY

Poor

Over: BN RR & N NATL AVE

0.1 E OF INTERSTATE 5, Lewis, WA

Built 1952 Load: 12.7 t ADT: 13,223

COUNTY ROAD

Poor

Over: POTHOLES EAST CANAL

0.84W JCT R 901, Franklin, WA

Built 1958 Load: 13.0 t ADT: 160

ROSE GULCH ROAD

Poor

Over: TOUCHET RIVER

0.2 N JCT SR 12, Columbia, WA

Built 1963 Load: 13.0 t ADT: 150

PICKARD RD

Poor

Over: DRY HOLLOW

02.14E AYER RD, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1964 Load: 13.0 t ADT: 7

LIESER RD

Poor

Over: SR 14

4.4 E JCT I-5, Clark, WA

Built 1969 Load: 13.3 t ADT: 8,560

COUNTY ROAD

Poor

Over: POTHOLES EAST CANAL

1.38W JCT R 529, Franklin, WA

Built 1954 Load: 13.3 t ADT: 204

US 101

Poor

Over: HOQUIAM RIVER

3.3 N JCT US 12, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1928 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 12,466

SR 153

Poor

Over: METHOW RIVER

11.9 N JCT US 97, Okanogan, WA

Built 1939 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 1,621

PETTYJOHN RD

Poor

Over: TOUCHET RIVER

05.62 N SR 125, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1914 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 100

INTERLAAKEN DR SW

Poor

Over: STEILACOOM LAKE

1.0 E JCT GRVLY LK, Pierce, WA

Built 1927 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 4,905

SOUTH FORK COPPEI

Poor

Over: SOUTH FORK COPPEI CR

00.10 E OF COPPEI RD, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1920 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 60

PIONEER AVE W

Poor

Over: SYLVIA CREEK

00.4 E JCT SR 12, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1935 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 3,626

DAVISON RD.

Poor

Over: TILTON RIVER

1.75 W MORTON, Lewis, WA

Built 1924 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 117

6TH ST

Poor

Over: MILL CREEK

6TH AND MILL CR, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1920 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 1,970

MULIKLTEO BLVD

Poor

Over: MERRILL & RING CREEK

0.15 W JCT HARBOR LANE, Snohomish, WA

Built 1931 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 6,123

SR 27

Poor

Over: ROCK CREEK

0.2 N JCT SR 278, Spokane, WA

Built 1957 Load: 13.9 t ADT: 5,655

SR 153

Poor

Over: METHOW RIVER

13.5 N JCT US 97, Okanogan, WA

Built 1939 Load: 14.3 t ADT: 1,621

SR 503

Poor

Over: JIM CREEK

8.2 N JCT SR 503 SPUR, Cowlitz, WA

Built 1945 Load: 14.3 t ADT: 1,921

Showing 8,051-8,100 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.