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

SR 823

Poor

Over: BNSF RAILROAD

4.0 N JCT I-82, Yakima, WA

Built 1972 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 4,786

SR 23

Poor

Over: PLEASANT VALLEY CR

8.3 N JCT US 195, Whitman, WA

Built 1958 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 758

US 12

Poor

Over: PURCELL CREEK

22.2 E JCT SR 131, Lewis, WA

Built 1971 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 2,360

STILLSON ROAD

Poor

Over: WEST FORK WILDCAT CREEK

0.5 N JCT CR 7974, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1973 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 90

COUNTY ROAD

Poor

Over: POTHOLES EAST CANAL

2.18 NE JCT 903, Franklin, WA

Built 1955 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 60

SR 10

Poor

Over: TEANAWAY RIVER

1.3 E JCT SR 970, Kittitas, WA

Built 1930 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 1,317

SR 25

Poor

Over: COLUMBIA RIVER

32.8 N JCT US 395, Stevens, WA

Built 1948 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 715

NO DATA ENTERED

Poor

Over: TRAPPER CREEK

14.4 MILES N. OF HWY 14 (, Skamania, WA

Built 1954 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 10

ROAD

Poor

Over: GOLD CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Kittitas, WA

Built 1960 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 60

OCEAN BEACH ROAD

Poor

Over: BERG SLOUGH

06.9 NW JCT US 101, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1964 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 2,622

LEMASTER RD

Poor

Over: WASTEWAY EL81 128+36.98

00.87 MI N SR26, Adams, WA

Built 1952 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 135

ALPOWA CREEK RD

Poor

Over: ALPOWA CREEK

1.1 S JCT SR 12, Garfield, WA

Built 1964 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 150

4TH AVE S

Poor

Over: ARGO RR YARD

4700 4th Ave S, King, WA

Built 1933 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 28,000

US 12

Poor

Over: NINE MILE CR & RR

6.5 E JCT US 730 SPUR, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1933 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 7,778

CANAL DRIVE

Poor

Over: CID CANAL

.70 E SR 395, Benton, WA

Built 1964 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 5,206

SR 542

Poor

Over: CORNELL CREEK

9.7 E JCT SR 547, Whatcom, WA

Built 1931 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 1,903

SR 23

Poor

Over: CRAB CREEK

8.7 N JCT SR 231, Lincoln, WA

Built 1948 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 367

I-90

Poor

Over: KACHESS RIVER

14.8 E JCT SR 906, Kittitas, WA

Built 1958 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 16,546

I-90

Poor

Over: S CLE ELUM RD & BNSF RR

28.8 E JCT SR 906, Kittitas, WA

Built 1966 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 13,987

SR 904

Poor

Over: I-90

JCT I-90, Spokane, WA

Built 1966 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 934

SR 507

Poor

Over: SKOOKUMCHUCK RIVER

2.4 N JCT I-5, Lewis, WA

Built 1928 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 8,699

SR 4

Poor

Over: HULL CREEK

12.6 E JCT SR 401, Wahkiakum, WA

Built 1934 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 1,124

SR 542

Poor

Over: BAGLEY CREEK

26.3 E JCT SR 547, Whatcom, WA

Built 1946 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 621

SR 203

Poor

Over: DRAINAGE OVERFLOW

4.1 N KING CO, Snohomish, WA

Built 1954 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 11,836

SR 542

Poor

Over: GLACIER CREEK

10.6 E JCT SR 547, Whatcom, WA

Built 1956 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 1,251

US 97

Poor

Over: COLUMBIA RIVER

21.4 N JCT US 97 SPUR, Douglas, WA

Built 1962 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 5,806

NO DATA ENTERED

Poor

Over: DRY CREEK

ABOUT 11 MILES SW OF TROU, Skamania, WA

Built 1962 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 118

NO DATA ENTERED

Poor

Over: LOST CREEK

ABOUT 10 1/2 MILES SOUTHW, Skamania, WA

Built 1962 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 118

SMITH SPRINGS RD

Poor

Over: DRY HOLLOW

13.99 N SR 124, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1926 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 36

SMITH SPRINGS RD

Poor

Over: DRY HOLLOW

17.20 N SR 124, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1926 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 24

44TH ST NE

Poor

Over: LITTLE PILCHUCK CREEK

0.2 W JCT SR 92, Snohomish, WA

Built 1961 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 953

ELECTRIC AVENUE

Poor

Over: WHATCOM CREEK

0.11 S JCT ALABAMA ST, Whatcom, WA

Built 1959 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 8,500

W GARFIELD ST

Poor

Over: MARINA PL RR RAVINE

1700 W Garfield St, King, WA

Built 1929 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 18,000

JAMES STREET

Poor

Over: WHATCOM CREEK

0.06 N JCT MEADOR AVE, Whatcom, WA

Built 1936 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 7,000

SR 302

Poor

Over: HENDERSON BAY

10.7 E MASON CO, Pierce, WA

Built 1936 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 23,196

KLICKITAT DR

Poor

Over: I-5

5.0 N JCT SR 516, King, WA

Built 1964 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 15,000

SO. FRONTAGE RD.

Poor

Over: WEST CANAL

West Canal @ George, Grant, WA

Built 1950 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 687

ELMA HICKLIN ROAD

Poor

Over: MIDDLE BRANCH WILDCAT CK

01.6 NE JCT 9740, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1951 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 804

SR 104 WESTHALF

Poor

Over: HOOD CANAL

13.7 E JCT US 101, Jefferson, WA

Built 1982 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 17,634

SO 24TH AVENUE

Poor

Over: WIDE HOLLOW CREEK

00.16 N WASHINGTON, Yakima, WA

Built 1970 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 12,000

C STREET

Poor

Over: CLOVER CREEK

GRID COORD ET388204, Pierce, WA

Built 1960 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 1

US 97

Poor

Over: SWALE CREEK

5.5 N JCT SR 14, Klickitat, WA

Built 1960 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 6,531

WASHINGTON STREET

Poor

Over: CID CANAL

.32 S JCT 1ST AVE, Benton, WA

Built 1971 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 12,416

NO DATA ENTERED

Poor

Over: CANYON CREEK

ABOUT 4 MILES EAST OF CHE, Clark, WA

Built 1948 Load: 24.2 t ADT: 207

SR 23

Poor

Over: ROCK CREEK

23.2 N JCT US 195, Whitman, WA

Built 1946 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 262

I-5

Poor

Over: COWLITZ RIVER

2.0 N COWLITZ CO, Lewis, WA

Built 1953 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 21,612

NE 175TH ST

Poor

Over: SWAMP CREEK

0.1 MI S OF SR-522, King, WA

Built 1951 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 300

MCMANAMY ROAD

Poor

Over: DRY CREEK

00.21 W US 97, Kittitas, WA

Built 1936 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 120

WEEL ROAD

Poor

Over: CLALLAM RIVER

00.39 E JCT SR112, Clallam, WA

Built 1969 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 27

DRY CREEK ROAD

Poor

Over: CURRIER CREEK

00.54 E FAUST ROAD, Kittitas, WA

Built 1930 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 449

Showing 8,201-8,250 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.