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 401

Poor

Over: NASELLE RIVER OVERFLOW

11.6 N JCT US 101, Pacific, WA

Built 1964 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 2,897

I-90

Poor

Over: MEDICAL LAKE RD

5.6 E JCT SR 902, Spokane, WA

Built 1966 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 11,131

US 12

Poor

Over: TUCANNON RIVER

21.0 E WALLA WAL CO, Columbia, WA

Built 1967 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 1,874

I-90

Poor

Over: SR 906

2.1 E KING CO, Kittitas, WA

Built 1969 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 34,348

W-S RAMP

Poor

Over: I-82

9.4 S KITTITAS CO, Yakima, WA

Built 1970 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 1,547

I-5

Poor

Over: LOG DUMP RD & BN RY

1.6 N JCT SR 503, Cowlitz, WA

Built 1972 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 33,715

I-90

Poor

Over: WAHL RD

3.2 E JCT SR 21, Adams, WA

Built 1972 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 5,814

I-90

Poor

Over: E FK ISSAQUAH CREEK

3.3 E JCT SR 900, King, WA

Built 1976 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 33,574

PEND OREILLE LK RD

Poor

Over: LITTLE PEND OREILLE RIVE

.16 E JCT SR 294, Stevens, WA

Built 1957 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 305

SR 31

Poor

Over: SULLIVAN CREEK

14.8 N JCT SR 20, Pend Oreille, WA

Built 1927 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 913

ROAD

Poor

Over: LOG CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Kittitas, WA

Built 1962 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 50

ALMOTA DOCKS RD

Poor

Over: ALMOTA CREEK

PORT OF ALMOTA, Whitman, WA

Built 1970 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 266

STEILACOOM DUPONT

Poor

Over: I-5

4.1 N THURSTON CO, Pierce, WA

Built 1957 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 11,876

SR 167

Poor

Over: CMSTPP RR

0.8 N JCT SR 516, King, WA

Built 1967 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 59,986

I-90

Poor

Over: S FK SNOQUALMIE R

7.3 E JCT SR 202, King, WA

Built 1974 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 287

US 2

Poor

Over: DOUGLAS CR

14.1 E JCT US 97, Douglas, WA

Built 1974 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 822

I-82

Poor

Over: CHANDLER CANAL

6.5 E YAKIMA CO LN, Benton, WA

Built 1977 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 10,597

STOSSEL CK RD

Poor

Over: CHERRY CREEK

6.2 MI NE OF KELLY RD, King, WA

Built 1947 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,010

BEAR CK / DEWATTO

Poor

Over: TAHUYA RIVER

5.3 MILES WEST OBH, Mason, WA

Built 1995 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,050

ROAD

Poor

Over: THOMPSON CREEK

MP 1.1 RD# 39, Whatcom, WA

Built 1966 Load: 40.0 t ADT: 64

SR 14

Poor

Over: GLADE CREEK

9.6 E KLICKITAT CO, Benton, WA

Built 1961 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 1,797

CAPITOL BLVD

Poor

Over: I-5 RAMP

0.7 N JCT US 101, Thurston, WA

Built 1956 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 13,767

GRAVELLY LAKE DR

Poor

Over: BNRR (NP)

9.7 N THURSTON CO, Pierce, WA

Built 1959 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 27,805

I-90

Poor

Over: SR 21

15.5 E GRANT CO, Adams, WA

Built 1972 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 5,714

SR 26

Poor

Over: UP RR

8.6 E JCT SR 261, Adams, WA

Built 1975 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 1,724

US 395

Poor

Over: CANAL AND ACCESS ROAD

21.6 N JCT I-182/SR 397, Franklin, WA

Built 1979 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 8,919

Tacoma Creek Rd

Poor

Over: Tacoma Creek

4 miles w/o Hwy 20, Pend Oreille, WA

Built 1960 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 290

SR 14

Poor

Over: ALDER CREEK

47.6 E JCT US 97, Klickitat, WA

Built 1965 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 1,083

US 395 RAMP

Poor

Over: I-90

13.6 N JCT SR 21, Adams, WA

Built 1958 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 1,360

SR 26

Poor

Over: NP RY

5.7 E JCT SR 17, Adams, WA

Built 1959 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 2,222

I-90

Poor

Over: WEST CANAL

12.3 E JCT SR 26, Grant, WA

Built 1964 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 5,419

SR 20

Poor

Over: EARLY WINTERS CREEK

15.2 E CHELAN CO, Okanogan, WA

Built 1964 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 1,372

SR 26

Poor

Over: ABANDONED RR

1.1 E JCT SR 261, Adams, WA

Built 1977 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 1,724

ADAMS RD

Poor

Over: I-90

2.9 E JCT SR 281, Grant, WA

Built 1958 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 1,465

SR 290

Poor

Over: 2ND AVE

0.2 E JCT I-90, Spokane, WA

Built 1974 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 7,408

WEST EASTON RD

Poor

Over: I-90

15.6 E JCT SR 906, Kittitas, WA

Built 1975 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 802

I-90

Poor

Over: LOWER PEOH PT RD & TRAIL

0.8 E JCT SR 970, Kittitas, WA

Built 1965 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 14,112

I-90

Poor

Over: LOWER PEOH PT RD & TRAIL

0.8 E JCT SR 970, Kittitas, WA

Built 1965 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 14,112

I-90

Poor

Over: BANDERA RD

14.9 E JCT SR 202, King, WA

Built 1972 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 18,144

STARR ROAD

Poor

Over: SOUTH FORK ROCK CREEK

06.0E FAIRFIELD, Spokane, WA

Built 1959 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 16

SR 24

Poor

Over: POTHOLES EAST CANAL

11.8 E GRANT CO, Adams, WA

Built 1976 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 5,489

HOMESTEAD VLLY RD

Poor

Over: S FK SNOQUALMIE RIVER

0.1 S JCT I-90, King, WA

Built 1974 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 200

BEAR CRK

Poor

Over: LITTLE PEND OREILLE RIVE

3.94 SE KITT- NARCISSE, Stevens, WA

Built 1970 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 21

IRR BIA RTE 1123

Poor

Over: SITDOWN CREEK

25 KM NW OF SUB-AGENCY, Ferry, WA

Built 1993 Load: 46.2 t ADT: 50

US 12

Poor

Over: WB OFF RAMP

5.6 E JCT SR 125 SPUR, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1971 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 4,207

SR 24

Poor

Over: YAKIMA RIVER

0.5 E JCT I-82, Yakima, WA

Built 2006 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 21,947

LIND AVE (88TH AVE

Poor

Over: I-405

2.1 N JCT I-5, King, WA

Built 1990 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 10,800

SR 26

Poor

Over: PROVIDENCE COULEE

15.0 E JCT SR 17, Adams, WA

Built 1959 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 1,964

SR 127

Poor

Over: SNAKE R CENTRAL FERRY

9.6 N JCT US 12, Garfield, WA

Built 1969 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 845

I-90

Poor

Over: WEST SIDE CANAL

14.7 E JCT SR 970, Kittitas, WA

Built 1966 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 14,344

Showing 8,401-8,450 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.