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

ROAD

Fair

Over: N FK SKYKOMISH RIVER

0.1 MI N OF 63/6335 JCT, Snohomish, WA

Built 1963 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 10

ROAD

Fair

Over: HUCKLEBERRY CREEK

0.4 MI W OF 73/7320 JCT, Pierce, WA

Built 1952 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 20

ROAD

Fair

Over: SILVER CREEK

0.3MI E OF HY 410/7175JCT, Pierce, WA

Built 1955 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 10

ROAD

Fair

Over: WHITE RIVER

.1MI W OF HY 410/7160 JCT, Pierce, WA

Built 1955 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 167

TEITZEL ROAD

Fair

Over: S HANAFORD CREEK

4.0 E CENTRALIA, Lewis, WA

Built 1966 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 110

TELEGRAPH RD N

Fair

Over: SUMAS RIVER

00.5 N.E.MORGAN RD., Whatcom, WA

Built 1943 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 1,272

YELM HWY S.E.

Fair

Over: RAILROAD

Lacey Cily Limit, Thurston, WA

Built 1951 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 12,500

J RD NW

Fair

Over: WEST CANAL

0.3N SR 28, Grant, WA

Built 1949 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 155

WILCOX/8130

Fair

Over: UNION FLAT CREEK

0.06 MI SW SOMMERS, Whitman, WA

Built 1973 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 237

PE ELL MCDONALD RD

Fair

Over: STILLMAN CREEK

0.7 W JCT 92004, Lewis, WA

Built 1959 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 235

WILDWOOD ROAD

Fair

Over: SO. FORK CHEHALIS RIVER

11.0 S CURTIS, Lewis, WA

Built 1955 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 191

MOUNTAIN LOOP HWY.

Fair

Over: BOARDMAN CREEK

16.9 E JCT SR 92, Snohomish, WA

Built 1952 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 1,666

ALDER CUTOFF RD E

Fair

Over: MASHEL RIVER

0.8 E JCT SR 161, Pierce, WA

Built 1937 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 2,900

LONE PINE/0200

Fair

Over: UNNAMED DRAINAGE

2.38 MI NE FAIRBANKS, Whitman, WA

Built 1912 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 51

W KALAMA RIVER RD

Fair

Over: BNRR

0.13 E I-5 EXIT 32, Cowlitz, WA

Built 1976 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 1,250

SR 278

Fair

Over: ROCK CREEK

1.2 E JCT SR 27, Spokane, WA

Built 1957 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 3,195

EAST ANDERSON RD.

Fair

Over: DUNGENESS RIVER

04.5 N JCT SR101, Clallam, WA

Built 1964 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 958

2ND AVE

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

2ND AND MILL CR, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1915 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 10,563

CAPITOL BOULEVARD

Fair

Over: DESCHUTES R. & OWRR&N R.

00.23 N. E STREET, Thurston, WA

Built 1936 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 14,881

OAKES AVENUE

Fair

Over: BURLINGTON NORTHERN RR

0.1MI N. OF HEWITT, Snohomish, WA

Built 1989 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 1,312

83RD AVE S

Fair

Over: GREEN RIVER

0.7 MI E OF SR-167, King, WA

Built 1990 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 18,758

McMANN CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: SAN POIL RIVER

.17 E SR20, Ferry, WA

Built 1953 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 9

NISQUALLY ENTRANCE

Fair

Over: KAUTZ CREEK

3.4 MILES EAST OF NISQUAL, Pierce, WA

Built 1967 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 1,576

STEVENS CANYON ROA

Fair

Over: RAVINE

12.5 MILES WEST OF JCT. U, Lewis, WA

Built 1952 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 1,500

SUNRISE ROAD

Fair

Over: KLICKITAT CREEK

0.9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF JC, Pierce, WA

Built 1930 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 1,786

THORNTON LAKES ROA

Fair

Over: THORNTON CREEK

Turn left from Route 20 a, Skagit, WA

Built 1952 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 50

STEHEKIN VALLEY RO

Fair

Over: STEHEKIN RIVER

11.3 Miles NW of Stehekin, Chelan, WA

Built 1974 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 20

SR 27

Fair

Over: SILVER CREEK

8.4 N JCT SR 272, Whitman, WA

Built 1922 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 1,215

SR 3

Fair

Over: GOLDSBOROUGH CREEK

2.4 N JCT US 101, Mason, WA

Built 1923 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 16,880

SR 3

Fair

Over: SHERWOOD CREEK

20.5 N JCT US 101, Mason, WA

Built 1952 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 10,477

I-5

Fair

Over: DESCHUTES PARKWAY

5.0 N JCT SR 121, Thurston, WA

Built 1956 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 99,802

I-5

Fair

Over: PORTAL WAY

7.3 N JCT SR 539, Whatcom, WA

Built 1963 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 17,069

I-90 WCD RAMP

Fair

Over: DEARBORN STREET

0.2 E JCT I-5, King, WA

Built 1965 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 28,000

I-82

Fair

Over: MILITARY RD

8.4 E JCT SR 821, Kittitas, WA

Built 1971 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 9,633

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: COPPER CREEK

7.5 MILES EAST OF JCT. NE, Skamania, WA

Built 1996 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 99

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: WINEGLASS STREAM

NO DATA ENTERED, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1980 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 50

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: MIDDLE FORK CALISPELL CR

NO DATA ENTERED, Pend Oreille, WA

Built 1968 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 3

HARRAH DRAIN RD.

Fair

Over: USIS CANAL

0.50 N OF FORT ROAD, Yakima, WA

Built 1978 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 52

OLD MOUNTAIN ROAD

Fair

Over: BADGER GULCH

1.2 N JCT CR 34000, Klickitat, WA

Built 1977 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 244

SCHOESSLER RD

Fair

Over: DRY WASH

00.5 MI W BAUER RD, Adams, WA

Built 1900 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 8

BEST ROAD

Fair

Over: NO FORK SKAGIT RIVER

5.5 W JCT INTERSTATE 5, Skagit, WA

Built 1959 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 3,693

WOODINVILLE-DUVALL

Fair

Over: SNOQUALMIE RIVER

0.1 MI W OF SR-203, King, WA

Built 1951 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 10,564

LYMAN HAMILTON HWY

Fair

Over: RED CABIN CREEK

0.18 E JCT HEALY RD, Skagit, WA

Built 1954 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 253

BAUER RD

Fair

Over: DRY WASH

0.18 MI N LIND-RALSTON, Adams, WA

Built 1938 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 14

MANSFIELD NORTH RD

Fair

Over: FOSTER CREEK DRAINAGE

2.0 SE JCT BDGPRT HILL RD, Douglas, WA

Built 1959 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 63

BRANCH RD.

Fair

Over: USIS CANAL

00.49 W LATERAL "C", Yakima, WA

Built 1962 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 1,600

LOWER WHETSTONE RD

Fair

Over: WHETSTONE CREEK

3.2 W JCT 9209, Columbia, WA

Built 1970 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 75

RUFF-MARLIN ROAD

Fair

Over: ROCKY COULEE

W NE .1 N of 6, Grant, WA

Built 1974 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 464

UNION AVENUE SOUTH

Fair

Over: NPRR &SOUTH TACOMA WAY

0.9 E JCT I-5&38TH, Pierce, WA

Built 1971 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 19,265

FARM ACCESS

Fair

Over: Potholes East Canal Late

17mi. N. of Richland WA, Franklin, WA

Built 1955 Load: 20.2 t ADT: 10

Showing 851-900 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.