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

CENTER ROAD

Fair

Over: LITTLE QUILCENE RIVER

0.4N JCT SR101, Jefferson, WA

Built 1955 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 2,676

WISHKAH ROAD

Fair

Over: MONARCH (WYMAN) CREEK

05.9 N ABERDEEN, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1900 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 1,498

CO RD 02140

Fair

Over: SAN POIL RIVER

00.08E SR 21, Ferry, WA

Built 1971 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 45

BYRNES RD

Fair

Over: NINE MILE CANYON

00.13 E SR 12(W), Walla Walla, WA

Built 1916 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 30

CAMPBELL RD.

Fair

Over: TOPPENISH CREEK

0.03 S MARION DRAIN, Yakima, WA

Built 1960 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 36

CLOQUALLUM ROAD

Fair

Over: CLOQUALLUM CREEK

0.7 NE JCT CR 9740, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1915 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 1,380

Orcas to Olga road

Fair

Over: Cascade Creek

ORCAS ISLAND, San Juan, WA

Built 1921 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 1,607

BYRNES RD

Fair

Over: UP RR

03.0 W TOUCHET, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1920 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 113

BARTLETT STREET

Fair

Over: MCCOY CREEK

0.10 MI E SR 27, Whitman, WA

Built 1900 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 35

ELDRIDGE AVENUE

Fair

Over: SQUALLICUM CRK-CMSTP&P R

0.07 NW JCT MADRONA ST, Whatcom, WA

Built 1937 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 6,400

BUSHNELL DRIVE

Fair

Over: LAGOON

NUW CENTER KEYPORT, Kitsap, WA

Built 1933 Load: 9.4 t ADT: 10

LOWELL-SNOH RIV RD

Fair

Over: MARSHLAND FLOOD CANAL

0.9 E Jct I-5, Snohomish, WA

Built 1963 Load: 9.4 t ADT: 5,544

WESTSIDE ROAD

Fair

Over: HILINE CANAL

00.27 W WOOD& STEEL, Kittitas, WA

Built 1986 Load: 9.4 t ADT: 984

HARRAH ROAD

Fair

Over: TOPPENISH CREEK

0.79S MARION DRAIN, Yakima, WA

Built 1961 Load: 9.4 t ADT: 30

APPROACH ROAD

Fair

Over: WHETSTONE CREEK

0.01 S JCT 9218, Columbia, WA

Built 1962 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 10

RED BRIDGE RD

Fair

Over: TEANAWAY RIVER

00.50 N&.45 W US970, Kittitas, WA

Built 1966 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 331

HENDRICKS ROAD

Fair

Over: SCOOTENEY RESEVOIR

1.35 W JCT SR 17, Franklin, WA

Built 1954 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 412

COUNTY ARTERIAL

Fair

Over: POTHOLES EAST CANAL

0.43 W SHF. WY 693, Franklin, WA

Built 1957 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 327

SHEFFIELD ROAD

Fair

Over: ESQUATZEL COULEE WASTE W

0.12 W. FIRST AVE. MESA, Franklin, WA

Built 1978 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 413

LONGMIRE SERVICE R

Fair

Over: NISQUALLY RIVER

0.25 MILES EAST OF LONGMI, Pierce, WA

Built 1923 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 250

SR 503

Fair

Over: LEWIS RIVER

19.7 N JCT SR 502, Clark, WA

Built 1932 Load: 10.4 t ADT: 1,224

TOUCHET NORTH RD

Fair

Over: TOUCHET RIVER

12.051N SR 12, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1983 Load: 10.4 t ADT: 95

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: ELTOPIA BRANCH CANAL

01.24 E JCT SR 395, Franklin, WA

Built 1965 Load: 10.4 t ADT: 458

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: ELTOPIA BRANCH CANAL

00.64 S PHEND 880, Franklin, WA

Built 1965 Load: 10.4 t ADT: 85

COUNTY ARTERIAL

Fair

Over: WAHLUKE BRANCH CANAL

1.36W COLUMBIA 416, Franklin, WA

Built 1959 Load: 10.4 t ADT: 357

CENTER ROAD

Fair

Over: CHIMACUM CREEK

3.45 JCT FAS9517, Jefferson, WA

Built 1955 Load: 10.4 t ADT: 4,080

MAINTENANCE ROAD

Fair

Over: WEST CANAL W39.9

West Canal W39.9 Station, Grant, WA

Built 1950 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 20

I-90

Fair

Over: 4TH AVE NW & TRAIL

1.0 E JCT SR 900, King, WA

Built 1971 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 30,913

I-5

Fair

Over: S 405 & N 525 RAMPS

1.1 N JCT SR 524, Snohomish, WA

Built 1980 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 67,122

WEIKEL ROAD

Fair

Over: COWICHE CREEK

00.10 N ZIMMERMAN, Yakima, WA

Built 1950 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 393

DOSEWALLIPS ROAD

Fair

Over: ROCKY BROOK CREEK

3.0NW JCT SR101, Jefferson, WA

Built 1964 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 98

MEYERS RD. N.

Fair

Over: DRY WASH

00.04 N FRALEY ROAD, Yakima, WA

Built 1958 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 6,903

W 5TH AVENUE

Fair

Over: BNRR

5TH AVENUE, Thurston, WA

Built 1958 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 16,790

CASCADE DRIVE

Fair

Over: MOFFETT CREEK

00.1 S BPA LINES, Skamania, WA

Built 1970 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 83

EVERGREEN DRIVE

Fair

Over: HAMILTON CR-GREENLEAF SL

00.1 UPSTREAM SR 14, Skamania, WA

Built 1924 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 299

FARM ACCESS

Fair

Over: Potholes East Canal

Potholes East Canal Later, Franklin, WA

Built 1952 Load: 10.8 t ADT: 10

GOOSEBERRY SPUR

Fair

Over: HALE PASSAGE

2. SW OF CAGEY RD., Whatcom, WA

Built 1950 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 1,300

ROSS ROAD

Fair

Over: TURBINE CANAL

00.45 SE MORRISON R, Kittitas, WA

Built 1975 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 90

CLINE RD

Fair

Over: ARKANSAS CREEK

0.57 N DELAMETER RD (0.89, Cowlitz, WA

Built 1959 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 115

GROE RD E

Fair

Over: LITTLE MASHEL RIVER

.3 E SCOTT TURNER, Pierce, WA

Built 1976 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 40

WELLS ROAD

Fair

Over: SANDERS CREEK

1.0 N NEALEY ROAD, Spokane, WA

Built 1953 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 282

OVERLAKE ST

Fair

Over: DUCK LAKE

0.1 W DUCK LAKE DR, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1970 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 352

3RD AVE

Fair

Over: GARRISON CR

0.053 S of MALCOLM ST, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1926 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 2,125

ROOSEVELT FERRY RD

Fair

Over: BURLINGTON NORTHERN R.R.

0.34 JCT SR 14, Klickitat, WA

Built 1966 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 178

86TH ST SE

Fair

Over: PILCHUCK RIVER

0.7 SE JCT SR 2, Snohomish, WA

Built 1924 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 421

DANAHER/4450

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

3.08 MI SE BLACKWELL, Whitman, WA

Built 1977 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 347

PRESTON FALL CITY

Fair

Over: RAGING RIVER

2.0 MI NE OF 1-90, King, WA

Built 1962 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 9,212

PINECTY-MALDN/3000

Fair

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK

2.04 MI NE SR 23, Whitman, WA

Built 1965 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 430

FARM ACCESS

Fair

Over: West Canal

West Canal W26C Lateral, Grant, WA

Built 2004 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 20

FARM FIELD ACCESS

Fair

Over: ROCKY COULEE DRAIN WASTE

NR MOSES LAKE WA, Grant, WA

Built 1948 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 5

Showing 51-100 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.