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

MOSQUITO LK RD

Fair

Over: HUTCHINSON CR

4.5 NE VALLEY HWY., Whatcom, WA

Built 1945 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 389

HEVLY RD

Fair

Over: STILLAGUAMISH SLOUGH

0.8 NE SR530, Snohomish, WA

Built 2005 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 71

HURRICANE RIDGE RO

Fair

Over: RAVINE

10.02 MI. S. OF JCT. HWY., Clallam, WA

Built 1955 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 603

SR 109

Fair

Over: WRECK CREEK

19.1 N JCT SR 115, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1957 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 1,323

SR 23

Fair

Over: UP RR

0.6 N WHITMAN CO, Lincoln, WA

Built 1949 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 398

SR 153

Fair

Over: BLACK CANYON CREEK

6.6 N JCT US 97, Okanogan, WA

Built 1949 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 1,621

SR 105

Fair

Over: NEWSKAH CREEK

14.9 N JCT SR 105 SP, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1953 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 6,067

SR 112

Fair

Over: W TWIN RIVER

15.8 E JCT SR 113, Clallam, WA

Built 1954 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 820

I-90

Fair

Over: MOSES LAKE

23.8 E JCT SR 281, Grant, WA

Built 1958 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 14,251

SR 522 RAMP

Fair

Over: SAMMAMISH RIVER

1.3 E JCT SR 527, King, WA

Built 1968 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 9,413

S 277TH ST

Fair

Over: SR 167

3.6 N JCT SR 18, King, WA

Built 1968 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 31,266

150TH AVE SE

Fair

Over: I-90

1.7 E JCT I-405, King, WA

Built 1973 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 18,919

I-5

Fair

Over: NE NORTHGATE WAY

2.0 N JCT SR 522, King, WA

Built 1964 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 89,782

Buffalo-Willson Rd

Fair

Over: LITTLE PEND OREILLE RIVE

1.23 SE KITT-NARCISSE RD., Stevens, WA

Built 1975 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 21

M ROAD SE

Fair

Over: LIND COULEE WASTEWAY

M SE 0.3 North of SR 262, Grant, WA

Built 1953 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 1,125

KELLOG HOLLOW RD.

Fair

Over: KELLOG HOLLOW

5.6 S JCT SR 261, Columbia, WA

Built 1966 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 300

MENZEL LAKE RD.

Fair

Over: PILCHUCK RIVER

6.0 SE JCT SR 92, Snohomish, WA

Built 1956 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 1,076

NORTH PASS RD

Fair

Over: SUMAS RIVER

00.3 N MINAKER RD, Whatcom, WA

Built 1949 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 260

MOSQUITO LK RD

Fair

Over: PORTER CREEK

10.3 E VALLEY HWY., Whatcom, WA

Built 1936 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 162

DRAYTON HARBOR RD

Fair

Over: CALIFORNIA CR

00.1 W. BLAINE RD., Whatcom, WA

Built 1933 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 5,920

HUSSEY ST

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

00.87N WHITMAN ST, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1976 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 530

SR 96

Fair

Over: FARM STORAGE

4.0 E JCT SR 527, Snohomish, WA

Built 1970 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 3,024

OCEAN BEACH ROAD

Fair

Over: HUMPTULIPS RIVER OVERFLO

09.4 NW JCT US 101, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1960 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 2,531

ERIKSEN/4490

Fair

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK

0.07 MI S SR 23, Whitman, WA

Built 1981 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 40

SOUTH TOUTLE RD

Fair

Over: SOUTH TOUTLE RIVER

1.16 E SR 504 (MP 10.55), Cowlitz, WA

Built 1971 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 1,400

CHESTNUT ST-BAY ST

Fair

Over: BURLINGTON NORTHERN

AT JCT W CHESTNUT/BAY ST, Whatcom, WA

Built 1930 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 6,000

S 4TH STREET

Fair

Over: DOCK STREET

2.0 N JCT I-5 SR73, Pierce, WA

Built 1987 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 4,000

7TH AVE SW

Fair

Over: CLARKS CREEK

1.3 MI W SR 512, Pierce, WA

Built 1970 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 6,433

RAILROAD AVENUE

Fair

Over: MERCER CREEK

RR AVE & MERCER CR, Kittitas, WA

Built 1979 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 2,710

SW SPOKANE ST

Fair

Over: KLICKITAT E MARGINAL RR

1200 SW Spokane St, King, WA

Built 1991 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 11,000

E. BAKERVIEW ROAD

Fair

Over: SQUALICUM CREEK

0.2 E JCT HANNEGAN RD, Whatcom, WA

Built 1935 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 3,500

COAL CREEK RD

Fair

Over: DEEP CR

05.85 S OF SR 542, Whatcom, WA

Built 2000 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 15

US 101

Fair

Over: LILLIWAUP R

12.6 S JEFFERSON CO, Mason, WA

Built 1925 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 3,048

SR 99

Fair

Over: HYLEBOS CREEK

1.1 N JCT I-5, Pierce, WA

Built 1927 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 23,347

SR 202

Fair

Over: PATTERSON CREEK

11.5 E JCT SR 520, King, WA

Built 1930 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 7,012

SR 261

Fair

Over: DRY RUN

1.7 N JCT SR 26, Adams, WA

Built 1947 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 460

SR 11

Fair

Over: HALF BR

12.8 N JCT I-5, Skagit, WA

Built 1950 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 2,412

I-5

Fair

Over: LAKE WASH SHIP CANAL

0.7 N JCT SR 520, King, WA

Built 1962 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 178,753

I-90

Fair

Over: S CLE ELUM RD & BNSF RR

28.8 E JCT SR 906, Kittitas, WA

Built 1966 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 13,987

GRADE ST

Fair

Over: I-5

2.2 N JCT SR 432, Cowlitz, WA

Built 1979 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 2,712

ROCK CRK RD

Fair

Over: ROCK CREEK

0.1 E JCT SR 503, Clark, WA

Built 1949 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 2,014

ARDEN HILL ROAD

Fair

Over: COLVILLE RIVER

00.28 W JCT SR 395, Stevens, WA

Built 1966 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 500

BRIDGEPORT WY SW

Fair

Over: CLOVER CREEK

.2 S JCT SR 5, Pierce, WA

Built 1937 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 17,440

OLD MONITOR ROAD

Fair

Over: WENATCHEE RIVER

00.07W SR 97, Chelan, WA

Built 1930 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 1,857

BROOKS ROAD

Fair

Over: COULEE CREEK

0.4 S COULEE-HITE, Spokane, WA

Built 1981 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 147

HORSESHOE BEND RD.

Fair

Over: KLICKITAT RIVER

00.03 S JCT SR 142, Klickitat, WA

Built 1965 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 15

SILVER CK RD 00670

Fair

Over: SAN POIL RIVER

00.03 E SR 21, Ferry, WA

Built 1961 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 325

NE OLD CASCADE HWY

Fair

Over: S FORK SKYKOMISH RIVER

0.1 MI S OF SR-2, King, WA

Built 1957 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 343

HATLEY/9550

Fair

Over: UNION FLAT CREEK

0.05 MI E WAWAWAI-PULLMAN, Whitman, WA

Built 1963 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 10

BIG ALKALI/7005

Fair

Over: ALKALI FLAT CREEK

1.36 MI E LITTLE GOOSE DM, Whitman, WA

Built 1981 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 136

Showing 1,151-1,200 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.