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

PORTER CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: PORTER CREEK

01.1 E JCT SR12, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1979 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 305

BROWN ROAD WEST

Fair

Over: STEARNS CREEK

3.1 SE ADNA, Lewis, WA

Built 1950 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 235

BROWN ROAD WEST

Fair

Over: W. FK. STEARNS CREEK

3.0 SE ADNA, Lewis, WA

Built 1950 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 235

PULVER ROAD

Fair

Over: JOE LEARY SLOUGH

.6 S JCT SR 11, Skagit, WA

Built 1955 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 928

FOX/0120

Fair

Over: PINE CREEK

0.40 MI S ENGEL, Whitman, WA

Built 1954 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 7

REECER CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: HILINE CANAL

00.39 N SMITHSON RD, Kittitas, WA

Built 1931 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 358

SR 285

Fair

Over: WENATCHEE RIVER & BNSF

1.5 N JCT SR 285COWENTCH, Chelan, WA

Built 1933 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 19,498

H ROAD SE

Fair

Over: WEST CANAL BLK 80

H SE 0.6 S of 10 SE, Grant, WA

Built 1953 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 748

KENOVA/3310

Fair

Over: PINE CREEK

0.33 MI N STEPHEN, Whitman, WA

Built 1916 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 25

MARINE DRIVE

Fair

Over: STILLAGUAMISH RIVER

1.4 S SR 532, Snohomish, WA

Built 1959 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 5,524

WILSON CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: CASCADE CANAL

00.12 N J RONALD RD, Kittitas, WA

Built 1930 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,753

JONES RD

Fair

Over: SLEASMAN SLOUGH

00.3 E NIMS RD, Whatcom, WA

Built 1935 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 150

OLSON RD/36 AVE NW

Fair

Over: NORMAN SLOUGH

0.1 S JCT SR 530, Snohomish, WA

Built 1979 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 50

LOCKWOOD RD

Fair

Over: SWAMP CREEK

0.02 N KING CO LIN, Snohomish, WA

Built 1968 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 4,651

MOSQUITO LK RD

Fair

Over: CANYON CR

00.1 S E CANYON LK., Whatcom, WA

Built 1937 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 418

NORTH FORK RD

Fair

Over: N.FK. NEWAUKUM RIVER

2.05 NE JCT 94001, Lewis, WA

Built 1962 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 274

20TH AVENUE WEST

Fair

Over: RD TO BOEING PARKING LOT

BOEING INTRCHNG, Snohomish, WA

Built 1969 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 19,626

15TH AVE W

Fair

Over: SHILSHOLE AVE NW

4300 15th Ave W, King, WA

Built 1940 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 52,000

NE KRESKY RD

Fair

Over: SALZER CREEK

0.4 N OF NE HAMPE, Lewis, WA

Built 1964 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 8,602

S ALBRO PL

Fair

Over: AIRPORT WAY S RR

S Albro Pl & Airport Way, King, WA

Built 1931 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 13,000

18 TH STREET

Fair

Over: PATAHA CREEK

0.1 S US12 ON 18TH, Garfield, WA

Built 1960 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 200

LOMBARD AVENUE

Fair

Over: BURLINGTON NORTHERN RR

0.1 N OF HEWITT AVE, Snohomish, WA

Built 1989 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 371

NEWAUKUM VALLEY RD

Fair

Over: ALLEN CREEK

0.23 from 94006, Lewis, WA

Built 1950 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 230

HAYWIRE ROAD

Fair

Over: Stearns Creek

2.5 West Napavine, Lewis, WA

Built 1940 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 238

TOLEDO SALMON ROAD

Fair

Over: LITTLE SALMON CREEK

3.0 SE TOLEDO, Lewis, WA

Built 1955 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 104

5TH AVE

Fair

Over: CAPITOL LAKE

1.2 N I-5, Thurston, WA

Built 1948 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 19,640

W GARFIELD ST

Fair

Over: BNRR

350 FT WEST OF 15TH AVE W, King, WA

Built 1930 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 20,000

SUNRISE ROAD

Fair

Over: SHAW CREEK

2.7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF JC, Pierce, WA

Built 1957 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,786

STEHEKIN VALLEY RO

Fair

Over: STEHEKIN RIVER

12.5 Miles NW of Stehekin, Chelan, WA

Built 1971 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 10

COUNTY ROAD 938

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

8 miles west of Walla Wal, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1962 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 500

COLUMBIA PRK TRAIL

Fair

Over: COLUMBIA IRR DIST CANAL

1.2 NW JCT N STEPTOE ST, Benton, WA

Built 1929 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 2,000

US 12

Fair

Over: CEDAR CREEK

10.5 E JCT SR 8, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1932 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 5,708

US 2

Fair

Over: CORBETT DRAW

2.8 E GRANT CO, Lincoln, WA

Built 1933 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 1,226

SR 26

Fair

Over: POTHOLES EAST CANAL

8.8 E GRANT CO, Adams, WA

Built 1955 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 7,237

I-5

Fair

Over: MEADOR AVE

2.8 N JCT SR 11, Whatcom, WA

Built 1957 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 35,827

US 101

Fair

Over: QUINAULT RIVER

39.1 N JCT SR 109, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1961 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 2,164

SCHRAG RD

Fair

Over: FARRIER COULEE

00.61 MI W DEAL RD, Adams, WA

Built 1938 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 57

CHARLES ROAD

Fair

Over: SPOKANE RIVER

CHARLES RD OC, Spokane, WA

Built 1976 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 3,191

COUNTY ROAD 9140

Fair

Over: GATE CREEK

.NWSWS10T36NR19E, Okanogan, WA

Built 1971 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 488

EDGEWOOD DRIVE

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

01.90 E JCT SR112, Clallam, WA

Built 1957 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 1,748

CASCADE ORCHARD RD

Fair

Over: WENATCHEE RIVER

00.83S SR 2, Chelan, WA

Built 1965 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 3,349

HUSUM ST

Fair

Over: WHITE SALMON RIVER

0.01 W JCT SR141, Klickitat, WA

Built 1993 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 122

SE 80TH ST

Fair

Over: KIMBALL CREEK

0.4 MI W OF SR-202, King, WA

Built 1929 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 398

JONES RD

Fair

Over: SAAR CR

00.7 W NIMS RD., Whatcom, WA

Built 1946 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 206

Old Blewett Road

Fair

Over: Peshastin Creek

0.99 Mi W. of SR 97, Chelan, WA

Built 1977 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 26

JACKSON RD

Fair

Over: TERRELL CREEK

00.3 N Grandview Road, Whatcom, WA

Built 2003 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 897

SR 706

Fair

Over: COPPER CR

11.2 E JCT SR 7, Pierce, WA

Built 1922 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 2,222

SR 155 SPUR

Fair

Over: OKANOGAN RIVER

0.2 W JCT SR 155, Okanogan, WA

Built 1923 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 5,801

SR 101

Fair

Over: CUSHMAN TAILRACE

19.9 S JEFFERSON CO, Mason, WA

Built 1930 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 7,100

SR 285

Fair

Over: COLUMBIA R GN RY

0.2 N JCT SR 28, Douglas, WA

Built 1950 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 25,881

Showing 1,551-1,600 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.