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

41ST ST

Fair

Over: BROADWAY

0.3 N JCT I-5, Snohomish, WA

Built 1967 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 33,594

US 12

Fair

Over: COWLITZ R

0.8 E JCT SR 122, Lewis, WA

Built 1968 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 4,729

I-405

Fair

Over: I-90 FACTORIA

5.7 N JCT SR 900, King, WA

Built 1969 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 47,640

SR 410

Fair

Over: 166TH AVE

1.1 E JCT SR 162, Pierce, WA

Built 1968 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 20,831

SR 526

Fair

Over: HARDESON ROAD

2.9 E JCT SR 525, Snohomish, WA

Built 1969 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 67,918

24TH AVE S

Fair

Over: SR 518 RAMPS

1.5 E JCT SR 509, King, WA

Built 1970 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 2,564

SR 520

Fair

Over: 130TH AVE NE

1.0 E JCT I-405, King, WA

Built 1970 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 43,146

I-5

Fair

Over: QUILCEDA CREEK

0.9 N JCT SR 528, Snohomish, WA

Built 1971 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 65,521

SR 20

Fair

Over: SWINOMISH CHAN

9.3 E ISLAND CO, Skagit, WA

Built 1972 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 17,952

SR 167

Fair

Over: ELLINGSON ROAD

1.1 N PIERCE CO, King, WA

Built 1977 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 92,898

EVERGREEN BLVD

Fair

Over: I-5

0.4 N JCT SR 14, Clark, WA

Built 1980 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 7,757

I-182

Fair

Over: COLUMBIA R CITY STREETS

0.9 E JCT SR 240, Benton, WA

Built 1984 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 35,631

I-182

Fair

Over: COLUMBIA RIVER

0.9 E JCT SR 240, Benton, WA

Built 1984 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 35,631

SR 99

Fair

Over: DUWAMISH RIVER

0.1 N JCT SR 509, King, WA

Built 1996 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 42,345

SR 104

Fair

Over: HOOD CANAL

0.6 E JEFFERSON CO, Kitsap, WA

Built 2007 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 17,634

11.5 RD NW

Fair

Over: WASTEWAY

11.5 NW 0.1 W of H NW, Grant, WA

Built 1953 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 63

SHIELD ROAD

Fair

Over: USIS CANAL

00.16 S DEERING, Yakima, WA

Built 1957 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 420

SHOREY RD

Fair

Over: RAIL ROAD DITCH

0.11 S RD 40073, Lewis, WA

Built 1955 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 2,814

236 ST NE

Fair

Over: PILCHUCK CREEK

0.4 W JCT SR5, Snohomish, WA

Built 1968 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 1,445

KEYS ROAD

Fair

Over: CHEHALIS RIVER FISH AC

1.5 S JCT SR 12, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1981 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 454

LISCUUM ROAD

Fair

Over: ZIEGLER CREEK

0.2 S JCT 9340, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1985 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 85

SOUTH FORK MILL CR

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK MILL CREEK

.11 E JCT ALADDIN RD., Stevens, WA

Built 1965 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 51

FLAT CREEK/6010

Fair

Over: UNION FLAT CREEK

1.07 MI E WINONA SOUTH, Whitman, WA

Built 1965 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 65

NEWMAN CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: NEWMAN CREEK

1.9 N JCT CR 9710, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1973 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 85

INDEX-GALENA RD

Fair

Over: TROUBLESOME CREEK

11.2 NE JCT SR 2, Snohomish, WA

Built 1973 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 86

WYNOOCHE VALLEY RD

Fair

Over: ANDERSON CREEK

12.2 N JCT SR12, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1965 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 226

SR 113

Fair

Over: PYSHT RIVER

9.6 N JCT US 101, Clallam, WA

Built 1936 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 1,389

STEARNS HILL ROAD

Fair

Over: BUNKER CREEK

6.0 NW ADNA, Lewis, WA

Built 1984 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 9

NORTH FORK RD

Fair

Over: N. FK NEWAUKUM RIVER

6.5 NE FOREST, Lewis, WA

Built 1963 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 212

HUMPTULIPS VALLEY

Fair

Over: LITTLE CREEK

00.8 N JCT 9423, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1985 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 52

BIG HANAFORD RD.

Fair

Over: HANAFORD CK.

3.0 E CENTRALIA, Lewis, WA

Built 1974 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 798

BEAVER CREEK RD

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK CHEHALIS RIVE

1.2 SW CURTIS, Lewis, WA

Built 1982 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 109

LINDEN ST

Fair

Over: COAL CREEK

50 FEET EAST SR28, Lincoln, WA

Built 1980 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 500

INLAND EMPIRE WAY

Fair

Over: LATAH CREEK

01.06 NORTH SR195, Spokane, WA

Built 1934 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 1,833

OVERPASS TO T-5

Fair

Over: W. MARGINAL WY S.W.

0.9 MI. W. OF SR 99, King, WA

Built 1997 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 1,000

VERNON ROAD

Fair

Over: WETLAND @ N LAKE STEVENS

0.7 NE JCT SR9, Snohomish, WA

Built 2001 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 6,050

3RD ST SW

Fair

Over: SOUND TRANSIT P&R ACCESS

0.3 MILES WEST OF SR 18, King, WA

Built 2002 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 3,200

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: NORTH FORK TILTON RIVER

2 MILES NW OF JUNCTION WI, Lewis, WA

Built 1973 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 128

RD. NO. 4032

Fair

Over: MALLARDY CREEK

M.P. 1.0 RD. NO. 4032, Snohomish, WA

Built 1961 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 23

RD. NO. 2060

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK

M.P. 5.8 RD. NO. 2060, Snohomish, WA

Built 1967 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 9

ROAD

Fair

Over: DINGFORD CREEK

5.8 MI E OF 56/5640 JCT, King, WA

Built 1961 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 45

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: W FK HUMPTULIPS RIVER

NO DATA ENTERED, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1948 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 150

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: SITKUM RIVER

NO DATA ENTERED, Clallam, WA

Built 1961 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 50

NACHES RIVER ROAD

Fair

Over: BUMPING RIVER

TO HALFWAY FLAT CAMPGROUD, Yakima, WA

Built 1975 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 30

ROANOKE ST

Fair

Over: I-5

0.1 N JCT SR 520, King, WA

Built 1962 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 6,500

I-82

Fair

Over: BURBANK CREEK

15.8 E JCT SR 821, Kittitas, WA

Built 1970 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 9,724

BOULEVARD RD

Fair

Over: I-5

2.6 N JCT US 101, Thurston, WA

Built 1984 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 8,000

W.B. I-90

Fair

Over: LAKE WASHINGTON

3.0 E JCT I-5, King, WA

Built 1989 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 63,053

MCKINLEY SPRINGS

Fair

Over: GLADE CREEK

01.18 S HORRIGAN RD, Benton, WA

Built 1974 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 263

MOX CHEHALIS ROAD

Fair

Over: MOX CHEHALIS CREEK

1.4 NE JCT SR12, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1964 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 605

Showing 2,301-2,350 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.