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

TWIN OAKS ROAD

Fair

Over: STEARNS CR.

2.5 SW CHEHALIS, Lewis, WA

Built 1979 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 923

Madrona Beach Road

Fair

Over: PERRY CREEK

0.6 W Mud Bay Rd, Thurston, WA

Built 1958 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 1,325

STEILACOOM ROAD

Fair

Over: MCALLISTER CREEK

2.0 m S of I-5 on ramp, Thurston, WA

Built 1964 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 1,384

MINKLER ROAD

Fair

Over: OLEQUA CREEK

1.0 W ST. URBAN, Lewis, WA

Built 1951 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 691

BIRCH BAY LYNDEN

Fair

Over: BERTRAND CR

00.3 W.RATHBONE RD., Whatcom, WA

Built 1949 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 8,369

SOUTH SKAGIT HWY

Fair

Over: LORETTA CREEK

11 MI E JCT SR9, Skagit, WA

Built 1961 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 825

KNAPP ROAD

Fair

Over: NOOKACHAMPS CREEK

0.1 E JCT SR 9, Skagit, WA

Built 1977 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 405

BAKER LK RD

Fair

Over: SANDY CR

03.85 N SKAGIT LINE, Whatcom, WA

Built 1957 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 916

THRALL ROAD

Fair

Over: CHERRY CREEK

00.05 E NO. 6 ROAD, Kittitas, WA

Built 1969 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 2,284

CEDAR GROVE RD

Fair

Over: CEDAR RIVER

0.2 MI E OF SR-169, King, WA

Built 1962 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 5,971

20 TH STREET

Fair

Over: PATAHA CREEK

0.2 S US 12 ON 20TH, Garfield, WA

Built 1965 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 75

NE 85TH STREET

Fair

Over: SAMMAMISH RIVER

0.5 MI W OF JCT SR-202, King, WA

Built 1985 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 12,000

108TH ST. NE

Fair

Over: CENTENNIAL TRAIL

0.6 W SR9, Snohomish, WA

Built 1998 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 5,481

1st Avenue ramp

Fair

Over: S Spokane St

1st Ave S at S Spokane St, King, WA

Built 2014 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 2,030

W VALLEY HWY

Fair

Over: MILL CR

0.7 MI S JCT SR-516, King, WA

Built 1915 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 24,100

SR 410

Fair

Over: GREENWATER RIVER

17.9 E JCT SR 164, King, WA

Built 1932 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 1,884

CUNNINGHAM RD

Fair

Over: EAST LOW CANAL 4202+20

01.61 MI E BOOKER RD., Adams, WA

Built 1971 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 478

HUNT ROAD

Fair

Over: CHIMACUM CREEK

0.15 MI. NE SR-116, Jefferson, WA

Built 1971 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 140

ALLEN ROAD

Fair

Over: CHAMOKANE CREEK

.07 W SPRINGDALE-HUNTERS, Stevens, WA

Built 1966 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 65

THOMAS ROAD

Fair

Over: SAMISH RIVER

0.3 N JCT ALLEN WEST RD, Skagit, WA

Built 1973 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 216

SACKMAN RD

Fair

Over: DRY WASH

1.26 MI East of Dewald RD, Adams, WA

Built 1939 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 27

MILL STREET

Fair

Over: SALMON CREEK

.31 MI WEST OF SR215, Okanogan, WA

Built 2006 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 450

RIVERSIDE DRIVE

Fair

Over: HOAG & STEWARD ST

RIVERSIDE DR JCT HOAG ST, Skagit, WA

Built 2003 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 21,640

RD. NO. 20

Fair

Over: S FORK SAUK RIVER

MP 31.2 RD. NO. 20, Snohomish, WA

Built 1978 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 140

US 101

Fair

Over: MUD BAY

1.3 S JCT SR 8, Thurston, WA

Built 1958 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 20,937

CALLOWAY RD

Fair

Over: DRY WASH

.09E SR261, Adams, WA

Built 1900 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 26

UTOPIA ROAD

Fair

Over: BLACK SLOUGH

0.5 E JCT Hoehn Road, Skagit, WA

Built 1984 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 77

SO SKAGIT HWY

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

17.0 E JCT SR9, Skagit, WA

Built 1969 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 635

FRIDAY CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: FRIDAY CREEK

0.59 N JCT OLD 99, Skagit, WA

Built 1979 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 184

IDAHO STREET

Fair

Over: MCCOY CREEK

0.1 N STEPTOE ST, Whitman, WA

Built 1983 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 35

LYNX CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: HALL CREEK

00.02 W HALL CRK RD, Ferry, WA

Built 1989 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 116

US 12

Fair

Over: COWLITZ RIVER

7.8 E JCT SR 131, Lewis, WA

Built 1948 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 2,648

SR 4

Fair

Over: ELOCHOMAN RIVER

29.0 E JCT SR 401, Wahkiakum, WA

Built 1955 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 2,033

I-90

Fair

Over: S HAVANA ST

3.0 E JCT US 2, Spokane, WA

Built 1957 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 121,638

S 84TH ST

Fair

Over: I-5

1.4 N JCT SR 512, Pierce, WA

Built 1958 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 21,134

EASTON ROAD

Fair

Over: I-90

16.8 E JCT SR 906, Kittitas, WA

Built 1959 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 517

I-5

Fair

Over: EXP GALER-LAKEVIEW V

2.9 N JCT I-90, King, WA

Built 1961 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 37,212

SR 432

Fair

Over: COWLITZ R & NP RY

2.0 E JCT SR 411, Cowlitz, WA

Built 1961 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 19,031

I-5

Fair

Over: SR 11 (CONNELLY AVE)

8.1 N SKAGIT CO, Whatcom, WA

Built 1962 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 21,454

N-W RAMP

Fair

Over: I-82

2.0 E JCT US 12, Yakima, WA

Built 1962 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 4,561

I-5 RAMP

Fair

Over: CITY STREETS

0.8 N JCT I-90, King, WA

Built 1964 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 13,703

I-5

Fair

Over: SR 524 SPUR/44TH AVE W

3.0 N JCT SR 104, Snohomish, WA

Built 1963 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 81,547

LAKE SAMISH RD

Fair

Over: I-5

9.7 N JCT SR 11, Skagit, WA

Built 1963 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 3,250

8TH AVE

Fair

Over: I-5

1.3 N JCT I-90, King, WA

Built 1964 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 4,900

SR 970

Fair

Over: I-90 E CLE ELUM

JCT I-90, Kittitas, WA

Built 1966 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 2,876

I-5

Fair

Over: TERRAIN

4.5 N JCT SR 900, King, WA

Built 1966 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 95,134

NE PARK DR

Fair

Over: RR AND HOUSER WAY N

0.3 W JCT I-405, King, WA

Built 1966 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 8,210

I-5

Fair

Over: UNION SLOUGH

3.3 N JCT US 2, Snohomish, WA

Built 1968 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 63,840

I-5

Fair

Over: UNION SLOUGH

3.3 N JCT US 2, Snohomish, WA

Built 1968 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 63,840

I-5

Fair

Over: E FORK LEWIS RIVER

4.1 N JCT SR 501, Clark, WA

Built 1969 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 41,367

Showing 2,901-2,950 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.