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

ANNE STREET

Fair

Over: GOOSE CREEK

0.03 S JCT US 2, Lincoln, WA

Built 1981 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 200

BRIDGEPORT HILL RD

Fair

Over: SMITH CREEK

10.28 N. 25E, Douglas, WA

Built 1993 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 421

SR 203

Fair

Over: GRIFFIN CR

3.8 N JCT SR 202, King, WA

Built 1945 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 7,622

SR 823

Fair

Over: SLOUGH & CNTY RD

0.2 N JCT I-82, Yakima, WA

Built 1947 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 17,558

SR 27

Fair

Over: MISSOURI FLAT CR

0.3 N JCT SR 270, Whitman, WA

Built 1955 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 18,411

SR 9

Fair

Over: PEDESTRAIN TRAIL

1.8 N JCT SR 528, Snohomish, WA

Built 1957 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 15,892

US 101

Fair

Over: LITTLE HOQUIAM R

1.4 N JCT SR 109, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1958 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 5,422

SR 11

Fair

Over: I-5

JCT I-5, Skagit, WA

Built 1959 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 10,001

SR 23

Fair

Over: LORDS VALLEY CREEK

16.0 N JCT SR 231, Lincoln, WA

Built 1960 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 367

I-5

Fair

Over: PORTLAND AVE

1.1 N JCT SR 7, Pierce, WA

Built 1962 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 103,992

I-5

Fair

Over: PORTLAND AVE

1.1 N JCT SR 7, Pierce, WA

Built 1962 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 103,992

US 2

Fair

Over: I-90

16.3 E LINCOLN CO, Spokane, WA

Built 1962 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 10,192

I-82 RAMP

Fair

Over: YAKIMA AVE

2.0 E JCT US 12, Yakima, WA

Built 1962 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 4,561

SR 512

Fair

Over: PARK AVE

2.0 E JCT I-5, Pierce, WA

Built 1963 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 69,533

SR 9

Fair

Over: 2ND ST

2.6 N JCT SR 96, Snohomish, WA

Built 1963 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 28,331

SR 520

Fair

Over: PEDESTRIAN TRAIL

0.2 E JCT I-405, King, WA

Built 1969 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 43,146

SR 522

Fair

Over: W MAIN STREET

9.1 E JCT SR 9, Snohomish, WA

Built 1970 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 15,235

OLYMPIC DR NW

Fair

Over: SR 16

1.6 N JCT SR 16 AR, Pierce, WA

Built 1972 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 22,899

SR 520

Fair

Over: 140TH AVE NE

1.6 E JCT I-405, King, WA

Built 1972 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 43,146

I-405

Fair

Over: SE 8TH ST OC

1.7 N JCT I-90, King, WA

Built 1972 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 87,145

SR 195

Fair

Over: PINE CREEK

3.5 N JCT SR 271, Whitman, WA

Built 1974 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 4,652

US 195

Fair

Over: OLD BN RR

2.9 N JCT SR 271, Whitman, WA

Built 1975 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 4,476

I-90

Fair

Over: E FK ISSAQUAH CREEK

3.3 E JCT SR 900, King, WA

Built 1976 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 33,574

I-82

Fair

Over: MIDVALE ROAD

8.6 E JCT SR 223, Yakima, WA

Built 1982 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 9,325

US 101

Fair

Over: NASELLE RIVER

12.9 N JCT SR 103, Pacific, WA

Built 1985 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 1,852

SULLIVAN RD

Fair

Over: I-90

2.0 E JCT SR 27, Spokane, WA

Built 1985 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 34,662

US 101

Fair

Over: N FK WILLAPA

0.7 N JCT SR 6, Pacific, WA

Built 1992 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 8,113

SR 823

Fair

Over: YAKIMA RIVER

0.1 N JCT I-82, Yakima, WA

Built 1999 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 2,615

NE 128TH ST

Fair

Over: NB I-405

5.7 N JCT SR 520, King, WA

Built 2006 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 7,766

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: GREEN FORK

14.3 MILES EAST OF JCT. E, Skamania, WA

Built 1986 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 10

RD. NO. 20

Fair

Over: BEDAL CREEK

M.P. 35.9 RD. NO. 20, Snohomish, WA

Built 1978 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 140

ROAD # 28

Fair

Over: N.F. STILLIGUAMISH RIVER

MILEPOST 4.8 RD. 28, Skagit, WA

Built 1994 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 60

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: BIG CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1971 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 10

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: JEFFERSON CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Mason, WA

Built 1957 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 50

ENTIAT VALLEY

Fair

Over: NORTH FORK ENTIAT RIVER

NO DATA ENTERED, Chelan, WA

Built 1948 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 100

188 SW

Fair

Over: OVERFLOW CHANNEL

700 ft W Marble St SW, Thurston, WA

Built 1981 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 291

DEEP CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: DEEP CREEK

3.18 N JCT 24034, Lewis, WA

Built 1978 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 66

SOUTH BANK ROAD

Fair

Over: ROCK CREEK

SOUTH OF LANGABEER ROAD, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1971 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 475

RALSTON-BENGE RD

Fair

Over: COW CREEK

05.76 MI E SR261, Adams, WA

Built 1917 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 62

TOWER RD

Fair

Over: TOUTLE RIVER

2.92 NE SR 504 (MP 2.00), Cowlitz, WA

Built 1981 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 600

KOLLOCK RD

Fair

Over: OLEQUA CREEK

0.19 SE JCT.93000, Lewis, WA

Built 1977 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 45

EAST WISHKAH ROAD

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

01.4 NE JCT 9431, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1976 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 200

SCH. LND. RD. CULV

Fair

Over: OVERFLOW CHANNEL

600 W Forstom St., Thurston, WA

Built 1981 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 345

PLUM ST

Fair

Over: CHINA CREEK

.2 N JCT. SR 507, Lewis, WA

Built 1944 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 147

SW 43RD STREET

Fair

Over: SPRINGBROOK CREEK

1.0 MI W OF SR-167, King, WA

Built 1983 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 27,713

A STREET SE

Fair

Over: STUCK RIVER (WHITE RIV)

1.3 MI E OF SR-167, King, WA

Built 1991 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 25,650

COOK RD

Fair

Over: I-5

1.6 N JCT SR 11, Skagit, WA

Built 1963 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 10,683

I-90

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

18.9 E JCT SR 970, Kittitas, WA

Built 1967 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 15,317

I-90

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

18.9 E JCT SR 970, Kittitas, WA

Built 1967 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 15,317

I-90

Fair

Over: GAME CROSSING

1.3 E JCT SR 18, King, WA

Built 1976 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 33,470

Showing 3,001-3,050 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.