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

I-182

Fair

Over: ARGENT ROAD

4.8 E BENTON CO, Franklin, WA

Built 1984 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 29,238

I-82

Fair

Over: I-182

JCT I-182, Benton, WA

Built 1984 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 13,398

US 395

Fair

Over: WHITWORTH DRIVE

1.3 N JCT US 2, Spokane, WA

Built 1985 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 27,644

US 101

Fair

Over: JORSTED CREEK

6.8 S JEFFERSON CO, Mason, WA

Built 1985 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 2,489

SR 20

Fair

Over: S FK LOST CREEK

5.4 E JCT SR 31, Pend Oreille, WA

Built 1986 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,052

PRAIRIE ROAD

Fair

Over: FRIDAY CREEK

0.17 Mi E of OLD HWY 99, Skagit, WA

Built 1975 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 2,757

ELK CREEK RD.

Fair

Over: ELK CREEK

0.02 W JCT 26890, Lewis, WA

Built 1952 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 95

LAUER RD

Fair

Over: ROCKY COULEE

01.51 MI N TOKIO RD, Adams, WA

Built 1914 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 14

JACKSON HWY

Fair

Over: NEWAUKUM OVERFLOW

2.56 N JCT SR 508, Lewis, WA

Built 1926 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 3,427

JACKSON HWY.

Fair

Over: NEWAUKUM OVERFLOW

2.49 N JCT SR 508, Lewis, WA

Built 1926 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 3,427

JACKSON HWY.

Fair

Over: NEWAUKUM OVERFLOW

2.45 N JCT SR 508, Lewis, WA

Built 1926 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 3,427

ONEILL ROAD

Fair

Over: NEWMAN CREEK

0.7 N JCT CR 9710, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1972 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 126

PRAIRIE ROAD

Fair

Over: SAMISH RIVER

3.8 E JCT OLD HWY 99, Skagit, WA

Built 1975 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,539

NORTHWEST AVENUE

Fair

Over: SQUALLICUM WY CRK CMSTP&

1.5 NW. CITY HALL, Whatcom, WA

Built 1971 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 10,700

BOSTON STREET

Fair

Over: DESCHUTES RIVER

00.10 S. CUSTER WAY, Thurston, WA

Built 1915 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 7,400

228TH ST SE

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

0.1 W JCT SR 9, Snohomish, WA

Built 1989 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 7,573

AIRPORT ROAD

Fair

Over: CASCADE CANAL

0.20 NORTH BENDER ROAD, Kittitas, WA

Built 2006 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 4,772

UNIVERSITY WAY

Fair

Over: WHISKEY CREEK

0.0N EW CENS341818, Kittitas, WA

Built 2006 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 11,706

HARMS ROAD

Fair

Over: SWALE CREEK

0.5 MI NORTH OF CR 22000, Klickitat, WA

Built 2009 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 76

WASHINGTON ROUTE 4

Fair

Over: DEADWOOD CREEK

2.8 MILES NORTH OF JCT. W, Pierce, WA

Built 1994 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 2,564

CASCADE RIVER ROAD

Fair

Over: LOWER NORTH FORK CASCADE

20.5 Miles East of Marble, Skagit, WA

Built 2008 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 50

NORTH SHORE ROAD

Fair

Over: QUINAULT RIVER

12.7 MI. NE OF JCT. HWY., Jefferson, WA

Built 1974 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 200

LAKE CRESCENT ROAD

Fair

Over: BARNES CREEK

19.4 mi W of Port Angeles, Clallam, WA

Built 1945 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 50

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: QUARTZ CREEK

16.9 MILES EAST OF JCT. R, Skamania, WA

Built 1969 Load: 40.0 t ADT: 99

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: TWIN FALLS CREEK

1.4 MILE NORTH OF TROUT L, Skamania, WA

Built 1964 Load: 40.0 t ADT: 179

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: GREEN RIVER

1 MILE SOUTH OF HWY 112 J, Skamania, WA

Built 1971 Load: 40.0 t ADT: 20

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: LITTLE NISQUALLY RIVER

12.9 MILES WEST OF HWY 7, Lewis, WA

Built 1974 Load: 40.0 t ADT: 30

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: MATHENY CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Jefferson, WA

Built 1966 Load: 40.0 t ADT: 50

FERRY TRAFFIC

Fair

Over: PUGET SOUND @ SEATTLE

W END YESLER WAY, King, WA

Built 2019 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 10,212

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: COMPASS CREEK

TAKE HWY. 30 OFF HWY 14;, Skamania, WA

Built 2010 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 50

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK DEADMAN CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Ferry, WA

Built 1975 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 1

I-82

Fair

Over: NP RY MOXEE

1.1 E JCT US 12, Yakima, WA

Built 1961 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 24,642

BRYNION ST

Fair

Over: I-5

0.6 N JCT SR 4, Cowlitz, WA

Built 1980 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 3,721

MARINE DR

Fair

Over: NOOKSACK RIVER

00.2 E FERNDALE RD., Whatcom, WA

Built 1936 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 3,900

ILLAHEE ROAD

Fair

Over: STEELE CREEK

0.05 S JCT BROWNSVILLE HW, Kitsap, WA

Built 1986 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 4,305

SQUALLICUM WAY

Fair

Over: SQUALLICUM CREEK

BOX CUL 1 SQUALL WY, Whatcom, WA

Built 1970 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 4,200

SQUALLICUM WAY

Fair

Over: SQUALLICUM CREEK

BOX CUL 2 SQUALL WY, Whatcom, WA

Built 1970 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 4,200

SQUALLICUM WAY

Fair

Over: SQUALLICUM CREEK

BOX CUL 3 SQUALL WY, Whatcom, WA

Built 1970 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 4,200

NE MONEY CREEK RD

Fair

Over: MONEY CREEK

2.0 MI SOUTH OF SR 2, King, WA

Built 1958 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 30

VALLEY CHAPEL RD

Fair

Over: LATAH CREEK

1.5 S ELDER RD., Spokane, WA

Built 1996 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 192

FRANK ALBERT RD E

Fair

Over: UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD

0.3 S JCT 20 ST E, Pierce, WA

Built 1993 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 5,500

S LAVENTURE RD

Fair

Over: MADDOX CR

0.5 E JCT I-5, Skagit, WA

Built 2013 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 8,284

VIETNAM VILLAGE RD

Fair

Over: MUCK CREEK

GRID COORD ET395088, Pierce, WA

Built 1966 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 200

SR 14

Fair

Over: HALF BRIDGE

2.5 E JCT US 197, Klickitat, WA

Built 1931 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 2,268

SR 203

Fair

Over: HASKELL SLOUGH

5.1 N KING CO, Snohomish, WA

Built 1957 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 15,035

I-5

Fair

Over: IOWA ST

3.1 N JCT SR 11, Whatcom, WA

Built 1957 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 61,810

I-5

Fair

Over: ORCHID DR/SQUALICUM CR

0.6 N JCT SR 542, Whatcom, WA

Built 1958 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 37,086

US 2

Fair

Over: CORBETT DRAW

2.4 E GRANT CO, Lincoln, WA

Built 1960 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 1,016

SR 14

Fair

Over: EAST CAMAS SLOUGH

7.7 E JCT I-205, Clark, WA

Built 1962 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 14,535

SR 522

Fair

Over: SNOHOMISH R & TESTER RD

6.4 E JCT SR 9, Snohomish, WA

Built 1963 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 15,235

Showing 3,151-3,200 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.