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

SR 240/G WASH WAY

Fair

Over: I-182

JCT I-182/SR 240, Benton, WA

Built 1983 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 28,794

DODSON ROAD

Fair

Over: I-90

12.8 E JCT SR 281, Grant, WA

Built 1993 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 1,401

ROAD

Fair

Over: BAGLEY CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Whatcom, WA

Built 2007 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 50

WEST BOUNDARY ROAD

Fair

Over: SALMON RIVER

4.4 MI NORTH OF HWY 101, Jefferson, WA

Built 1979 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 50

183RD SW

Fair

Over: OVERFLOW CHANNEL

0.65 m E of Moon Rd, Thurston, WA

Built 1924 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 301

CANNON RD.

Fair

Over: BUTTER CREEK

2.83 N JCT US 12, Lewis, WA

Built 1976 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 757

WHITTON AV.

Fair

Over: S.F.STILLAGUAMISH RIVER

21.6 E JCT SR 92, Snohomish, WA

Built 1989 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 18

SARGENT ROAD

Fair

Over: SCATTER CREEK

.63 m N of 183rd, Thurston, WA

Built 1984 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 2,812

W EMERSON ST

Fair

Over: RR TRACKS ALLEY

1500 W Emerson St, King, WA

Built 1949 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 19,800

13TH AVE

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

0.070 S CHERRY ST, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1980 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 2,690

DUPONT PROSPECT ST

Fair

Over: WHATCOM CREEK

AT POST OFFICE, Whatcom, WA

Built 1920 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 8,700

FERRY LANDING

Fair

Over: CORMORANT PASSAGE

KETRON ISLAND, Pierce, WA

Built 1998 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 10

SHYBEAR WY NW

Fair

Over: WETLAND 1 TRIBUTARY

0.15 M S OF NW TALUS DR, King, WA

Built 2000 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 280

Columbia Ctr. Blvd

Fair

Over: BNSF RR

.05 N. JCT CLEARWATER AVE, Benton, WA

Built 2004 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 26,932

15 STREET NW

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK WETLAND

0.2 MI W OF SR 169, King, WA

Built 2014 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 20,648

DIVISION STREET

Fair

Over: PAHA DRAINAGE DITCH

0.01 SE ELM AVE, Adams, WA

Built 1930 Load: 46.7 t ADT: 846

PINE BLUFF ROAD

Fair

Over: COULEE CREEK

0.2 N SEVEN MI RD, Spokane, WA

Built 1990 Load: 46.7 t ADT: 123

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: BOX CANYON CREEK #1

NO DATA ENTERED, Kittitas, WA

Built 1983 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 5

364th Ave SE

Fair

Over: RAGING RIVER

6.8 MI E OF ISSA-HO, King, WA

Built 1996 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 160

TINKHAM ROAD

Fair

Over: S.FK. SNOQUALMIE RIVER

I90 EAST EXIT 47, King, WA

Built 1972 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 120

BRIDGEPORT WAY

Fair

Over: I-5

11.1 N THURSTON CO, Pierce, WA

Built 1958 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 13,128

SR 16

Fair

Over: UNION AVE

1.1 N JCT I-5, Pierce, WA

Built 1972 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 68,072

SR 290

Fair

Over: 2ND AVE

0.2 E JCT I-90, Spokane, WA

Built 1974 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 7,408

EVERGREEN PARKWAY

Fair

Over: MUD BAY ROAD

0.2 N JCT US 101, Thurston, WA

Built 1975 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 6,090

SR 260

Fair

Over: US 395

JCT US 395, Franklin, WA

Built 1995 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 3,287

CORNELL CREEK RD

Fair

Over: HENDRICKS CREEK

00.7 SE MTBAKER HWY, Whatcom, WA

Built 1967 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 62

QUINAULT S SHORE

Fair

Over: STORM BRANCH

7.7 NE JCT US 101, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1982 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 199

TEANAWAY ROAD

Fair

Over: TEANAWAY RIVER

07.09 N US 970, Kittitas, WA

Built 1960 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 592

LEONARD ROAD

Fair

Over: S. FORK NEWAUKUM RIVER

0.3 S. ONALASKA, Lewis, WA

Built 1992 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 1,929

CLINE ROAD

Fair

Over: KILBORN CR

8.0 E RANDAL, Lewis, WA

Built 2000 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 45

DIABLO ST

Fair

Over: STETATTLE CREEK

Diable Bunkhouse Entrance, King, WA

Built 1941 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 300

DIABLO ACCESS RD

Fair

Over: DIABLO GORGE

Diablo Access Road, King, WA

Built 1962 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 220

COTTAGE AVENUE

Fair

Over: WENATCHEE RIVER

0.14W JCT US2 & 97, Chelan, WA

Built 1983 Load: 48.0 t ADT: 8,366

OLD SR9

Fair

Over: PILCHUCK CR

0.2 NE JCT SR9, Snohomish, WA

Built 1916 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 63

US 12

Fair

Over: PATAHA CR

2.0 E COLUMBIA CO, Garfield, WA

Built 1920 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 1,846

SR 17

Fair

Over: I-90 RAMP

JCT I-90, Grant, WA

Built 1958 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 15,969

I-5

Fair

Over: MILITARY RD

4.4 N JCT SR 18, King, WA

Built 1960 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 94,670

SR 520 W-S RAMP

Fair

Over: I-5

0.1 E JCT I-5, King, WA

Built 1962 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 17,652

BULLFROG RD

Fair

Over: I-90

25.6 E JCT SR 906, Kittitas, WA

Built 1963 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 1,145

I-5

Fair

Over: HILL DITCH

2.1 N SNOHOMISH CO, Skagit, WA

Built 1970 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 31,960

I-82

Fair

Over: COFFIN ROAD

9.9 E JCT US 395, Benton, WA

Built 1983 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 10,827

SR 3

Fair

Over: SR 310/KITSAP WAY

3.5 N JCT SR 304, Kitsap, WA

Built 1983 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 23,120

REATA RD

Fair

Over: I-82

4.3 E JCT I-182, Benton, WA

Built 1983 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 816

SR 522

Fair

Over: 195TH STREET

0.8 E JCT SR 202, King, WA

Built 1986 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 52,080

I-90

Fair

Over: COAL CR

1.5 E KING CO, Kittitas, WA

Built 1972 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 34,909

ROAD

Fair

Over: DOCTOR CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Chelan, WA

Built 2006 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 5

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: SHERMAN CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Ferry, WA

Built 1954 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 10

10 AV S

Fair

Over: CLOVER CREEK

.61 W JCT SR7, Pierce, WA

Built 1967 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 2,370

SB AIRPORT EXPY

Fair

Over: S 170TH ST

1 MI S OF SR 518, King, WA

Built 1972 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 45,000

HUNTINGTON AVE

Fair

Over: BNRR

0.13 W OF I-5 EXIT 48, Cowlitz, WA

Built 1994 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 3,650

Showing 3,451-3,500 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.