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

GRAVELLY LK DR SW

Good

Over: CLOVER CREEK

1.5 NW JCT SR 5, Pierce, WA

Built 1938 Load: 14.6 t ADT: 16,705

COUNTY ROAD

Good

Over: P E 46 A W W

0.68 SW PALMER 541, Franklin, WA

Built 1958 Load: 14.6 t ADT: 106

MORTIMORE/3620

Good

Over: THORN CREEK

1.44 MI SW STONEHAM, Whitman, WA

Built 1977 Load: 14.6 t ADT: 16

E LAKE SAMMAMISH

Good

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

0.5 M N OF INGLEWOOD, King, WA

Built 1961 Load: 14.6 t ADT: 23,000

LAT 1 RD.

Good

Over: USIS MAIN CANAL

00.01 E LATERAL C, Yakima, WA

Built 1972 Load: 14.6 t ADT: 615

BRADSHAW ROAD

Good

Over: SOUTH FORK ROCK CREEK

4.5 MI. E FAIRFIELD, Spokane, WA

Built 1993 Load: 14.6 t ADT: 140

Old Olympic Hwy.

Good

Over: Siebert Creek

1.35 mi E. SR 101, Clallam, WA

Built 1998 Load: 14.6 t ADT: 4,344

I-405 RAMP

Good

Over: EB I-90 RAMP

5.7 N JCT SR 900, King, WA

Built 1969 Load: 14.9 t ADT: 35,432

NO. 81 ROAD

Good

Over: COOKE CREEK

0.35 N KITTITAS HWY, Kittitas, WA

Built 1940 Load: 14.9 t ADT: 1,741

MERION ROAD

Good

Over: POTHOLES EAST CANAL

1.28NJCT R 325, Franklin, WA

Built 1952 Load: 14.9 t ADT: 52

LOWER WAITSBURG RD

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

05.18N SR 12, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1980 Load: 14.9 t ADT: 720

LATERAL C RD.

Good

Over: DRAIN

00.50 S MARION DR, Yakima, WA

Built 1957 Load: 14.9 t ADT: 102

LAT. C RD.

Good

Over: DRAIN

.61 N PUMPHOUSE (I), Yakima, WA

Built 1957 Load: 14.9 t ADT: 115

MINERAL SPRINGS RD

Good

Over: WIND RIVER

MP 0.18 Mineral Springs R, Skamania, WA

Built 1977 Load: 14.9 t ADT: 59

SR 14

Good

Over: SP S RY

40.0 E CLARK CO, Skamania, WA

Built 1934 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 3,750

SR 272

Good

Over: PALOUSE RIVER

15.9 E JCT US 195, Whitman, WA

Built 1950 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 429

SR 20

Good

Over: DIOBSUD CREEK

10.9 E JCT SR 530, Skagit, WA

Built 1950 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 1,971

SR 505

Good

Over: SALMON CREEK

13.5 E JCT I-5, Lewis, WA

Built 1951 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 584

I-405

Good

Over: PEDESTRIAN TRAIL

5.2 N JCT SR 520, King, WA

Built 1956 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 80,878

LOOMIS TRAIL RD

Good

Over: I-5

5.6 N JCT SR 548, Whatcom, WA

Built 1963 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 1,500

61ST AVE S

Good

Over: I-405

0.3 N JCT I-5, King, WA

Built 1962 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 31,000

I-90

Good

Over: MOODY RD

2.9 E GRANT CO, Adams, WA

Built 1972 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 5,894

I-705

Good

Over: 15TH ST & BNRR PRAIRIE L

1.1 N JCT I-5, Pierce, WA

Built 1986 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 25,711

WILLARD ROAD

Good

Over: LITTLE WHITE SALMON RIVE

1.54 N JCT 93041, Skamania, WA

Built 1968 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 156

COUNTY ARTERIAL

Good

Over: POTHOLES EAST CANAL

0.49W JCT R 901, Franklin, WA

Built 1956 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 727

GLADE ROAD

Good

Over: GLADE CREEK

02.13 SW ALDERDALE, Yakima, WA

Built 1977 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 340

OKLAHOMA ROAD

Good

Over: LITTLE WHITE SALMON RIVE

4.82 N WILLARD, Skamania, WA

Built 1969 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 46

THORP PRAIRIE ROAD

Good

Over: HILINE CANAL

01.38 E I-90 X-ING, Kittitas, WA

Built 1979 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 275

BUCKLEY RD

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

00.16N LOWER DRY CR, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1992 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 37

WEST WYNOOCHEE AVE

Good

Over: SYLVIA CREEK

WEST WYNOOCHEE AVE, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 2005 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 100

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: PETES CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Grays Harbor, WA

Built 1956 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 50

RAILROAD CREEK

Good

Over: RAILROAD CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Chelan, WA

Built 1974 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 25

FIRST STREET

Good

Over: SOUTH FORK PINE CREEK

0.10 MI S WASHINGTON ST, Whitman, WA

Built 1918 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 20

KELSO DR

Good

Over: COWEEMAN R

0.6 S. OF ALLEN ST., Cowlitz, WA

Built 1947 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 1,500

US 12

Good

Over: N FK CLEAR CREEK

2.3 E LEWIS CO, Yakima, WA

Built 1946 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 1,867

I-90

Good

Over: YAKIMA RIVER

0.4 E JCT SR 970, Kittitas, WA

Built 1965 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 14,112

I-90

Good

Over: YAKIMA RIVER

0.4 E JCT SR 970, Kittitas, WA

Built 1965 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 14,112

SR 20

Good

Over: CUTTHROAT CREEK

4.5 E CHELAN CO, Okanogan, WA

Built 1968 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 1,159

I-90

Good

Over: GARCIA INTERCHANGE

6.5 E JCT SR 202, King, WA

Built 1974 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 18,182

ZIMMERMAN ROAD

Good

Over: COWICHE CREEK

00.03 E WEIKEL ROAD, Yakima, WA

Built 1965 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 469

62ND AVE. S.

Good

Over: AHTANUM CREEK

00.37 N OF MEADOWBK, Yakima, WA

Built 1984 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 532

ASHUE RD.

Good

Over: USIS CANAL

00.49 N OF LARUE RD, Yakima, WA

Built 1983 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 133

COUNTY ROAD

Good

Over: E B 1 B

0.49N JCT R 506, Franklin, WA

Built 1956 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 202

FACTORY ROAD

Good

Over: SULPHER CREEK WASTEWAY

00.10 E YAK VAL HWY, Yakima, WA

Built 1973 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 2,500

GRAVELLE ROAD

Good

Over: CRAB CREEK

4.58 S SR 231, Lincoln, WA

Built 1936 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 67

SR 240 WB

Good

Over: US 395-SR 240 RAMPS

JCT US 395, Benton, WA

Built 1952 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 10,935

I-5

Good

Over: SR 20 BNSF RR & CITY ST

2.4 N JCT SR 538, Skagit, WA

Built 1955 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 72,594

COUNTY ROAD

Good

Over: W B 5 W W 1

0.40 S FILBERT 408, Franklin, WA

Built 1959 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 48

SIMMONS ROAD

Good

Over: WAPATOX CANAL

00.02 S CLEMAN DR, Yakima, WA

Built 1973 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 155

BROWN ROAD

Good

Over: MANASTASH CREEK

00.76 S THORP HWY, Kittitas, WA

Built 1962 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 675

Showing 3,901-3,950 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.