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

HAWK RD

Good

Over: CREEK

0.15 S WHITE SWAN W, Yakima, WA

Built 1900 Load: 21.4 t ADT: 500

19 NW

Good

Over: WEST CANAL

19 NW .6 W of B, Grant, WA

Built 1994 Load: 21.4 t ADT: 240

BASELINE EAST

Good

Over: WASTEWAY

Baseline 0.2 W of SR 17, Grant, WA

Built 1996 Load: 21.4 t ADT: 1,296

468TH AVE SE

Good

Over: S FK SNOQUALMIE RIVER

1.0 MI S OF I-90, King, WA

Built 2004 Load: 21.4 t ADT: 1,510

White Swan Road W

Good

Over: Agency Creek

0.03 E Wesley Rd, Yakima, WA

Built 1966 Load: 21.4 t ADT: 1,253

SR 28

Good

Over: WEST CANAL

0.9 E JCT SR 281, Grant, WA

Built 1950 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 7,985

US 97

Good

Over: DRAIN CANAL

1.8 N JCT I-90, Kittitas, WA

Built 1930 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 4,462

I-5

Good

Over: SR 529 SPUR/EVERETT AVE

0.1 N JCT US 2, Snohomish, WA

Built 1966 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 61,062

I-5

Good

Over: SR 529 SPUR/EVERETT AVE

0.1 N JCT US 2, Snohomish, WA

Built 1966 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 61,062

I-405

Good

Over: PEDESTRIAN TRAIL

5.2 N JCT SR 520, King, WA

Built 1970 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 80,878

SR 260

Good

Over: BN RY

6.5 E JCT SR 17, Franklin, WA

Built 1971 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 1,957

I-90

Good

Over: E FK ISSAQUAH CREEK

2.2 E JCT SR 900, King, WA

Built 1976 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 29,843

SR 410

Good

Over: UNION CREEK

9.4 E PIERCE CO, Yakima, WA

Built 1988 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 695

90TH AVE. S.

Good

Over: BACHELOR CREEK

00.51 S AHTANUM RD, Yakima, WA

Built 1992 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 715

LUCIA FALLS ROAD

Good

Over: BIG TREE CREEK

0.2S SUNSET FALL RD, Clark, WA

Built 1940 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 2,255

SOUTH SKAGIT HWY

Good

Over: FINNEY CREEK

19.0 E JCT SR 9, Skagit, WA

Built 1954 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 635

ED FIGLINSKI RD

Good

Over: TUNK CREEK

1.1 MI.W.SYNAREP, Okanogan, WA

Built 1976 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 5

VAN BELLE ROAD

Good

Over: ROZA SPILLWAY

00.22 E OF SR 241, Yakima, WA

Built 1972 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 493

MCKINLEY RD. N.

Good

Over: USIS CANAL

00.08 S NO TRACK RD, Yakima, WA

Built 1970 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 200

SWENT/6080

Good

Over: REBEL FLAT CREEK

5.22 MI NE WINONA SOUTH, Whitman, WA

Built 1978 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 50

CO RD 43090

Good

Over: HIGHLINE CANAL

0.13 SCHOOL STREET, Chelan, WA

Built 1932 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 95

NORTH CREEK PKWY

Good

Over: NORTH CREEK

0.5 E SR 405, King, WA

Built 1984 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 6,593

OLD GARDINER ROAD

Good

Over: CONTRACTORS CREEK

0.5 NW JCT SR101, Jefferson, WA

Built 2000 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 215

16TH AVE SW

Good

Over: KLICKITAT AVE SW RR

16th Ave SW & Klickitat, King, WA

Built 2001 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 9,000

COUNTY ARTERIAL

Good

Over: W B 5 W W 1

0.11N H. SPUR 476, Franklin, WA

Built 2005 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 164

SR 530

Good

Over: BOHS SLOUGH

14.4 N SNOHOMISH CO, Skagit, WA

Built 1961 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 1,439

SR 14

Good

Over: GULCH

37.4 E CLARK CO, Skamania, WA

Built 1937 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 3,587

CANYON RD

Good

Over: SR 512

3.6 E JCT SR 7, Pierce, WA

Built 1969 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 36,933

US 12

Good

Over: 2ND AVE & BN RR

1.3 E JCT SR 125 SPUR, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1971 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 13,009

FERRY TRAFFIC

Good

Over: PUGET SOUND @ SEATTLE

W END MARION ST, King, WA

Built 1990 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 10,212

ROAD

Good

Over: RAPID RIVER

0.4 MI E OF 65/6530 JCT, Snohomish, WA

Built 1966 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 8

S. FK. GOLD CR

Good

Over: GOLD CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Okanogan, WA

Built 1949 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 60

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: N FK CALAWAH RIVER

NO DATA ENTERED, Clallam, WA

Built 1958 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 50

MILL CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: MILL CREEK

5.9 SE JCT 6 & 101, Pacific, WA

Built 1977 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 265

BEN HOWARD ROAD

Good

Over: ELWELL CREEK

3.1 SW JCT SR 2, Snohomish, WA

Built 1973 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 953

WALLER RD E

Good

Over: CLOVER CREEK

2.5 E JCT SR 7, Pierce, WA

Built 1952 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 8,675

3 RD NW

Good

Over: IRRIGATION LATERAL

3 NW 0.03 East of SR 281, Grant, WA

Built 1952 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 110

FRASE RD.

Good

Over: KEARNEY CR.

0.22 S JCT. SR.508, Lewis, WA

Built 1967 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 4

GOULD CITY MAYVIEW

Good

Over: NORTH DEADMAN CREEK

11.2 N JCT SR 12, Garfield, WA

Built 1932 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 140

KICKERVILLE RD

Good

Over: CALIFORNIA CR

00.2 S LOOMIS TO RD, Whatcom, WA

Built 1956 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 951

NORTH CREEK PKWY

Good

Over: NORTH CREEK

0.5 E SR-405, King, WA

Built 1984 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 4,641

8TH AVE NW

Good

Over: RAVINE

8th Ave NW S/O NW Elford, King, WA

Built 1950 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 1,150

MONTE VILLA PRKWAY

Good

Over: NORTH CREEK

0.2 E I405, King, WA

Built 1994 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 3,064

PARK ENTRANCE

Good

Over: UNION PACIFIC RR

PALOUSE FALLS STATE PARK, Franklin, WA

Built 1947 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 285

I-5

Good

Over: NE NORTHGATE WAY

2.0 N JCT SR 522, King, WA

Built 1964 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 89,782

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: TRIB OF CHELATCHIE CRK

AT MSHNVM HEADQUARTERS IN, Clark, WA

Built 2000 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 35

PROVIDENCE RD

Good

Over: ECBID WASTEWAY

00.06 MI E SR17, Adams, WA

Built 1995 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 213

BADGER MTN. RD

Good

Over: BEAVER CREEK

7.1 NE JCT FANCHER FLD RD, Douglas, WA

Built 1965 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 581

COUNTY ROAD

Good

Over: ELTOPIA BRANCH CANAL

0.49E FARRELL 988, Franklin, WA

Built 1955 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 152

COUNTY ROAD

Good

Over: PASCO PUMP LATERAL

0.40 E RD 68N 1000, Franklin, WA

Built 1967 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 385

Showing 4,301-4,350 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.