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

US 12

Good

Over: BN & UP RR

8.7 E JCT SR 124, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1975 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 5,806

I-82

Good

Over: LUTHER ROAD

3.0 E JCT SR 223, Yakima, WA

Built 1980 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 12,977

SR 241

Good

Over: WASTEWATER CANAL NO 5

2.2 N JCT I-82, Yakima, WA

Built 1943 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 3,031

ELDER ROAD

Good

Over: CALIFORNIA CREEK

1.0 E VALLEY CHAPEL RD, Spokane, WA

Built 1984 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 77

MOHLER ROAD 34560

Good

Over: COAL CREEK

1.72 W FAS G221, Lincoln, WA

Built 1973 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 82

NE GOODWIN RD

Good

Over: LACAMAS CREEK

3500 E NE 202 AV, Clark, WA

Built 1933 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 7,195

FLEMMING/7060

Good

Over: WILLOW CREEK

0.13 MI SE SR 26, Whitman, WA

Built 1978 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 90

BRANCH ROAD EAST

Good

Over: DRAIN

00.37 E OLDENWAY RD, Yakima, WA

Built 1958 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 485

PUMPHOUSE RD.

Good

Over: CANAL - HIGHLINE PUMP

00.26 E TECUMSEH RD, Yakima, WA

Built 1990 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 65

ATHEY RD

Good

Over: POTHOLES EAST CANAL

00.54 MI SW SR17, Adams, WA

Built 1998 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 260

3RD STREET

Good

Over: RUNOFF CHANNEL

0.1 MI E S ST, Adams, WA

Built 1980 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 111

MATTSON ROAD

Good

Over: SWALE CREEK

0.7 S JCT CR 22000, Klickitat, WA

Built 1995 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 2

COTTONWOOD CRK RD

Good

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK

2.59 NW SR 2, Lincoln, WA

Built 1964 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 120

LUCKENBILL RD

Good

Over: TOUCHET RIVER

05.560 N SUDBURY RD, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1998 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 84

HIGHLAND DR.

Good

Over: SVID CANAL

00.13 W BLUE GOOSE, Yakima, WA

Built 2004 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 708

VALLEY CHAPEL RD

Good

Over: ROCK CREEK

2.0 S. ELDER RD, Spokane, WA

Built 2007 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 192

ZARBACH /3605

Good

Over: THORN CREEK

0.19 MI N THORN CREEK, Whitman, WA

Built 2012 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 5

SR 261

Good

Over: DRY RUN

2.2 N JCT SR 26, Adams, WA

Built 1947 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 460

US 97

Good

Over: MARION DRAIN CANAL

24.8 N KLICKITAT CO, Yakima, WA

Built 1931 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 3,984

SR 21

Good

Over: DRY COULEE

1.3 N JCT SR 260, Franklin, WA

Built 1963 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 161

RAMP I-5 TO I-405

Good

Over: RAMP SR 518 TO I-5

5.2 N JCT SR 516, King, WA

Built 1966 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 34,031

E-N RAMP

Good

Over: I-90

28.4 E JCT SR 906, Kittitas, WA

Built 1965 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 3,181

I-5

Good

Over: TODD RD

6.6 N JCT SR 503, Cowlitz, WA

Built 1971 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 34,640

SR 410

Good

Over: ANGELINE RD

3.5 E JCT SR 162, Pierce, WA

Built 1983 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 21,764

SR 21

Good

Over: SAN POIL RIVER

2.8 N JCT SR 20, Ferry, WA

Built 1987 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,521

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: FAWN CREEK - FLTP

Timothy Meadows, Yakima, WA

Built 2020 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 150

NORTH FORK RD.

Good

Over: AHTANUM CREEK N. FORK

06.19 NW AHTANUM RD, Yakima, WA

Built 1987 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 315

FRENCHMAN HILLS RD

Good

Over: WEST CANAL TUNNEL WW

Frenchmen Hill 1.2 E of I, Grant, WA

Built 1962 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 368

COUNTY ROAD

Good

Over: POTHOLES EAST CANAL

0.49 S RUSSELL 670, Franklin, WA

Built 1957 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 183

CO RD 43020

Good

Over: HIGHLINE CANAL

0.11 MAIN STREET, Chelan, WA

Built 1932 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 979

RESERVOIR LOOP

Good

Over: CANAL - NO.1 LATERAL

00.38 W Speyers Rd, Yakima, WA

Built 1992 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 130

WAWAWAI/9000

Good

Over: UNNAMED DRAINAGE

20.59 MI SW SR 195, Whitman, WA

Built 1972 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 117

5 RD SE

Good

Over: IRRIGATION WASTEWAY

5 SE .4 West of M SE, Grant, WA

Built 1987 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 203

COLOCKUM PASS RD

Good

Over: COLOCKUM CREEK

12.0 S OF MALAGA, Chelan, WA

Built 1979 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 50

19TH AVENUE

Good

Over: CID CANAL

.40 W WASHINGTON, Benton, WA

Built 1971 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,601

EVANS/8350

Good

Over: UNION FLAT CREEK

2.23 MI NE SR 194, Whitman, WA

Built 1993 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 20

M NE

Good

Over: EAST LOW CANAL BLK 40

M NE 0.2 South of 10 NE, Grant, WA

Built 1996 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 443

FEISS RD

Good

Over: CON NA WAI CREEK

Fiess Rd 0.01 W of X NE, Grant, WA

Built 2000 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 56

MCINTOSH/5270

Good

Over: ROSE CREEK

1.01 MI SW PARVIN, Whitman, WA

Built 2000 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 34

Barker Road

Good

Over: SPOKANE RIVER

0.5 S EUCLID ROAD, Spokane, WA

Built 2010 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 7,200

IRR BIA RTE 127

Good

Over: TOPPENISH CREEK

2.4KM SOUTH OF WHITE SWAN, Yakima, WA

Built 1986 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 200

IRR BIA RTE 16

Good

Over: CHAMOKANE CREEK

11.2 KM SE OF AGENCY, Stevens, WA

Built 1980 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 50

SR 20

Good

Over: STATE PARK ROAD/TRAIL

25.2 E JCT SR 525, Island, WA

Built 1935 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 18,339

SR 260

Good

Over: IRRIGATION CANAL

3.1 E JCT SR 17, Franklin, WA

Built 1956 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,895

SR 507

Good

Over: CENTRALIA POWER CANAL

2.3 N JCT SR 510, Thurston, WA

Built 1954 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 21,833

SR 500

Good

Over: UTILITY VAULT

14.4 E JCT SR 503, Clark, WA

Built 1954 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 3,501

SR 17

Good

Over: PARKER HORN

0.3 N JCT SR 171, Grant, WA

Built 1955 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 19,362

US 97

Good

Over: BONAPARTE CR

22.4 N JCT SR 215, Okanogan, WA

Built 1957 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 5,549

US 97

Good

Over: PESHASTIN CREEK

10.1 N KITTITAS CO, Chelan, WA

Built 1958 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 5,791

US 97

Good

Over: PESHASTIN CREEK

10.7 N KITTITAS CO, Chelan, WA

Built 1958 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 5,791

Showing 4,501-4,550 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.