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

TOWTNUK ROAD

Good

Over: SIMCOE CREEK

00.45 N OF MOSES RD, Yakima, WA

Built 1974 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 10

J RD NE

Good

Over: MAIN CANAL

J NE 0.5 N of SR 28, Grant, WA

Built 1992 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 175

BERNATH ROAD

Good

Over: CID CANAL

215 E of S. YEW STREET, Benton, WA

Built 1970 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 82

DOERSCHLAG ROAD

Good

Over: CRAB CREEK

6.01 E FAS G221, Lincoln, WA

Built 1971 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 153

N.E. 2ND AVENUE

Good

Over: BURNT BRIDGE CREEK

0.1N ALKI RD, Clark, WA

Built 1985 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 10

ALMIRA SOUTH ROAD

Good

Over: WILSON CREEK

3.65 S JCT SR 2, Lincoln, WA

Built 1936 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 86

WHOOPEMUP HOL. RD.

Good

Over: WHETSTONE CREEK

0.1 S. JCT 9218, Columbia, WA

Built 1977 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 25

OLD HARMON RD 6337

Good

Over: CRAB CREEK

3.47 W SR 231, Lincoln, WA

Built 1972 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 50

CACHE CREEK/3590

Good

Over: CACHE CREEK

0.81 MI S PINE CTY-MALDEN, Whitman, WA

Built 1979 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 51

DUCK LAKE RD 92310

Good

Over: DUCK CREEK

03.11 NE SR 21, Lincoln, WA

Built 1972 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 186

OIEH

Good

Over: SPRING CREEK

0.75 E WHITSTRAN, Benton, WA

Built 1959 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 2,240

BUCK ISLAND ROAD

Good

Over: WOODS CREEK

0.32 E MAIN ST, Snohomish, WA

Built 1991 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 200

FERRIS RD

Good

Over: SPRING VALLEY

1.2 E LWR WAITSBURG, Walla Walla, WA

Built 1993 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 60

M Road SE

Good

Over: WW RCD BLK 42

M SE .5 South of 2 SE, Grant, WA

Built 1996 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 1,109

LINDSAY RD

Good

Over: SUMAS RIVER

00.2 W GARRISON RD, Whatcom, WA

Built 1997 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 267

PAHA-PACKARD RD

Good

Over: Paha Coulee

00.12 MI W SR395, Adams, WA

Built 2000 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 72

Chiwawa River Rd.

Good

Over: Alder Creek

North of USFS 6200, Chelan, WA

Built 2007 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 108

ROYAL BROUGHAM WAY

Good

Over: RAILROAD

ROYAL BROUGHAM & 4TH AVE, King, WA

Built 2010 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 3,200

US 12

Good

Over: COWICHE CREEK

13.7 E JCT SR 410, Yakima, WA

Built 1932 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 21,287

SR 28

Good

Over: CRAB CREEK

0.2 E JCT SR 21, Lincoln, WA

Built 1934 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 2,111

SR 534

Good

Over: HILL DITCH

0.5 E JCT I-5, Skagit, WA

Built 1949 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 3,778

SR 6

Good

Over: WILLAPA HILLS TRAIL

19.9 E JCT US 101, Pacific, WA

Built 1950 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 1,561

I-5

Good

Over: S 96TH ST

0.6 N JCT SR 512, Pierce, WA

Built 1958 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 86,615

SR 20

Good

Over: RAILROAD

0.3 E JCT SR 215, Okanogan, WA

Built 1959 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 2,393

SR 112

Good

Over: BULLMAN CREEK

1.5 E MAKAH RES, Clallam, WA

Built 1960 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 865

SR 500

Good

Over: 5TH PLAIN CR

3.7 E JCT SR 503, Clark, WA

Built 1962 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 11,204

TANEUM CREEK RD

Good

Over: I-90 TANEUM CR CULVERT

11.0 E JCT SR 970, Kittitas, WA

Built 1965 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 159

E MARGINAL WAY

Good

Over: SR 599

1.4 N JCT I-5, King, WA

Built 1967 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 5,600

SR 167 NB

Good

Over: SR 18

2.8 N PIERCE CO, King, WA

Built 1973 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 43,163

US 195

Good

Over: BRADSHAW RD

10.1 N WHITMAN CO, Spokane, WA

Built 1972 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 4,801

US 2

Good

Over: BN RR

0.2 E JCT US 97 ALT, Chelan, WA

Built 1974 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 23,740

SR 27

Good

Over: S FK PALOUSE RIVER

0.1 N JCT SR 270, Whitman, WA

Built 1977 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 18,768

COUNTY ROAD 68

Good

Over: I-182

3.3 E BENTON CO, Franklin, WA

Built 1983 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 25,433

SR 16 SB

Good

Over: TREMONT ST

8.3 N PIERCE CO, Kitsap, WA

Built 1988 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 26,702

I-90 EB ON RAMP

Good

Over: RELIEF

4.4 E JCT I-5, King, WA

Built 1989 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 983

EAST MERCER WAY

Good

Over: I-90

5.7 E JCT I-5, King, WA

Built 1988 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 8,510

NE 4TH ST

Good

Over: CITY STREET AND SBCD

2.4 N JCT I-90, King, WA

Built 1989 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 24,635

US 2

Good

Over: WENATCHEE RIVER

15.7 E JCT SR 207, Chelan, WA

Built 1993 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 14,504

ROAD

Good

Over: E FK SOUTH PRAIRIE CREEK

10.4 M E SUNSET LK (EST), Pierce, WA

Built 1986 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 25

CUB/GOAT CR RD

Good

Over: GOAT CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Okanogan, WA

Built 1957 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 63

NO DATA ENTERED

Good

Over: BIG QUILCENE RIVER

NO DATA ENTERED, Jefferson, WA

Built 1967 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 25

ROAD

Good

Over: TUCANNON RIVER

NO DATA ENTERED, Columbia, WA

Built 1964 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 169

ROAD

Good

Over: N. FORK TEANAWAY RIVER

NO DATA ENTERED, Kittitas, WA

Built 1966 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 2

WIND RIVER ROAD

Good

Over: RUSH CREEK

29.43 NW JCT SR14, Skamania, WA

Built 1955 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 60

CHANDLER ROAD

Good

Over: DUNN CREEK

1.0 N DRYAD, Lewis, WA

Built 1962 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 69

GRIFFIN ROAD

Good

Over: ROZA CANAL

0.9 N EVANS ROAD, Benton, WA

Built 1981 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 896

PETERS RD.

Good

Over: PETERS CR.

0.26 S JCT SR 12, Lewis, WA

Built 1964 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 192

CROSBY ROAD

Good

Over: ROZA CANAL

0.70 N HANKS RD, Benton, WA

Built 1968 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 45

TIETON RESERVOIR

Good

Over: TIETON RIVER S. FORK

0.41 E FS RD 1000, Yakima, WA

Built 1986 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 550

PETERS RD.

Good

Over: PETERS CR.

0.73 S JCT SR 12, Lewis, WA

Built 1964 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 244

Showing 4,801-4,850 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.