State profile · Above median Poor share

West Virginia 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 West Virginia.

7,348
Public bridges
25.2%
Good condition
18.6%
Poor condition

West Virginia holds 7,348 public highway bridges (#31 of 52 by inventory) with a 18.64% Poor share (#2 of 52 by Poor share).

That is 18.6% 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 52 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

7,348

Public highway bridges in West Virginia

Good Condition

25.2%

1,855 bridges rated 7-9

-24.8pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

18.6%

1,370 bridges whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

11.1pp vs national avg 7.5%

West Virginia vs national bridge condition

West Virginia - Good condition share 25.2%
National avg

Share of bridges rated 7-9 on the FHWA 0-9 scale (deck, superstructure, substructure all good).

West Virginia - Poor-condition share 62.1%
National avg

Lower is better. Bar maxes at 30% (worst-state ceiling). National average sits at 7.5%.

West Virginia 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: West Virginia has 7,348 bridges and a 18.6% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #52 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 (%) WV, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 7.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 18.64%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%WA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.45%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: West Virginia has 7,348 bridges and a 18.6% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #52 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.

West Virginia 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

7,348 31st of 54 higher than 23 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 West Virginia

The highlighted point is West Virginia: 7,348 bridges and 18.64% in Poor condition, rank #52 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The five jurisdictions immediately above and below West Virginia on that same Poor-share ordering:

  • Maine: 2,518 bridges · 15.41% Poor
  • South Dakota: 5,887 bridges · 16.36% Poor
  • West Virginia: 7,348 bridges · 18.64% Poor
  • Iowa: 23,719 bridges · 19.16% Poor
  • Virgin Islands: 24 bridges · 29.17% Poor

The full national sortable table lives on the rankings page.

Material families in West Virginia

Exclusive FHWA material families across all 7,348 bridges in this state; continuous variants fold into the parent family. Orthogonal to the Poor-share scatter above.

Who maintains West Virginia’s inventory

State agency holds 97.4% of the 7,348 public highway bridges filed under West Virginia in the 2024 NBI, the agency-of-record split for this state, not a condition verdict.

When West Virginia’s bridges were built

Pre-1950 construction accounts for 16.0% of the 7,348 bridges with a recorded original year in West Virginia. Era bands are orthogonal to the Poor-share ranking above.

Condition Distribution

West Virginia25.2%56.1%18.6%GoodFairPoor
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix - West Virginia (FHWA NBI)

Counties (55)

Barbour 93 Berkeley 119 Boone 131 Braxton 148 Brooke 57 Cabell 207 Calhoun 49 Clay 87 Doddridge 99 Fayette 211 Gilmer 106 Grant 97 Greenbrier 207 Hampshire 92 Hancock 29 Hardy 131 Harrison 256 Jackson 191 Jefferson 45 Kanawha 554 Lewis 159 Lincoln 118 Logan 236 Marion 193 Marshall 85 Mason 137 McDowell 225 Mercer 174 Mineral 63 Mingo 165 Monongalia 203 Monroe 63 Morgan 55 Nicholas 97 Ohio 115 Pendleton 114 Pleasants 25 Pocahontas 118 Preston 182 Putnam 135 Raleigh 224 Randolph 190 Ritchie 127 Roane 130 Summers 66 Taylor 65 Tucker 69 Tyler 73 Upshur 99 Wayne 163 Webster 82 Wetzel 107 Wirt 42 Wood 180 Wyoming 160

West Virginia 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 West Virginia on the same metric.

ME

Maine

15.41% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$2,518

SD

South Dakota

16.36% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$5,887
Selected

WV

West Virginia

18.64% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$7,348

IA

Iowa

19.16% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$23,719

VI

Virgin Islands

29.17% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$24

Bridges Needing Most Attention in West Virginia

Six lowest-condition bridges in West Virginia, ranked by the portal's composite display score. Inspection intervals are risk-based under current NBIS rules.

COUNTY ROUTE 40/15

Poor

Over: LITTLE BIRCH RIVER

0.03 MI S OF CO 40, Braxton, WV

Built 1905 Load: 0.0 t

WV ROUTE 2 SPUR

Poor

Over: Ohio River OH-7 R.R.

0.34 Mi West Jct. WV 2, Brooke, WV

Built 1904 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 11,500

DODDRIDGE CO RT 56

Poor

Over: BRUSHY FORK

0.73 MI SOUTH CO RT 25, Doddridge, WV

Built 1981 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 10

COUNTY ROUTE 19/31

Poor

Over: SCRABBLE CREEK

0.01 Miles N. of CR 19/8, Fayette, WV

Built 1920 Load: 0.0 t

COUNTY ROUTE 13

Poor

Over: CR 13/2 Kanawha R. CSX R

0.01 Miles S. of US 60, Fayette, WV

Built 1928 Load: 0.0 t

US. 50 T

Poor

Over: STONY RIVER

0.04 MI W OF CR 50/3 SLS, Grant, WV

Built 1931 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 1,700

All Bridges in West Virginia

CO 25

Good

Over: CHARLEY CREEK

0.37 MI SOUTH OF CR 36, Cabell, WV

Built 2021 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 1,100

DODDRIDGE CO RT 7

Good

Over: ROBINSON FORK

0.05 MI SOUTH WV ROUTE 23, Doddridge, WV

Built 1999 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 200

COUNTY ROUTE 23

Good

Over: PAINT CREEK

0.30 Miles N. of CR 23/4, Fayette, WV

Built 2012 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 1,900

Corona Bayard Road

Good

Over: N Br.of Potomac River

On Maryland Line, Grant, WV

Built 2013 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 94

COUNTY ROUTE 17/2

Good

Over: CULVERSON CREEK

0.34 Miles E. of CR 60/28, Greenbrier, WV

Built 2008 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 50

CR 1/5 SLS

Good

Over: GREENSPRING CREEK

0.01 MI S OF CR 01 SLS, Hampshire, WV

Built 1998 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 100

US Rt 50 (T)

Good

Over: Tear Coat Creek

0.11 mi east of CR 50/17, Hampshire, WV

Built 1956 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 4,600

WV 28 (T)

Good

Over: South Branch Potomac Riv

0.03 MI S OF CR 28/5 SLS, Hampshire, WV

Built 2021 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 2,700

HARRISON CR 20/26

Good

Over: TENMILE CREEK

0.04 MI SOUTH WV RT 20, Harrison, WV

Built 2004 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 100

WV ROUTE 20

Good

Over: LITTLE TENMILE CREEK

0.28 MI S OF HARR 20/29, Harrison, WV

Built 2009 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 3,300

COUNTY ROUTE 7

Good

Over: LEFT FORK SANDY CREEK

0.12 MILE EAST OF CR 21, Jackson, WV

Built 2006 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 856

CR 6/6

Good

Over: SMITH CREEK

0.47 MI N OF CR 9, Kanawha, WV

Built 1996 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 650

US RT 19 F

Good

Over: RT FK WEST FORK RIVER

0.03 MI S WV RT 4 F WYE, Lewis, WV

Built 2020 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 1,100

CR 3/22

Good

Over: STRAIGHT FORK

0.03 MI. SOUTH OF WV 3, Lincoln, WV

Built 1996 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 20

CR 7/12

Good

Over: MUD RIVER

0.01 MILE EAST OF CR 7, Lincoln, WV

Built 2000 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 30

CR 700/72

Good

Over: ISLAND CREEK

0.01 MILE WEST OF WV 44, Logan, WV

Built 1997 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 20

County Route 25/1

Good

Over: Grave Creek

0.09 mi. South jct CR 25, Marshall, WV

Built 2012 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 450

CR 45/3

Good

Over: Guyan Creek

0.02 MI SOUTH OF CR 80, Mason, WV

Built 2021 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 90

US 50 T

Good

Over: ELLIFRITZ RUN

0.16 MI E OF CR 220/3, Mineral, WV

Built 2009 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 1,400

CR 2

Good

Over: JENNIE CREEK

0.01 MI SOUTH OF CR 2/1, Mingo, WV

Built 1987 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 800

CR 52/65

Good

Over: PIGEON CREEK

0.01 MILE SOUTH OF US 52, Mingo, WV

Built 2003 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 70

CR 06

Good

Over: MATE CREEK

0.20 MILES WEST OF CR 6/1, Mingo, WV

Built 2009 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 1,400

COUNTY ROUTE 3/5

Good

Over: WEST FORK OF TWELVEPOLE

1.94 MI. N. OF C.R. 3/1, Mingo, WV

Built 2011 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 300

WV 39

Good

Over: NORTH FORK CHERRY RIVER

3.70 Miles E. of CR 76, Nicholas, WV

Built 2009 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 490

CR 18

Good

Over: Smith Creek

0.91 mile W of Jct CR 5/9, Pendleton, WV

Built 2011 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 200

WV RT 84

Good

Over: BIRD RUN

1.53 MI. E. JCT. WV. 92, Pocahontas, WV

Built 2018 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 350

CR. 17/1

Good

Over: Laurel Creek

0.07 mile North jct. 17/4, Pocahontas, WV

Built 2021 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 40

PRESTON CO RT 33/8

Good

Over: THREE FORK CREEK

0.37 MI NORTH CO RT 33/11, Preston, WV

Built 2000 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 100

PRESTON CO RT 7/26

Good

Over: BUFFALO RUN

0.40 MI SOUTH CO RT 7/12, Preston, WV

Built 2002 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 1,000

PRE CO 73/73

Good

Over: LAUREL RUN

0.04 MI E OF PRE CO 2, Preston, WV

Built 2009 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 500

U.S. 33

Good

Over: DRY FORK RIVER

0.05 MI. E. JCT. CR 29, Randolph, WV

Built 2000 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 1,600

WEST VIRGINIA 16

Good

Over: LEATHERBARK CREEK

0.03 M SOUTH OF CR 16/19, Ritchie, WV

Built 1996 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 750

WV 74

Good

Over: Right Fork Slab Creek

0.5 Mi North of CR 7/12, Ritchie, WV

Built 2017 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 400

COUNTY ROUTE 10

Good

Over: REEDY CREEK

0.08 MILE SOUTH OF WV 14, Roane, WV

Built 1997 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 150

COUNTY ROUTE 27

Good

Over: BRANCH OF SYCAMORE CREEK

0.40 MILE S OF CR 27/4, Roane, WV

Built 1999 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 150

WV 20

Good

Over: LITTLE GRASSY CREEK

0.07 MI N OF CO 22, Webster, WV

Built 2009 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 1,400

County Route 26

Good

Over: Point Pleasant Creek

0.02 mi. West jct WV180, Wetzel, WV

Built 2009 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 850

CR 7

Good

Over: BRANCH OF WALKER CREEK

0.03 MI W OF CR 47/16, Wood, WV

Built 1990 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 500

US 50 EBL

Good

Over: DIVISION STREET/ WV 14

1.25 MILE WEST OF WV 14, Wood, WV

Built 2005 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 5,900

US 50 WBL

Good

Over: WV 14/ DIVISION STREET

1.25 MILE WEST OF WV 47, Wood, WV

Built 2005 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 5,900

COUNTY ROUTE 26/3

Good

Over: STILLWELL CREEK

0.02 MILE EAST OF CR 26, Wood, WV

Built 2008 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 50

COUNTY ROUTE 10/6

Good

Over: CEDAR CREEK

0.02 MI. OF 10 SLS, Braxton, WV

Built 2016 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 10

CR 21

Good

Over: LOWER CREEK

0.01 MILE WEST OF CR 9, Cabell, WV

Built 1996 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 250

COUNTY ROUTE 31/6

Good

Over: GUYANDOTTE RIVER

0.01 MILES SOUTH OF CR 31, Cabell, WV

Built 2005 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 2,700

COUNTY ROUTE 42

Good

Over: CSX RAILROAD

0.01 MILE N. OF CR 42/3, Cabell, WV

Built 2006 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 1,400

COUNTY ROUTE 1/18

Good

Over: BIG HILL HOLLOW CREEK

0.01 MILE WEST OF C.R. 1, Cabell, WV

Built 2011 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 10

CR 43

Good

Over: LONG BRANCH

0.01 MI NORTH OF CR 42, Cabell, WV

Built 2015 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 1,200

COUNTY ROUTE 12

Good

Over: SYCAMORE CREEK

0.53 MI N OF CR 1/11, Clay, WV

Built 2002 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 20

CR 15

Good

Over: DOG RUN

1.60 MI N OF CR 15/4, Clay, WV

Built 2015 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 200

CR 15

Good

Over: DOG RUN

2.13 MI N OF CR 15/4 SLS, Clay, WV

Built 2015 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 250

Showing 5,251-5,300 of 7,348 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 West Virginia's inventory picture to drill to a county or a specific span.

  • Browse counties in West Virginia 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. West Virginia 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.