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

COUNTY ROUTE 7

Fair

Over: SHORT CREEK

0.01 MI EAST JCT CR 1, Ohio, WV

Built 1989 Load: 60.8 t ADT: 1,000

County Route 43

Fair

Over: Middle Wheeling Creek

0.01 mi. East jct CR39/6, Ohio, WV

Built 1980 Load: 60.8 t ADT: 3,100

C.R. 30

Fair

Over: S. FK. S. BR. POTOMAC R.

0.06 MI S JCT CR 21, Pendleton, WV

Built 1991 Load: 60.8 t ADT: 150

U.S. 250

Fair

Over: LITTLE RIVER

2.00 MI. S. JCT WV 28, Pocahontas, WV

Built 1995 Load: 60.8 t ADT: 250

WV 062

Fair

Over: POCATALICO RIVER

0.41 MI N OF CR 31, Putnam, WV

Built 1988 Load: 60.8 t ADT: 6,300

I-64 EB

Fair

Over: CR60/3 & BR HURRICANE CK

0.72 MI WEST OF CR19 SLS, Putnam, WV

Built 1958 Load: 60.8 t ADT: 22,000

I-64 WB

Fair

Over: CR60/3 & BR HURRICANE CK

0.72 MI W OF CR 19 SLS, Putnam, WV

Built 1958 Load: 60.8 t ADT: 25,000

CR 7

Fair

Over: PAINT CREEK

0.55 MI N OF CR 7/3, Raleigh, WV

Built 1990 Load: 60.8 t ADT: 550

CR 19/21

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

0.03 MI N OF CR 19/41, Raleigh, WV

Built 1990 Load: 60.8 t ADT: 650

COUNTY ROUTE 61/93

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

0.21 Miles S. of CR 61/58, Raleigh, WV

Built 2000 Load: 60.8 t ADT: 20

C.R. 47

Fair

Over: RT FORK BUCKHANNON RIVER

0.01 MI E JCT CR 47/1, Randolph, WV

Built 1989 Load: 60.8 t ADT: 90

C.R. 9

Fair

Over: HORSESHOE RUN

0.07 MI W JCT CR 7, Tucker, WV

Built 1989 Load: 60.8 t ADT: 50

US219 & WVA 72

Fair

Over: BLACKFORK CHEAT RIVER

0.33 MI S OF CR 219/6, Tucker, WV

Built 2010 Load: 60.8 t ADT: 5,900

CR 9

Fair

Over: Hile Run

0.40 MILES WEST OF CR 7, Tucker, WV

Built 2011 Load: 60.8 t ADT: 40

CR 36/2

Fair

Over: RIGHT FORK OF MILL CREEK

0.38 MI NORTH OF CR 29/5, Wayne, WV

Built 1987 Load: 60.8 t ADT: 200

CR 41

Fair

Over: WEST FK TWELVEPOLE CK

0.87 MI NORTH OF CR 41/1, Wayne, WV

Built 1989 Load: 60.8 t ADT: 250

WV ROUTE 38 F

Fair

Over: BRUSHY FORK

0.07 MI E OF CO 5/2 SLS, Barbour, WV

Built 1995 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 450

COUNTY ROUTE 3/5

Fair

Over: SALTLICK CREEK

0.30 MI E OF WV 5 F, Braxton, WV

Built 1993 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 10

CR 29/3

Fair

Over: FUDGES CREEK

0.01 MI EAST OF CR 29, Cabell, WV

Built 1994 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 50

DODD CO RT 40

Fair

Over: LICK RUN

0.02 MI SOUTH CO RT 13/2, Doddridge, WV

Built 1991 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 10

COUNTY ROUTE 2/7

Fair

Over: BELLS CREEK

1.14 Miles N. of CR 2, Fayette, WV

Built 1988 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 55

COUNTY ROUTE 39/1

Fair

Over: RICH CREEK

0.02 Miles N. of CR 60/3, Fayette, WV

Built 1992 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 886

CR 61/9

Fair

Over: MORRIS CREEK

0.99 Miles S. of WV 61, Fayette, WV

Built 1989 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 199

CR 14 SLS

Fair

Over: DILLONS RUN

0.01 MI S OF US 50 T, Hampshire, WV

Built 1942 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 250

CR 50/9 SLS

Fair

Over: TRINTON HOLLOW RUN

0.03 MI S OF CR 50/31 SLS, Hampshire, WV

Built 1940 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 150

WV 98

Fair

Over: Fitness Trail

0.04 mi W of Harr Co 25, Harrison, WV

Built 2013 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 9,700

COUNTY ROUTE 24

Fair

Over: WOLFPEN BR OF TUPPER CK

0.01 MI S OF CR 24/1, Kanawha, WV

Built 1993 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 800

CR 64

Fair

Over: MUD RIVER

0.02 MI WEST OF CR 46, Lincoln, WV

Built 1993 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 10

COUNTY ROUTE 8

Fair

Over: FUQUAY CREEK

1.08 MILES N OF WV 214, Lincoln, WV

Built 1982 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 750

CR 10/17

Fair

Over: RICH CREEK

0.01 MI NORTH OF CR 10/4, Logan, WV

Built 1988 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 650

CR 10/28

Fair

Over: HUFF CREEK

0.01 MI SOUTH OF WV 10, Logan, WV

Built 1991 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 200

CR 119/5

Fair

Over: PINE CREEK

3.56 MILES WEST OF WV 44, Logan, WV

Built 1997 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 10

US 52

Fair

Over: ELKHORN CREEK

0.36 MI W OF CR 52/13, McDowell, WV

Built 1976 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 3,100

COUNTY ROUTE 52/11

Fair

Over: ELKHORN CREEK

0.01 MI. N. OF CR 52/20, McDowell, WV

Built 1945 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 100

WV. ROUTE 161

Fair

Over: TUG FORK

0.11 MI. S. OF WV. 103, McDowell, WV

Built 1995 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 1,000

CO 17

Fair

Over: NORTH FORK

0.02 MI SOUTH OF CO 17/8, McDowell, WV

Built 2006 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 650

C.R 83/51

Fair

Over: Little Slate Creek

0.01 Mi E. of Cr. 83/13, McDowell, WV

Built 1997 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROUTE 60

Fair

Over: BIG GRAVE CREEK

0.06 MI SOUTH JCT CR 58, Marshall, WV

Built 1993 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 90

CR 18

Fair

Over: OLDTOWN CREEK

0.70 MI E OF WV 2, Mason, WV

Built 1988 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 450

COUNTY ROUTE 16

Fair

Over: BRUSH CREEK

0.01 MI N OF CR 16/18, Mercer, WV

Built 1990 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 1,500

CR 19/39

Fair

Over: BRUSH CREEK

0.01 MI W OF CR 19/29, Mercer, WV

Built 1991 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 70

CR 3/5

Fair

Over: WEST FK TWELVEPOLE CK

0.07 MI SOUTH OF CR 2/3, Mingo, WV

Built 1991 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 500

COUNTY ROUTE 20/2

Fair

Over: TWENTY MILE CREEK

0.01 Miles W. of CR 20/21, Nicholas, WV

Built 1990 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 153

I-70 Eastbound

Fair

Over: Wheeling Creek

1.21 mi. West jct US40, Ohio, WV

Built 1958 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 16,300

C.R. 32

Fair

Over: BRUSHY FORK

0.03 MI S JCT CR 30, Pendleton, WV

Built 1993 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 20

CR 19/1

Fair

Over: N FK S BRANCH POTOMAC R

0.06 MI W JCT CR 19, Pendleton, WV

Built 2000 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 30

CR 220/7

Fair

Over: S BRANCH OF POTOMAC R

0.01 MI. EAST OF U.S. 220, Pendleton, WV

Built 2008 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 350

COUNTY ROUTE 21

Fair

Over: CUMMINS CREEK

0.31 MI S WV 39, Pocahontas, WV

Built 1991 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 500

PRESTON CO RT 8

Fair

Over: GLADE RUN

0.36 MI NORTH CO RT 8/4, Preston, WV

Built 2002 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 850

CR 41

Fair

Over: TRACE FORK

0.10 MI S OF WV 34, Putnam, WV

Built 1990 Load: 61.7 t ADT: 200

Showing 3,651-3,700 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.