Bridges
| Bridges in the National Bridge Inventory | 8,619 |
|---|---|
| Good condition | 4,298 (49.9%) |
| Fair condition | 3,918 (45.5%) |
| Poor condition | 403 (4.7%) |
| Total deck area | 78,629,134 sq ft |
| Deck area in poor condition | 6,505,382 sq ft (8.3%) |
Washington ranks 36 of 51 (states plus DC) for the share of bridges in poor condition, where 1 is the highest share. Nationally, 6.6% of bridges are rated poor.
A poor share near or below the national rate usually shifts the work toward preservation, inspection and load rating rather than full replacements. Fair-rated bridges (3,918 here) are the ones most likely to slip to poor without timely work, which is why many DOTs fund preservation and inspection contracts alongside replacements.
ASCE report card
The ASCE Washington Section gave the state an overall grade of C in its 2019 report card. Read the full report.
| Category | Grade |
|---|---|
| Aviation | C |
| Bridges | C+ |
| Dams | B- |
| Drinking Water | C- |
| Roads | C- |
| Schools | C+ |
| Transit | C- |
| Stormwater | D+ |
| Wastewater | C- |
Low-graded categories are where owners should expect agencies and utilities to push capital programs, and where grant applications tend to cluster.
More on Washington for firm owners
- Washington DOT prequalification and procurement
- Washington PE licensure and PDH rules
- Washington civil engineer salaries
- Accredited programs in Washington
- Federal funding programs
Sources: Federal Highway Administration, National Bridge Inventory, 2026 Bridge Condition by Highway System (fhwa.dot.gov); ASCE Infrastructure Report Card state reports (infrastructurereportcard.org), produced by ASCE state sections in the year shown.
