BRIDGES THAT NEED REPAIRS
The Federal Highway Administration inspects bridges every two years.
Inspectors evaluate and rate the condition of three bridge components — the deck, substructure & superstructure.
Bridges are then classified according to their lowest-scoring component.
Data shows the number of bridges in each U.S. county with a structural rating of Poor according to the National Bridge Inventory [2021].
Bridge Infrastructure Ratings
Good: limited to only minor problems
Fair: structural capacity is not affected by minor deterioration, section loss, cracking, etc.
Poor: structural capacity is affected or jeopardized by advanced deterioration, section loss, cracking, etc.
S T A T S
highest # of bridges rated poor
1. Cook County, IL: 240 bridges
2. Wayne County, MI: 135 bridges
3. Bucks County, PA: 129 bridges
4. Marshall County, IA: 125 bridges
5. Allegheny County, PA: 123 bridges
6. Tama County, IA: 117 bridges
7. Montgomery County, PA: 117 bridges
8. Luzerne County, PA: 116 bridges
9. Jasper County, IA: 113 bridges
10. Grant County, OK: 112 bridges
11. East Baton Rouge Parish, LA: 111 bridges
12. Berks County, PA: 109 bridges
13. Schuylkill County, PA: 105 bridges
14. Lincoln County, OK: 105 bridges
15. Chester County, PA: 104 bridges
16. Cass County, IA: 103 bridges
17. Poweshiek County, IA: 102 bridges
18. Westmoreland County, PA: 101 bridges
19. Ringgold County, IA: 100 bridges
20. Lancaster County, PA: 100 bridges
total bridges surveyed
616,749
total bridges rated good
277,554
total bridges rated fair
295,950
total bridges rated poor
43,245
counties w/no bridges
Nebraska
Arthur County, Grant County, McPherson County
Texas
Cochran County, Gaines County, Yoakum County
Virginia
City of Franklin, City of Poquoson
highest % of bridges rated poor
1. Dillingham Census Area, AK: 66.7%
2. Franklin County, FL: 47.7%
3. Ringgold County, IA: 44.4%
4. Poweshiek County, IA: 41.5%
5. Marshall County, IA: 41.3%
6. City of Falls Church, VA: 40%
7. Adams County, IA: 39.8%
8. Madison County, IA: 38.7%
9. Mahaska County, IA: 38.4%
10. Wyoming County, WV: 37.3%
11. Day County, SD: 37.1%
12. Ohio County, WV: 36.8%
13. Guthrie County, IA: 36%
14. Cass County, IA: 35%
15. Red River Parish, LA: 34.9%
16. Taylor County, IA: 34.8%
17. Decatur County, IA: 34.8%
18. Tama County, IA: 34.6%
19. Los Alamos County, NM: 33.3%
20. Bon Homme County, SD: 33.3%
BY STATE
STATS
most bridges rated poor
1. Iowa: 4,504
2. Pennsylvania: 3,111
3. Illinois: 2,405
4. Oklahoma: 2,296
5. Missouri: 2,218
6. New York: 1,724
7. Louisiana: 1,631
8. West Virginia: 1,490
9. Ohio: 1,334
10. North Carolina: 1,325
11. Nebraska: 1,280
12. Kansas: 1,277
highest % of bridges rated poor
1. West Virginia: 20.37%
2. Rhode Island: 19.13%
3. Iowa: 18.87%
4. South Dakota: 17.3%
5. Pennsylvania: 13.43%
6. Louisiana: 12.76%
7. Maine: 11.95%
8. North Dakota: 11.23%
9. Michigan: 10.99%
10. Oklahoma: 9.89%
11. New York: 9.82%
12. Missouri: 9.02%
fewest bridges rated poor
1. District of Columbia: 7
2. Delaware: 16
3. Nevada: 29
4. Arizona: 63
5. Connecticut: 63
6. Utah: 63
7. Vermont: 66
8. Hawaii: 87
9. Alaska: 134
10. Rhode Island: 149
11. New Hampshire: 194
12. New Mexico: 208
Bridge Rating Scale
Condition ratings are used to describe the existing, in-place bridge as compared to the as-built condition. Evaluation is for the materials related, physical condition of the deck, superstructure, and substructure components of a bridge.
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9: highest attainable grade
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8: no problems noted
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7: some minor problems
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6: structural elements show some minor deterioration
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5: all primary structural elements are sound but may have minor section loss, cracking, spalling or scour
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4: advanced section loss, deterioration, spalling or scour
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3: loss of section, deterioration, spalling or scour have seriously affected primary structural components; local failures are possible; fatigue cracks in steel or shear cracks in concrete may be present
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2: advanced deterioration of primary structural elements; fatigue cracks in steel or shear cracks in concrete may be present or scour may have removed substructure support; unless closely monitored it may be necessary to close the bridge until corrective action is taken
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1: major deterioration or section loss present in critical structural components or obvious vertical or horizontal movement affecting structure stability; bridge is closed to traffic but corrective action may put back in light service