Pennsylvania has 23,314 bridges on public roads, according to the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. Of those, 2,813 are rated in poor condition — a rate of 12.1% — 81% above the national average of 6.7%. Another 12,482 are in fair condition, while 8,019 are in good condition.
Use the interactive Pennsylvania bridge map below to explore every bridge, color-coded by condition. Click any cluster to zoom in, then click an individual bridge for its route, structural ratings, year built, daily traffic, and last inspection date. Filter by condition using the checkboxes, or switch to satellite view to see bridges from above. For a national comparison, see the full US bridges interactive map.
Pennsylvania Bridge Conditions by the Numbers
- 23,314 total bridges on public roads in Pennsylvania
- 2,813 in poor condition (12.1%) — above the national average of 6.7%
- 12,482 in fair condition (53.5%)
- 8,019 in good condition (34.4%)
- Oldest bridge in the inventory: OLD BETHLEHEM ROAD, built 1777
Oldest Bridges in Pennsylvania
The oldest bridges in Pennsylvania date back to the 1770s. The ten oldest Pennsylvania bridges still in the national inventory:
| Route / Facility | Crosses | Year Built | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| OLD BETHLEHEM ROAD | COOKS CREEK | 1777 | Fair |
| TRINITY LANE | GULPH MILLS CREEK | 1789 | Fair |
| GERMANTOWN PIKE | SKIPPACK CREEK | 1792 | Fair |
| CENTRE AVENUE | NEWTOWN CREEK | 1796 | Fair |
| RIDGE PIKE | PERKIOMEN CREEK | 1798 | Fair |
| Fishers Lane | Tacony Creek | 1801 | Poor |
| OLD EASTON ROAD | NOCKAMIXON CREEK | 1804 | Fair |
| OLD SCHUYLKILL RD | PIGEON CREEK | 1804 | Poor |
| STRASBURG ROAD | EAST BR.BRANDYWINE CREEK | 1807 | Fair |
| ST.DAVIDS ROAD | DARBY CREEK / 3476-F8 | 1810 | Fair |
Most Concerning Pennsylvania Bridges: Poor Condition and High Traffic
The bridges of greatest concern combine a poor structural rating with high daily traffic loads. These Pennsylvania bridges carry the most vehicles per day while rated in poor condition:
| Route / Facility | Crosses | Daily Traffic | Year Built | Deck | Superstructure | Substructure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INTERSTATE 95 | TACONY ST.AND BRIDGE ST. | 280,088 vehicles/day | 1967 | Satisfactory (6) | Poor (4) | Fair (5) |
| INTERSTATE 95 | FRALEY STREET | 280,088 vehicles/day | 1967 | Poor (4) | Fair (5) | Satisfactory (6) |
| INTERSTATE 95 | EARTH FILL & SEWER ACCES | 225,137 vehicles/day | 1968 | Fair (5) | Fair (5) | Poor (4) |
| DELAWARE EXPWAY. | VENANGO STREET | 177,086 vehicles/day | 1965 | Poor (4) | Satisfactory (6) | Satisfactory (6) |
| DELAWARE EXPWAY. | WHEATSHEAF LANE | 177,086 vehicles/day | 1965 | Fair (5) | Fair (5) | Poor (4) |
How Pennsylvania Bridge Conditions Are Assessed
Bridge condition in the NBI is determined by ratings of three structural components — deck, superstructure, and substructure — on a scale of 0 (failed) to 9 (excellent). A bridge is classified as good when all three components score 7 or above. It is classified as poor when any component scores 4 or below. Ratings of 5 or 6 on any component with no component below 5 result in a fair classification. PennDOT coordinates inspections across Pennsylvania in line with FHWA standards, with most bridges inspected on a 24-month cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bridges in Pennsylvania are in poor condition?
2,813 of Pennsylvania’s 23,314 bridges are currently rated in poor condition by the FHWA National Bridge Inventory, a rate of 12.1%.
What is the oldest bridge in
The oldest bridge recorded in Pennsylvania’s NBI inventory is OLD BETHLEHEM ROAD, built in 1777.
What does a poor bridge rating mean?
A poor rating means at least one of a bridge’s three key structural components — deck, superstructure, or substructure — has been rated 4 or below on the NBI 0-9 scale. A rating of 4 is defined as “poor condition,” and ratings of 3, 2, 1, or 0 indicate increasingly serious deterioration. Poor-rated bridges are not necessarily unsafe or closed, but they require priority attention and monitoring.
View all 624,000+ US bridges on the national interactive map
Compare with neighboring states: Delaware bridges map | Maryland bridges map | New Jersey bridges map | New York bridges map | Ohio bridges map | West Virginia bridges map
