Which state has the worst bridges?

By percentage of structurally deficient bridges, West Virginia, Iowa, and Pennsylvania consistently rank worst. West Virginia has approximately 19% of its bridges rated in poor condition, compared to the national average of about 7%.

Why do some states have worse bridges than others?

The main factors are bridge age, climate severity (freeze-thaw cycles and road salt), traffic volume relative to bridge capacity, state funding levels, and the total size of the bridge inventory relative to state budget.

Are states with bad bridges doing anything about it?

Yes. Federal bridge formula funds from the 2021 Infrastructure Law direct more money to states with the most deficient bridges. Many states have also increased their own bridge repair budgets, though the backlog remains large.

Worst Bridges by State: A Data-Driven Look

States with the Highest Deficiency Rates

When ranked by the percentage of bridges classified as structurally deficient, a clear pattern emerges. The worst-performing states share common challenges: aging inventories, harsh winters, limited budgets, and large numbers of rural bridges.

State	Total Bridges	% Deficient	Avg Age (yrs)
West Virginia	7,218	19.2%	52
Iowa	23,903	18.7%	48
South Dakota	5,862	17.1%	46
Pennsylvania	22,783	15.3%	54
Rhode Island	766	14.8%	56

Why These States Struggle

The states at the bottom of the rankings share several characteristics that make bridge maintenance particularly challenging:

Age — Pennsylvania and Rhode Island have some of the oldest bridge inventories in the nation. Many of their structures were built before 1960 and have exceeded their intended design life. Pennsylvania alone has over 3,500 bridges rated in poor condition.
Climate — All five of the worst-ranked states experience severe freeze-thaw cycles. Water seeps into cracks, freezes, expands, and widens those cracks year after year. Road salt applied during winter further accelerates corrosion of steel and rebar.
Rural bridge counts — Iowa and South Dakota have enormous numbers of rural bridges maintained by county governments with minimal budgets. Iowa has nearly 24,000 bridges — the fifth-most of any state — and most are in rural areas.
Funding constraints — West Virginia has some of the lowest transportation funding per capita in the nation despite having one of the most challenging terrains for bridge maintenance, with steep valleys and river crossings throughout Appalachia.

States with the Best Bridge Conditions

On the other end of the spectrum, several states maintain low deficiency rates:

Nevada — With only about 2% of bridges rated deficient, Nevada benefits from a small inventory, dry climate, and newer construction.
Texas — Despite having the second-most bridges in the country (over 54,000), Texas maintains a deficiency rate below 2%, thanks to aggressive state funding and a climate that is gentler on bridge materials.
Arizona — Similar to Nevada, Arizona's dry climate and relatively modern bridge stock keep deficiency rates low.

Explore the full national picture on our worst condition rankings.

The Role of Federal Funding

The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act directs more federal bridge funds to states with higher deficiency rates through the Bridge Formula Program. This means states like West Virginia, Iowa, and Pennsylvania receive proportionally more funding per capita for bridge repair. The FHWA Bridge Investment Program also provides competitive grants for economically significant bridges.

However, federal funds alone cannot close the bridge funding gap. States must match federal dollars and fund ongoing maintenance from their own budgets. This creates persistent disparities between wealthy, low-bridge states and poorer, high-bridge states.

Explore Your State

You can see detailed bridge condition data for every state in our condition rankings or search for specific bridges in your area. Each state page includes the total bridge count, average condition score, deficiency percentage, and links to individual bridge reports.