Bridge conditions in McDowell County, West Virginia
224 inventoried bridges · 63 rated poor · 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
About one in 4 bridges in McDowell County is rated in poor condition: 63 of 224 on the federal inventory, one of the higher shares in West Virginia.
- 63 of the 224 bridges in McDowell County, West Virginia, are rated in poor condition (28.1%) in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory, as of .
- 16 bridges (7.1%) are rated good and 145 (64.7%) fair.
- The median McDowell County bridge was built in 1993.
- The busiest poor-rated bridge is US 52 over Spice Creek (built 1933), carrying about 3,200 vehicles a day.
Good 7.1% · Fair 64.7% · Poor 28.1% of 224 bridges
Bridges rated poor
Every bridge in the county with a poor rating, busiest first. Poor means a major component is rated 4 or lower on FHWA's 0-9 scale; it is a repair flag, not a closure notice.
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| US 52 over Spice Creek | 1933 | 3,200 | Poor |
| County Route 12/4 over War Creek | 2004 | 2,200 | Poor |
| Wv 16 over Dry Fork | 1993 | 1,200 | Poor |
| Wv 16 over Browns Creek | 1999 | 1,200 | Poor |
| Wv 83 over Dry Fork | 1979 | 1,100 | Poor |
| Wv 83 over Barrenshe Creek | 1968 | 1,100 | Poor |
| Wv 16 over Big Creek | 1916 | 800 | Poor |
| CR 3/1 over Greenbrier Fork | 1936 | 750 | Poor |
| Wv 161 over South Fork | 1945 | 750 | Poor |
| CR 83/13 over Little Slate Creek | 1978 | 600 | Poor |
| CR 7 over Tug Fork | 1917 | 500 | Poor |
| County Route 7 over Tug Fork | 1890 | 500 | Poor |
| County Route 9/6 over Right Fork | 1925 | 500 | Poor |
| County Route 9/6 over Dry Fork | 1928 | 500 | Poor |
| CR 2 over Clear Fork | 1980 | 450 | Poor |
| CR 17 over Windmill Gap Branch | 1994 | 350 | Poor |
| CR 52/17 over Elkhorn Creek | 1992 | 350 | Poor |
| Co 83/13 over Little Slate Creek | 1995 | 350 | Poor |
| CR 10 over Unnamed Stream | 1948 | 350 | Poor |
| County Route 5/2 over Crane Creek | 1978 | 250 | Poor |
| Co 5/2 over Dry Fork | 1941 | 250 | Poor |
| CR 83/1 over Dry Fork | 1984 | 250 | Poor |
| CR 5/2 over Crane Creek | 1978 | 250 | Poor |
| Co 7/7 over Twin Branch | 1935 | 250 | Poor |
| CR 3/2 over George Branch | 1992 | 200 | Poor |
| Co 1/1 over Fourpole Creek | 1915 | 200 | Poor |
| Co 8 over Ballard Harmon Branch | 1991 | 200 | Poor |
| Co 8 over Ballard Harmon Branch | 1999 | 200 | Poor |
| County Route 8 over Sams Branch | 1933 | 150 | Poor |
| CR 12/3 over Barrenshe Creek | 1936 | 150 | Poor |
| County Route 52/8 over Bottom Creek | 1978 | 150 | Poor |
| Co 9/5 over Dry Fork | 1997 | 150 | Poor |
| Gary City Street over Tug Fork | 1930 | 120 | Poor |
| Co 1/4 over Horse Creek | 1990 | 100 | Poor |
| CR 2 over Clear Fork | 1978 | 90 | Poor |
| County Route 12/10 over War Creek | 1936 | 90 | Poor |
| CR 12/10 over War Creek | 1936 | 90 | Poor |
| Co 52/98 over Elkhorn Creek | 1950 | 90 | Poor |
| Ha 902/21 over Bradshaw Creek | 1992 | 90 | Poor |
| Co 16/17 over Jacobs Fork | 1998 | 60 | Poor |
| Ha 902/47 over Panther Creek | 1994 | 60 | Poor |
| Harp Route 901/51 over Little Creek | 2000 | 50 | Poor |
| CR 102/71 over Elkhorn Creek | 1974 | 40 | Poor |
| CR 635/2 over Hite Fork | 1984 | 40 | Poor |
| CR 52/3 over Elkhorn Creek | 1992 | 40 | Poor |
| County Rte. 102/71 over Elkhorn Creek | 1993 | 40 | Poor |
| Co 52/29 over Elkhorn Creek | 1940 | 40 | Poor |
| Co 16/48 over Tug Fork & Tug Street | 1946 | 40 | Poor |
| Co 16/47 over Tug Fork & Co 16/44 | 1980 | 40 | Poor |
| Co 16/57 over Browns Creek | 1950 | 40 | Poor |
| Harp 958 over Dry Fork | 1977 | 40 | Poor |
| Ha 997 over Hite Fork | 2001 | 40 | Poor |
| Co 52/56 over Elkhorn Creek | 1920 | 40 | Poor |
| CR 84/2 over Tug Fork | 2000 | 30 | Poor |
| Harp 902/18 over North Fork | 1995 | 30 | Poor |
| Harp Route 902/49 over Clear Fork | 2003 | 30 | Poor |
| Co 102/74 over Tug Fork | 1956 | 30 | Poor |
| Harp 966 over Elkhorn Creek | 2010 | 30 | Poor |
| CR. 16/12 over Jacobs Fork | 1980 | 20 | Poor |
| CR. 16/13 over Jacobs Fork | 1989 | 20 | Poor |
| Ha 902/79 over South Fork | 1960 | 20 | Poor |
| Co 83/15 over Bradshaw Creek | 2002 | 10 | Poor |
| County Route 7 over Tug Fork | 1890 | – | Poor |
Busiest bridges in the county
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| US 52 over Tug Fork | 1957 | 5,300 | Fair |
| US 52 over Elkhorn Creek | 2024 | 3,700 | Good |
| US 52 over Bottom Creek | 1932 | 3,500 | Fair |
| US 52 over Elkhorn Creek | 1936 | 3,500 | Fair |
| US 52 Alternate over Elkhorn Creek | 1979 | 3,400 | Fair |
| US 52 over Spice Creek | 1933 | 3,200 | Poor |
| US 52 over Elkhorn Creek | 1976 | 3,200 | Fair |
| US Rt 52 Alt over Elkhorn Creek | 1989 | 3,200 | Fair |
| US Rt 52 over Elkhorn Creek | 1991 | 3,100 | Fair |
| US. 52 over Elkhorn Creek | 1987 | 3,100 | Fair |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025. Counts cover inventoried highway bridges over 20 feet; ratings are reported by the state DOT.
All of West Virginia: West Virginia bridge conditions by county · every download on the data page.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.