Delaware bridge conditions
874 inventoried bridges · 10 rated poor · county by county
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- 10 of Delaware's 874 inventoried bridges are rated in poor condition (1.1%) in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory, as of .
- 376 bridges (43.0%) are rated good and 488 (55.8%) fair.
- The national poor rate is about 6.7%; Delaware is at or below it (see all states ranked).
- The busiest poor-rated bridge in the state is I 495 SB over I 95 NB in New Castle County, carrying about 84,782 vehicles a day.
By the measure that matters most - the most traffic on a poor rating - it is I 495 SB over I 95 NB in New Castle County, built 1965, carrying about 84,782 vehicles a day. That is a repair-priority flag, not a collapse warning: what a poor rating does and does not mean. See the worst bridge in every state.
Good 43.0% · Fair 55.8% · Poor 1.1% of 874 bridges
Bridge conditions by county
Sorted by the number of poor-rated bridges. Click any county for its full bridge list.
| County | Bridges | Rated poor | Poor % |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Castle County | 528 | 5 | 0.9% |
| Sussex County | 154 | 3 | 1.9% |
| Kent County | 192 | 2 | 1.0% |
The 25 busiest poor-rated bridges in Delaware
| Bridge | County | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 495 SB over I 95 NB | New Castle County, DE | 1965 | 84,782 | Poor |
| SR 54 over Assawoman Bay | Sussex County, DE | 1957 | 11,464 | Poor |
| Dupont PKW/US13 SB over Blackbird Creek | New Castle County, DE | 1920 | 11,020 | Poor |
| Lebanon RD/SR10 WB over St. Jones River | Kent County, DE | 1965 | 8,726 | Poor |
| South Heald St over Norfolk Southern | New Castle County, DE | 1942 | 7,915 | Poor |
| Delaware Rt. 9 over C&d Canal | New Castle County, DE | 1969 | 1,203 | Poor |
| SR 9 over Appoquinimink River | New Castle County, DE | 1973 | 840 | Poor |
| Craigs Mill Rd over Craigs Pond Spillway | Sussex County, DE | 1973 | 196 | Poor |
| Maple Ave over Mispillion River | Kent County, DE | 1977 | 99 | Poor |
| Cods Road over Slaughter Creek | Sussex County, DE | 1931 | 78 | Poor |
Frequently asked questions
How many bridges in Delaware are in poor condition?
10 of Delaware's 874 inventoried highway bridges are rated in poor condition (1.1%) in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory. 'Poor' is FHWA's classification for a bridge whose deck, superstructure, or substructure is rated 4 or lower on the 0-9 scale; it was formerly called 'structurally deficient'.
Are the poor-rated bridges in Delaware safe to drive on?
A poor rating flags advanced deterioration that needs repair or close monitoring; it does not by itself mean a bridge is unsafe. Bridges judged unsafe are closed or restricted to lighter loads by the owner. Inspections continue on all open bridges, generally at least every 24 months under the National Bridge Inspection Standards.
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 vintage, reported by the Delaware DOT.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.