Rhode Island bridge conditions
787 inventoried bridges · 110 rated poor · county by county
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- 110 of Rhode Island's 787 inventoried bridges are rated in poor condition (14.0%) in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory, as of .
- 196 bridges (24.9%) are rated good and 481 (61.1%) fair.
- The national poor rate is about 6.7%; Rhode Island is above it (see all states ranked).
- The busiest poor-rated bridge in the state is I-95 NB & SB over Thurbers Av in Providence County, carrying about 156,790 vehicles a day.
By the measure that matters most - the most traffic on a poor rating - it is I-95 NB & SB over Thurbers Av in Providence County, built 1963, carrying about 156,790 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 24.9% · Fair 61.1% · Poor 14.0% of 787 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 % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence County | 480 | 67 | 14.0% |
| Kent County | 115 | 19 | 16.5% |
| Washington County | 145 | 19 | 13.1% |
| Newport County | 37 | 4 | 10.8% |
| Bristol County | 10 | 1 | 10.0% |
The 25 busiest poor-rated bridges in Rhode Island
Frequently asked questions
How many bridges in Rhode Island are in poor condition?
110 of Rhode Island's 787 inventoried highway bridges are rated in poor condition (14.0%) 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island DOT.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.