2024 Annual Bridge Report Highlights Recent and Future Projects, Introduces New Rating System

Snohomish County Public Works has unveiled its 2024 Annual Bridge Report, which outlines several key bridge projects, including the Jordan Creek Bridge 214 replacement in 2025 and the Granite Falls Bridge 102 replacement scheduled for 2028-2029. The report introduces a new bridge rating system that transitions from the outdated sufficiency ratings to a Good/Fair/Poor designation, reflecting conditions based on National Bridge Inventory (NBI) standards. Currently, just eight out of 210 county-maintained bridges carry a poor rating, which is less than 4% of the total. Among these, three bridges are funded for replacement while two are eligible for federal funding. Tim Tipton, County Bridge Engineer, stressed the importance of documenting bridge conditions to access federal replacement funds.

Last year, the county bridge team inspected 114 bridges and completed eight major repairs. All county-maintained bridges are inspected at least every two years, ensuring they remain safe for public use. This comprehensive strategy aims to effectively manage the county's bridge network throughout its lifecycle.