Total bridges
668
Public highway bridges in Kern County
County profile · official public datasets
Kern County, CA
668 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 50.1% rated Good, 43.3% Fair, 6.6% Poor.
- 668
- Public bridges
- 50.1%
- Good condition
- 6.6%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Kern County posts a better-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across large county bridge inventory.
- Top 47%
- lowest Poor share in state
- 6.6%
- Poor-condition share
- 668
- public highway bridges
- 1972
- avg year built
Poor is an FHWA condition category from the lowest applicable component rating (4 or below), not a live crossing-safety or closure decision. Rankings cover counties with at least five public highway bridges.
Kern County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Kern County ranks #27 of 58 California counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 6.6%). Kern County, California contains 668 public highway bridges. Roughly 50.1% are rated “Good,” 43.3% “Fair,” and 6.6% “Poor.” Poor means the lowest applicable deck, superstructure, substructure, or culvert rating is 4 or below on the 0–9 NBI scale. It is a condition category, not a live safety or closure decision.
Responsible agencies inspect covered bridges on risk-based intervals under current NBIS rules and submit inventory data to FHWA annually. The list below shows every NBI-tracked bridge in the county. Use the “Sort by” controls to change the ordering, and click any row for its reported inspection date, traffic count, and condition fields.
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See methodology for full definitions.
Good condition
50.1%
335 of 668 rated 7-9
Fair condition
43.3%
289 of 668 rated 5-6
Poor condition
6.6%
44 of 668 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#27 of 58
Among California counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 668 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 50.1% (335)
Fair 43.3% (289)
Poor 6.6% (44)
Kern County's Poor-condition bridges carry 468,180 vehicle crossings a day
That is 5.3% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 6.6% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 10,640 crossings a day against 15,153 for a Good-condition one. A Poor rating is a condition category, not a closure or a live safety judgement; it means the lowest applicable component rating is 4 or below.
Computed over the 668 of 668 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
67.7% of Kern County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
452 of the 668 bridges with a recorded construction year were built in 1974 or earlier. Age alone is not a defect: a well-maintained older bridge can rate Good, and 50.1% of this county's inventory does. Even so, this older cohort is the population from which future Poor ratings are drawn, which is why the age profile below matters alongside the condition split above.
Cutoff derives from the 2024 release year minus a 50-year design life. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
One structure carries 11.3% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
STATE ROUTE 99 over HIGH ST & UP RR, built 1955, carries 53,000 vehicles a day, the most of any Poor-rated structure here. The county's Poor-condition exposure is concentrated rather than evenly spread, so the 44-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 468,180 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Kern County's bridges were built
668 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- 1910s 5
1910–1919
5 bridges
- 1920s 6
1920–1929
6 bridges
- 1930s 19
1930–1939
19 bridges
- 1940s 36
1940–1949
36 bridges
- 1950s
1950–1959
81 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
200 bridges
- 1970s
1970–1979
139 bridges
- 1980s 41
1980–1989
41 bridges
- 1990s 39
1990–1999
39 bridges
- 2000s 42
2000–2009
42 bridges
- 2010s 52
2010–2019
52 bridges
- 2020s 8
2020–2029
8 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1960s, when 200 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 29.9% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 55 to 64 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1972) matches the California average (1970).
How Kern County compares with California's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 California counties nearest Kern County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 6.6% Poor share is the 2nd-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1972 against a peer-group mean of 1972 is in line with the group.
Showing the 5 closest of 57 California counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento County | 740 | 50.9% | 45.7% | 3.4% | 1973 |
| Kern County (this page) | 668 | 50.1% | 43.3% | 6.6% | 1972 |
| Alameda County | 658 | 35.3% | 55.2% | 9.6% | 1973 |
| San Joaquin County | 644 | 33.7% | 57.1% | 9.2% | 1968 |
| Contra Costa County | 618 | 42.6% | 46.9% | 10.5% | 1977 |
| Sonoma County | 609 | 24.1% | 69% | 6.9% | 1967 |
Each share is of that county's own total tracked bridges; peers are the counties with 5 or more bridges whose inventory size is closest to Kern County's. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
Nationwide counties with similar inventory size or average build year
Two NBI-derived peer sets for Kern County, both outside California so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside CA (668 bridges here).
- Berks County, PA · 667 bridges
- St. Louis County, MN · 663 bridges
- Hinds County, MS · 663 bridges
- Jefferson County, KY · 662 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside CA (1972 here).
- Madison County, AL · avg 1972 · 710 bridges
- York County, PA · avg 1972 · 569 bridges
- Middlesex County, NJ · avg 1972 · 563 bridges
- Saunders County, NE · avg 1972 · 506 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
Fair-condition bridges (289)
STATE ROUTE 178
FairOver: EAST SIDE CANAL
06-KER-178-R2.42-BKD, Kern, CA
Built 1986 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 75,000
STATE ROUTE 155
FairOver: TILLIE CREEK OVERFLOW
06-KER-155-R60.88, Kern, CA
Built 1951 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 6,300
STATE ROUTE 155
FairOver: RATTLESNAKE CREEK
06-KER-155-64.92, Kern, CA
Built 1951 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 6,600
STATE ROUTE 14 SB
FairOver: STATE ROUTE 58
09-KER-014-19.00, Kern, CA
Built 2003 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 4,800
UNION AVENUE
FairOver: EAST BRANCH CANAL
0.05MI N/O BELLE TERRACE, Kern, CA
Built 1914 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 29,000
WALKER BASIN RD
FairOver: RANCHERIA CREEK
1.17 MI W PIUTE MOUNTN RD, Kern, CA
Built 1971 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 180
OLD RIVER ROAD
FairOver: CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT
0.5 MI NORTH OF RTE 166, Kern, CA
Built 1968 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,301
6TH STREET
FairOver: SANDY CREEK
SOUTH OF ASH STREET, Kern, CA
Built 1972 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 6,500
OLIVE DRIVE
FairOver: CANAL LATERAL 29
EAST OF STATE RD, Kern, CA
Built 1969 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 20,000
OLIVE DRIVE
FairOver: BEARDSLEY CANAL
0.1 MI W AIRPORT DR, Kern, CA
Built 1968 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 13,000
ROBERTS LANE
FairOver: BEARDSLEY CANAL
NORTH OF OLIVE DRIVE, Kern, CA
Built 1968 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 9,000
34TH STREET
FairOver: KERN ISLAND CANAL
WEST OF UNION, Kern, CA
Built 1972 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 10,689
BELLE TERRACE WAY
FairOver: KERN ISLAND CANAL
EAST OF H STREET, Kern, CA
Built 1950 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 4,133
PLANZ ROAD
FairOver: KERN ISLAND CANAL
EAST OF SOUTH H ST, Kern, CA
Built 1952 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 14,700
PACHECO ROAD
FairOver: KERN ISLAND CANAL
EAST OF SOUTH H ST, Kern, CA
Built 1968 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 10,600
COLUMBUS AVE
FairOver: KERN ISLAND CANAL
0.2 MI W UNION AVE, Kern, CA
Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 10,425
4TH STREET
FairOver: SANDY CREEK
SOUTH OF ASH STREET, Kern, CA
Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 3,560
EMMONS PARK DRIVE
FairOver: SANDY CREEK
SOUTH OF ASH STREET, Kern, CA
Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 500
TERRACE WAY
FairOver: KERN ISLAND CANAL
200 E CHESTER AVE, Kern, CA
Built 1958 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 4,960
WILLIAMS ST
FairOver: EAST SIDE CANAL
350 FT S MONTEREY ST, Kern, CA
Built 1967 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 5,300
ROBINSON ST
FairOver: EAST SIDE CANAL
SOUTH OF MONTEREY ST, Kern, CA
Built 1962 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 3,300
MILLER ST
FairOver: EAST SIDE CANAL
0.1 MI S MONTEREY ST, Kern, CA
Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 6,300
GAGE ST
FairOver: EAST SIDE CANAL
0.1 MI S MONTEREY ST, Kern, CA
Built 1959 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 3,300
TULARE ST
FairOver: EAST SIDE CANAL
SOUTH OF MONTEREY ST, Kern, CA
Built 1950 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 4,300
VERNAL PLACE
FairOver: KERN ISLAND CANAL
0.1 MI N TERRACE WAY, Kern, CA
Built 1957 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,015
SOUTH GATE DR
FairOver: KERN ISLAND CANAL
EAST OF SOUTH H ST, Kern, CA
Built 1957 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,500
BEALE AVENUE
FairOver: EAST SIDE CANAL
SOUTH MONTEREY STREET, Kern, CA
Built 1966 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 10,000
HALEY ST
FairOver: EAST SIDE CANAL
SOUTH MONTEREY ST, Kern, CA
Built 1957 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,876
MOUNTAIN VIEW RD
FairOver: EAST SIDE CANAL
0.1 MI W OF VINELAND ROAD, Kern, CA
Built 1955 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 290
RANCHERIA ROAD
FairOver: KERN RIVER
0.7 MI NORTH OF SR 178, Kern, CA
Built 1952 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 412
STATE ROUTE 99 NB
FairOver: BEARDSLEY CANAL
06-KER-099-R28.39, Kern, CA
Built 1964 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 55,000
PALM AVENUE
FairOver: STATE ROUTE 99
06-KER-099-24.11-BKD, Kern, CA
Built 1963 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 6,000
GARDNER FIELD ROAD
FairOver: CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT
0.5 MI EAST OF DUVALL ST, Kern, CA
Built 1968 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 1,072
CORCORAN RD
FairOver: POSO CREEK CHANNEL
7.4 MI N/O SR 46, Kern, CA
Built 1966 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 590
CADET ROAD
FairOver: CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT
1.5 MI W GARDNER FIELD RD, Kern, CA
Built 1968 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 776
ALFRED HARREL HWY
FairOver: FAIRFAX ROAD
1.2 MI NE OF PANORAMA DR, Kern, CA
Built 1959 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 3,595
ALFRED HARREL HWY
FairOver: FAIRFAX ROAD
1.2 MI NE OF PANORAMA DR, Kern, CA
Built 1959 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 3,595
ALFRED HARREL HWY
FairOver: GOODMANVILLE ACCESS RD
1.5 MI NE OF FAIRFAX RD, Kern, CA
Built 1959 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 3,595
ALFRED HARREL HWY
FairOver: GOODMANVILLE ACCESS RD
1.5 MI NE OF FAIRFAX RD, Kern, CA
Built 1959 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 3,595
MERCED AVE
FairOver: UP RR
WEST OF S.H. 99, Kern, CA
Built 1968 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 760
SHERWOOD AVE
FairOver: STATE ROUTE 99
06-KER-099-49.30-MCF, Kern, CA
Built 1963 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 4,677
PERKINS AVE
FairOver: STATE ROUTE 99
06-KER-099-49.95-MCF, Kern, CA
Built 1963 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 440
CHESTER AVE NB
FairOver: KERN RIVER
0.3 MI S ROBERTS LANE, Kern, CA
Built 1978 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 9,973
LOKERN ROAD
FairOver: CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT
1.5 MI WEST OF HWY 58, Kern, CA
Built 1967 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 2,400
STATE ROUTE 58
FairOver: CALIENTE CREEK OVERFLOW
06-KER-058-67.85, Kern, CA
Built 1960 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 10,000
STATE ROUTE 58
FairOver: CALIENTE CREEK OVERFLOW
06-KER-058-67.85, Kern, CA
Built 1960 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 13,000
DOYLE RANCH RD
FairOver: SOUTH FORK KERN RIVER
0.1 MI N OF RTE 178, Kern, CA
Built 1968 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 140
GOSFORD ROAD SB
FairOver: KERN RIVER CANAL
0.2 MI S TRUXTUN AVE, Kern, CA
Built 1984 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 17,700
LEBEC SERVICE ROAD
FairOver: INTERSTATE 5
06-KER-005-1.61, Kern, CA
Built 1964 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 2,370
AIRPORT DRIVE
FairOver: BEARDSLEY CANAL
0.1 MI S OF OLIVE DR, Kern, CA
Built 1951 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 25,500
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges
Every figure on PlainBridges is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. NBI condition categories reflect the latest reported inventory record, not a live safety, closure, or travel decision.