Total bridges
1,164
Public highway bridges in Orange County
County profile · official public datasets
Orange County, CA
1,164 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 53.2% rated Good, 43.8% Fair, 3% Poor.
- 1,164
- Public bridges
- 53.2%
- Good condition
- 3%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Orange County pairs a top-5% lowest Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state with a newer average build year than the state inventory.
- Top 5%
- lowest Poor share in state
- 3%
- Poor-condition share
- 1,164
- public highway bridges
- 1978
- 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.
Orange County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Orange County ranks #3 of 58 California counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 3%). Orange County, California contains 1,164 public highway bridges. Roughly 53.2% are rated “Good,” 43.8% “Fair,” and 3% “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
53.2%
619 of 1,164 rated 7-9
Fair condition
43.8%
510 of 1,164 rated 5-6
Poor condition
3%
35 of 1,164 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#3 of 58
Among California counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 1,164 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 53.2% (619)
Fair 43.8% (510)
Poor 3% (35)
Orange County's Poor-condition bridges carry 1,431,765 vehicle crossings a day
That is 2.3% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 3% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 40,908 crossings a day against 57,201 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 1,164 of 1,164 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
48.9% of Orange County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
569 of the 1,164 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 53.2% 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 16% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
STATE ROUTE 57 over BNSF RY AMTRAK METROLINK, built 1976, carries 229,000 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 35-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 1,431,765 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Orange County's bridges were built
1,164 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- 1910s 2
1910–1919
2 bridges
- 1920s 12
1920–1929
12 bridges
- 1930s 21
1930–1939
21 bridges
- 1940s 14
1940–1949
14 bridges
- 1950s
1950–1959
114 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
284 bridges
- 1970s
1970–1979
191 bridges
- 1980s 105
1980–1989
105 bridges
- 1990s
1990–1999
277 bridges
- 2000s 99
2000–2009
99 bridges
- 2010s 39
2010–2019
39 bridges
- 2020s 6
2020–2029
6 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1960s, when 284 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 24.4% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 55 to 64 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year is 1978, 8 years newer than the California average of 1970.
How Orange County compares with California's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 California counties nearest Orange County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 3% Poor share is the 2nd-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1978 against a peer-group mean of 1973 is 5 years newer.
Showing the 5 closest of 57 California counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Bernardino County | 1,422 | 41.9% | 52.1% | 6% | 1975 |
| Orange County (this page) | 1,164 | 53.2% | 43.8% | 3% | 1978 |
| Riverside County | 1,117 | 56.4% | 41.2% | 2.4% | 1977 |
| Santa Clara County | 964 | 38.3% | 56.1% | 5.6% | 1972 |
| Fresno County | 916 | 38.9% | 57.3% | 3.8% | 1969 |
| Sacramento County | 740 | 50.9% | 45.7% | 3.4% | 1973 |
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 Orange 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 Orange County, both outside California so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside CA (1,164 bridges here).
- Williamson County, TX · 1,170 bridges
- Pima County, AZ · 1,150 bridges
- Clark County, NV · 1,141 bridges
- Tulsa County, OK · 1,135 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside CA (1978 here).
- Sumner County, KS · avg 1978 · 659 bridges
- Allen County, IN · avg 1978 · 613 bridges
- Livingston County, IL · avg 1978 · 579 bridges
- Buncombe County, NC · avg 1978 · 555 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
Fair-condition bridges (510)
LINCOLN AVE
FairOver: INTERSTATE 5
12-ORA-005-39.00-ANA, Orange, CA
Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 34,000
S5-BALL RD OFF-RP
FairOver: INTERSTATE 5 SB
12-ORA-005-38.06-ANA, Orange, CA
Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,749
STATE ROUTE 74 WB
FairOver: SAN JUAN CREEK
12-ORA-074-R2.26-SJCP, Orange, CA
Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,500
LA JOLLA ST
FairOver: STATE ROUTE 57
12-ORA-057-16.13-ANA, Orange, CA
Built 1998 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,000
LEMON STREET
FairOver: STATE ROUTE 91
12-ORA-091-3.51-ANA, Orange, CA
Built 1999 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20,000
SANTA ANA STREET
FairOver: INTERSTATE 5
12-ORA-005-38.48-ANA, Orange, CA
Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 22,000
WALNUT AVENUE
FairOver: STATE ROUTE 261
12-ORA-261-0.01-IRVN, Orange, CA
Built 1998 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,000
JAMBOREE-S261 ONRP
FairOver: S261-WALNUT AVE OFF-RAMP
12-ORA-261-0.25-IRVN, Orange, CA
Built 1997 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 19,210
JAMBOREE ROAD (NB)
FairOver: STATE ROUTE 261
12-ORA-261-0.25-IRVN, Orange, CA
Built 1997 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,000
LA PALMA AVE
FairOver: INTERSTATE 5 RAMPS UP RR
12-ORA-005-40.93-ANA, Orange, CA
Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 26,000
N5-BRKHURST OFF-RA
FairOver: INTERSTATE 5 RAMP
12-ORA-005-40.55-ANA, Orange, CA
Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 14,373
BROOKHURST STREET
FairOver: UP RR
12-ORA-000--ANA, Orange, CA
Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 47,000
BROOKHURST STREET
FairOver: INTERSTATE 5 RAMP
12-ORA-005-40.72-ANA, Orange, CA
Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 47,000
N55-S73 CONNECTOR
FairOver: BRISTOL ST
12-ORA-055-R4.58-CMS, Orange, CA
Built 2010 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20,800
LINCOLN -N55 ON RA
FairOver: LINCOLN AVE
12-ORA-055-17.00-ORA, Orange, CA
Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,000
KATELLA-N55 ON RA
FairOver: KATELLA AVE
12-ORA-055-15.20-ORA, Orange, CA
Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,133
WALNUT AVE
FairOver: STATE ROUTE 55
12-ORA-055-14.16-ORA, Orange, CA
Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,000
BONITA CANYON ROAD
FairOver: BONITA CREEK
12-ORA-073-22.52-NPTB, Orange, CA
Built 1996 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,000
LA VETA AVENUE
FairOver: STATE ROUTE 55
12-ORA-055-13.20-ORA, Orange, CA
Built 2001 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,800
INTERSTATE 5
FairOver: NEWPORT AVE
12-ORA-005-29.62-TUS, Orange, CA
Built 1995 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 263,000
55-405 HOV CONNECT
FairOver: I 405 NB SR55 SB RAMPS
12-ORA-405-8.80, Orange, CA
Built 2007 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,000
55-405 HOV CONNECT
FairOver: STATE ROUTE 55 SB MAIN
12-ORA-405-8.60, Orange, CA
Built 2007 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20,000
REDHILL AVE
FairOver: INTERSTATE 405
12-ORA-405-8.40-CMS, Orange, CA
Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,000
N5-STATE COL OFFRA
FairOver: CHAPMAN AVE-N5 ON-RAMP
12-ORA-005-35.00-ANA, Orange, CA
Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,492
SR 55
FairOver: ST RTE 1 (PCH)
12-ORA-055-0.27-NPTB, Orange, CA
Built 1999 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 47,000
SR 241 SB
FairOver: Wildlife
12-ORA-241-16.00-RSM, Orange, CA
Built 1998 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,050
SR 241 NB
FairOver: Wildlife
12-ORA-241-16.00-RSM, Orange, CA
Built 1998 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,050
STATE ROUTE 133 SB
FairOver: LITTLE SYCAMORE CREEK
12-ORA-133-M5.20, Orange, CA
Built 2004 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 28,500
STATE ROUTE 133 NB
FairOver: LITTLE SYCAMORE CREEK
12-ORA-133-M5.18, Orange, CA
Built 2004 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 28,500
EL CAMINO REAL
FairOver: STATE ROUTE 261
12-ORA-261-0.90-IRVN, Orange, CA
Built 1998 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,000
W405(&S55)-BRISTOL
FairOver: SANTA ANA DELHI CHANNEL
12-ORA-405-9.38, Orange, CA
Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20,000
N73-FAIRVIEW OFF
FairOver: INTERSTATE 405 & OFFRAMP
12-ORA-073-R27.64, Orange, CA
Built 2003 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,428
FAIRVIEW-NB ON-RA
FairOver: NB-HARBOR OFF-RA
12-ORA-405-11.12-CMS, Orange, CA
Built 2003 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,000
HARBOR-N405 ON-RA
FairOver: HARBOR BLVD
12-ORA-405-11.47-CMS, Orange, CA
Built 2003 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,000
N73-S55 CONNECTOR
FairOver: SANTA ANA DELHI CHANNEL
12-ORA-073-R26.57-NPTB, Orange, CA
Built 1999 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 28,130
GENE AUTRY WAY
FairOver: SANTA CRUZ STREET
12-ORA-000--ANA, Orange, CA
Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,000
STANTON AVE
FairOver: INTERSTATE 5 RAMPS
12-ORA-005-43.13, Orange, CA
Built 2010 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,000
INTERSTATE 5
FairOver: ARTESIA BLVD
12-ORA-005-44.24, Orange, CA
Built 2010 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 171,000
WESTERN AVENUE
FairOver: INTERSTATE 5 RAMPS
12-ORA-005-43.70, Orange, CA
Built 2010 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20,000
SR 39 (BEACH BLVD)
FairOver: INTERSTATE 5 RAMPS
12-ORA-039-15.06, Orange, CA
Built 2010 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 51,000
LEWIS ST
FairOver: STATE ROUTE 22
12-ORA-022-R9.40-ANA, Orange, CA
Built 2008 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 9,000
S5&S57-W22 CONNECT
FairOver: SANTA ANA RV HESPERIAN
12-ORA-005-34.48-SA, Orange, CA
Built 2008 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 16,285
E22-S5 CONNECTOR
FairOver: S5&S57-E22 & S57-S5 RMPS
12-ORA-022-R10.43, Orange, CA
Built 2008 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,000
E22-N5&N57 CONN
FairOver: N5-W22 CONNECTOR RAMP
12-ORA-022-R10.66-ANA, Orange, CA
Built 2008 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,000
E22-N5 CONNECTOR
FairOver: STATE ROUTE 22 & RAMP
12-ORA-022-R10.74-SA, Orange, CA
Built 2008 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,000
S5&S57-W22 CONNECT
FairOver: W22-METROPOLITAN OFF RMP
12-ORA-005-34.55-SA, Orange, CA
Built 2008 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 16,285
405-605 HOV
FairOver: RT405 & CONN.
12-ORA-405-24.02-SLB, Orange, CA
Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,000
SEAL BEACH BLVD
FairOver: STATE ROUTE 405
12-ORA-405-22.64-SLB, Orange, CA
Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20,000
S405-E22
FairOver: INTERSTATE 405
12-ORA-405-20.75-SLB, Orange, CA
Built 2015 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 50,000
BOLSA CHICA ROAD
FairOver: ROUTE 22
12-ORA-022-R0.92-SLB, Orange, CA
Built 2015 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20,000
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.