Total bridges
129
Public highway bridges in Lincoln County
County profile · official public datasets
Lincoln County, CO
129 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 17.8% rated Good, 74.4% Fair, 7.8% Poor.
- 129
- Public bridges
- 17.8%
- Good condition
- 7.8%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Lincoln County pairs a higher-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state with an older average build year than the state inventory.
- 56th
- of 64 on Poor share
- 7.8%
- Poor-condition share
- 129
- public highway bridges
- 1977
- 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.
Lincoln County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Lincoln County ranks #56 of 64 Colorado counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 7.8%). Lincoln County, Colorado contains 129 public highway bridges. Roughly 17.8% are rated “Good,” 74.4% “Fair,” and 7.8% “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
17.8%
23 of 129 rated 7-9
Fair condition
74.4%
96 of 129 rated 5-6
Poor condition
7.8%
10 of 129 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#56 of 64
Among Colorado counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 129 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 17.8% (23)
Fair 74.4% (96)
Poor 7.8% (10)
Lincoln County's Poor-condition bridges carry 5,434 vehicle crossings a day
That is 2.4% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 7.8% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 543 crossings a day against 1,090 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 128 of 129 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
31% of Lincoln County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
40 of the 129 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 17.8% 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 95.7% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
US 24 ML over DRAW, built 1934, carries 5,200 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 10-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 5,434 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Lincoln County's bridges were built
129 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- 1930s 6
1930–1939
6 bridges
- 1940s 3
1940–1949
3 bridges
- 1950s 10
1950–1959
10 bridges
- 1960s 16
1960–1969
16 bridges
- 1970s
1970–1979
44 bridges
- 1980s 11
1980–1989
11 bridges
- 1990s
1990–1999
29 bridges
- 2000s 6
2000–2009
6 bridges
- 2010s 4
2010–2019
4 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1970s, when 44 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 34.1% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 45 to 54 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year is 1977, 5 years older than the Colorado average of 1982.
How Lincoln County compares with Colorado's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 Colorado counties nearest Lincoln County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 7.8% Poor share is the 5th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1977 against a peer-group mean of 1971 is 6 years newer.
Showing the 5 closest of 63 Colorado counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fremont County | 137 | 19.7% | 73.7% | 6.6% | 1966 |
| Prowers County | 137 | 17.5% | 69.3% | 13.1% | 1974 |
| Kit Carson County | 130 | 30.8% | 67.7% | 1.5% | 1970 |
| Lincoln County (this page) | 129 | 17.8% | 74.4% | 7.8% | 1977 |
| Montrose County | 118 | 36.4% | 61% | 2.5% | 1980 |
| Baca County | 106 | 21.7% | 72.6% | 5.7% | 1963 |
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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln County, both outside Colorado so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside CO (129 bridges here).
- Clay County, AL · 129 bridges
- Cross County, AR · 129 bridges
- Lake County, CA · 129 bridges
- Martin County, FL · 129 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside CO (1977 here).
- San Diego County, CA · avg 1977 · 1,632 bridges
- King County, WA · avg 1977 · 1,238 bridges
- Riverside County, CA · avg 1977 · 1,117 bridges
- Shelby County, TN · avg 1977 · 1,077 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
Fair-condition bridges (96)
COUNTY ROAD 11
FairOver: HORSE CREEK
1.8 MILES N OF COLO 94, Lincoln, CO
Built 1992 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 15
COUNTY ROAD 28
FairOver: I 70 ML
6.5 MI E OF JCT US 24, Lincoln, CO
Built 1975 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 224
I 70 ML EBND
FairOver: S FK REPUBLICAN RIVER
4.2 MI E OF ARRIBA, Lincoln, CO
Built 1975 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 4,200
I 70 ML WBND
FairOver: S FK REPUBLICAN RIVER
7.6 MI W OF FLAGLER, Lincoln, CO
Built 1975 Load: 35.8 t ADT: 4,200
SH 71 ML
FairOver: APACHE CREEK
12.2 MI N OF PUNKIN CENTE, Lincoln, CO
Built 1958 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 700
I 70 ML WBND
FairOver: LAKE CREEK
0.7 MI W OF JCT US 40, Lincoln, CO
Built 1975 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 6,000
SH 71 ML
FairOver: ARICKAREE RIVER
9 MI N OF LIMON, Lincoln, CO
Built 1987 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 1,300
I 70 ML WBND
FairOver: US 24 ML
1.4 MI W OF JCT US 40, Lincoln, CO
Built 1975 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 7,000
US 40 ML
FairOver: DRAW
11.55 MI SE OF HUGO, Lincoln, CO
Built 1987 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 3,000
I 70 ML WBND
FairOver: US 24 ML
1.3 MI. E. OF LIMON, Lincoln, CO
Built 1975 Load: 37.7 t ADT: 6,000
I 70 ML EBND
FairOver: US 40 ML
2.8 MI E OF JCT SH 71, Lincoln, CO
Built 1975 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 6,000
RAMP TO I 70 EBND
FairOver: KYLE RR R
0.8 MI E OF JCT SH 71, Lincoln, CO
Built 1975 Load: 38.0 t ADT: 6,000
SH 71 ML
FairOver: BIG SANDY CREEK
IN LIMON, Lincoln, CO
Built 1999 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 2,500
US 40 ML
FairOver: COON CREEK
9.97 MI SE OF HUGO, Lincoln, CO
Built 1987 Load: 38.7 t ADT: 3,000
US 24 ML
FairOver: UP RR
0.2 MI E ELBERT-LINCOLN C, Lincoln, CO
Built 2000 Load: 39.6 t ADT: 3,000
US 24 ML
FairOver: BIG SANDY CREEK
LINCOLN/ELBERT LINE, Lincoln, CO
Built 2000 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 3,000
US 40 ML
FairOver: DRAW
2.1 MI E OF JCT I-70 ML, Lincoln, CO
Built 1967 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 3,700
SH 71 ML
FairOver: LITTLE HORSE CREEK
28 MI N OF ORDWAY, Lincoln, CO
Built 1963 Load: 40.7 t ADT: 650
US 40 ML
FairOver: DRAW
19.2 MI SE OF HUGO, Lincoln, CO
Built 1937 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 3,300
US 24 ML
FairOver: LAKE CREEK
.6 MI E. OF JCT SH 71, Lincoln, CO
Built 1975 Load: 41.2 t ADT: 1,700
US 24 ML
FairOver: KYLE RR
1.7 MI E JCT S.H. 71 N., Lincoln, CO
Built 1934 Load: 41.2 t ADT: 1,600
SH 94 ML
FairOver: LITTLE HORSE CREEK
14 MI W OF PUNKIN CENTER, Lincoln, CO
Built 1962 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 630
US 40 ML
FairOver: FORK OF SAND CREEK
1 MI E OF HUGO, Lincoln, CO
Built 1976 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 5,000
US 40 ML
FairOver: DRAW
4.5 MI SE OF HUGO, Lincoln, CO
Built 1936 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 3,000
COUNTY ROAD 35
FairOver: S FORK ARIKAREE RIVER
1.0 MI S OF ROAD 3S, Lincoln, CO
Built 1995 Load: 43.6 t ADT: 19
I 70 ML WBND
FairOver: KYLE RR
1.1 MI W OF JCT US 40, Lincoln, CO
Built 1975 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 6,000
US 24 ML
FairOver: DRAW
E EDGE OF LIMON, Lincoln, CO
Built 2011 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 1,700
COUNTY ROAD 109
FairOver: NORTH RUSH CREEK
0.9 MILE NORTH OF ROAD Y, Lincoln, CO
Built 1991 Load: 46.1 t ADT: 85
SH 71 ML
FairOver: DRAW
15 MI N OF LIMON, Lincoln, CO
Built 1978 Load: 47.3 t ADT: 1,300
COUNTY ROAD S
FairOver: RUSH CREEK
0.3 MI WEST OF ROAD 43, Lincoln, CO
Built 1994 Load: 47.7 t ADT: 21
US 40 ML
FairOver: DRAW
0.3 MI E JCT I-70, Lincoln, CO
Built 1972 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 3,700
SH 71 ML
FairOver: DRAW
4.2 MI NORTH OF LIMON, Lincoln, CO
Built 1975 Load: 49.2 t ADT: 1,300
US 40 ML
FairOver: DRAW
20.2 MI SE OF HUGO, Lincoln, CO
Built 1992 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 3,300
US 40 ML
FairOver: DRAW
1.2 MI SE OF HUGO, Lincoln, CO
Built 1978 Load: 51.9 t ADT: 3,000
I 70 ML
FairOver: DRAW
2.0 MI E OF JCT S.H. 71, Lincoln, CO
Built 1955 Load: 52.2 t ADT: 10,000
I 70 ML+FRONT RD
FairOver: DRAW
6.7 MI E. OF ARRIBA, Lincoln, CO
Built 1975 Load: 54.1 t ADT: 8,400
COUNTY ROAD 37
FairOver: HELL CREEK
1.6 MILES N OF ROAD 3K, Lincoln, CO
Built 1997 Load: 61.4 t ADT: 18
US 40 ML
FairOver: BARRON GULCH
2.1 MI NW OF HUGO, Lincoln, CO
Built 1991 Load: 67.6 t ADT: 3,700
SH 71 ML
FairOver: LAKE CREEK
2.9 MI N OF LIMON, Lincoln, CO
Built 1975 Load: 68.6 t ADT: 1,300
US 40 ML
FairOver: DRAW
13.7 MI SE OF HUGO, Lincoln, CO
Built 1991 Load: 72.6 t ADT: 3,000
US 40 ML
FairOver: DRY CREEK
5.7 MI E OF JCT I 70 ML, Lincoln, CO
Built 1995 Load: 73.6 t ADT: 3,700
COUNTY ROAD 4C
FairOver: N FORK ARIKAREE RIVER
0.5 MILE WEST OF ROAD 43, Lincoln, CO
Built 2000 Load: 74.0 t ADT: 14
US 40 ML
FairOver: DRAW
15.4 MI SE OF HUGO, Lincoln, CO
Built 1991 Load: 76.3 t ADT: 3,300
COUNTY ROAD 2
FairOver: STEELS FORK CREEK
1 MILE NORTH OF ROAD X, Lincoln, CO
Built 1975 Load: 98.1 t ADT: 110
COUNTY ROAD 3R
FairOver: HELL CREEK
0.5 MILE WEST OF CR 42, Lincoln, CO
Built 1992 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 26
COUNTY ROAD X
FairOver: STEELS FORK CREEK
JUST WEST OF ROAD 4, Lincoln, CO
Built 1988 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 179
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.