County profile · official public datasets

Mesa County, CO

319 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 35.1% rated Good, 63.3% Fair, 1.6% Poor.

319
Public bridges
35.1%
Good condition
1.6%
Poor condition

The verdict

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.

Mesa County posts a top-quartile lowest Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across mid-size county bridge inventory.

Top 19%
lowest Poor share in state
1.6%
Poor-condition share
319
public highway bridges
1981
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.

Mesa County Bridge Snapshot

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Mesa County ranks #12 of 64 Colorado counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 1.6%). Mesa County, Colorado contains 319 public highway bridges. Roughly 35.1% are rated “Good,” 63.3% “Fair,” and 1.6% “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.

Total bridges

319

Public highway bridges in Mesa County

Good condition

35.1%

112 of 319 rated 7-9

Fair condition

63.3%

202 of 319 rated 5-6

Poor condition

1.6%

5 of 319 rated 4 or below

In-state Poor-share rank

#12 of 64

Among Colorado counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better

Condition distribution

Share of 319 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.

Good
35.1% (112)
Fair
63.3% (202)
Poor
1.6% (5)

Mesa County's Poor-condition bridges carry 14,172 vehicle crossings a day

That is 0.9% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 1.6% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 2,834 crossings a day against 3,721 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 319 of 319 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

40.4% of Mesa County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark

129 of the 319 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 35.1% 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 58.6% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic

SH 141 ML over COLORADO RIVER, built 1968, carries 8,300 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 5-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.

Share is of the 14,172 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

When Mesa County's bridges were built

319 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade

bridges

What this shows Construction peaked in the 1980s, when 82 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 25.7% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 35 to 44 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1981) matches the Colorado average (1982).

Source FHWA National Bridge Inventory (year built) As of 2024 NBI release

How Mesa County compares with Colorado's closest counties by inventory size

The 5 Colorado counties nearest Mesa County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 1.6% Poor share is the 1st-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1981 against a peer-group mean of 1982 is in line with the group.

Showing the 5 closest of 63 Colorado counties eligible for comparison.

Bridge inventory size and condition shares for Mesa County and the 5 Colorado counties closest to it in inventory size
County Bridges Poor
Arapahoe County 391 7.2%
Mesa County (this page) 319 1.6%
Boulder County 311 2.3%
Pueblo County 264 4.5%
Douglas County 263 2.3%
Las Animas County 207 14%

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 Mesa 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 Mesa County, both outside Colorado so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.

Similar inventory size

Nearest county inventories outside CO (319 bridges here).

Similar average build year

Nearest mean year-built outside CO (1981 here).

Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.

All bridges (319)

COUNTY ROAD I.9

Fair

Over: COLORADO RIVER

AT CAMEO POWER PLANT, Mesa, CO

Built 1994 Load: 13.2 t ADT: 558

SH 340 ML EBND

Fair

Over: COLORADO RIVER

0.8 MI W OF JCT I 70 BUS, Mesa, CO

Built 1950 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 9,500

FDR 814

Fair

Over: W DIVIDE CR

CAYTON GUARD STATION, Mesa, CO

Built 1965 Load: 13.9 t ADT: 10

MAPLE STREET

Fair

Over: LITTLE SALT WASH

.3 MI N OF OTTLEY AVE, Mesa, CO

Built 1970 Load: 13.9 t ADT: 2,615

COUNTY ROAD 18.50

Fair

Over: GRAND VALLEY CANAL

.7 MI N OF ROAD M, Mesa, CO

Built 1978 Load: 15.1 t ADT: 417

COUNTY ROAD G.8

Fair

Over: COLORADO RIVER

JUST S OF US 6, Mesa, CO

Built 1937 Load: 17.0 t ADT: 412

SH 340 ML EBND

Fair

Over: REDLANDS POWER CANAL

W. EDGE OF GRAND JUNCTION, Mesa, CO

Built 1950 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 6,500

COUNTY ROAD 6.3

Fair

Over: WEST CREEK

4 MI NE OF GATEWAY, Mesa, CO

Built 1975 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 7

COUNTY ROAD 24.5

Fair

Over: GRAND VALLEY CANAL

.5 MI N OF RD H, Mesa, CO

Built 1987 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 533

COUNTY ROAD 22

Fair

Over: HUNTER WASH

.5 MI N OF RD K, Mesa, CO

Built 1983 Load: 18.3 t ADT: 223

ESCALANTERD/CR36.4

Fair

Over: ESCALANTE CREEK

16.8 MI SW OF US 50, Mesa, CO

Built 1990 Load: 18.3 t ADT: 15

H Road

Fair

Over: GOVT HIGHLINE CANAL

JUST E OF RD 27, Mesa, CO

Built 1990 Load: 18.6 t ADT: 2,259

OTTLEY AVENUE

Fair

Over: LITTLE SALT WASH

.65 MI. E OF SH 6, Mesa, CO

Built 2003 Load: 18.7 t ADT: 6,244

US 6 ML

Fair

Over: Colorado N. Channel

10.9 MI W. OF PARACHUTE, Mesa, CO

Built 1945 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 1,200

US 6 ML

Fair

Over: COLORADO RIVER

1 MI E. OF DEBEQUE, Mesa, CO

Built 1945 Load: 19.3 t ADT: 1,200

SH 139 ML

Fair

Over: I 70 ML

13.5 MI E UTAH - LOMA int, Mesa, CO

Built 1970 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 1,700

REDLAND PKWY RAMP

Fair

Over: TERRAIN

I-70B AND REDLANDS PKWY, Mesa, CO

Built 1983 Load: 19.5 t ADT: 887

REDLAND PKWY RAMP

Fair

Over: TERRAIN AND LEACH CREEK

I-70B AND REDLANDS PKWY, Mesa, CO

Built 1983 Load: 19.5 t ADT: 3,808

26.5 Road

Fair

Over: LEACH CREEK

.4 MI N OF RD H, Mesa, CO

Built 1988 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 1,698

COUNTY ROAD 17.5

Fair

Over: TRIB. BIG SALT WASH

.3 MI S OF RD L.50, Mesa, CO

Built 1988 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 1,045

COUNTY ROAD G.5

Fair

Over: GRAND VALLEY CANAL

.6 MI E OF RD 25, Mesa, CO

Built 1984 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 686

COUNTY ROAD 36.25

Fair

Over: GRAND VALLEY CANAL

.5 MI S OF US 6, Mesa, CO

Built 1968 Load: 20.2 t ADT: 163

CR 37.9 BOWER AV

Fair

Over: GOVT. HIGHLINE CANAL

JUST N OF RD G.7, Mesa, CO

Built 1989 Load: 20.2 t ADT: 108

I 70 ML

Fair

Over: US 6 ML UPRR COLO RIVER

3.0 MI E OF PALISADE, Mesa, CO

Built 1962 Load: 20.3 t ADT: 18,000

COUNTY ROAD 33.75

Fair

Over: GOVT. HIGHLINE CANAL

.8 MI N OF RD F, Mesa, CO

Built 1986 Load: 20.5 t ADT: 107

I 70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: UP RR

15.6 MI E OF JCT SH 65, Mesa, CO

Built 1980 Load: 20.7 t ADT: 9,000

COUNTY ROAD 60.5

Fair

Over: PLATEAU CREEK

JUST SE OF RD 330E, Mesa, CO

Built 1989 Load: 20.7 t ADT: 174

19 Road

Fair

Over: ADOBE CREEK

.3 MI S OF I-70, Mesa, CO

Built 1989 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 61

REDLANDS PKY/24 RD

Fair

Over: I-70B & UPPR RR

JCT I-70B and 24 RD, Mesa, CO

Built 1984 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 15,702

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: US 50 ML

2.4 MI. E. OF I-70 WBND B, Mesa, CO

Built 1959 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 2,099

US 50 ML

Fair

Over: DEER CREEK

10.6 MI SE OF JCT SH 141, Mesa, CO

Built 1933 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 9,800

SH 141 ML

Fair

Over: EAST CREEK

1.3 MI S OF WHITEWATER, Mesa, CO

Built 1953 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 540

SH 141 ML

Fair

Over: DOLORES RIVER

15.1 MI NW OF MESA-MONTRO, Mesa, CO

Built 1957 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 540

COUNTY ROAD 19

Fair

Over: GRAND VALLEY CANAL

.6 MI N OF RD M, Mesa, CO

Built 1978 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 409

SH 330 ML

Fair

Over: PLATEAU CREEK

3.5 MI W OF COLLBRAN, Mesa, CO

Built 1954 Load: 21.2 t ADT: 1,600

HORIZON DRIVE

Fair

Over: GRAND VALLEY CANAL

.3 MI E OF RD 26.50, Mesa, CO

Built 1965 Load: 21.3 t ADT: 7,507

I 70 BUSINESS RT

Fair

Over: GRAND VALLEY CANAL

2 MI E OF GRAND JUNCTION, Mesa, CO

Built 1956 Load: 21.5 t ADT: 16,000

COUNTY ROAD O

Fair

Over: EAST FORK BIG SALT WASH

.7 MI E OF RD 18, Mesa, CO

Built 1991 Load: 21.9 t ADT: 205

COUNTY ROAD G

Fair

Over: GOVT. HIGHLINE CANAL

.1 MI E OF RD 34, Mesa, CO

Built 1985 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 1,233

SH 141 ML

Fair

Over: GUNNISON RIVER

WHITEWATER, Mesa, CO

Built 1958 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 540

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: RR SALT CREEK

0.3 MI. W. JCT. SH 6 MACK, Mesa, CO

Built 1971 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 4,200

COUNTY ROAD 23

Fair

Over: GRAND VALLEY CANAL

.9 MI N OF RD I, Mesa, CO

Built 1955 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 1,950

COUNTY ROAD N.3

Fair

Over: BIG SALT WASH

.3 MI N OF RD N, Mesa, CO

Built 1986 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 147

FDR 266

Fair

Over: BUZZARD CREEK

15.2 MI EAST OF COLLBRAN, Mesa, CO

Built 1984 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 56

COUNTY ROAD 22

Fair

Over: PERSIGO WASH

.1 MI N OF HWY 6, Mesa, CO

Built 1984 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 2,846

SH 141 ML

Fair

Over: WEST CREEK

8.9 MI N OF GATEWAY, Mesa, CO

Built 1962 Load: 23.4 t ADT: 540

COUNTY ROAD 31.5

Fair

Over: GOVT. HIGHLINE CANAL

.7 MI N OF RD F, Mesa, CO

Built 1986 Load: 23.4 t ADT: 213

COUNTY ROAD J

Fair

Over: GRAND VALLEY CANAL

.7 MI E OF RD 22, Mesa, CO

Built 1955 Load: 23.4 t ADT: 1,005

I 70 BUSINESS RT

Fair

Over: LEWIS WASH

2.5 MI E OF GRAND JUNCTIO, Mesa, CO

Built 1956 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 14,000

COUNTY ROAD 26.5

Fair

Over: I 70 ML

1.27 MI W / HORIZON DRIVE, Mesa, CO

Built 1965 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 2,120
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.