Total bridges
1,721
Public highway bridges in Cook County
County profile · official public datasets
Cook County, IL
1,721 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 28.8% rated Good, 57.5% Fair, 13.8% Poor.
- 1,721
- Public bridges
- 28.8%
- Good condition
- 13.8%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Cook 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.
- 88th
- of 102 on Poor share
- 13.8%
- Poor-condition share
- 1,721
- public highway bridges
- 1969
- 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.
Cook County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Cook County ranks #88 of 102 Illinois counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 13.8%). Cook County, Illinois contains 1,721 public highway bridges. Roughly 28.8% are rated “Good,” 57.5% “Fair,” and 13.8% “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
28.8%
495 of 1,721 rated 7-9
Fair condition
57.5%
989 of 1,721 rated 5-6
Poor condition
13.8%
237 of 1,721 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#88 of 102
Among Illinois counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 1,721 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 28.8% (495)
Fair 57.5% (989)
Poor 13.8% (237)
Cook County's Poor-condition bridges carry 5,864,125 vehicle crossings a day
That is 10% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 13.8% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 24,743 crossings a day against 30,089 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 1,714 of 1,721 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
65.7% of Cook County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
1,130 of the 1,721 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 28.8% 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 4.4% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
I- 90 94 RYAN ELEV over CANAL TO STEWART STS, built 1962, carries 256,900 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 237-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 5,864,125 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Cook County's bridges were built
1,721 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- pre-1900 2
Built before 1900
2 bridges
- 1900s 28
1900–1909
28 bridges
- 1910s 20
1910–1919
20 bridges
- 1920s 99
1920–1929
99 bridges
- 1930s 107
1930–1939
107 bridges
- 1940s 66
1940–1949
66 bridges
- 1950s
1950–1959
446 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
315 bridges
- 1970s 71
1970–1979
71 bridges
- 1980s 90
1980–1989
90 bridges
- 1990s 150
1990–1999
150 bridges
- 2000s 145
2000–2009
145 bridges
- 2010s 144
2010–2019
144 bridges
- 2020s 38
2020–2029
38 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1950s, when 446 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 25.9% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 65 to 74 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year is 1969, 10 years older than the Illinois average of 1979.
How Cook County compares with Illinois's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 Illinois counties nearest Cook County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 13.8% Poor share is the 5th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1969 against a peer-group mean of 1981 is 12 years older.
Showing the 5 closest of 101 Illinois counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cook County (this page) | 1,721 | 28.8% | 57.5% | 13.8% | 1969 |
| Champaign County | 727 | 58.9% | 32.5% | 8.7% | 1982 |
| Will County | 649 | 43.1% | 46.4% | 10.5% | 1983 |
| McLean County | 624 | 60.9% | 36.2% | 2.9% | 1981 |
| Livingston County | 579 | 51.8% | 39.9% | 8.3% | 1978 |
| Iroquois County | 570 | 46.5% | 39.1% | 14.4% | 1980 |
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 Cook 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 Cook County, both outside Illinois so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside IL (1,721 bridges here).
- San Diego County, CA · 1,632 bridges
- Travis County, TX · 1,544 bridges
- San Bernardino County, CA · 1,422 bridges
- Sedgwick County, KS · 1,333 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside IL (1969 here).
- Fresno County, CA · avg 1969 · 916 bridges
- Cuyahoga County, OH · avg 1969 · 871 bridges
- Ventura County, CA · avg 1969 · 501 bridges
- Somerset County, PA · avg 1969 · 454 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
All bridges (1,721)
LAKE SHORE DRIVE
FairOver: PEDESTRIAN UNDERPASS
600N 500E, Cook, IL
Built 1986 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 98,900
MS-6001 Up Lv Term
FairOver: MS-6001 Lw Lv Term
T-1 (Sp 1-14) ORD, Cook, IL
Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 31,800
WASHINGTON STREET
FairOver: WELLER CREEK
0.5 M. S OF IL 58, Cook, IL
Built 1968 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 275
BURNING BUSH LANE
FairOver: MCDONALD CR
0.22 M N KNSNGTON P5, Cook, IL
Built 1963 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,100
DEARBORN ST
FairOver: Carrol Ave
36W&330N TO 400N, Cook, IL
Built 1963 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 11,200
HARBOR DRIVE
FairOver: PARKING GARAGE
200N 450E, Cook, IL
Built 1973 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 2,850
MONROE STREET
FairOver: UNION STATION TRACKS
100S 400W TO 500W, Cook, IL
Built 1924 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 4,650
I-90 SKYWAY
FairOver: GROUND SE 75TH ST
0.08 M SE 75TH P7C, Cook, IL
Built 1958 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 28,700
I- 57 SB
FairOver: L.CAL.RIV.& THN.RD.
1.5 M NE ILL 83, Cook, IL
Built 1966 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 54,400
VINCENNES AVE
FairOver: THORN CREEK
0.7 M S 183RD, Cook, IL
Built 1920 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 6,150
STATE ST
FairOver: LONG RUN CREEK
0.1 M S ARCHER, Cook, IL
Built 1940 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 7,850
COLUMBUS DR
FairOver: LOWER E NORTH WATER ST
300E& 400N.TO 500N., Cook, IL
Built 1982 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 18,600
Thacker Street
FairOver: Trib W Br of Salt Cr
.14 M W National Pr., Cook, IL
Built 1992 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 2,200
I-90 SKYWAY
FairOver: GROUND SE AVALON ST
0.33 M SE 75TH P7C, Cook, IL
Built 1958 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 28,700
I90 CHGO SKYWAY
FairOver: FINISHED GROUND
.07M SE OF EWING, Cook, IL
Built 2004 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 28,700
DEVON AVE
FairOver: DES PLAINES RIVER
0.4 M E I-294, Cook, IL
Built 1928 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 9,250
IL 50 SB CICERO A
FairOver: RR - BRC
0.2 M S 67TH ST, Cook, IL
Built 1982 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 57,400
I-294 NB
FairOver: CC RR
0.15M N ILL 56, Cook, IL
Built 1958 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 78,200
IL 68 (DUNDEE RD)
FairOver: DES PLAINES RIVER
0.2 M E US 45, Cook, IL
Built 1932 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 23,500
LAKE ST
FairOver: DES PLAINES RIVER
1.5 M W IL 43, Cook, IL
Built 1931 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 9,700
US 12 20 (95TH ST)
FairOver: DRAINAGE DITCH
.02M W OF 54TH AV, Cook, IL
Built 1945 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 29,800
IL 83 (CAL-SAG RD
FairOver: NAVOJO CREEK
0.8 M E IL 43, Cook, IL
Built 1968 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 15,900
IL 50
FairOver: LAKE GEORGE OVERFLOW
1.6 M S OF US 30, Cook, IL
Built 1950 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 9,500
IL 43 (HARLEM AVE
FairOver: TINLEY CREEK
0.2 M S 143RD ST, Cook, IL
Built 1925 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 31,400
WESTERN AVE
FairOver: MIDLOTHIAN CR
1.4 M S of 127th St, Cook, IL
Built 1980 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 5,750
GRAND AVE
FairOver: SILVER CREEK
0.3 M W US 12 20, Cook, IL
Built 1930 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 24,200
171ST ST
FairOver: MIDLOTHIAN CREEK
0.03 MI. W 80TH AV, Cook, IL
Built 1951 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 16,400
OAKWOOD
FairOver: NORTH CR
0.2 M S 186TH P2, Cook, IL
Built 1964 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 950
MEADOWBROOK
FairOver: N BR CHICAGO RIV
0.2 E SUNSET RGE P14, Cook, IL
Built 1977 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 225
JACKSON ST
FairOver: ADDISON CR
0.72 M E MANHEIM P20, Cook, IL
Built 1928 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 450
32ND AVE
FairOver: ADDISON CR
0.6 M E US 45, Cook, IL
Built 1928 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 100
MS-6001 Up Lv Term
FairOver: MS-6001 Lw Lv Term
T2(SPANS 15X-24)ORD, Cook, IL
Built 1960 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 31,800
BARRYPOINT RD
FairOver: DES PLAINES RIVER
0.15 M N US 34 P20, Cook, IL
Built 1957 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 2,600
201 ST
FairOver: LANSING DITCH LYN TR
0.01 M E ILL 83 P2, Cook, IL
Built 1974 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 4,000
GLEN LAKE DR
FairOver: WILLOW CR
0.1 M W RIVER RD P9, Cook, IL
Built 1969 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 950
FAU1292 (EUCLID AV
FairOver: SALT CREEK
0.7 M E ILL 53 P18, Cook, IL
Built 1962 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 15,300
IL 72
FairOver: POPLAR CREEK
0.2 M SE I-90, Cook, IL
Built 1939 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 18,800
BECKWITH RD
FairOver: N BR CHICAGO RIVER
0.7 M W HARMS P13, Cook, IL
Built 1951 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 5,800
US 12 20 45 SB
FairOver: RR - CN & CANALS
0.9 M S I-55, Cook, IL
Built 1980 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 64,200
DEVON AVE
FairOver: N SHORE CHANNEL
6400 N & 3300 W, Cook, IL
Built 1930 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 26,700
HAYES DR
FairOver: JACKSON PK LAGOON
6300 S & 1900 E, Cook, IL
Built 1902 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 14,200
I- 57 SB
FairOver: RR - EJ&E
1 M S US 30, Cook, IL
Built 1966 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 32,050
I- 57 NB
FairOver: RR - EJ&E
1 M S US 30, Cook, IL
Built 1966 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 32,050
I- 57 NB
FairOver: L.CAL.RIV.& THN.RD.
1.5 M NE ILL 83, Cook, IL
Built 1966 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 54,400
I-294 (TRISTATE) S
FairOver: CHICAGO SAN.CANAL
0.3 M W OFUS 45 P-10, Cook, IL
Built 1958 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 70,400
STONY NB TO 100TH
FairOver: STONY ISLAND AVE
0.1 M N 103RD ST, Cook, IL
Built 1972 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 7,300
ASHLAND AVE
FairOver: N BR CHICAGO RIVER
2201 N & 1600 W, Cook, IL
Built 1936 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 26,200
175TH ST
FairOver: I- 57
0.4 M N I-80, Cook, IL
Built 1965 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 2,900
COLUMBUS DR
FairOver: MAIN BR CHICAGO RIV.
347 N & 301 E, Cook, IL
Built 1982 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 18,600
LAKE SHORE DR
FairOver: W BRYN MAWR AVE
5600N AND 936W, Cook, IL
Built 1954 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 26,000
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.