Total bridges
251
Public highway bridges in Lake County
County profile · official public datasets
Lake County, IL
251 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 37.1% rated Good, 53% Fair, 10% Poor.
- 251
- Public bridges
- 37.1%
- Good condition
- 10%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Lake County posts a higher-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across mid-size county bridge inventory.
- 71st
- of 102 on Poor share
- 10%
- Poor-condition share
- 251
- public highway bridges
- 1976
- 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.
Lake County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Lake County ranks #71 of 102 Illinois counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 10%). Lake County, Illinois contains 251 public highway bridges. Roughly 37.1% are rated “Good,” 53% “Fair,” and 10% “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
37.1%
93 of 251 rated 7-9
Fair condition
53%
133 of 251 rated 5-6
Poor condition
10%
25 of 251 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#71 of 102
Among Illinois counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 251 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 37.1% (93)
Fair 53% (133)
Poor 10% (25)
Lake County's Poor-condition bridges carry 142,235 vehicle crossings a day
That is 4.1% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 10% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 5,689 crossings a day against 12,971 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 250 of 251 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
47% of Lake County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
118 of the 251 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 37.1% 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 21.6% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
IL 120 EB over DES PLAINES RIVER, built 1959, carries 30,700 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 25-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 142,235 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Lake County's bridges were built
251 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- 1900s 1
1900–1909
1 bridges
- 1910s 7
1910–1919
7 bridges
- 1920s 14
1920–1929
14 bridges
- 1930s 9
1930–1939
9 bridges
- 1940s 3
1940–1949
3 bridges
- 1950s
1950–1959
44 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
33 bridges
- 1970s
1970–1979
19 bridges
- 1980s
1980–1989
21 bridges
- 1990s
1990–1999
36 bridges
- 2000s
2000–2009
37 bridges
- 2010s
2010–2019
21 bridges
- 2020s 6
2020–2029
6 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1950s, when 44 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 17.5% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 65 to 74 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1976) matches the Illinois average (1979).
How Lake County compares with Illinois's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 Illinois counties nearest Lake County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 10% Poor share is the 4th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1976 against a peer-group mean of 1977 is in line with the group.
Showing the 5 closest of 101 Illinois counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeKalb County | 261 | 40.6% | 46.4% | 13% | 1981 |
| Jefferson County | 260 | 47.7% | 46.2% | 6.2% | 1984 |
| Effingham County | 253 | 47.4% | 47.8% | 4.7% | 1974 |
| Lake County (this page) | 251 | 37.1% | 53% | 10% | 1976 |
| Piatt County | 246 | 62.2% | 31.7% | 6.1% | 1979 |
| Macoupin County | 242 | 36.4% | 45.9% | 17.8% | 1965 |
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 Lake 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 Lake County, both outside Illinois so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside IL (251 bridges here).
- Greene County, AR · 251 bridges
- Hopkins County, KY · 251 bridges
- Wayne County, NE · 251 bridges
- Fond du Lac County, WI · 251 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside IL (1976 here).
- Marion County, IN · avg 1976 · 958 bridges
- Mohave County, AZ · avg 1976 · 641 bridges
- Comanche County, OK · avg 1976 · 593 bridges
- Prince George's County, MD · avg 1976 · 576 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
All bridges (251)
CONNECICUT AVE
FairOver: CREEK
50M E. OF MISSISSIPPI ST., Lake, IL
Built 1957 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 210
DEERFIELD RD
FairOver: RR - UP & OLD SKOKIE
0.3 M W OF US 41, Lake, IL
Built 1962 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 21,700
WAVERLY RD.
FairOver: RAVINE
1.7M.N.OF L.COOK RD., Lake, IL
Built 1987 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 75
IL 22
FairOver: FLINT CREEK
1.5 M W OF IL 59, Lake, IL
Built 1926 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 11,000
IL 120 NW RMP @ IL
FairOver: STREAM
INTERS ILL 120 & 21, Lake, IL
Built 1961 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 1,400
DEERFIELD RD
FairOver: US 41
DEERFIELD & US 41, Lake, IL
Built 1960 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 21,700
EVERETT RD
FairOver: INTERSTATE 94
I-94 1.3M S ILL 60, Lake, IL
Built 1958 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 3,750
IL 43 (TELEGRAPH)
FairOver: IL 120
1.4 M E OF I-94, Lake, IL
Built 1973 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 18,900
MATHON DR (GRAND A
FairOver: IL 137(AMSTUTZ EXPY)
0.2M E OF SHERIDAN R, Lake, IL
Built 1964 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 6,450
WASHINGTON ST
FairOver: US 41
1 M S OF IL 132, Lake, IL
Built 1961 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 16,400
IL 60
FairOver: SEAVEY DRAIN DITCH
0.9 M W OF IL 21, Lake, IL
Built 1993 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 34,400
IL 59
FairOver: SQUAW CREEK
1 M E OF WILSON RD, Lake, IL
Built 1973 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 13,600
IL 120
FairOver: US 41
GURNEE, Lake, IL
Built 1959 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 19,300
IL 120 WB
FairOver: I- 94 TRI STATE TOLL
1.6 M W OF US 41, Lake, IL
Built 2008 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 33,400
PORT CLINTON RD
FairOver: INDIAN CREEK
.25 M W OF HALFDAY, Lake, IL
Built 1976 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 2,850
IL 176
FairOver: N BR CHICAGO RIVER
0.7 M E OF I-94, Lake, IL
Built 1990 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 15,800
I-94 SB
FairOver: OLD SKOKIE HWY
I94 1.2M N ILL 173, Lake, IL
Built 1958 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 28,850
INTERSTATE 94 NB
FairOver: E J & E RR
I94 .5M S ILL 176, Lake, IL
Built 1958 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 72,350
IL 60
FairOver: MD FK N BR CHICAGO R
0.4 M W OF IL 43, Lake, IL
Built 1941 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 23,200
GRAND AVE
FairOver: BOAT CHANNEL
0.5 M E OF US 12, Lake, IL
Built 1926 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 5,750
US 45
FairOver: SEAVEY DRAIN DITCH
1.5 M NW OF IL 21, Lake, IL
Built 1932 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 15,100
IL 59
FairOver: RR - METRA & ROLLINS
IL 59 & ROLLINS RD, Lake, IL
Built 1995 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 10,400
WESTLEIGH RD
FairOver: MID FK N BR CHI RIV
WESTLEIGH E OF IL 43, Lake, IL
Built 1916 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 2,650
I-94 NB
FairOver: OLD SKOKIE HWY
I94 1.2M N ILL 173, Lake, IL
Built 1958 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 28,850
I-94 SB
FairOver: DES PLAINES RIVER
I94 .7M N ILL 120, Lake, IL
Built 1958 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 47,800
SYLVAN WOODS ROAD
FairOver: TREVOR CREEK
1 MI N OF ANTIOCH, Lake, IL
Built 1993 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 900
DEERFIELD RD
FairOver: E.SKOKIE DITCH
0.2 M E OF US 41, Lake, IL
Built 1962 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 27,300
I-94 NB
FairOver: WASHINGTON STREET
I94 1.3M S ILL 132, Lake, IL
Built 1958 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 51,150
I-94 NB
FairOver: DES PLAINES RIVER
I94 .7M N ILL 120, Lake, IL
Built 1958 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 47,800
IL 176
FairOver: DES PLAINES RIVER
0.9 M E OF IL 21, Lake, IL
Built 1925 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 14,300
RAVINE DRIVE
FairOver: RAVINE
2 M N LAKE COOK ROAD, Lake, IL
Built 1957 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 200
US 14 EB
FairOver: FLINT CREEK
2.0 M W OF IL 59, Lake, IL
Built 1953 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 22,300
US 14 WB
FairOver: FLINT CREEK
2.0 M W OF IL 59, Lake, IL
Built 1953 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 22,300
IL 60
FairOver: DES PLAINES RIVER
0.25 M E OF IL 21, Lake, IL
Built 1987 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 38,100
US 45 & IL 21
FairOver: INDIAN CREEK
0.01 M N OF IL 22, Lake, IL
Built 1990 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 25,100
WILSON ROAD
FairOver: SQUAW CREEK
0.7 M N OF IL-134, Lake, IL
Built 1997 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 9,850
I-94 SB
FairOver: ILLINOIS 176
I94 2.3M S OF ILL 13, Lake, IL
Built 1958 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 67,600
SHERIDAN RD
FairOver: DRAINAGE DITCH
0.44 N OF LAKE COOK, Lake, IL
Built 1925 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 2,000
BARCLAY BLVD.
FairOver: APTAKISIC CREEK
0.2M.S.APTAKISIC RD., Lake, IL
Built 1987 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 2,150
US 12 WB
FairOver: IL 176
WAUCONDA, Lake, IL
Built 1951 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 36,400
SHERIDAN RD
FairOver: BOYINGTON RAVINE
HIGHLAND PARK, Lake, IL
Built 1929 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 2,500
US 12 EB
FairOver: IL 176
WAUCONDA, Lake, IL
Built 1951 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 33,100
IL 137
FairOver: DES PLAINES RIVER
0.3 M E OF IL 21, Lake, IL
Built 1933 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 24,200
SHERIDAN RD
FairOver: BUCKLEY ROAD
0.05 E OF AMSTUTZ, Lake, IL
Built 1989 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 4,050
IL 173
FairOver: I- 94 TRI-STATE
0.75 M W US 41, Lake, IL
Built 2015 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 17,500
US 41
FairOver: DES PLAINES RIVER
0.7 M S OF IL 21, Lake, IL
Built 1936 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 21,100
IL 137 (LK FRT FRW
FairOver: 24TH ST
0.53 M N OF IL 137, Lake, IL
Built 1989 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 8,050
WASHINGTON ST
FairOver: IL 137 (LK FRT FRWY)
0.05 M E OF SHERIDAN, Lake, IL
Built 1988 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 1,050
CLAVEY RD
FairOver: US 41 EDENS
1.0 M N OF CO LINE, Lake, IL
Built 1990 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 3,500
IL 83 NB
FairOver: INDIAN CREEK
2.0 M N OF IL 22, Lake, IL
Built 1994 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 27,900
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.