Total bridges
58
Public highway bridges in Cook County
County profile · official public datasets
Cook County, MN
58 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 55.2% rated Good, 39.7% Fair, 5.2% Poor.
- 58
- Public bridges
- 55.2%
- Good condition
- 5.2%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Cook County posts a higher-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across rated county bridge inventory.
- 57th
- of 87 on Poor share
- 5.2%
- Poor-condition share
- 58
- public highway bridges
- 1988
- 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 #57 of 87 Minnesota counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 5.2%). Cook County, Minnesota contains 58 public highway bridges. Roughly 55.2% are rated “Good,” 39.7% “Fair,” and 5.2% “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
55.2%
32 of 58 rated 7-9
Fair condition
39.7%
23 of 58 rated 5-6
Poor condition
5.2%
3 of 58 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#57 of 87
Among Minnesota counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 58 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 55.2% (32)
Fair 39.7% (23)
Poor 5.2% (3)
Cook County's Poor-condition bridges carry 93 vehicle crossings a day
That is 0.2% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 5.2% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 31 crossings a day against 641 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 58 of 58 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
29.3% of Cook County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
17 of the 58 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 55.2% 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 53.8% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
PANCORE LAKE ROAD over POPLAR RIVER, built 1982, carries 50 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 3-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 93 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
58 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- 1930s
1930–1939
6 bridges
- 1950s 4
1950–1959
4 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
7 bridges
- 1980s
1980–1989
8 bridges
- 1990s 5
1990–1999
5 bridges
- 2000s
2000–2009
15 bridges
- 2010s
2010–2019
8 bridges
- 2020s 5
2020–2029
5 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 2000s, when 15 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 15 to 24 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1988) matches the Minnesota average (1986).
How Cook County compares with Minnesota's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 Minnesota counties nearest Cook County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 5.2% Poor share is the 5th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1988 against a peer-group mean of 1987 is in line with the group.
Showing the 5 closest of 86 Minnesota counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meeker County | 63 | 50.8% | 44.4% | 4.8% | 1982 |
| Lake of the Woods County | 62 | 61.3% | 30.6% | 8.1% | 1989 |
| Chisago County | 61 | 50.8% | 47.5% | 1.6% | 1986 |
| Red Lake County | 59 | 67.8% | 30.5% | 1.7% | 1985 |
| Cook County (this page) | 58 | 55.2% | 39.7% | 5.2% | 1988 |
| Nicollet County | 54 | 77.8% | 22.2% | 0% | 1995 |
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 Minnesota so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside MN (58 bridges here).
- Wrangell City and County, AK · 58 bridges
- Jeff Davis County, GA · 58 bridges
- Putnam County, GA · 58 bridges
- Union County, IN · 58 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside MN (1988 here).
- Travis County, TX · avg 1988 · 1,544 bridges
- Grant County, OK · avg 1988 · 476 bridges
- Loudoun County, VA · avg 1988 · 442 bridges
- Licking County, OH · avg 1988 · 439 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
All bridges (58)
TWIN LAKES ROAD
FairOver: SOUTH BRULE RIVER
6.3 MILES SW INT CSAH 12, Cook, MN
Built 1957 Load: 13.3 t ADT: 16
IRR ROUTE 17
FairOver: GRAND PORTAGE CREEK
0.2 KM EAST OF MT ROSE, Cook, MN
Built 1935 Load: 19.6 t ADT: 296
COUNTY ROAD 17
FairOver: GRAND PORTAGE CREEK
AT JCT CR 73, Cook, MN
Built 1938 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 300
CROSS RIVER RD
FairOver: TEMPERANCE RIVER
0.1 MI WEST OF COUNTY 2, Cook, MN
Built 2015 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 50
PIKE LAKE ROAD
FairOver: CASCADE RIVER
3.0 MI NE OF JCT CR 45, Cook, MN
Built 1961 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 25
CR 69
FairOver: FLUTE REED RIVER
0.5 MI W OF JCT CSAH 16, Cook, MN
Built 1981 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 79
Honeymoon Trail
FairOver: POPLAR RIVER CONSPAN
NO DATA ENTERED, Cook, MN
Built 2009 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50
MN 61
FairOver: TEMPERANCE RIVER
1.4 MI NE OF SCHROEDER, Cook, MN
Built 1931 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,000
MN 61
FairOver: POPLAR RIVER
AT LUTSEN, Cook, MN
Built 1931 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,650
MN 61
FairOver: CASCADE RIVER
9.9 MI NE OF LUTSEN, Cook, MN
Built 1932 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,650
MN 61
FairOver: DEVILS TRACK RIVER
4.0 MI NE OF GUNFLINT TR, Cook, MN
Built 2016 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 2,850
CROSS RIVER 600 RD
FairOver: HEARTBREAK CREEK
6.3 MI E OF JCT CR 7, Cook, MN
Built 2011 Load: 35.3 t ADT: 50
MN 61
FairOver: PIGEON RIVER
AT CANADA LINE, Cook, MN
Built 1962 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 1,198
THE GRADE(4MI-LK)
FairOver: CASCADE RIVER
3.0 MI E OF JCT CSAH 4, Cook, MN
Built 1955 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 10
CSAH 12
FairOver: SOUTH BRULE RIVER
15.0 MI N OF JCT TH 61, Cook, MN
Built 1996 Load: 37.2 t ADT: 1,441
MN 61
FairOver: CUTFACE CREEK
4.9 MI SW OF GUNFLINT TR, Cook, MN
Built 2015 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 3,650
CSAH 12
FairOver: NATURE BOY BROOK
0.1 mi N of jct CSAH 7, Cook, MN
Built 2000 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 1,176
CSAH 2
FairOver: TEMPERANCE RIVER
12.0 MI N OF JCT TH 61, Cook, MN
Built 1961 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 168
MN 61
FairOver: ONION RIVER
7.6 MI NE OF SCHROEDER, Cook, MN
Built 2009 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 3,650
CR 69
FairOver: FLUTE REED RIVER
0.1 MI W OF JCT CSAH 16, Cook, MN
Built 2006 Load: 42.8 t ADT: 79
MN 61
FairOver: FLUTE REED RIVER
0.2 MI NE OF HOVLAND, Cook, MN
Built 1981 Load: 53.5 t ADT: 1,198
CROSS RIVER 600 RD
FairOver: CROSS RIVER
3.86 MI E OF JCT CR 7, Cook, MN
Built 1955 Load: 54.1 t ADT: 50
MN 61
FairOver: BRULE RIVER
4.6 MI SW OF HOVLAND, Cook, MN
Built 1981 Load: 55.5 t ADT: 2,400
CR 45
GoodOver: CASCADE RIVER
3.7 MI W OF JCT CSAH 7, Cook, MN
Built 1988 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 190
CSAH 7
GoodOver: FALL RIVER
2.7 MI W OF JCT CSAH 12, Cook, MN
Built 1981 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 534
UT 88
GoodOver: FLUTE REED RIVER
0.3 MI E OF JCT TH 61, Cook, MN
Built 1992 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 70
BLIND TEMPERANCE
GoodOver: BLIND TEMPERANCE CREEK
.9 MI W OF CC2, Cook, MN
Built 2001 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 50
NO DATA ENTERED
GoodOver: POPLAR RIVER
NO DATA ENTERED, Cook, MN
Built 2014 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 99
Mink Lake
GoodOver: KADUNCE RIVER
NO DATA ENTERED, Cook, MN
Built 2000 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 100
CSAH 1
GoodOver: TWO ISLAND RIVER
0.4 MI E OF JCT CR 30, Cook, MN
Built 2020 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 272
CSAH 17
GoodOver: HOLLOW ROCK CREEK
0.3 MI W OF JCT CR 89, Cook, MN
Built 2018 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10
UT 71
GoodOver: CARLSON CREEK
1.2 MI N OF JCT TH 61, Cook, MN
Built 2022 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 65
CSAH 16
GoodOver: PORTAGE BROOK
13.1 MI N OF JCT TH 61, Cook, MN
Built 1988 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 49
MN 61
GoodOver: CLIFF CREEK
7.9 MI NE OF GUNFLINT TR, Cook, MN
Built 2004 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,850
MN 61
GoodOver: KIMBALL CREEK
8.1 MI NE OF GUNFLINT TR, Cook, MN
Built 2004 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,850
MN 61
GoodOver: RESERVATION RIVER
5.7 MI NE OF HOVLAND, Cook, MN
Built 1937 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,198
MN 61
GoodOver: KADUNCE RIVER
9.5 MI NE OF GUNFLINT TR, Cook, MN
Built 2005 Load: 34.6 t ADT: 2,400
CR 69
GoodOver: FLUTE REED RIVER
0.4 MI W OF JCT CSAH 16, Cook, MN
Built 2023 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 122
NO DATA ENTERED
GoodOver: NESTER CREEK BOX
NO DATA ENTERED, Cook, MN
Built 2011 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 50
CSAH 5
GoodOver: SKI RUN
1.8 MI N OF JCT TH 61, Cook, MN
Built 2018 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 887
CR 60
GoodOver: DEVILS TRACK RIVER
0.2 MI E OF JCT CSAH 12, Cook, MN
Built 2001 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 215
CSAH 8
GoodOver: DEVILS TRACK RIVER
0.3 MI N OF JCT CSAH 18, Cook, MN
Built 2003 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 1,027
CR 60
GoodOver: KIMBALL CREEK
1.2 MI W OF JCT CSAH 14, Cook, MN
Built 2008 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 41
CSAH 14
GoodOver: KADUNCE RIVER
2.5 MI NE OF JCT CR 60, Cook, MN
Built 1989 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 35
MN 61
GoodOver: HOLLOW ROCK CREEK
2.6 MI SW MINERAL CTR RD, Cook, MN
Built 2021 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 1,198
HONEYMOON TRAIL
GoodOver: TAIT RIVER
9.024 MI EAST OF CC2, Cook, MN
Built 2001 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 40
CSAH 12
GoodOver: Cross River
45.7 mi NW of jct TH 61, Cook, MN
Built 2001 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 590
FOURMILE LAKE ROAD
GoodOver: TEMPERANCE RIVER
3.35 MI NE OF JCT CSAH 2, Cook, MN
Built 1959 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 34
UT 46
GoodOver: CROSS RIVER
0.8 MI N OF JCT CSAH 12, Cook, MN
Built 2022 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 95
CSAH 12
GoodOver: DEVILS TRACK RIVER
0.1 MI N OF JCT CR 60, Cook, MN
Built 1998 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 1,441
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.