State profile · Below median Poor share

California bridge safety

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, condition ratings, load ratings, and Poor-condition shares for every public highway bridge in California.

25,848
Public bridges
45.6%
Good condition
5.9%
Poor condition

California holds 25,848 public highway bridges (#4 of 52 by inventory) with a 5.91% Poor share (#28 of 52 by Poor share).

That is 5.9% of the state's inventory, against an average of 7.5% across the 54 states and territories with Poor-rated bridges on file, which places it 25 of 54 ordered from the lowest Poor share upward. A bridge is rated Poor when its weakest applicable component scores 4 or below on the inspecting agency's 0-9 scale, so the category is a maintenance and funding signal rather than a closure order or a live crossing-safety verdict.

Inventory: FHWA NBI 2024 · last ETL August 2026

Total Bridges

25,848

Public highway bridges in California

Good Condition

45.6%

11,798 bridges rated 7-9

-4.4pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

5.9%

1,527 bridges whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

-1.6pp vs national avg 7.5%

California vs national bridge condition

California - Good condition share 45.6%
National avg

Share of bridges rated 7-9 on the FHWA 0-9 scale (deck, superstructure, substructure all good).

California - Poor-condition share 19.7%
National avg

Lower is better. Bar maxes at 30% (worst-state ceiling). National average sits at 7.5%.

California in the national condition pattern

Each point is a state or territory in the FHWA NBI; the highlighted point is this profile.

Inventory size and Poor-condition share are different measures: California has 25,848 bridges and a 5.9% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #25 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The dashed comparisons mark the national average state rate and the midpoint of the plotted inventory range; neither is a live safety or closure threshold. Scatter plot of 54 data points. 0%10%20%30%40% 0k20k40k60k Public bridges in inventory (thousands) Poor-condition share (%) CA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 25.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.91%AL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 16.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 3.35%AK, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 1.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.89%AZ, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.15%AR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.43%CO, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 9k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.82%CT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.72%DE, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.26%DC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.95%FL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.79%GA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 15.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.59%GU, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0k · Poor-condition share (%): 12.77%HI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 1.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.53%ID, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.9%IL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 26.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 9.35%IN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 19.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.22%IA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 23.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 19.16%KS, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 24.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.26%KY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.37%LA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 12.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 11.48%ME, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 15.41%MD, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.56%MA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 8.88%MI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 11.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 11.27%MN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.44%MS, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 16.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.03%MO, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 24.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 8.95%MT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.81%NE, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 15.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.9%NV, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.14%NH, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.51%NJ, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 6.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.01%NM, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.51%NY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 17.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 9.43%NC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 19.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.76%ND, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 10.98%OH, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 26.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.74%OK, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 22.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.7%OR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.61%PA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 23.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 12.58%PR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 13.92%RI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 15.2%SC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 9.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.17%SD, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 16.36%TN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 20.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.41%TX, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 56.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.23%UT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 3.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.91%VT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.9%VI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0k · Poor-condition share (%): 29.17%VA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 3.39%WA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.45%WV, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 7.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 18.64%WI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.52%WY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 3.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.51%
Inventory size and Poor-condition share are different measures: California has 25,848 bridges and a 5.9% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #25 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The dashed comparisons mark the national average state rate and the midpoint of the plotted inventory range; neither is a live safety or closure threshold.

California vs all states by public bridge inventory

Where this state's FHWA NBI public-highway bridge count sits among every state and territory on PlainBridges

25,848 4th of 54 higher than 50 of 54 states

States and territories, banded by public bridge inventory size

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source FHWA National Bridge Inventory · 2024

Read the rank neighborhood for California

The highlighted point is California: 25,848 bridges and 5.91% in Poor condition, rank #25 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The five jurisdictions immediately above and below California on that same Poor-share ordering:

  • Arkansas: 12,974 bridges · 5.43% Poor
  • Washington: 8,474 bridges · 5.45% Poor
  • California: 25,848 bridges · 5.91% Poor
  • New Jersey: 6,827 bridges · 6.01% Poor
  • Mississippi: 16,739 bridges · 6.03% Poor

The full national sortable table lives on the rankings page.

Material families in California

Exclusive FHWA material families across all 25,848 bridges in this state; continuous variants fold into the parent family. Orthogonal to the Poor-share scatter above.

Who maintains California’s inventory

State agency holds 48.8% of the 25,848 public highway bridges filed under California in the 2024 NBI, the agency-of-record split for this state, not a condition verdict.

When California’s bridges were built

Pre-1950 construction accounts for 15.5% of the 25,848 bridges with a recorded original year in California. Era bands are orthogonal to the Poor-share ranking above.

Condition Distribution

California45.6%48.4%GoodFairPoor
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix - California (FHWA NBI)

Counties (58)

Alameda 658 Alpine 32 Amador 61 Butte 437 Calaveras 105 Colusa 211 Contra Costa 618 Del Norte 96 El Dorado 192 Fresno 916 Glenn 242 Humboldt 396 Imperial 444 Inyo 66 Kern 668 Kings 168 Lake 129 Lassen 108 Los Angeles 3547 Madera 247 Marin 207 Mariposa 109 Mendocino 357 Merced 528 Modoc 87 Mono 49 Monterey 377 Napa 158 Nevada 135 Orange 1164 Placer 337 Plumas 165 Riverside 1117 Sacramento 740 San Benito 76 San Bernardino 1422 San Diego 1632 San Francisco 143 San Joaquin 644 San Luis Obispo 401 San Mateo 361 Santa Barbara 418 Santa Clara 964 Santa Cruz 192 Shasta 492 Sierra 65 Siskiyou 421 Solano 373 Sonoma 609 Stanislaus 386 Sutter 121 Tehama 450 Trinity 194 Tulare 589 Tuolumne 125 Ventura 501 Yolo 271 Yuba 127

California vs nearby ranks

Adjacent states by Poor-condition share (lower share = better)

States are ranked by the share of bridges whose lowest applicable component rating is 4 or below. This describes recorded condition; it does not measure funding effectiveness or live crossing safety. States here sit immediately above and below California on the same metric.

AR

Arkansas

5.43% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$12,974

WA

Washington

5.45% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$8,474
Selected

CA

California

5.91% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$25,848

NJ

New Jersey

6.01% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$6,827

MS

Mississippi

6.03% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$16,739

Bridges Needing Most Attention in California

Six lowest-condition bridges in California, ranked by the portal's composite display score. Inspection intervals are risk-based under current NBIS rules.

OLD COTTONWOOD CR

Poor

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK

0.2 MI E/O COTTONWOOD CK, Siskiyou, CA

Built 1957 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 10

STATE ROUTE 211

Poor

Over: EEL RIVER

01-HUM-211-78.10, Humboldt, CA

Built 1911 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 5,300

CR 305 (MAPES RD)

Poor

Over: HARTSON SLOUGH

0.4 MI E/O RD 303, Lassen, CA

Built 1978 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 100

CR 111 (PITTVILLE)

Poor

Over: BEAVER CREEK

1.0 MI S OF CR 404, Lassen, CA

Built 1975 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 100

RD 424 (BASSETT)

Poor

Over: WILLOW CREEK

1.5 MI N OF RD A-2, Lassen, CA

Built 1960 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 120

CR417 (PUNKIN CTR)

Poor

Over: MUDDY SLOUGH NO 1

2.8 MI S OF CR A2, Lassen, CA

Built 1955 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 200

All Bridges in California

26TH STREET

Fair

Over: RIO LINDA CREEK

0.5 MI S/O ELKHORN BLVD, Sacramento, CA

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 533

LAGUNA BLVD

Fair

Over: UP RR AND BNSF RY

0.5 MI W OF FRANKLIN BLVD, Sacramento, CA

Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,100

FOLSOM -AUBURN BL

Fair

Over: AMERICAN RIVER LK NATOMA

0.3 MI SOUTH OF GREENBACK, Sacramento, CA

Built 1999 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 25,000

LEIDESDORFF ST LRT

Fair

Over: FOLSOM BLVD

0.6 MI SW OF GOLD LAKE RD, Sacramento, CA

Built 1998 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 762

SHELDON ROAD

Fair

Over: LAGUNA CREEK

1.2 M EO ELK GROVE FLORIN, Sacramento, CA

Built 1997 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,100

ALTA MESA ROAD

Fair

Over: NORTH CHANNEL DRY CREEK

0.2 MI N SAN JOQN CO LINE, Sacramento, CA

Built 1998 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,400

EAST STOCKTON BLVD

Fair

Over: LAGUNA CREEK

0.8 MI N OF BOND ROAD, Sacramento, CA

Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,000

THORNTON RD

Fair

Over: N. FORK MOKELUMNE R

SJ & SAC COUNTY LINE, Sacramento, CA

Built 2004 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 671

EXCELSIOR RD

Fair

Over: MORRISON CREEK

125 FT NE/O WESTERLY DR, Sacramento, CA

Built 1940 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,795

W EL CAMINO AVE

Fair

Over: NATOMAS MAIN CANAL

0.3 MI WEST OF I-5, Sacramento, CA

Built 2003 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,398

EAST STOCKTON BLVD

Fair

Over: WHITEHOUSE CREEK

0.3 MI S OF SHELDON RD, Sacramento, CA

Built 2009 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,260

W. STOCKTON BLVD

Fair

Over: LAGUNA CREEK

0.5 MI N OF LAGUNA BLVD, Sacramento, CA

Built 2010 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,200

MCLEAN DR

Fair

Over: SHED B CHANNL (FRANKLIN)

AT LOTUS POND WAY, Sacramento, CA

Built 2005 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 505

WILLARD PKWY

Fair

Over: E FRANKLIN GAP CHANNEL

0.1 MI S OF NEVERS WAY, Sacramento, CA

Built 2004 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,515

BRIDGE ROAD

Fair

Over: ARCADE CREEK

N OF AUBURN BLVD, Sacramento, CA

Built 2005 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 420

FOLSOM LAKE CRSSNG

Fair

Over: AMERICAN RIVER

BY FOLSOM-AUBURN RD & DAM, Sacramento, CA

Built 2009 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 19,500

BRADSHAW ROAD

Fair

Over: LAGUNA CREEK

0.5 MI N CALVINE RD, Sacramento, CA

Built 2010 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 18,566

BRADSHAW ROAD

Fair

Over: GERBER CREEK

0.1 MI N GERBER RD, Sacramento, CA

Built 2010 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 18,730

ROSEVILLE ROAD

Fair

Over: ARCADE CREEK

0.8 MI N OF MARCONI AVE, Sacramento, CA

Built 2015 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20,000

CARINATA DR

Fair

Over: SHED B CHANNL (FRANKLIN)

100 FT N/O WHITELOCK PKWY, Sacramento, CA

Built 2008 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,000

BELLATERRA DR

Fair

Over: SHED B CHANNL (FRANKLIN)

100 FT N/O WHITELOCK PKWY, Sacramento, CA

Built 2004 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,568

FIRE POPPY DR

Fair

Over: SHED A CHNNL (EHRHARDT)

250 S/O COUNTRY FALLS LN, Sacramento, CA

Built 2004 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,447

HARBOUR POINT DR

Fair

Over: LAGUNA W DISCHARGE CHNL

0.1 MI N/O BUCKMINSTER DR, Sacramento, CA

Built 1980 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,324

HARDING HALL DR

Fair

Over: WHITEHOUSE CREEK

200 N OF BECKINGTON DR, Sacramento, CA

Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,132

BLACK KITE DR

Fair

Over: STRAWBERRY CREEK

150 N OF APRICOT WOODS, Sacramento, CA

Built 1997 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 500

IONE ROAD

Fair

Over: BUCKEYE CREEK

0.2 MI SOUTH OF MEISS RD, Sacramento, CA

Built 2019 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,358

CROSSFIELD DR

Fair

Over: AIRPORT BLVD

SACRAMENTO AIRPORT, Sacramento, CA

Built 1996 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,500

EARHART DR

Fair

Over: AIRPORT BLVD

0.3 MILE N. OF I-5, Sacramento, CA

Built 1996 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,000

PALLADAY ROAD

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

0.3 MI N OF ELVERTA ROAD, Sacramento, CA

Built 2013 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 610

BRIDGECROSS DRIVE

Fair

Over: EAST DRAINAGE CANAL

EAST OF NATOMAS BLVD, Sacramento, CA

Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,517

NORTH BEND DRIVE

Fair

Over: EAST DRAINAGE CANAL

EAST OF NATOMAS BLVD, Sacramento, CA

Built 2005 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,649

GATEWAY PARK BLVD

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE CANAL LATERAL

EAST OF NATOMAS BLVD, Sacramento, CA

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 23,509

RANCHO CORDOVA BLV

Fair

Over: SUN CREEK

400 FT N OF KIEFER BLVD, Sacramento, CA

Built 2007 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 389

TARGET DRIVEWAY

Fair

Over: STRAWBERRY CREEK

100 FT N/O CALVINE RD, Sacramento, CA

Built 2003 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,000

BRUCEVILLE ROAD

Fair

Over: STRAWBERRY CREEK

100 N/O COSUMNES RVR BL, Sacramento, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 29,997

ALPINE FROST DR

Fair

Over: UNION HOUSE CREEK

300 FT W/O BRUCEVILLE RD, Sacramento, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,000

PREWETT DR

Fair

Over: WILLOW CREEK

NORTH OF NEWINGTON WAY, Sacramento, CA

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,000

BRUCEVILLE ROAD

Fair

Over: BRUCEVILLE DRAIN

NORTH OF KAMMERER ROAD, Sacramento, CA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,281

STATE ROUTE 89

Fair

Over: BIG MEADOWS CR

03-ED-089-4.20, El Dorado, CA

Built 1959 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,575

EB 50 OFF-RAMP

Fair

Over: OLD SILVA VALLEY PARKWAY

03-ED-050-R1.66, El Dorado, CA

Built 2015 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,000

US HIGHWAY 50 WB

Fair

Over: CAMERON PARK DR

03-ED-050-6.57, El Dorado, CA

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 31,500

U.S. HIGHWAY 50

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK AMERICAN RIV

03-ED-050-R44.24, El Dorado, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,100

STATE ROUTE 89

Fair

Over: HILLSIDE

03-ED-089-R17.58, El Dorado, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,550

STATE ROUTE 89

Fair

Over: HILLSIDE

03-ED-089-R17.45, El Dorado, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,550

STATE ROUTE 89

Fair

Over: HILLSIDE

03-ED-089-R17.75, El Dorado, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,550

STATE ROUTE 89

Fair

Over: HILLSIDE

03-ED-089-R17.80, El Dorado, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,550

RAY LAWYER DRIVE

Fair

Over: US HIGHWAY 50

03-ED-050-16.50, El Dorado, CA

Built 1997 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,500

EB 50-NB LATROBE

Fair

Over: LATROBE ROAD

03-ED-050-0.86, El Dorado, CA

Built 2009 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,000

HWY 49

Fair

Over: KNICKERBOCKER CREEK

03-ED-049-33.82, El Dorado, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,500

STATE ROUTE 49

Fair

Over: S FORK AMERICAN RIVER

03-ED-049-23.99, El Dorado, CA

Built 2018 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,400

Showing 6,051-6,100 of 25,848 bridges

Related

All states → | National rankings → | Understanding conditions → | Retired SD term explained →
Data sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI), latest released cycle. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI). Poor condition is an inspection-record category, not a closure or unsafe-to-cross designation. Consult the bridge owner for current status.

Understanding Bridge Conditions

How FHWA rates bridge condition on a 0-9 scale.

Check Your Daily Bridges

How to look up bridge condition data for bridges on your route.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

What to do with this

Use California's inventory picture to drill to a county or a specific span.

  • Browse counties in California and open the highest-Poor shares first. County list
  • See where this state sits among peers on Poor-condition share. State rankings
  • Compare this state with another jurisdiction on the same measures. State compare

NBI condition ratings are inventory snapshots, not live crossing-safety verdicts.

Every figure on PlainBridges is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. California Good/Fair/Poor shares and county rollups on this page are computed from the same NBI extract as the national boards; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2024 NBI release. NBI condition categories reflect the latest reported inventory record, not a live safety, closure, or travel decision.