State profile · Below median Poor share

California bridge safety

Condition ratings, load ratings, and Poor-condition data for every public highway bridge in California, based on the FHWA National Bridge Inventory.

27,040
Public bridges
32.5%
Good condition
4.6%
Poor condition

Data updated May 2026

Total Bridges

27,040

Public highway bridges in California

Good Condition

32.5%

8,777 bridges rated 7-9

-17.5pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

4.6%

1,244 bridges whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

-2.4pp vs national avg 7.0%

California vs national bridge condition

California - Good condition share 32.5%
National avg

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

California - Poor-condition share 15.3%
National avg

Lower is better. Bar maxes at 30% (worst-state ceiling). National average sits at 7.0%.

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.

OH

Ohio

4.54% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$26,753

NJ

New Jersey

4.59% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$6,796
Selected

CA

California

4.60% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$27,040

AR

Arkansas

4.71% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$5,544

WA

Washington

4.81% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$8,808

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.

All Bridges in California

US HIGHWAY 101 NB

Unknown

Over: TRAFFIC WAY

05-SLO-101-45.96-ATAS, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1956 ADT: 8,000

U.S. HIGHWAY 101

Unknown

Over: BRISCO RD

05-SLO-101-13.75-ARGD, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1956 ADT: 8,000

OAK PARK BLVD

Unknown

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

05-SLO-101-14.61, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1993 ADT: 77,200

SANTA BARBARA RD

Unknown

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

05-SLO-101-42.27, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1962 ADT: 53,000

STATE ROUTE 58

Unknown

Over: US HWY 101 (@PM 37.86)

05-SLO-058-0.03, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1956 ADT: 43,000

SANTA ROSA ROAD

Unknown

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

05-SLO-101-44.01-ATAS, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1956 ADT: 53,000

CURBARIL AVE

Unknown

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

05-SLO-101-44.84-ATAS, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1962 ADT: 53,000

US HIGHWAY 101 SB

Unknown

Over: MISSION ST-S101 ON RAMP

05-SLO-101-65.06, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 2020 ADT: 3,350

US HIGHWAY 101 NB

Unknown

Over: MISSION ST-S101 ON RAMP

05-SLO-101-65.08, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1957 ADT: 3,350

US HIGHWAY 101 NB

Unknown

Over: TENTH STREET

05-SLO-101-65.56, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1957 ADT: 2,000

US HIGHWAY 101 SB

Unknown

Over: S101-MISSION ST OFF-RAMP

05-SLO-101-67.23, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1965 ADT: 2,700

US HIGHWAY 101 NB

Unknown

Over: S101-MISSION ST OFF-RAMP

05-SLO-101-67.23, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1957 ADT: 2,700

US HIGHWAY 101 SB

Unknown

Over: ST RTE 46 (@PM 29.76)

05-SLO-101-57.91-PSRS, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1992 ADT: 25,000

US HIGHWAY 101 NB

Unknown

Over: ST RTE 46 (@PM 29.76)

05-SLO-101-57.91-PSRS, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1992 ADT: 25,000

US HIGHWAY 101 NB

Unknown

Over: BRIDGE ST-S101 ON RAMP

05-SLO-101-12.52-ARGD, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1959 ADT: 2,800

FAIR OAKS AVE

Unknown

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

05-SLO-101-12.80-ARGD, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1959 ADT: 48,000

GRAND AVE

Unknown

Over: US HWY 101 (@PM 13.17)

05-SLO-101-13.17-ARGD, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1959 ADT: 48,000

STATE ROUTE 1

Unknown

Over: BAYWOOD PARK ROAD

05-SLO-001-27.88, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1959 ADT: 2,000

STATE ROUTE 1

Unknown

Over: SR 41 (@PM 0.01)

05-SLO-001-30.14, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1962 ADT: 6,500

US HIGHWAY 101 SB

Unknown

Over: WADSWORTH AVE

05-SLO-101-16.88-PBCH, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1960 ADT: 1,100

US HIGHWAY 101 NB

Unknown

Over: WADSWORTH AVE

05-SLO-101-16.88-PBCH, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1960 ADT: 1,100

US HIGHWAY 101 SB

Unknown

Over: ST RTE 1 (@PM 16.77)

05-SLO-101-17.74-PBCH, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1960 ADT: 28,000

US HIGHWAY 101 NB

Unknown

Over: ST RTE 1 (@PM 16.77)

05-SLO-101-17.74-PBCH, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1960 ADT: 28,000

LOS OSOS VALLEY RD

Unknown

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

05-SLO-101-25.91-SLO, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1961 ADT: 56,000

LOS OSOS VALLEY RD

Unknown

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

05-SLO-101-25.91-SLO, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 2015 ADT: 56,000

MADONNA RD

Unknown

Over: US HWY 101 (@PM 27.50)

05-SLO-101-27.50-SLO, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1963 ADT: 56,000

US HIGHWAY 101 SB

Unknown

Over: AVILA BEACH DR

05-SLO-101-R21.10, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1963 ADT: 10,349

US HIGHWAY 101 NB

Unknown

Over: AVILA BEACH DR

05-SLO-101-R21.10, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1963 ADT: 10,349

SAN LUIS BAY DR

Unknown

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

05-SLO-101-R22.30, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1963 ADT: 62,000

SAN RAMON ROAD

Unknown

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

05-SLO-101-49.32, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 77,000

US HIGHWAY 101 SB

Unknown

Over: LAS TABLAS AVE

05-SLO-101-51.45, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 2,000

US HIGHWAY 101 NB

Unknown

Over: LAS TABLAS AVE

05-SLO-101-51.45, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 2,000

VINEYARD DR

Unknown

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

05-SLO-101-50.64, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 62,000

US HIGHWAY 101 SB

Unknown

Over: SR 46 (@PM 21.96)

05-SLO-101-54.11-PSRS, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1966 ADT: 6,000

US HIGHWAY 101 NB

Unknown

Over: SR 46 (@PM 21.96)

05-SLO-101-54.11-PSRS, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1966 ADT: 6,000

CAYUCOS DR

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 1

05-SLO-001-R35.96, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1965 ADT: 7,800

MAIN STREET

Unknown

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

05-SLO-101-52.44, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1966 ADT: 62,000

US HIGHWAY 101 SB

Unknown

Over: LOS BERROS ROAD

05-SLO-101-7.84, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1970 ADT: 7,800

US HIGHWAY 101 NB

Unknown

Over: LOS BERROS ROAD

05-SLO-101-7.84, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1970 ADT: 7,800

STATE ROUTE 41

Unknown

Over: SALINAS R,UP RR,SYCAMORE

05-SLO-041-R16.94-ATAS, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 2000 ADT: 1,050

NIBLICK ROAD

Unknown

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

05-SLO-101-55.97-PSRS, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1987 ADT: 30,000

FOURTH STREET

Unknown

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

05-SLO-101-15.58, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1998 ADT: 56,000

TEFFT ST

Unknown

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

05-SLO-101-4.85, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 68,400

US HIGHWAY 101

Unknown

Over: ST RTE 41 (@PM15.96)

05-SLO-101-45.56-ATAS, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 2010 ADT: 7,300

MONTEREY STREET

Unknown

Over: MONTEREY STREET

20M NW OF PEPPER STREET, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1901 ADT: 14,092

UP RR & AMTRAK

Unknown

Over: JOHNSON AVE

SE OF BUCHON ST, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1957 ADT: 13,099

UP RR & AMTRAK

Unknown

Over: TANK FARM ROAD

0.4 MI E OF HOLLYHOCK RD, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1988 ADT: 7,952

UP RR & AMTRAK

Unknown

Over: CAPISTRANO AVE

0.2MI N FROM INTX VIA AVE, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1902 ADT: 2,920

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 227

.06 MI SW OF HUASNA RD, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1963 ADT: 16,200

SAND HILL ROAD (S)

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 280

04-SM-280-R1.56, San Mateo, CA

Built 1969 ADT: 101,000

Showing 6,201-6,250 of 27,040 bridges

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.

Every figure on PlainBridge 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.