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

SULLIVAN-S280 ONRP

Unknown

Over: S280-S1 CONNECTOR RAMP

04-SM-280-R25.34-DLC, San Mateo, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 221,000

PALOMA AVENUE

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 1

04-SM-001-R44.21-PFA, San Mateo, CA

Built 1965 ADT: 32,500

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 1

04-SM-001-R44.88-PFA, San Mateo, CA

Built 1965 ADT: 32,500

FOSTER CITY BLVD

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 92

04-SM-092-R13.61-FSTC, San Mateo, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 86,000

STATE ROUTE 1

Unknown

Over: GATEWAY DRIVE

04-SM-001-R46.51-DLC, San Mateo, CA

Built 1964 ADT: 7,990

INTERSTATE 280 SB

Unknown

Over: CRYSTAL SPRINGS OFF-RAMP

04-SM-280-R20.04-SBR, San Mateo, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 44,650

S280-CRYSTAL SP OR

Unknown

Over: WHITMAN WAY

04-SM-280-R20.22-SBR, San Mateo, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 15,000

INTERSTATE 280 SB

Unknown

Over: WHITMAN WAY

04-SM-280-R20.22-SBR, San Mateo, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 15,000

INTERSTATE 280 NB

Unknown

Over: WHITMAN WAY

04-SM-280-R20.22-SBR, San Mateo, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 15,000

HILLSDALE BLVD

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 82

04-SM-082-9.35-SM, San Mateo, CA

Built 1965 ADT: 37,000

N280-N35 CNNTR RMP

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 280

04-SM-035-L23.00-SBR, San Mateo, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 110,000

CRYSTAL SPRINGS RD

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 280

04-SM-280-R19.36-SBR, San Mateo, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 111,000

INTERSTATE 280 SB

Unknown

Over: KING DRIVE

04-SM-280-R23.16-DLC, San Mateo, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 6,610

INTERSTATE 280 NB

Unknown

Over: KING DRIVE

04-SM-280-R23.16-DLC, San Mateo, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 6,610

STATE ROUTE 92

Unknown

Over: DE ANZA BOULEVARD

04-SM-092-R8.67-SM, San Mateo, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 9,510

S1-S35 CONNECTOR

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 1

04-SM-001-R46.65-DLC, San Mateo, CA

Built 1972 ADT: 43,500

SB STATE ROUTE 35

Unknown

Over: NB & SB RTE 1 AND RAMPS

04-SM-035-R28.66-DLC, San Mateo, CA

Built 1972 ADT: 25,000

NB STATE ROUTE 35

Unknown

Over: NB & SB RTE 1 AND RAMPS

04-SM-035-R28.66-DLC, San Mateo, CA

Built 1972 ADT: 43,500

RALSTON POLHEMUS R

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 92

04-SM-092-R7.93, San Mateo, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 8,200

SB STATE RTE 280

Unknown

Over: SERRAMONTE BOULEVARD

04-SM-280-R24.63-DLC, San Mateo, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 15,400

NB STATE RTE 280

Unknown

Over: SERRAMONTE BOULEVARD

04-SM-280-R24.63-DLC, San Mateo, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 15,400

STATE ROUTE 280 SB

Unknown

Over: HAYNE ROAD

04-SM-280-R14.22-HIL, San Mateo, CA

Built 1969 ADT: 2,020

STATE ROUTE 280 NB

Unknown

Over: HAYNE ROAD

04-SM-280-R14.22-HIL, San Mateo, CA

Built 1969 ADT: 2,020

STATE ROUTE 280 SB

Unknown

Over: HILLCREST BOULEVARD

04-SM-280-R17.92-MLBR, San Mateo, CA

Built 1969 ADT: 3,500

STATE ROUTE 280 NB

Unknown

Over: HILLCREST BOULEVARD

04-SM-280-R17.92-MLBR, San Mateo, CA

Built 1969 ADT: 3,500

INTERSTATE 280 SB

Unknown

Over: WESTBOROUGH BLVD

04-SM-280-R22.62-SSF, San Mateo, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 8,500

INTERSTATE 280 NB

Unknown

Over: WESTBOROUGH BLVD

04-SM-280-R22.62-SSF, San Mateo, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 8,500

SB STATE RTE 280

Unknown

Over: LARKSPUR DRIVE

04-SM-280-R18.52-MLBR, San Mateo, CA

Built 1969 ADT: 8,500

NB STATE RTE 280

Unknown

Over: LARKSPUR DRIVE

04-SM-280-R18.52-MLBR, San Mateo, CA

Built 1969 ADT: 8,500

INTERSTATE 280

Unknown

Over: I 380 & S280-E380 CNNCTR

04-SM-280-R20.97-SBR, San Mateo, CA

Built 1971 ADT: 89,300

SAN BRUNO-N280 ONR

Unknown

Over: S280-E380 CONNECTOR RAMP

04-SM-280-R20.96-SBR, San Mateo, CA

Built 1971 ADT: 150,000

W380-S280 CONNECTR

Unknown

Over: I 280, CONN, FRNTGE RD

04-SM-380-4.65-SBR, San Mateo, CA

Built 1971 ADT: 156,000

WB RTE380 (FUTURE)

Unknown

Over: S280-E380 CONNECTOR RAMP

04-SM-380-4.67-SBR, San Mateo, CA

Built 1973 ADT: 43,500

EB RTE380 (FUTURE)

Unknown

Over: S280-E380 CONNECTOR RAMP

04-SM-380-4.67-SBR, San Mateo, CA

Built 1973 ADT: 43,500

INTERSTATE 380

Unknown

Over: SR 82 (EL CAMINO REAL)

04-SM-380-5.45-SBR, San Mateo, CA

Built 1971 ADT: 36,000

SNEATH LANE

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 280

04-SM-280-R21.30-SBR, San Mateo, CA

Built 1971 ADT: 101,000

INTERSTATE 380

Unknown

Over: CHERRY AVENUE

04-SM-380-T4.98-SBR, San Mateo, CA

Built 1971 ADT: 4,950

INTERSTATE 280

Unknown

Over: SAN BRUNO AVENUE

04-SM-280-R20.75-SBR, San Mateo, CA

Built 1971 ADT: 8,000

INTERSTATE 280 SB

Unknown

Over: AVALON DRIVE

04-SM-280-R22.04-SSF, San Mateo, CA

Built 1971 ADT: 19,000

INTERSTATE 280 NB

Unknown

Over: AVALON DRIVE

04-SM-280-R22.04-SSF, San Mateo, CA

Built 1971 ADT: 19,000

INTERSTATE 280

Unknown

Over: FARM HILL BOULEVARD

04-SM-280-R4.65-WDS, San Mateo, CA

Built 1969 ADT: 3,700

INTERSTATE 280 NB

Unknown

Over: FARM HILL BOULEVARD

04-SM-280-R4.65-WDS, San Mateo, CA

Built 1969 ADT: 3,700

INTERSTATE 280 SB

Unknown

Over: CANADA ROAD

04-SM-280-R4.99-WDS, San Mateo, CA

Built 1969 ADT: 3,700

INTERSTATE 280 NB

Unknown

Over: CANADA ROAD

04-SM-280-R4.99-WDS, San Mateo, CA

Built 1969 ADT: 3,700

INTERSTATE 280 SB

Unknown

Over: SR 84 (WOODSIDE EXP)

04-SM-280-R3.32-WDS, San Mateo, CA

Built 1969 ADT: 29,750

INTERSTATE 280 NB

Unknown

Over: SR 84 (WOODSIDE EXP)

04-SM-280-R3.32-WDS, San Mateo, CA

Built 1969 ADT: 30,000

STATE ROUTE 1

Unknown

Over: ST. FRANCIS BOULEVARD

04-SM-001-R47.03-DLC, San Mateo, CA

Built 1972 ADT: 4,630

STATE ROUTE 1

Unknown

Over: CLARINADA AVENUE

04-SM-001-R47.27-DLC, San Mateo, CA

Built 1968 ADT: 8,220

N1-S280 CONNECTOR

Unknown

Over: SOUTHGATE AVENUE

04-SM-001-R47.62-DLC, San Mateo, CA

Built 1968 ADT: 13,300

STATE ROUTE 1 SB

Unknown

Over: SOUTHGATE AVENUE

04-SM-001-R47.62-DLC, San Mateo, CA

Built 1968 ADT: 13,300

Showing 6,301-6,350 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.