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

Unknown

Over: MILPAS STREET

05-SB-101-12.73, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2012 ADT: 10,000

UNION VALLY PKWAY

Unknown

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

05-SB-101-83.45, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2013 ADT: 38,000

CASITAS PASS ROAD

Unknown

Over: U.S. ROUTE 101

05-SB-101-2.63-CARP, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2020 ADT: 72,500

LINDEN AVENUE

Unknown

Over: U.S. ROUTE 101

05-SB-101-3.04-CARP, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2020 ADT: 68,300

US HIGHWAY 101 SB

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 135

05-SB-101-70.91, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2022 ADT: 3,050

UP RR & AMTRAK

Unknown

Over: HOLLISTER AVENUE

EAST MODOC RD, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1931 ADT: 10,582

UP RR & AMTRAK

Unknown

Over: CARRILLO STREET

JUST SW SR 101, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1963 ADT: 25,000

UP RR & AMTRAK

Unknown

Over: MISSION STREET

0.1 MI NE MODOC RD, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1963 ADT: 17,000

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

Unknown

Over: LOMA ALTA DRIVE

0.1 MI N SHORELINE DR, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1976 ADT: 6,000

LA CUMBRE ROAD

Unknown

Over: UP RR, AMTRAK, MODOC RD

0.1 MI S S.R. 101, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1997 ADT: 5,297

UP RR & AMTRAK

Unknown

Over: CABRILLO BLVD

0.1 MI SOUTH OF HWY 101, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1917 ADT: 15,700

UP RR & AMTRAK

Unknown

Over: U.S. HIGHWAY 101

04-SCL-101-41.04-SCL, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1961 ADT: 134,000

E SANTA CLARA ST

Unknown

Over: U.S. HIGHWAY 101

04-SCL-101-R35.76-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1993 ADT: 150,000

N280-S17 CONNECTOR

Unknown

Over: I 280,SR 17,CONNS,MOORPK

04-SCL-280-L5.40-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1971 ADT: 17,000

U.S. HIGHWAY 101

Unknown

Over: ELLIS STREET & VTA LRT

04-SCL-101-47.01-MVW, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1961 ADT: 14,600

STATE ROUTE 237 WB

Unknown

Over: CALTRAIN,UP RR,CENTRAL,

04-SCL-237-R0.99-MVW, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1964 ADT: 33,633

STATE ROUTE 237 EB

Unknown

Over: CALTRAIN,UP RR,CENTRAL,

04-SCL-237-R0.99-MVW, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1981 ADT: 33,633

UNIVERSITY AVENUE

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 82

04-SCL-082-25.88-PA, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1940 ADT: 41,250

MAC ARTHUR AVENUE

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 280

04-SCL-280-L5.18-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1972 ADT: 28,000

MOFFETT BOULEVARD

Unknown

Over: U.S. HIGHWAY 101

04-SCL-101-47.89-MVW, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1957 ADT: 155,000

SB US HIGHWAY 101

Unknown

Over: COYOTE ROAD

04-SCL-101-29.72-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1947 ADT: 1,200

NB US HIGHWAY 101

Unknown

Over: COYOTE ROAD

04-SCL-101-29.72-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1947 ADT: 1,200

STATE ROUTE 237 WB

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 880 & RAMPS

04-SCL-237-R9.30L-MPS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1972 ADT: 168,000

STATE ROUTE 237 EB

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 880 & RAMPS

04-SCL-237-R9.30R-MPS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1972 ADT: 168,000

EAST HEDDING ST

Unknown

Over: U.S. HIGHWAY 101

04-SCL-101-37.41-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1993 ADT: 180,000

OAKLAND ROAD

Unknown

Over: U.S. HIGHWAY 101

04-SCL-101-37.73-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1993 ADT: 180,000

UP RR,BNSF,AMTRAK

Unknown

Over: U.S. HIGHWAY 101

04-SCL-101-37.99-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1993 ADT: 180,000

U.S. HIGHWAY 101

Unknown

Over: NORTH 1ST ST & VTA LRT

04-SCL-101-39.29-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1959 ADT: 30,000

MAIN STREET

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 17

04-SCL-017-6.55-LGTS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1955 ADT: 71,400

10TH STREET

Unknown

Over: U.S. HIGHWAY 101

04-SCL-101-38.09-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1993 ADT: 180,000

INTERSTATE 880

Unknown

Over: U.S. HIGHWAY 101

04-SCL-880-4.06-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1997 ADT: 144,000

INTERSTATE 880

Unknown

Over: UP RR & OLD BAYSHORE HWY

04-SCL-880-4.28-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1960 ADT: 10,500

TAYLOR STREET

Unknown

Over: U.S. HIGHWAY 101

04-SCL-101-36.94-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1992 ADT: 150,000

UP RR

Unknown

Over: U.S. HIGHWAY 101

04-SCL-101-36.56-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1993 ADT: 174,000

MCKEE ROAD

Unknown

Over: U.S. HIGHWAY 101

04-SCL-101-R36.12-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1993 ADT: 150,000

SANTA CRUZ AVE

Unknown

Over: SANTA CRUZ AV NB OFF-RMP

04-SCL-017-6.16-LGTS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1956 ADT: 3,200

INTERSTATE 880

Unknown

Over: HEDDING STREET

04-SCL-880-0.88-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1959 ADT: 20,500

INTERSTATE 880

Unknown

Over: BASCOM AVE

04-SCL-880-1.25-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1959 ADT: 15,000

PARK AVE

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 880

04-SCL-880-1.73-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1960 ADT: 154,000

STATE ROUTE 82

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 880

04-SCL-082-9.90-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1960 ADT: 154,000

STATE ROUTE 17

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 280 & RAMPS

04-SCL-017-13.93-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1971 ADT: 177,000

S17-S280 CONNECTOR

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 280 & RAMPS

04-SCL-017-13.93-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1971 ADT: 177,000

N17-N280 CONNECTOR

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 280 & RAMPS

04-SCL-017-13.93-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1971 ADT: 177,000

STEVENS CREEK BLVD

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 880

04-SCL-880-0.41-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1954 ADT: 163,000

STATE ROUTE 17

Unknown

Over: CAMPBELL AVE

04-SCL-017-11.80-CMB, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1959 ADT: 23,509

UP RR

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 17

04-SCL-017-12.22-CMB, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1959 ADT: 151,200

HAMILTON AVE

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 17

04-SCL-017-12.34-CMB, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1959 ADT: 184,800

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 17

04-SCL-017-6.65-LGTS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1956 ADT: 71,400

STATE ROUTE 17

Unknown

Over: MOORPARK AVENUE

04-SCL-017-13.85-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1959 ADT: 28,193

N17-S280 CONNECTOR

Unknown

Over: MOORPARK AVENUE

04-SCL-017-13.85-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1971 ADT: 28,193

Showing 6,501-6,550 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.