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

E92-N880 CONNECTR

Fair

Over: I 880 S880-E92 CONNECTR

04-ALA-092-6.27-HAY, Alameda, CA

Built 2009 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 106,000

INTERSTATE 580 WB

Fair

Over: INTERSTATE 205 EB

04-ALA-580-0.40R, Alameda, CA

Built 2009 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 17,900

ST RTE 84 (ISABEL)

Fair

Over: INTERSTATE 580

04-ALA-084-N28.15-LVMR, Alameda, CA

Built 2011 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 66,000

SR 84 (ISABEL AVE)

Fair

Over: ARROYO LAS POSITAS

04-ALA-084-M27.74-LVMR, Alameda, CA

Built 2011 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 30,000

STATE ROUTE 238 NB

Fair

Over: SR 185 (14TH STREET)

04-ALA-238-14.93, Alameda, CA

Built 2010 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 121,000

I880 NB

Fair

Over: UPRR AMTRAK SR77 HIGH

04-ALA-880-27.63-OAK, Alameda, CA

Built 2013 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 110,500

CALAROGA AVE

Fair

Over: STATE ROUTE 92 & RAMP

04-ALA-092-R6.03-HAY, Alameda, CA

Built 2011 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,500

DOOLITTLE DRIVE

Fair

Over: AIRPORT CABLE CAR

04-ALA-061-R15.61-OAK, Alameda, CA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 22,500

INTERSTATE 880

Fair

Over: ESTUDILLO CANAL

04-ALA-880-20.96-SLN, Alameda, CA

Built 1995 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 219,000

WASHINGTON AV RAMP

Fair

Over: ESTUDILLO CANAL

04-ALA-000-20.96-SLN, Alameda, CA

Built 1996 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 30,800

WEST GRAND AVENUE

Fair

Over: UPRR BNSF AMTRAK WOOD

04-ALA-000-0.00-OAK, Alameda, CA

Built 1997 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 22,323

OAKPORT STREET

Fair

Over: ELMHURST CREEK

0.2 MI N/O ROLAND WAY, Alameda, CA

Built 1968 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,252

FREMONT BLVD

Fair

Over: ARROYO DE LA LAGUNA

0.1 N/O AUTO MALL PKWY, Alameda, CA

Built 1955 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 18,100

CASTRO VALLEY BLVD

Fair

Over: CROW CREEK

0.2 MI W/O CROW CANYON RD, Alameda, CA

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 23,800

GROVE WAY

Fair

Over: CROW CREEK

JUST SOUTH OF I-580, Alameda, CA

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 31,100

CROW CANYON RD

Fair

Over: CROW CREEK

1.7 MI N OF I-580, Alameda, CA

Built 1974 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 28,800

CROW CANYON RD

Fair

Over: CROW CREEK

2 MI N OF SH I-580, Alameda, CA

Built 1974 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 28,800

WINTON AVE

Fair

Over: UP RR BNSF RY AMTRAK

NEAR AMADOR ST, Alameda, CA

Built 1972 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 23,732

MINES RD

Fair

Over: ARROYO MOCHO

12.6 MI S/E TESLA RD, Alameda, CA

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 500

ISHERWOOD WAY

Fair

Over: ALAMEDA FLOOD CNTRL CHNL

AT PASEO PADRE, Alameda, CA

Built 1980 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,200

NEWARK BLVD

Fair

Over: UP RR & AMTRAK

0.3 MI N CENTRAL AVE, Alameda, CA

Built 1975 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 11,380

HEGENBERGER ROAD

Fair

Over: UP RR BNSF AMTRAK BARTD

0.7 MI N I-880, Alameda, CA

Built 1966 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 46,294

TENNYSON ROAD

Fair

Over: WARD CREEK

0.15 MI E/O TAMPA AVE, Alameda, CA

Built 1973 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 34,200

ARROYO RD

Fair

Over: ARROYO MOCHO

0.2 MI S COLLEGE AVE, Alameda, CA

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,100

HEGENBERGER ROAD

Fair

Over: BARTD UPRR SAN LEANDRO

0.4 MI SOUTH OF 66TH AVE, Alameda, CA

Built 1966 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20,904

GRIMMER BLVD

Fair

Over: LAGUNA CR(FLD CNTRL L E)

W OF FREMONT BLVD, Alameda, CA

Built 1964 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 27,100

BERNAL AVE

Fair

Over: ARROYO DEL VALLE

0.05 MI N OF VINEYARD, Alameda, CA

Built 2009 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,900

CHARLOTTE WAY

Fair

Over: ARROYO SECO

300 W LUCILLE ST, Alameda, CA

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,450

LAS POSITAS RD

Fair

Over: ARROYO SECO

0.3 MI EAST OF 1ST ST, Alameda, CA

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,700

ARROYO VISTA

Fair

Over: ARROYO SECO

500 W LAS POSITAS RD, Alameda, CA

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,000

W JACK LONDON BLVD

Fair

Over: ARROYO LAS POSITAS

0.5 MI E OF EL CHARRO RD, Alameda, CA

Built 2012 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,660

SPRINGTOWN BLVD

Fair

Over: ALTAMONT CREEK

1 MI N OF I-580, Alameda, CA

Built 1981 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,700

AUTO MALL PKWY

Fair

Over: UP RR AND BARTD

0.6 KM WEST OF I-680, Alameda, CA

Built 1981 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 45,100

A ST

Fair

Over: MEEKLAND AVE

0.6 MI E OF 880, Alameda, CA

Built 1980 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 30,300

PASEO PADRE PKWY

Fair

Over: NORTH CANYON CROSSING

0.6 MI NORTH OF DURHAM RD, Alameda, CA

Built 1980 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 9,300

PATTERSON PASS RD

Fair

Over: FLOOD CONTROL CHANNEL

0.4 KM EAST OF S VASCO RD, Alameda, CA

Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,260

LAUGHLIN ROAD

Fair

Over: ALTAMONT CREEK

0.1 KM N OF FOXTAIL DR, Alameda, CA

Built 1998 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,520

SOUTHFRONT ROAD

Fair

Over: ARROYO SECO

0.1 KM W OF STATE RTE 84, Alameda, CA

Built 1999 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,650

NORTH MINES ROAD

Fair

Over: UP RR BNSF RY & ACE

0.5 KM S. OF STATE RTE 84, Alameda, CA

Built 1999 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,392

PASEO PADRE PKWY

Fair

Over: UP RR & AMTRAK

0.4 KM NE OF TUPELO ST, Alameda, CA

Built 1980 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 11,400

WASHINGTON BLVD

Fair

Over: UP RR AND BARTD

0.5 MI W OF I-680, Alameda, CA

Built 2010 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 27,100

FIRST STREET

Fair

Over: ARROYO SECO

600 NW LAS POSITAS ROAD, Alameda, CA

Built 1994 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 19,950

FIRST STREET

Fair

Over: UP RR BNSF RY & ACE

150 SOUTH OF SCOTT ST, Alameda, CA

Built 1977 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 27,400

DUBLIN BLVD (WB)

Fair

Over: TASSAJARA CREEK

WEST OF JOHN MONEGO CT, Alameda, CA

Built 1999 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,000

DUBLIN BLVD (EB)

Fair

Over: TASSAJARA CREEK

WEST OF JOHN MONEGO CT, Alameda, CA

Built 1994 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,000

OWENS DRIVE

Fair

Over: TASSAJARA CREEK

NW OF ANDREWS DRIVE, Alameda, CA

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,000

STONERIDGE DRIVE

Fair

Over: TASSAJARA CREEK

NW OF LAS POSITAS BLVD, Alameda, CA

Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,100

ROSEWOOD DRIVE

Fair

Over: TASSAJARA CREEK

WEST OF OLD SANTA RITA RD, Alameda, CA

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 11,000

CUSHING PARKWAY

Fair

Over: WETLANDS

0.8 MI WEST OF I-880, Alameda, CA

Built 2006 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 17,800

FIVE CANYONS PKWY

Fair

Over: CANYON "D"

0.9 MI SE/O CASTRO VALLEY, Alameda, CA

Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 11,800

Showing 6,501-6,550 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.