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

LAWRENCE EXPWY

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 82

04-SCL-082-14.34-SCL, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1970 ADT: 40,750

METCALF ROAD

Unknown

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

04-SCL-101-R25.31, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1982 ADT: 100,000

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 680

04-SCL-680-M5.83-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1974 ADT: 175,000

COCHRANE ROAD

Unknown

Over: U.S. HIGHWAY 101

04-SCL-101-R17.82-MGH, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1972 ADT: 125,000

BURNETT AVENUE

Unknown

Over: U.S. HIGHWAY 101

04-SCL-101-R18.70, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1980 ADT: 125,000

STATE ROUTE 35

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 17

04-SCL-035-R0.03, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1970 ADT: 56,000

SB US HIGHWAY 101

Unknown

Over: COYOTE CREEK ROAD

04-SCL-101-R21.25-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1980 ADT: 400

NB US HIGHWAY 101

Unknown

Over: COYOTE CREEK ROAD

04-SCL-101-R21.25-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1980 ADT: 400

SB US HIGHWAY 101

Unknown

Over: BERNAL ROAD

04-SCL-101-R27.00-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1982 ADT: 11,800

NB US HIGHWAY 101

Unknown

Over: BERNAL ROAD

04-SCL-101-R27.01-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1982 ADT: 11,800

EB SLVR CRK VLY RD

Unknown

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

04-SCL-101-R28.11-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1982 ADT: 100,000

WB SLVR CRK VLY RD

Unknown

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

04-SCL-101-R28.11-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1982 ADT: 100,000

SUNSET POC

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 680

04-SCL-680-M0.78-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1974 ADT: 160,000

N&S101- N280&N680

Unknown

Over: I 280,I 680,US 101,STORY

04-SCL-101-34.87-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1974 ADT: 10,000

S680-S101 CONNECTR

Unknown

Over: I 280,I 680,US 101,STORY

04-SCL-680-M0.01-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1982 ADT: 25,000

STATE ROUTE 237 WB

Unknown

Over: UPRR,BNSF,AMTRAK,STREETS

04-SCL-237-10.00-MPS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1969 ADT: 8,160

EB STATE ROUTE 237

Unknown

Over: UPRR,BNSF,AMTRAK,STREETS

04-SCL-237-10.00-MPS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1969 ADT: 8,160

SB STATE ROUTE 87

Unknown

Over: CAROL DRIVE

04-SCL-087-2.52-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1993 ADT: 500

NB STATE ROUTE 87

Unknown

Over: CAROL DRIVE

04-SCL-087-2.52-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1993 ADT: 500

SB STATE ROUTE 87

Unknown

Over: CURTNER AVENUE

04-SCL-087-2.84-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1993 ADT: 26,548

NB STATE ROUTE 87

Unknown

Over: CURTNER AVENUE

04-SCL-087-2.84-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1993 ADT: 26,548

SB STATE ROUTE 87

Unknown

Over: ALMADEN ROAD

04-SCL-087-3.58-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1991 ADT: 5,000

NB STATE ROUTE 87

Unknown

Over: ALMADEN ROAD

04-SCL-087-3.58-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1991 ADT: 5,000

SB STATE ROUTE 87

Unknown

Over: ALMA AVENUE

04-SCL-087-4.07-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1990 ADT: 450

NB STATE ROUTE 87

Unknown

Over: ALMA AVENUE

04-SCL-087-4.07-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1990 ADT: 5,000

BERRYESSA RD WB

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 680

04-SCL-680-M3.84-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1974 ADT: 175,000

BERRYESSA RD EB

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 680

04-SCL-680-M3.84-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1974 ADT: 175,000

LANDESS AVE EB

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 680

04-SCL-680-M6.17-MPS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1974 ADT: 175,000

LANDESS AVE WB

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 680

04-SCL-680-M6.18-MPS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1974 ADT: 175,000

MONTAGUE EXPWY

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 880

04-SCL-880-6.69-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1974 ADT: 168,000

MCCLELLAN ROAD

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 85

04-SCL-085-R17.17-CPO, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1991 ADT: 100,000

STELLING ROAD

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 85

04-SCL-085-R16.61-CPO, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1991 ADT: 100,000

BOWERS AVENUE

Unknown

Over: U.S. HIGHWAY 101

04-SCL-101-42.73-SCL, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1975 ADT: 134,000

LAFAYETTE ST (SB)

Unknown

Over: U.S. HIGHWAY 101

04-SCL-101-41.08-SCL, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1975 ADT: 134,000

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

Unknown

Over: U.S. HIGHWAY 101

04-SCL-101-44.64-SUNV, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1976 ADT: 134,000

N&S 87- S280 CONN

Unknown

Over: SR 87,RAMPS,GUADALUPE

04-SCL-087-5.10-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1972 ADT: 95,000

TANTAU AVENUE

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 280

04-SCL-280-7.84-CPO, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1976 ADT: 203,000

SB STATE ROUTE 87

Unknown

Over: US HIGHWAY 101 & CONNS

04-SCL-087-9.08-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1992 ADT: 22,400

NB STATE ROUTE 87

Unknown

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

04-SCL-087-9.18-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1992 ADT: 10,000

SB US HIGHWAY 101

Unknown

Over: YERBA BUENA ROAD

04-SCL-101-31.00-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1989 ADT: 4,260

NB US HIGHWAY 101

Unknown

Over: YERBA BUENA ROAD

04-SCL-101-31.00-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1989 ADT: 4,260

NB 101 OFF-RAMP

Unknown

Over: YERBA BUENA ROAD

04-SCL-101-31.00-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1989 ADT: 4,260

I280-N87 & N87-OFF

Unknown

Over: CITY STRS & GUADALUPE RV

04-SCL-280-R2.54-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1988 ADT: 18,000

BLOSSOM HILL ROAD

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 85 & LRT

04-SCL-085-3.93, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1990 ADT: 103,000

S87-S85 CONNECTOR

Unknown

Over: SR 85,LRT,RAMPS,CHYNOWTH

04-SCL-087-0.10-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1991 ADT: 1,000

N85-N87 CONNECTOR

Unknown

Over: SANTA TERESA-N87, & CHYN

04-SCL-085-4.70-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1991 ADT: 11,000

S87 - SANTA TERESA

Unknown

Over: CHYNOWETH AVE & VTA LRT

04-SCL-087-0.21-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1991 ADT: 1,000

SANTA TERESA-NB 87

Unknown

Over: CHYNOWETH AVENUE

04-SCL-087-0.20-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1991 ADT: 1,000

STATE ROUTE 87 SB

Unknown

Over: CAPITOL EXPRESSWAY

04-SCL-087-1.34-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1993 ADT: 36,390

STATE ROUTE 87 NB

Unknown

Over: CAPITOL EXPRESSWAY

04-SCL-087-1.34-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1993 ADT: 36,390

Showing 6,701-6,750 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.