State profile · Below national median SD

California bridge safety

Condition ratings, load ratings, and structural-deficiency data for every public highway bridge in California — drawn straight from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory.

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

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 rated 0-4

Structurally Deficient

4.6%

1,244 bridges flagged for repair priority

-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 — Structurally deficient share 15.3%
National avg

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

Condition Distribution

Bridge inventory deck-condition mix — California (FHWA NBI)

California32.45931952662722%34.67455621301775%GoodFairPoorStructurally Deficient
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix — California (FHWA NBI)

Counties (58)

Alameda 800 Alpine 32 Amador 62 Butte 441 Calaveras 106 Colusa 211 Contra Costa 686 Del Norte 96 El Dorado 196 Fresno 929 Glenn 242 Humboldt 398 Imperial 448 Inyo 67 Kern 686 Kings 168 Lake 129 Lassen 108 Los Angeles 3937 Madera 250 Marin 217 Mariposa 109 Mendocino 357 Merced 532 Modoc 87 Mono 49 Monterey 390 Napa 160 Nevada 135 Orange 1224 Placer 347 Plumas 170 Riverside 1142 Sacramento 775 San Benito 76 San Bernardino 1465 San Diego 1707 San Francisco 170 San Joaquin 666 San Luis Obispo 408 San Mateo 393 Santa Barbara 429 Santa Clara 1041 Santa Cruz 203 Shasta 500 Sierra 65 Siskiyou 423 Solano 383 Sonoma 613 Stanislaus 390 Sutter 120 Tehama 452 Trinity 194 Tulare 599 Tuolumne 128 Ventura 511 Yolo 282 Yuba 136

California vs nearby ranks

Adjacent states on the structurally deficient leaderboard (lower share = better)

States are ranked by share of bridges flagged structurally deficient — the FHWA classification for any span where deck, superstructure, or substructure carries a condition rating of 4 or below. Lower percentages indicate stronger maintenance funding and inspection follow-through. States here sit immediately above and below California on the same metric.

39

Ohio

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

34

New Jersey

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

06

California

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

05

Arkansas

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

53

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 composite NBI rating. Each is inspected at least every 24 months.

SPRING CREEK RD

Poor

Over: FALL RIVER

0.5 MI N OF MCARTHUR RD, Shasta, CA

Built 1950 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 50

ORESTIMBA ROAD

Poor

Over: CCID MAIN CANAL

0.1 MI E DRAPER RD, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1919 Load: 2.9 t ADT: 684

CLARK STREET

Poor

Over: M.I.D. CANAL

0.1 MI WEST OF ROAD 26.0, Madera, CA

Built 1955 Load: 3.2 t ADT: 200

GULLING STREET

Structurally Deficient

Over: MIDDLE FORK FEATHER RIV

0.2 MI S SH 70, Plumas, CA

Built 1954 Load: 3.2 t ADT: 10,046

AVENUE 10

Poor

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK

JUST E/O ROAD 23, Madera, CA

Built 1950 Load: 3.6 t ADT: 50

S BISHOP AVE

Poor

Over: CRESCENT DITCH

0.64 MI S/O MT WHITNEY AV, Fresno, CA

Built 1950 Load: 3.9 t ADT: 125

All Bridges in California

SB 85 OFF-RAMP

Unknown

Over: 17-SB 85 CONNECTOR NB

04-SCL-085-R10.30-LGTS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 7,600

BASCOM AVE ON RAMP

Unknown

Over: NB85-NB17 & NB85-SB17

04-SCL-085-R10.30-LGTS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 19,800

BASCOM AVENUE

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 85

04-SCL-085-R10.24-LGTS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 19,800

LARK-N17 ON RAMP

Unknown

Over: N17-N&S85 CONNECTOR RAMP

04-SCL-017-8.98-LGTS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 8,600

SB STATE ROUTE 85

Unknown

Over: SARATOGA AVENUE

04-SCL-085-R13.73-SAR, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 29,900

NB STATE ROUTE 85

Unknown

Over: SARATOGA AVENUE

04-SCL-085-R13.73-SAR, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 29,990

LEIGH AVENUE

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 85

04-SCL-085-8.77-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 122,000

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 85

04-SCL-085-9.93-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 122,000

UNION AVENUE

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 85

04-SCL-085-9.28-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 122,000

STATE ROUTE 17

Unknown

Over: S17-S85 CONNECTOR RAMP

04-SCL-017-9.50-LGTS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 22,400

UP RR

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 85

04-SCL-085-R10.98-LGTS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 115,000

WINCHESTER BLVD

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 85

04-SCL-085-R11.00-LGTS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 115,000

SB STATE ROUTE 85

Unknown

Over: POLLARD ROAD

04-SCL-085-R11.97-LGTS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 21,700

NB STATE ROUTE 85

Unknown

Over: POLLARD ROAD

04-SCL-085-R11.97-LGTS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 21,700

UP RR

Unknown

Over: POLLARD ROAD

04-SCL-085-R12.00-LGTS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 21,700

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 85

04-SCL-085-R12.45-CMB, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 115,000

QUITO ROAD

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 85

04-SCL-085-R12.91-CMB, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 115,000

PROSPECT ROAD

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 85

04-SCL-085-R15.27-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1993 ADT: 100,000

SARATOGA SUNNYVALE

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 85

04-SCL-085-R15.87-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 100,000

STATE ROUTE 85 SB

Unknown

Over: ALMADEN EXPRESSWAY

04-SCL-085-6.00-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1992 ADT: 54,000

STATE ROUTE 85 NB

Unknown

Over: ALMADEN EXPRESSWAY

04-SCL-085-6.00-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1992 ADT: 54,000

COX AVE UTILITY OC

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 85

04-SCL-085-R14.31-CPO, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1992 ADT: 100,000

SCULLY AVE UTILITY

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 85

04-SCL-085-R14.73-CPO, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1992 ADT: 100,000

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

Unknown

Over: SR 17, S17-N&S85 CONNS

04-SCL-017-9.60, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 20,400

NB RTE 85 ON-RAMP

Unknown

Over: S85-S280 CONNECTOR RAMP

04-SCL-085-R18.33-SUNV, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1993 ADT: 18,500

NB RTE 85 ON-RAMP

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 280

04-SCL-085-R18.40-SUNV, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1993 ADT: 138,500

BAILEY AVENUE

Unknown

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

04-SCL-101-R23.10-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2004 ADT: 100,000

SB 101 ON-RAMP

Unknown

Over: SB 101-SB 85 CONNECTOR

04-SCL-101-48.28-MVW, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2005 ADT: 64,000

STATE ROUTE 85 SB

Unknown

Over: BERNAL ROAD

04-SCL-085-0.20-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 11,800

STATE ROUTE 85 NB

Unknown

Over: BERNAL ROAD

04-SCL-085-0.20-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 11,800

N101-N85 CONNECTOR

Unknown

Over: U.S. HIGHWAY 101

04-SCL-101-R26.78-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 101,000

STATE ROUTE 237

Unknown

Over: MIDDLEFIELD ROAD

04-SCL-237-M1.60-MVW, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1997 ADT: 21,524

STATE ROUTE 237

Unknown

Over: MAUDE AVENUE

04-SCL-237-M1.80-MVW, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1997 ADT: 24,267

VTA LRT (2 TRACKS)

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 880

04-SCL-880-7.69-MPS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 168,000

BEAR CREEK ROAD

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 17

04-SCL-017-4.30, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 78,800

EB 237-NB 880 CONN

Unknown

Over: WB 237, I 880 & RAMPS

04-SCL-237-R9.12R-MPS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2002 ADT: 58,500

S880-W237 CONNCTOR

Unknown

Over: WB 237,W237-MCCARTHY OFF

04-SCL-880-8.45-MPS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2001 ADT: 33,000

EB 237-SB 880 RAMP

Unknown

Over: EB STATE ROUTE 237

04-SCL-237-R9.13R-MPS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2002 ADT: 58,500

RTE 85 N OFF-RAMP

Unknown

Over: U.S. HIGHWAY 101 & RAMPS

04-SCL-085-R23.81-MVW, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2004 ADT: 30,000

NB 101 OFF-RAMP

Unknown

Over: U.S. HIGHWAY 101

04-SCL-101-48.97-MVW, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2005 ADT: 169,000

FAIR OAKS AVE SB

Unknown

Over: SR 237. PERSIAN, MOFFETT

04-SCL-237-R3.96-SUNV, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1998 ADT: 5,489

VASONA LRT

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 237

04-SCL-237-R3.97, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1998 ADT: 68,000

DIXON LANDING RD

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 880

04-SCL-880-10.42-MPS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2002 ADT: 192,000

TAYLOR STREET

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 87

04-SCL-087-6.86-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2003 ADT: 99,000

EB EAST DUNNE AVE

Unknown

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

04-SCL-101-R16.00-MGH, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2000 ADT: 112,000

STATE ROUTE 87

Unknown

Over: AIRPORT PARKWAY

04-SCL-087-8.75-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2004 ADT: 34,709

VTA LRT (2 TRACKS)

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 17

04-SCL-017-12.23-CMB, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2004 ADT: 151,200

STATE ROUTE 87

Unknown

Over: SKYPORT DRIVE

04-SCL-087-8.25-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2003 ADT: 8,000

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 237 & RAMPS

04-SCL-237-R0.40-MVW, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2002 ADT: 68,000

STATE ROUTE 87

Unknown

Over: HEDDING STREET

04-SCL-087-7.23-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2003 ADT: 15,600

Showing 6,801-6,850 of 27,040 bridges

Related

All states → | National rankings → | Understanding conditions → | SD bridges explained →
Data sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI), latest released cycle. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges Editorial.

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). A "structurally deficient" rating is a repair-priority signal, not a closure or unsafe-to-cross designation. Consult a qualified civil engineer before making decisions based on this data.

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.