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

UTILITY

Unknown

Over: OREGON EXPRESSWAY

ALMA STREET, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1980 ADT: 46,000

FAIR OAKS AVE

Unknown

Over: Central Expressway

CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1970 ADT: 41,389

CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY

Unknown

Over: WOLFE ROAD

WOLFE ROAD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1970 ADT: 31,200

CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY

Unknown

Over: LAWRENCE EXPRESSWAY

1 MI S OF US 101, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1968 ADT: 63,894

UP RR

Unknown

Over: CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY

CENTRAL EXPWY, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1956 ADT: 27,360

SAN ANTONIO RD

Unknown

Over: MALL PARKING ACCESS RD

NEAR ALMA ST, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1964 ADT: 300

ARQUES AVE

Unknown

Over: CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY

CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1970 ADT: 49,785

MONTAGUE EXPWY

Unknown

Over: UP RR, LAFAYETTE,BASSETT

1.2 MILES W/O N. FIRST, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1962 ADT: 10,000

CALTRAIN,UP,AMTRAK

Unknown

Over: JULIAN STREET

0.45 MI WEST OF SR 87, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1935 ADT: 7,200

TASMAN DR & LRT

Unknown

Over: UP RR, AMTRAK, LAFAYETTE

TASMAN DR @ LAFAYETTE, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1976 ADT: 18,370

CALTRAIN,UP,AMTRAK

Unknown

Over: ALMADEN ROAD

0.03 MI NORTH OF SR 87, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1936 ADT: 6,700

CALTRAIN,UP,AMTRAK

Unknown

Over: ALMA AVE

0.04 MI NE OF SR 87, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1936 ADT: 21,700

CALTRAIN,UP,AMTRAK

Unknown

Over: BIRD AVE

0.2 MI S OF I-280, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1965 ADT: 28,000

CALTRAIN,UP,AMTRAK

Unknown

Over: PARK AVE

0.2 MI E SUNOL AVE, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1968 ADT: 8,000

CALTRAIN,UP,AMTRAK

Unknown

Over: TAYLOR STREET

0.6 MI SW OF SR 87, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1935 ADT: 19,300

O'CONNOR DR

Unknown

Over: FOREST AVE

FORREST AVE, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1960 ADT: 16,000

CALTRAIN,UP,AMTRAK

Unknown

Over: MONTEREY RD

SOUTH OF COCHRAN RD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1933 ADT: 22,000

VTA LRT

Unknown

Over: CHYNOWETH AVE

CHYNOWETH AVE UP, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1989 ADT: 11,000

VTA LRT

Unknown

Over: SANTA TERESA BLVD

AT STATE ROUTE 85, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1989 ADT: 23,000

GOLF CART PATH

Unknown

Over: UP RR, AMTRAK, LAFAYETTE

0.6 MI S/O S.H. 237, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1985 ADT: 20,000

RAILROAD

Unknown

Over: EMBARCADERO ROAD

NEXT TO ALMA STREET, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1936 ADT: 23,000

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

Unknown

Over: UP RR,CENTRAL EXP,EVELYN

0.1 MI W/O EAST ST, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 50,047

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

Unknown

Over: JULIETTE LANE

800 FT S MISSION COLLEGE, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 5,000

CALTRAIN,UP,AMTRAK

Unknown

Over: PREVOST STREET

0.2 MI S/O VIRGINA AVE, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1936 ADT: 1,980

CALTRAIN,UP,AMTRAK

Unknown

Over: DELMAS AVE

BTWN FULR AV & JEROME ST, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1936 ADT: 3,850

BAILEY AVENUE

Unknown

Over: MONTEREY RD, UPRR, AMTRK

5 MI NE/O SANTA TERESA BL, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2006 ADT: 21,600

BLOSSOM HILL ROAD

Unknown

Over: MONTEREY ST, RR,ENDICOTT

0.5 MI SW OF RT101, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1974 ADT: 22,029

CAPITOL EXPRESSWAY

Unknown

Over: MONTEREY HWY

0.3 MI NE SNELL AVE, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1966 ADT: 56,000

CALTRAIN,UP,AMTRAK

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 82

75 FT W OF STOCKTON AVE, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1932 ADT: 14,700

PEDESTRIAN PATH

Unknown

Over: MONTEREY ST, RR,ENDICOTT

SE OF BLOSSOM HILL ROAD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2012 ADT: 56,000

VTA LRT

Unknown

Over: HILLSDALE AVE

BTW ROUTE 87 BRIDGES, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1991 ADT: 7,000

VTA LRT

Unknown

Over: ALMADEN ROAD

BTW ROUTE 87 BRIDGES, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1991 ADT: 14,000

VTA LRT

Unknown

Over: WILLOW STREET

BTW ROUTE 87 BRIDGES, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1989 ADT: 9,000

VTA LRT

Unknown

Over: CAPITAL EXPRESSWAY

BTW ROUTE 87 BRIDGES, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1991 ADT: 38,000

VTA LRT SB

Unknown

Over: CURTNER AVENUE

AT STATE ROUTE 87, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1991 ADT: 38,000

VTA LRT NB

Unknown

Over: CURTNER AVENUE

AT STATE ROUTE 87, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1991 ADT: 38,000

VTA LRT SB

Unknown

Over: ALMA AVENUE

AT STATE ROUTE 87, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1990 ADT: 15,000

VTA LRT NB

Unknown

Over: ALMA AVENUE

AT STATE ROUTE 87, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1990 ADT: 15,000

BIKE PATH

Unknown

Over: EMBARCADERO ROAD

NEXT TO ALMA, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2000 ADT: 23,000

UP RR

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 1

05-SCR-001-9.79, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1948 ADT: 78,000

STATE ROUTE 1

Unknown

Over: APTOS CRK & SPRECKELS DR

05-SCR-001-10.01, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1948 ADT: 560

UP RR

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 1

05-SCR-001-10.23, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1948 ADT: 78,000

STATE ROUTE 1

Unknown

Over: SOQUEL CREEK, WHARF RD

05-SCR-001-13.31-CPTL, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1947 ADT: 5,310

FREEDOM BOULEVARD

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 1

05-SCR-001-8.35, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1969 ADT: 60,000

RIO DEL MAR BLVD

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 1

05-SCR-001-9.15, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 78,000

CAPITOLA AVENUE

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 1

05-SCR-001-12.93-CPTL, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1948 ADT: 97,000

STATE PARK DRIVE

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 1

05-SCR-001-10.54, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1963 ADT: 78,000

STATE ROUTE 1 SB

Unknown

Over: PARK AVENUE

05-SCR-001-12.09-CPTL, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1963 ADT: 15,476

STATE ROUTE 1 NB

Unknown

Over: PARK AVENUE

05-SCR-001-12.09-CPTL, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1963 ADT: 15,476

UPRR & AMTRAK

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 129

05-SCR-129-9.91, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1931 ADT: 10,750

Showing 6,901-6,950 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.