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

STATE ROUTE 1

Unknown

Over: BAY AVENUE

05-SCR-001-13.20-CPTL, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 20,562

GRANITE CREEK ROAD

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 17

05-SCR-017-5.45-SCTV, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1961 ADT: 56,000

STATE ROUTE 1

Unknown

Over: MARKET STREET

05-SCR-001-16.37-SCR, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1958 ADT: 6,169

SOQUEL DRIVE

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 1

05-SCR-001-14.86, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1948 ADT: 97,000

MORRISSEY BLVD

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 1

05-SCR-001-15.82-SCR, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1958 ADT: 97,000

STATE ROUTE 17

Unknown

Over: GLEN CANYON ROAD

05-SCR-017-3.56-SCTV, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1961 ADT: 100

S17-S1 CONNECTOR

Unknown

Over: S17-N1 & S1-N17 CONNS

05-SCR-017-0.01-SCR, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1958 ADT: 68,000

STATE ROUTE 1 NB

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 17

05-SCR-001-17.02-SCR, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1958 ADT: 65,000

STATE ROUTE 1 SB

Unknown

Over: OCEAN STREET

05-SCR-001-17.24-SCR, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1956 ADT: 19,142

STATE ROUTE 1 NB

Unknown

Over: OCEAN STREET

05-SCR-001-17.24-SCR, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1956 ADT: 19,142

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 1

05-SCR-001-18.06-SCR, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1956 ADT: 60,000

STATE ROUTE 1 SB

Unknown

Over: S17-OCEAN OFF, OCEAN-N17

05-SCR-001-17.19-SCR, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1956 ADT: 4,400

PASATIEMPO OC

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 17

05-SCR-017-0.74, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1960 ADT: 65,000

MOUNT HERMON ROAD

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 17

05-SCR-017-3.44-SCTV, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1961 ADT: 56,000

STATE ROUTE 1 SB

Unknown

Over: BEACH ROAD

05-SCR-001-R1.02-WAT, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 400

STATE ROUTE 1 NB

Unknown

Over: BEACH ROAD

05-SCR-001-R1.02-WAT, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 1,680

S1-E152 CONNECTOR

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 1

05-SCR-001-R2.68-WAT, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 31,000

AIRPORT BLVD

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 1

05-SCR-001-R3.18-WAT, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 30,000

41ST AVENUE

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 1

05-SCR-001-13.62-CPTL, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1961 ADT: 97,000

HARKINS SLOUGH RD

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 1

05-SCR-001-R2.27-WAT, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1965 ADT: 30,000

ROUTE 129

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 1

05-SCR-129-L0.01, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 45,000

MAR MONTE AVENUE

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 1

05-SCR-001-R6.68, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1974 ADT: 60,000

STATE ROUTE 1 SB

Unknown

Over: SAN ANDREAS ROAD

05-SCR-001-R7.67, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1974 ADT: 500

STATE ROUTE 1 NB

Unknown

Over: SAN ANDREAS ROAD

05-SCR-001-R7.67, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1974 ADT: 850

BRANCIFORTE AVENUE

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 1

05-SCR-001-16.24-SCR, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 2008 ADT: 88,000

STATE ROUTE 1

Unknown

Over: EMELINE STREET

05-SCR-001-16.63-SCR, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 2008 ADT: 10,000

STATE ROUTE 1 SB

Unknown

Over: EMELINE STREET

05-SCR-001-16.63-SCR, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 2008 ADT: 10,000

LA FONDA AVENUE

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 1

05-SCR-001-15.25-SCR, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 2013 ADT: 97,000

UP RR

Unknown

Over: SOQUEL DR

W APTOS ST, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1924 ADT: 15,000

UP RR

Unknown

Over: SOQUEL DR

AT INTRX W/SPRECKLES DR, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1929 ADT: 12,909

UP RR

Unknown

Over: SAN ANDREAS ROAD

2 MILES FROM HWY 1, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1975 ADT: 5,000

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

Unknown

Over: SOQUEL DR

3.7 MI E OF SR 1, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1962 ADT: 15,000

SCCRTC

Unknown

Over: SOQUEL WHARF RD

SOUTH OF C.R. #31, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1970 ADT: 10,129

SCCRT

Unknown

Over: CAPITOLA AVE

0.1 MI N CLIFF DR, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1970 ADT: 6,700

PEDESTRIAN PATH

Unknown

Over: HELLER DRIVE

50 FT SW OF KOSHLAND WAY, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1989 ADT: 6,000

UP RR & AMTRAK

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 273

02-SHA-273-14.77-RDG, Shasta, CA

Built 1938 ADT: 23,000

UNION SCHOOL ROAD

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5

02-SHA-005-R22.41, Shasta, CA

Built 1968 ADT: 21,500

1ST ST

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5

02-SHA-005-0.66, Shasta, CA

Built 1964 ADT: 41,000

GAS POINT RD OC

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5

02-SHA-005-0.91, Shasta, CA

Built 1964 ADT: 41,000

INTERSTATE 5 SB

Unknown

Over: S5-MAIN ST OFF-RAMP

02-SHA-005-1.91, Shasta, CA

Built 1964 ADT: 2,000

INTERSTATE 5 NB

Unknown

Over: S5-MAIN ST OFF-RAMP

02-SHA-005-1.91, Shasta, CA

Built 1964 ADT: 2,000

UP RR & AMTRAK

Unknown

Over: I-5 & ANTLERS ROAD

02-SHA-005-R40.60, Shasta, CA

Built 1972 ADT: 17,200

MCR RY

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 89

02-SHA-089-29.34, Shasta, CA

Built 1955 ADT: 1,700

UP RR & AMTRAK

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 151

02-SHA-151-5.51, Shasta, CA

Built 1938 ADT: 1,800

N5-E44 CONNECTOR

Unknown

Over: HILLTOP DR

02-SHA-005-R15.31-RDG, Shasta, CA

Built 1968 ADT: 5,000

HILLTOP DR

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5

02-SHA-005-R16.15-RDG, Shasta, CA

Built 1965 ADT: 53,000

HILLTOP DR

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 44

02-SHA-044-R0.13-RDG, Shasta, CA

Built 1968 ADT: 48,500

SWEETBRIER AVE

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5

02-SHA-005-61.75, Shasta, CA

Built 1962 ADT: 17,100

CHURN CREEK ROAD

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5

02-SHA-005-R12.15-RDG, Shasta, CA

Built 1965 ADT: 51,000

LOMA VISTA DR

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5

02-SHA-005-R12.92-RDG, Shasta, CA

Built 1965 ADT: 53,000

Showing 6,951-7,000 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.