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

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

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.