State profile · Below median Poor share

California bridge safety

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, condition ratings, load ratings, and Poor-condition shares for every public highway bridge in California.

25,848
Public bridges
45.6%
Good condition
5.9%
Poor condition

California holds 25,848 public highway bridges (#4 of 52 by inventory) with a 5.91% Poor share (#28 of 52 by Poor share).

That is 5.9% of the state's inventory, against an average of 7.5% across the 54 states and territories with Poor-rated bridges on file, which places it 25 of 54 ordered from the lowest Poor share upward. A bridge is rated Poor when its weakest applicable component scores 4 or below on the inspecting agency's 0-9 scale, so the category is a maintenance and funding signal rather than a closure order or a live crossing-safety verdict.

Inventory: FHWA NBI 2024 · last ETL August 2026

Total Bridges

25,848

Public highway bridges in California

Good Condition

45.6%

11,798 bridges rated 7-9

-4.4pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

5.9%

1,527 bridges whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

-1.6pp vs national avg 7.5%

California vs national bridge condition

California - Good condition share 45.6%
National avg

Share of bridges rated 7-9 on the FHWA 0-9 scale (deck, superstructure, substructure all good).

California - Poor-condition share 19.7%
National avg

Lower is better. Bar maxes at 30% (worst-state ceiling). National average sits at 7.5%.

California in the national condition pattern

Each point is a state or territory in the FHWA NBI; the highlighted point is this profile.

Inventory size and Poor-condition share are different measures: California has 25,848 bridges and a 5.9% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #25 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The dashed comparisons mark the national average state rate and the midpoint of the plotted inventory range; neither is a live safety or closure threshold. Scatter plot of 54 data points. 0%10%20%30%40% 0k20k40k60k Public bridges in inventory (thousands) Poor-condition share (%) CA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 25.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.91%AL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 16.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 3.35%AK, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 1.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.89%AZ, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.15%AR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.43%CO, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 9k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.82%CT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.72%DE, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.26%DC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.95%FL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.79%GA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 15.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.59%GU, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0k · Poor-condition share (%): 12.77%HI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 1.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.53%ID, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.9%IL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 26.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 9.35%IN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 19.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.22%IA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 23.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 19.16%KS, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 24.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.26%KY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.37%LA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 12.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 11.48%ME, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 15.41%MD, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.56%MA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 8.88%MI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 11.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 11.27%MN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.44%MS, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 16.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.03%MO, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 24.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 8.95%MT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.81%NE, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 15.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.9%NV, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.14%NH, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.51%NJ, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 6.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.01%NM, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.51%NY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 17.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 9.43%NC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 19.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.76%ND, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 10.98%OH, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 26.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.74%OK, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 22.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.7%OR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.61%PA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 23.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 12.58%PR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 13.92%RI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 15.2%SC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 9.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.17%SD, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 16.36%TN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 20.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.41%TX, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 56.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.23%UT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 3.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.91%VT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.9%VI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0k · Poor-condition share (%): 29.17%VA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 3.39%WA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.45%WV, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 7.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 18.64%WI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.52%WY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 3.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.51%
Inventory size and Poor-condition share are different measures: California has 25,848 bridges and a 5.9% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #25 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The dashed comparisons mark the national average state rate and the midpoint of the plotted inventory range; neither is a live safety or closure threshold.

California vs all states by public bridge inventory

Where this state's FHWA NBI public-highway bridge count sits among every state and territory on PlainBridges

25,848 4th of 54 higher than 50 of 54 states

States and territories, banded by public bridge inventory size

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source FHWA National Bridge Inventory · 2024

Read the rank neighborhood for California

The highlighted point is California: 25,848 bridges and 5.91% in Poor condition, rank #25 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The five jurisdictions immediately above and below California on that same Poor-share ordering:

  • Arkansas: 12,974 bridges · 5.43% Poor
  • Washington: 8,474 bridges · 5.45% Poor
  • California: 25,848 bridges · 5.91% Poor
  • New Jersey: 6,827 bridges · 6.01% Poor
  • Mississippi: 16,739 bridges · 6.03% Poor

The full national sortable table lives on the rankings page.

Material families in California

Exclusive FHWA material families across all 25,848 bridges in this state; continuous variants fold into the parent family. Orthogonal to the Poor-share scatter above.

Who maintains California’s inventory

State agency holds 48.8% of the 25,848 public highway bridges filed under California in the 2024 NBI, the agency-of-record split for this state, not a condition verdict.

When California’s bridges were built

Pre-1950 construction accounts for 15.5% of the 25,848 bridges with a recorded original year in California. Era bands are orthogonal to the Poor-share ranking above.

Condition Distribution

California45.6%48.4%GoodFairPoor
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix - California (FHWA NBI)

Counties (58)

Alameda 658 Alpine 32 Amador 61 Butte 437 Calaveras 105 Colusa 211 Contra Costa 618 Del Norte 96 El Dorado 192 Fresno 916 Glenn 242 Humboldt 396 Imperial 444 Inyo 66 Kern 668 Kings 168 Lake 129 Lassen 108 Los Angeles 3547 Madera 247 Marin 207 Mariposa 109 Mendocino 357 Merced 528 Modoc 87 Mono 49 Monterey 377 Napa 158 Nevada 135 Orange 1164 Placer 337 Plumas 165 Riverside 1117 Sacramento 740 San Benito 76 San Bernardino 1422 San Diego 1632 San Francisco 143 San Joaquin 644 San Luis Obispo 401 San Mateo 361 Santa Barbara 418 Santa Clara 964 Santa Cruz 192 Shasta 492 Sierra 65 Siskiyou 421 Solano 373 Sonoma 609 Stanislaus 386 Sutter 121 Tehama 450 Trinity 194 Tulare 589 Tuolumne 125 Ventura 501 Yolo 271 Yuba 127

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.

AR

Arkansas

5.43% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$12,974

WA

Washington

5.45% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$8,474
Selected

CA

California

5.91% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$25,848

NJ

New Jersey

6.01% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$6,827

MS

Mississippi

6.03% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$16,739

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.

OLD COTTONWOOD CR

Poor

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK

0.2 MI E/O COTTONWOOD CK, Siskiyou, CA

Built 1957 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 10

STATE ROUTE 211

Poor

Over: EEL RIVER

01-HUM-211-78.10, Humboldt, CA

Built 1911 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 5,300

CR 305 (MAPES RD)

Poor

Over: HARTSON SLOUGH

0.4 MI E/O RD 303, Lassen, CA

Built 1978 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 100

CR 111 (PITTVILLE)

Poor

Over: BEAVER CREEK

1.0 MI S OF CR 404, Lassen, CA

Built 1975 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 100

RD 424 (BASSETT)

Poor

Over: WILLOW CREEK

1.5 MI N OF RD A-2, Lassen, CA

Built 1960 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 120

CR417 (PUNKIN CTR)

Poor

Over: MUDDY SLOUGH NO 1

2.8 MI S OF CR A2, Lassen, CA

Built 1955 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 200

All Bridges in California

AVE 282 (WIRHT)

Fair

Over: FRIANT-KERN CANAL

0.2 MI EAST OF ROAD 206, Tulare, CA

Built 1949 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 59

AVENUE 228

Fair

Over: FRIANT-KERN CANAL

0.35 MI EAST OF ROAD 228, Tulare, CA

Built 1949 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 600

KLAU MINE RD

Fair

Over: LAS TABLAS CREEK

2.7 MI SW ADELAIDA, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1940 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 93

MAIN ST

Fair

Over: MORRO CREEK

0.15 MI S OF RTE 41, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1921 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 8,500

LERDO HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: UP RR

0.2 MI E OF ZERKER RD, Kern, CA

Built 1961 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 10,110

PETERSON RD

Fair

Over: FRIANT-KERN CANAL

0.3 MI WEST OF ZACHARY AV, Kern, CA

Built 1949 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 150

NEOPOLITAN LN W

Fair

Over: RIVO ALTO CANAL

400FT S/O THE TOLEDO W, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1976 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 612

ROSECRANS AVE

Fair

Over: SAN GABRIEL RIV

0.3MI W/O I-605 FWY, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1951 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 28,840

THEODORE STREET

Fair

Over: STATE ROUTE 60

08-RIV-060-21.37, Riverside, CA

Built 1964 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 300

STATE ROUTE 79

Fair

Over: SWEETWATER RIVER

11-SD-079-4.97, San Diego, CA

Built 1949 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 3,200

SHOVEL CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: SHOVEL CREEK

GOOSENEST, Siskiyou, CA

Built 1968 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 50

ROAD 28N29

Fair

Over: MIDDLE FORK ANTELOPE

NO DATA ENTERED, Tehama, CA

Built 1954 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 20

FAIRLANE RD

Fair

Over: JUNIPER CREEK

0.3 MI S OF WALTERS LN, Siskiyou, CA

Built 1923 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 171

OLD HIGHWAY 99

Fair

Over: HAY CREEK

0.1 MI S TRUITMAN LANE, Siskiyou, CA

Built 1923 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 1,005

STATE ROUTE 299

Fair

Over: W BR CLOVERSWALE CREEK

02-MOD-299-27.35, Modoc, CA

Built 1920 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 2,200

COUNTY ROAD 215

Fair

Over: HOWARDS GULCH

2.15 MI N/O RTE 299, Modoc, CA

Built 1931 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 32

SURPRISE VALLEY RD

Fair

Over: OWL CREEK

11.0 MI S OF SH 299, Modoc, CA

Built 1943 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 450

BRICELAND RD

Fair

Over: REDWOOD CREEK

10 MI E SHELTER COVE RD, Humboldt, CA

Built 1935 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 1,836

MAPLE CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: BOULDER CREEK

1/4 MI E BUTLER VLY RD, Humboldt, CA

Built 1923 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 106

ALDERPOINT RD

Fair

Over: MARTIN CREEK

6.7 MI SOUTH BRIDGEVILLE, Humboldt, CA

Built 1972 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 124

JACK SHAW ROAD

Fair

Over: BILLINGS CREEK

1.3 MI E MOUNTAIN VIEW, Humboldt, CA

Built 1987 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 50

12TH ST

Fair

Over: ROHNER CREEK

0.1 MILE NORTH NEWBURG RD, Humboldt, CA

Built 1935 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 3,160

HILL BLVD

Fair

Over: CHURN CREEK

0.1 MI N LAKE BLVD, Shasta, CA

Built 1940 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 200

FRENCH GULCH ROAD

Fair

Over: FRENCH GULCH

2.3 MI NW/O TRINITY MT RD, Shasta, CA

Built 1935 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 60

LOWER GAS POINT RD

Fair

Over: LUCILLE CREEK

1.2 MI N GAS POINT RD, Shasta, CA

Built 1935 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 10

ASH CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: ASH CREEK TRIBUTARY

1.8 MI E PARKVILLE RD, Shasta, CA

Built 1945 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 200

ASH CR RD

Fair

Over: ASH CREEK TRIBUTARY

2.2 MI E PARKVILLE RD, Shasta, CA

Built 1940 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 200

CR527 (ASH VALLEY)

Fair

Over: NO NAME CREEK

3 MI W OF SPOONER ROAD, Lassen, CA

Built 1990 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 160

STATE ROUTE 99

Fair

Over: LOS MOLINOS CREEK

02-TEH-099-12.59, Tehama, CA

Built 1900 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 6,800

EVERGREEN RD

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK COTTONWOOD CR

0.3 MI N BOWMAN RD, Tehama, CA

Built 1955 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 1,110

KANSAS AVE

Fair

Over: ANTELOPE CREEK

0.5 MI E SR 99, Tehama, CA

Built 1937 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 132

MERIDIAN ROAD

Fair

Over: RATTLESNAKE CREEK

1.4 MI N/O LASSEN RD, Tehama, CA

Built 1933 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 112

RAWSON RD

Fair

Over: OAT CREEK

0.2 MI S OF FLORES AVE, Tehama, CA

Built 1942 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 1,218

OLD HWY 99 W

Fair

Over: BURCH CREEK

8.3 MI N GLENN CO LINE, Tehama, CA

Built 1914 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 3,800

ADOBE ROAD

Fair

Over: DIBBLE CREEK

0.50 MI E OF SR 36, Tehama, CA

Built 1961 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 555

EDITH AVENUE

Fair

Over: UNNAMED SLOUGH

1/4 MI S FINNELL AVE, Tehama, CA

Built 1940 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 500

EAST CHARD AVENUE

Fair

Over: GERBER LEVEE CANAL

0.5 MI N SAMSON AVE, Tehama, CA

Built 1923 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 350

TEHAMA VINA ROAD

Fair

Over: SACRAMENTO RIV OVERFLOW

0.1 MI WEST OF RIVER AVE, Tehama, CA

Built 1921 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 1,000

CHITTENDEN ROAD

Fair

Over: TRAVIS SLOUGH

0.35 MI W MTN VIEW AVE, Tehama, CA

Built 1941 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 150

NEWVILLE RD

Fair

Over: N FORK STONEY CREEK

2.5 MI S/O RND VALLEY RD, Tehama, CA

Built 1939 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 60

GOPHER HILL LDFL R

Fair

Over: SPANISH CREEK

200FT N/O BUCKS LAKE RD, Plumas, CA

Built 1969 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 120

COUNTY RD P

Fair

Over: GLENN-COLUSA CANAL

2.1 MI N OF S.H. 162, Glenn, CA

Built 1940 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 381

ROAD 35

Fair

Over: WHITE CABIN CREEK

0.6 MI W/O ROAD D, Glenn, CA

Built 1925 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 185

ROAD F

Fair

Over: BRANCH WALKER CREEK

0.5 MI N/O ROAD 28, Glenn, CA

Built 1928 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 65

ROAD #60

Fair

Over: BRANCH LOGAN CREEK

1.3 MI E OF 99W, Glenn, CA

Built 1930 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 1,100

ROAD 48

Fair

Over: PRINCETON-CODORA CANAL

JUST W HWY 45, Glenn, CA

Built 1941 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 166

ROAD 34

Fair

Over: PRINCETON CODORA CANAL

WEST OF ROAD X, Glenn, CA

Built 1935 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 95

COUNTY RD 306

Fair

Over: SALT CREEK

2.64 MI N COLUSA CO LINE, Glenn, CA

Built 1930 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 223

CO RD #99 W

Fair

Over: WILLOW CREEK

0.7 MI N OF CO RD #48, Glenn, CA

Built 1915 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 2,678

ROAD 99 W

Fair

Over: LOGAN CREEK

1.2 MI N OF ROAD 68, Glenn, CA

Built 1914 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 447

Showing 701-750 of 25,848 bridges

Related

All states → | National rankings → | Understanding conditions → | Retired SD term explained →
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.

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.

What to do with this

Use California's inventory picture to drill to a county or a specific span.

  • Browse counties in California and open the highest-Poor shares first. County list
  • See where this state sits among peers on Poor-condition share. State rankings
  • Compare this state with another jurisdiction on the same measures. State compare

NBI condition ratings are inventory snapshots, not live crossing-safety verdicts.

Every figure on PlainBridges is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. California Good/Fair/Poor shares and county rollups on this page are computed from the same NBI extract as the national boards; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2024 NBI release. NBI condition categories reflect the latest reported inventory record, not a live safety, closure, or travel decision.