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

SIMONDS ST

Fair

Over: BULL CREEK

0.05 MI W/O WOODLY AVE, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1978 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 600

RODGERS DR

Fair

Over: PLUM CYN CHAN

0.3MI E/O BOUQUET CYN RD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1981 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 17,067

226TH ST

Fair

Over: ARTESIA-NORWALK STRM DRN

0.1MI W/O NORWALK BLVD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,717

REMINGTON RD

Fair

Over: REMINGTON CHAN

0.7MI W/O ROMERO CYN RD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1981 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 112

205TH ST W

Fair

Over: CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT

0.9MI S/O AVE D, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 102

PUDDINGSTONE DR

Fair

Over: PUDDINGSTONE CHAN

1.0MI E/O SAN DIMAS, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,281

AVE J-4

Fair

Over: AMARGOSA DRN

0.1MI E/O 25TH ST W, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 510

25TH ST W

Fair

Over: AMARGOSA DRN

AT AVE J, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,670

SESNON BLVD

Fair

Over: MOONSHINE CANYON

0.2 M E/O PORTER RANCH RD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,920

DEL AMO BLVD

Fair

Over: DOMINGUEZ CHAN

0.3MI W/O AVALON AVE, Los Angeles, CA

Built 2003 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 16,200

CARSON ST

Fair

Over: ALAMEDA ST / SPRR

0.4MI W/O SANTA FE AVE, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1995 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,700

RAYEN ST

Fair

Over: PACOIMA WASH

0.5 MI E/O SEPULVEDA BLVD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1996 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,092

GRAND AVE

Fair

Over: RUBIO WASH

0.2MI E/O SAN GABRIEL BLV, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1994 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,182

FOOTHILL BLVD

Fair

Over: N CHAN BIG TUJUNGA WASH

0.9 MI E/O WHEATLAND AVE, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1921 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,546

WORLD WAY S. O.C.

Fair

Over: WORLD WAY SOUTH OC

LAX SECOND LEVEL, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1983 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 43,408

96TH STREET

Fair

Over: SEPULVEDA BLVD (ROUTE 1)

AT SEPULVEDA BLVD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 43,408

WILTON PL

Fair

Over: HOLLYPARK DRN

75FT N/O 135TH ST, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1999 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,060

VAN NESS AVE

Fair

Over: HOLLYPARK DRN

75FT N/O 135 ST, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1999 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 16,728

AVE K

Fair

Over: ARMAGOSA DRN

0.2MI E/O I-14 FWY, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 29,952

SANTA FE AVE

Fair

Over: 23 ST WASHINGTON BNSF

0.7 M S/O FWY 10, Los Angeles, CA

Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 31,907

HENRY FORD AVE

Fair

Over: DOMINGUEZ CHANNEL

0.3 MI S/O ANAHEIM ST, Los Angeles, CA

Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,333

BEVERLY BLVD

Fair

Over: RIO HONDO CHAN

0.4MI W/O PARAMOUNT BLVD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 2009 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 37,418

HELLMAN AVE

Fair

Over: ALHAMBRA WASH

0.5MI E/O DEL MAR AVE, Los Angeles, CA

Built 2006 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,356

PIERRE RD

Fair

Over: LEMON CRK

290FT E/O MEADOW PASS RD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1995 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 202

Wehner Lane

Fair

Over: San Dimas Wash

0.2MI W/O SAN DIMAS AVE, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1961 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2

PICO CYN RD

Fair

Over: PICO CYN WASH

0.5MI W/O STEVENSON RANCH, Los Angeles, CA

Built 2010 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 713

REYES ADOBE RD

Fair

Over: LINDERO CYN CRK

0.9MI N/O THOUSAND OAKS, Los Angeles, CA

Built 2009 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,287

HOLLY ST

Fair

Over: MTA GOLD LINE

60FT W/O ARROYO PKWY, Los Angeles, CA

Built 2003 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,868

COLORADO BLVD

Fair

Over: METRO

185FT W/O ARROYO PKWY, Los Angeles, CA

Built 2012 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20,800

COLFAX AVE

Fair

Over: LOS ANGELES RIVER

0.1 MI N/O VENTURA BLVD., Los Angeles, CA

Built 2008 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,300

WHITTIER BLVD

Fair

Over: SAN GABRIEL RIV

07-LA-072-6.86-PRV, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1968 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 34,000

FIRESTONE BLVD

Fair

Over: SAN GABRIEL RIVER

0.5 MI W/O STUDEBAKER RD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 2015 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 59,000

Emerald Avenue

Fair

Over: Emerald Wash

.1MILE N/O FOOTHILL BLVD., Los Angeles, CA

Built 1964 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,600

INTERSTATE 10 EB

Fair

Over: E10-VALLEY BLVD OFF-RAMP

08-SBD-010-11.50, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1966 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 85,000

STATE ROUTE 210 WB

Fair

Over: STATE STREET

08-SBD-210-20.69-SBD, San Bernardino, CA

Built 2007 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 78,000

STATE ROUTE 18

Fair

Over: METCALF CREEK

08-SBD-018-47.17, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 9,800

INTERSTATE 15 SB

Fair

Over: BERRY DITCH

08-SBD-015-139.20, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1961 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 22,000

STATE ROUTE 18

Fair

Over: DEEP CREEK

08-SBD-018-34.61, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1992 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,500

INTERSTATE 10 WB

Fair

Over: CUCAMONGA WASH

08-SBD-010-6.70-ONT, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1966 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 126,000

INTERSTATE 10

Fair

Over: NINTH STREET

08-SBD-010-R22.71-COL, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1956 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 204,000

INTERSTATE 10

Fair

Over: BNSF RY SPUR MILL CRK

08-SBD-010-31.52-RDL, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1962 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 132,000

INTERSTATE 215

Fair

Over: WARM CREEK

08-SBD-215-5.23-SBD, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1958 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 140,000

INTERSTATE 215 SB

Fair

Over: UP RR AMTRAK STEEL RD

08-SBD-215-3.72-COL, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1959 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 85,000

INTERSTATE 215

Fair

Over: WARM CREEK OVERFLOW

08-SBD-215-5.09-SBD, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1958 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 175,000

INTERSTATE 215

Fair

Over: RIALTO AVENUE

08-SBD-215-6.66-SBD, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1957 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 192,000

YUCAIPA BLVD

Fair

Over: INTERSTATE 10

08-SBD-010-35.50-YUCP, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 19,800

INTERSTATE 15

Fair

Over: WILD WASH

08-SBD-015-55.69, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1958 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 54,000

INTERSTATE 40

Fair

Over: PLY WASH

08-SBD-040-147.76, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1957 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,200

INTERSTATE 40

Fair

Over: WOOD WASH

08-SBD-040-148.07, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1957 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,200

STATE ROUTE 18

Fair

Over: ARCTIC CANYON WASH

08-SBD-018-68.45, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1958 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,400

Showing 7,851-7,900 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.