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

INTERSTATE 215 SB

Fair

Over: MARTIN LUTHER KING BLVD

08-RIV-215-40.86-RIV, Riverside, CA

Built 2003 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 84,000

INTERSTATE 215 NB

Fair

Over: MARTIN LUTHER KING BLVD

08-RIV-215-40.86-RIV, Riverside, CA

Built 2003 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 84,000

BOX SPRINGS ROAD

Fair

Over: INTERSTATE 215 & RAMPS

08-RIV-215-R38.92-RIV, Riverside, CA

Built 2008 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 170,000

EB 60 TRUCK

Fair

Over: INTERSTATE 215 & RAMPS

08-RIV-060-R12.27-RIV, Riverside, CA

Built 2008 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 40,000

STATE ROUTE 71

Fair

Over: ANIMAL CROSSING NO. 1

08-RIV-071-1.30, Riverside, CA

Built 2005 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 57,200

STATE ROUTE 71

Fair

Over: ANIMAL CROSSING NO. 2

08-RIV-071-0.80, Riverside, CA

Built 2005 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 57,200

STATE ROUTE 78

Fair

Over: PALO VERDE DRAIN

08-RIV-078-3.28-BLY, Riverside, CA

Built 2013 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,100

14TH STREET WB OFF

Fair

Over: 10 STREET WB

08-RIV-091-20.25-RIV, Riverside, CA

Built 2015 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,000

14TH ST EB ONRAMP

Fair

Over: UNIVERSITY AVE EB EXIT

08-RIV-091-20.10-RIV, Riverside, CA

Built 2015 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,000

WB SR60 HOV

Fair

Over: NB INTERSTATE 215

08-RIV-060-R12.17-RIV, Riverside, CA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 19,000

EB SR60 HOV

Fair

Over: NB INTERSTATE 215

08-RIV-060-R12.17-RIV, Riverside, CA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 19,000

PERRIS BLVD

Fair

Over: INTERSTATE 215

08-RIV-215-27.04-PER, Riverside, CA

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,200

E91-15 CONNECTOR

Fair

Over: TEMESCAL WASH BNSF METRO

08-RIV-091-6.95-COR, Riverside, CA

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 11,650

MAIN ST-15 ON-RAMP

Fair

Over: EAST GRAND BLVD

08-RIV-091-6.68-COR, Riverside, CA

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,000

NEWPORT ROAD WB

Fair

Over: INTERSTATE 215

08-RIV-215-R18.53-PER, Riverside, CA

Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 80,000

VICTORIA AVENUE

Fair

Over: TEQUESQUITE ARROYO

0.65 MI. S/O 14 TH STREET, Riverside, CA

Built 1928 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 11,360

GENE AUTRY TRAIL

Fair

Over: UP RR & AMTRAK

0.32 MI. S/O RTE. I-10 FW, Riverside, CA

Built 1968 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 23,983

ANTELOPE ROAD

Fair

Over: PALOMA VALLEY WASH

1.0 MI. N/O SCOTT ROAD, Riverside, CA

Built 1979 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 9,159

EL CAMINO AVENUE

Fair

Over: TEMESCAL CREEK CHANNEL

0.2 MI. S/O 6TH STREET, Riverside, CA

Built 1986 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,000

MILES AVENUE

Fair

Over: COACHELLA CANAL

50 E/O MADISON STREET, Riverside, CA

Built 1994 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,800

BEAUMOUNT AVENUE

Fair

Over: NOBLE CREEK

0.1 MI. N/O BROOKSIDE AVE, Riverside, CA

Built 1952 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,526

CAJALCO ROAD

Fair

Over: RCTC & BNSF RY

0.1 MI. W/O RTE. 215 FWY., Riverside, CA

Built 1984 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 14,721

MAGNOLIA AVENUE

Fair

Over: TEMESCAL CREEK CHANNEL

0.5 MI. NE/O RTE I-15 FWY, Riverside, CA

Built 1986 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,000

ATWOOD AVENUE

Fair

Over: SUNNYMEAD STORM CHANNEL

0.1 MI. W/O INDIAN STREET, Riverside, CA

Built 1978 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,700

MYERS AVENUE

Fair

Over: SUNNYMEAD STORM CHANNEL

0.2 MI. E/O INDIAN STREET, Riverside, CA

Built 1978 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 500

MOCKINGBIRD CYN RD

Fair

Over: MOCKINGBIRD CANYON CREEK

0.9 MI. SE/O VAN BUREN BL, Riverside, CA

Built 1975 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,225

RIVER ROAD

Fair

Over: NORTH NORCO CHANNEL

0.02 MI. SE/O 2ND STREET, Riverside, CA

Built 1978 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,000

HARRISON STREET

Fair

Over: TEMESCAL CREEK CHANNEL

0.3 MI. E/O JOY STREET, Riverside, CA

Built 1983 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,000

CHOLLA WAY

Fair

Over: PALM VALY STORMWTR CHANN

AT CANYON ROAD, Riverside, CA

Built 1984 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 274

CACTUS AVENUE

Fair

Over: RCTC & BNSF RY

0.0 MI. W/O ROUTE 215 FWY, Riverside, CA

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 9,110

ALESSANDRO BLVD.

Fair

Over: RCTC & BNSF RY

100 W/O ROUTE 215 FWY., Riverside, CA

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 38,692

EASTRIDGE AVENUE

Fair

Over: RCTC & BNSF RY

100 W/O ROUTE 215 FWY, Riverside, CA

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,500

S PALM CANYON DR

Fair

Over: CHERLY CREEK

0.2 MI. N/O BOGERT TRAIL, Riverside, CA

Built 1969 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,870

LINCOLN AVENUE

Fair

Over: BNSF RY & METROLINK

0.2 MI. N/O RAILROAD ST, Riverside, CA

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,000

LINCOLN AVENUE

Fair

Over: TEMESCAL CREEK

0.2 MI. N/O RINCON STREET, Riverside, CA

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,000

LIMONITE AVENUE

Fair

Over: SAN SEVAINE CHANNEL

100 E/O BAIN STREET, Riverside, CA

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20,862

CALIMESA BOULEVARD

Fair

Over: N FORK EL CASCO CREEK

0.3 MI. NW/O CHERRY VALLY, Riverside, CA

Built 1965 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,000

PALM DRIVE

Fair

Over: YUCCA DRIVE DRAIN

50 S/O MISSION LAKES BLV, Riverside, CA

Built 1975 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,200

WINCHESTER ROAD

Fair

Over: MURRIETA CREEK

100 NE/O DIAZ ROAD, Riverside, CA

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 17,000

5TH STREET

Fair

Over: NORTH NORCO CHANNEL

50 E/O ROUTE 15 FREEWAY, Riverside, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,922

MONROE STREET

Fair

Over: UP RR AMTRAK INDIO BLVD

AT INDIO BLVD., Riverside, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 31,000

SUMMERHILL DRIVE

Fair

Over: SAN JACINTO RIVER

0.2 MI. N/O RAILROAD CYN, Riverside, CA

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 9,307

REDHAWK PARKWAY

Fair

Over: TEMECULA CREEK

0.2 MI. S/O ROUTE 79 HWY., Riverside, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 23,000

EB MURRIETA HS RD

Fair

Over: TUCALOCA CREEK

0.2 MI. E/O ROUTE 79 HWY, Riverside, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 9,410

CACTUS AVENUE

Fair

Over: KITCHING STREET CHANNEL

50 W/O KITCHING STREET, Riverside, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,000

PROMENADE AVENUE

Fair

Over: BNSF METROLINK SAMPSON

0.3 MI N OF SIXTH ST, Riverside, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,000

HARRELL STREET

Fair

Over: DAY CREEK CHANNEL

0.2 MI. W/O ETIWANDA AVE., Riverside, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,800

RIVERSIDE DRIVE

Fair

Over: DAY CREEK CHANNEL

0.2 MI. W/O ETIWANDA AVE., Riverside, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,047

IRIS AVENUE

Fair

Over: IRIS AVENUE CHANNEL

0.2 MI. E/O LASSELLE ST., Riverside, CA

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 27,600

CACTUS AVENUE

Fair

Over: STORM CHANNEL LINE F

0.2 MI. W/O JF KENNEDY DR, Riverside, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,800

Showing 8,651-8,700 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.