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

MARSH CREEK RD

Fair

Over: MARSH CREEK

3 MI E MORGAN TERITORY RD, Contra Costa, CA

Built 1937 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 5,637

MARINA VISTA AVE

Fair

Over: SHELL OIL CO PIPE UC

0.4 MI S/W SHELL AVE, Contra Costa, CA

Built 1920 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 14,000

GAWNE ROAD

Fair

Over: DRAIN B

0.3 MI E NELSON RD, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1935 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 709

MESSICK ROAD

Fair

Over: MOSHER SLOUGH

0.6 MI W OF CLEMENTS RD, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1931 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 150

HENRY RD

Fair

Over: SSJID CANAL

AT N INTERSECT W RIVER RD, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1945 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 2,375

VAN ALLEN RD

Fair

Over: SSJID CANAL

0.2 MI N OF RIVER RD, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1928 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 240

CARROLTON ROAD

Fair

Over: SSJID CANAL

0.2 MI N OF RIVER RD, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1940 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 545

STATE ROUTE 26

Fair

Over: N. FORK MOKELUMNE RIVER

10-CAL-026-38.31, Calaveras, CA

Built 1930 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 1,350

ROCK CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: ROCK CREEK OVERFLOW

1.8 MI SE OF MILTON, Calaveras, CA

Built 1936 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 37

LIME CREEK RD

Fair

Over: YOUNGS CREEK

0.6 MI SW OF SR 12, Calaveras, CA

Built 1915 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 379

MAIN ST

Fair

Over: ANGELS CREEK

AT JONES ST IN MURPHYS, Calaveras, CA

Built 1909 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 2,064

DOGTOWN RD

Fair

Over: INDIAN CREEK

6.5 MI N/O SR 49, Calaveras, CA

Built 1930 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 65

DOGTOWN RD

Fair

Over: INDIAN CREEK

8.6 MI N/O SR 49, Calaveras, CA

Built 1930 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 35

WARREN RD

Fair

Over: WARREN CREEK

0.5 MI W/O EVERGREEN RD, Calaveras, CA

Built 1937 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 207

WARREN RD

Fair

Over: WARREN CREEK

0.9 MI W/O EVERGREEN RD, Calaveras, CA

Built 1937 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 207

WARREN RD

Fair

Over: INDIAN CREEK

N OF INTERSECT SR 26, Calaveras, CA

Built 1936 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 277

EVERGREEN RD

Fair

Over: WARREN CREEK

0.7 MI S OF SOUTHWORTH RD, Calaveras, CA

Built 1938 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 237

PETTINGER RD

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

3/4 MI S OF S.R. 12, Calaveras, CA

Built 1937 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 955

ALGERINE RD.

Fair

Over: ALGERINE CREEK

0.4 MI N TWIST RD, Tuolumne, CA

Built 1940 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 263

MAC ARTHUR BLVD

Fair

Over: SAN LEANDRO CREEK

0.25 MI S OF DUTTON AVE, Alameda, CA

Built 1909 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 7,900

MACARTHUR BLVD

Fair

Over: HILLSIDE

N/O LAKE PARK BLVD, Alameda, CA

Built 1928 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 5,425

MISSION BLVD

Fair

Over: MISSION CREEK

0.4 MI S/O SR 680, Alameda, CA

Built 1929 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 12,800

PARK BOULEVARD

Fair

Over: HILLSIDE

0.3 MI SW OF SR 13, Alameda, CA

Built 1932 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 18,753

STATE ROUTE 84

Fair

Over: WEST UNION CREEK

04-SM-084-19.89-WDS, San Mateo, CA

Built 1903 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 6,600

STATE ROUTE 82

Fair

Over: BELMONT CREEK

04-SM-082-7.36-SM, San Mateo, CA

Built 1941 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 34,750

BEAN HOLLOW ROAD

Fair

Over: ARROYO DE LOS FRIJOLES

0.2 MI NORTH OF S.H. 1, San Mateo, CA

Built 1922 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 175

INDUSTRIAL BLVD

Fair

Over: CORDILLERAS CREEK

NORTH OF G ST, San Mateo, CA

Built 1930 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 8,612

ODDSTAD BLVD

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK SAN PEDRO CRK

0.1 MI N LINDA MAR BLVD, San Mateo, CA

Built 1948 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 6,886

MIDDLEFIELD RD

Fair

Over: SAN FRANCISQUITO CREEK

0.1 MI E WILLOW RD, San Mateo, CA

Built 1936 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 18,700

DRAKE AVE

Fair

Over: EASTON CREEK

EAST OF EASTON DRIVE, San Mateo, CA

Built 1930 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 100

ACCESS ROAD

Fair

Over: SAN BRUNO CHANNEL

NORTH OF NORTH ACCESS RD, San Mateo, CA

Built 1948 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 8,252

STONEHEDGE ROAD

Fair

Over: SAN MATEO CREEK

500 FT N OF BRIDGE RD, San Mateo, CA

Built 1900 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 1,000

BAYWOOD DRIVE

Fair

Over: SAN MATEO CREEK

BRIDGE RD, San Mateo, CA

Built 1900 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 1,000

SOQUEL DR

Fair

Over: RODEO GULCH

0.7 MI W PORTER ST, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1937 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 18,900

VARNI ROAD

Fair

Over: LOS CORRALITOS CREEK

0.3 MI W OF AMESTI RD, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1936 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 500

HIHNS MILL RD

Fair

Over: SOQUEL CREEK

WEST OF HIGHLAND WAY, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1954 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 50

STATE ROUTE 9

Fair

Over: SARATOGA CREEK

04-SCL-009-4.85, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1902 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 2,450

MC KEAN ROAD

Fair

Over: ARROYO CALERO

NEAR CALERO RESERVOIR, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1916 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 3,760

SAN FERNANDO ST

Fair

Over: LOS GATOS CREEK

WEST OF HWY 87, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1920 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 8,270

POMEROY AVE

Fair

Over: CALABAZAS CREEK

AT CALABAZAS BLVD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1940 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 5,000

ALMADEN EXPWY

Fair

Over: RANDOL CREEK

300 FT N/O VIA VALIENTE, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1948 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 25,850

REDWOOD RETREAT RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE ARTHUR CREEK

0.3 MI W WATSONVILLE RD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1909 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 400

EL CAMINO REAL

Fair

Over: LAGUNA SECA CREEK

0.4 MI SE/O METCALF RD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1935 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 21,050

MATADERO RD

Fair

Over: MATADERO CREEK

TIPPAWINGO & JOSINA AVE, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1929 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 3,000

MITCHELL RD-S99 ON

Fair

Over: CERES MAIN CANAL

10-STA-099-R10.03, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1912 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 7,400

STATE ROUTE 4

Fair

Over: DUCK CREEK

10-STA-004-0.88, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1920 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 4,900

STATE ROUTE 132

Fair

Over: WATERFORD CANAL

10-STA-132-25.20, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1916 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 9,100

CROWS LANDING ROAD

Fair

Over: T.I.D. LOWER LATERAL #4

0.5 MI N/O W. MAIN STREET, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1925 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 5,844

AMERICAN AVENUE

Fair

Over: M.I.D. MAIN CANAL

0.3 MI S OF LADD ROAD, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1935 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 139

DENTON ROAD

Fair

Over: T.I.D. MAIN CANAL

0.5 MI N OF LAKE ROAD, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1935 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 240

Showing 851-900 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.