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

LA BRUCHERIE RD

Fair

Over: NEW RIVER

0.6 MI N/O KUBLER RD, Imperial, CA

Built 1973 Load: 56.4 t ADT: 800

LA BRUCHERIE RD

Fair

Over: CENTRAL MAIN CANAL

2.9 MI S/O MCCABE RD, Imperial, CA

Built 1973 Load: 56.4 t ADT: 800

INTERSTATE 5 SB

Fair

Over: HENLEY WAY

02-SIS-005-R61.55, Siskiyou, CA

Built 1974 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 7,650

ANDERSON GRADE RD

Fair

Over: YREKA CREEK

0.1 MI E OF SR 263, Siskiyou, CA

Built 1971 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 90

MEYERS ROAD

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

0.3 MI E DESCHUTES RD, Shasta, CA

Built 1960 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 200

HEARN AVENUE

Fair

Over: U.S. HIGHWAY 101 & RAMPS

04-SON-101-18.49, Sonoma, CA

Built 1957 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 5,000

YERVA BUENA AVE

Fair

Over: THOMPSON CREEK

S/O SAN FELIPE RD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1991 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 1,160

S HOWARD AVE

Fair

Over: STINSON CANAL

0.4 MI N OF CERINI AVE, Fresno, CA

Built 1925 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 200

INTERSTATE 210

Fair

Over: FIRST STREET

07-LA-210-R39.36-AZU, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1968 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 250,000

ALISO CYN RD

Fair

Over: ALISO CYN CRK

2.1MI W/O ANGLS FOR HWY, Los Angeles, CA

Built 2000 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 1,273

ROUTE 91

Fair

Over: BUENA VISTA AVENUE

08-RIV-091-5.70-COR, Riverside, CA

Built 1961 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 268,000

INTERSTATE 15 NB

Fair

Over: VALLEY PARKWAY

11-SD-015-R30.63-ESD, San Diego, CA

Built 1977 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 90,500

OCEANVIEW BLVD

Fair

Over: SO. BRANCH CHOLLAS CREEK

0.25 MI E/O 40TH ST, San Diego, CA

Built 1982 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 10,300

ISLAND ROAD

Fair

Over: SCOTT RIVER OVERFLOW

0.5 MI E HOLZHAUSER LANE, Siskiyou, CA

Built 1977 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 158

MATTOLE ROAD

Fair

Over: BEAR RIVER

SOUTH OF PRESCOTT ROAD, Humboldt, CA

Built 1974 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 231

REEDS CREEK RD

Fair

Over: MIDDLE FORK REEDS CREEK

6.6 MI E PETTYJOHN RD, Tehama, CA

Built 1951 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 1,660

MAXWELL-COLUSA RD

Fair

Over: INTERSTATE ROUTE 5

03-COL-005-R26.73, Colusa, CA

Built 1971 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 2,000

ROCKLIN RD

Fair

Over: SECRET RAVINE

0.3 MI E OF I-80, Placer, CA

Built 1983 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 5,700

EXCELSIOR AVE

Fair

Over: FRESNO SLOUGH

.1 MI W/O GRANTLAND AVE, Fresno, CA

Built 1970 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 90

STATE ROUTE 120

Fair

Over: HILLSIDE

09-MNO-120-R3.71, Mono, CA

Built 1966 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 5,320

STATE ROUTE 118

Fair

Over: MEJICO CREEK

07-VEN-118-14.53, Ventura, CA

Built 1978 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 22,000

STATE ROUTE 86 NB

Fair

Over: ANITA DITCH

08-RIV-086-0.84, Riverside, CA

Built 1979 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 15,300

INTERSTATE 10 WB

Fair

Over: ARZC RR & MAIN STREET

08-RIV-010-R152.43-BLY, Riverside, CA

Built 1972 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 26,000

N86-W10 CONNECTOR

Fair

Over: INTERSTATE 10 EB

08-RIV-086-R22.94-IND, Riverside, CA

Built 1972 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 35,500

TRIGGS AVENUE

Fair

Over: ROUTE 5

07-LA-005-12.92-CMRC, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1950 Load: 57.1 t ADT: 2,820

STATE STREET

Fair

Over: W10-S5&101 CONNECTOR

07-LA-010-18.52-LA, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1934 Load: 57.1 t ADT: 20,000

INTERSTATE 5 NB

Fair

Over: SOTO STREET

07-LA-005-16.59-LA, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1960 Load: 57.1 t ADT: 115,500

DISNEY PARKING ROA

Fair

Over: EAST FORK KAWEAH RIVER

24 MI. EAST OF JCT. HWY., Tulare, CA

Built 2013 Load: 57.1 t ADT: 20

WEST SIDE ROAD

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK KINGS RIVER

KINGS CANYON HWY. MP 28.8, Fresno, CA

Built 2013 Load: 57.1 t ADT: 300

STATE HIGHWAY 41

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK MERCED RIVER

0.1 mile south from Range, Mariposa, CA

Built 2007 Load: 57.1 t ADT: 2,403

ISLAND ROAD

Fair

Over: SCOTT RIVER OVERFLOW

0.2 MI W OF EASTSIDE RD, Siskiyou, CA

Built 1977 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 161

STATE ROUTE 299

Fair

Over: FALL RIVER

02-SHA-299-91.39, Shasta, CA

Built 1933 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 3,250

ROAD 67

Fair

Over: ANGEL SLOUGH

0.2 MI E OF CO RD Z, Glenn, CA

Built 1972 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 91

HOPE COURT

Fair

Over: PINYON CREEK

EAST OF BADGER LANE, Nevada, CA

Built 2004 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 1,000

DRAIS RD

Fair

Over: NORTH BRANCH CHANNEL A

0.4 MI S COPPEROPOLIS RD, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1976 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 314

PESCADERO RD

Fair

Over: PESCADERO CREEK

3 MI E BUTANO CUTT-OFF, San Mateo, CA

Built 1937 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 620

BEACH PARK BLVD

Fair

Over: FOSTER CITY LAGOON

0.1 MI E EDGEWATER BLVD, San Mateo, CA

Built 1975 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 9,750

ELKHORN GRADE

Fair

Over: STINSON CANAL

0.55 MI N OF CERINI AVE, Fresno, CA

Built 1925 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 50

ALVARADO ST SEP

Fair

Over: ROUTE 101

07-LA-101-2.86-LA, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1948 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 265,000

U.S. HIGHWAY 101

Fair

Over: FALLBROOK AVE

07-LA-101-26.45-LA, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1957 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 202,000

26TH ST

Fair

Over: ATLANTIC BOULEVARD

0.2MI E/O BANDINI BLVD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 2008 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 24,960

INTERSTATE 10 WB

Fair

Over: DILLON ROAD

08-RIV-010-R58.89-COA, Riverside, CA

Built 1972 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 11,250

INTERSTATE 10 EB

Fair

Over: DILLON ROAD

08-RIV-010-R58.89-COA, Riverside, CA

Built 1972 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 11,250

INTERSTATE 8 WB

Fair

Over: LA POSTA CR LA POSTA RD

11-SD-008-R56.83L, San Diego, CA

Built 1974 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 8,350

KEYSTONE RD

Fair

Over: ALAMO RIVER

1.5 MI E/O MCCONNELL RD, Imperial, CA

Built 1979 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 922

CANYON RD

Fair

Over: BERRY CREEK

0.2 MI E JCT WITH E RD, Mendocino, CA

Built 1966 Load: 57.7 t ADT: 501

SKYWAY AVENUE

Fair

Over: LTL CHICO-BUTTE CR DV CH

0.4 MI NW HUMBUG ROAD, Butte, CA

Built 1978 Load: 57.7 t ADT: 11,000

INTERSTATE 580

Fair

Over: 14TH AVENUE

04-ALA-580-R42.07-OAK, Alameda, CA

Built 1963 Load: 57.7 t ADT: 182,000

INTERSTATE 580

Fair

Over: 14TH AVENUE

04-ALA-580-R42.07-OAK, Alameda, CA

Built 1963 Load: 57.7 t ADT: 182,000

W380-N101 CONNECTR

Fair

Over: NORTH CHANNEL

04-SM-380-6.48-SBR, San Mateo, CA

Built 1976 Load: 57.7 t ADT: 1,700

Showing 12,151-12,200 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.