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

AVENUE 56

Good

Over: FRIANT-KERN CANAL

0.45 MI WEST OF ROAD 192, Tulare, CA

Built 1949 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 665

AVENUE 24

Good

Over: FRIANT-KERN CANAL

0.05 MI WEST OF ROAD 184, Tulare, CA

Built 1950 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 150

HERRING RD

Good

Over: STATE ROUTE 99

06-KER-099-9.30, Kern, CA

Built 1967 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 951

ZERKER RD

Good

Over: FRIANT-KERN CANAL

2.2 MI N 7TH STANDARD RD, Kern, CA

Built 1950 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 1,650

E10-S57&N57 CONN

Good

Over: KELLOGG DR

07-LA-010-42.10-POM, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1972 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 8,200

TRABUCO CANYON RD.

Good

Over: TRABUCO CREEK

1.4 MI N/O SNTA MARGARITA, Orange, CA

Built 1980 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 3,000

INTERSTATE 10

Good

Over: SAN GORGONIO WASH

08-RIV-010-R16.14-BAN, Riverside, CA

Built 1940 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 111,000

WYNOLA ROAD

Good

Over: BANNER CREEK

25 FT W/O SR 78, San Diego, CA

Built 1944 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 138

CECILVILLE ROAD

Good

Over: MATHEWS CREEK

8.5 MI N/O EDDY GULCH RD, Siskiyou, CA

Built 1940 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 101

STATE ROUTE 254

Good

Over: ELK CREEK

01-HUM-254-10.43, Humboldt, CA

Built 1940 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 565

FIELDBROOK RD

Good

Over: SQUAW CREEK

2.9 MI N/E OF RTE 299, Humboldt, CA

Built 1951 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 1,173

STATE ROUTE 49

Good

Over: DOWNIE RIVER

03-SIE-049-16.75, Sierra, CA

Built 1938 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 1,200

MAYBERT ROAD

Good

Over: CANYON CREEK

2.8 MI E OF WASHINGTON RD, Nevada, CA

Built 2017 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 120

STRIPLIN RD

Good

Over: COON CREEK

0.7 MI E GARWOOD RD, Sutter, CA

Built 1925 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 140

DOWD ROAD

Good

Over: SOUTH SUTTER CANAL

1.4 MI E SUTTER CO LINE, Placer, CA

Built 1960 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 2,060

NUT TREE RD

Good

Over: ULATIS CREEK

0.62 MI N/O ELMIRA RD, Solano, CA

Built 1970 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 13,400

I STREET

Good

Over: PARKING LOT

03-SAC-005-23.80-SAC, Sacramento, CA

Built 1937 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 6,000

US 50-RAMP C30-WB

Good

Over: I-5 VAR RAMP VAR ST

03-SAC-005-22.54-SAC, Sacramento, CA

Built 1971 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 14,200

GERBER RD

Good

Over: HORSE CREEK

0.2 MI W OF BRADSHAW, Sacramento, CA

Built 1948 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 7,409

ESCALON-BELLOTA RD

Good

Over: DUCK CREEK

0.4 MI NORTH OF S.H. 4, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1928 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 1,607

CRESTVIEW DRIVE

Good

Over: SULLIVAN CREEK

0.1 MI SOUTH OF CREEKSIDE, Tuolumne, CA

Built 1960 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 1,480

STATE ROUTE 236

Good

Over: BOULDER CREEK

05-SCR-236-2.86, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1921 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 1,350

STATE ROUTE 9

Good

Over: SAN LORENZO RIVER

05-SCR-009-13.61, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1937 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 12,100

ROAD 200

Good

Over: LITTLE FINE GOLD CREEK

9.4 MI NE STATE RTE 41, Madera, CA

Built 1950 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 1,200

CONNER ST

Good

Over: PORTER SLOUGH

.3 MI N SR190 @SUCCESS DR, Tulare, CA

Built 1946 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 1,725

COTTAGE ST

Good

Over: PORTER SLOUGH

0.2 MI E SR 65, Tulare, CA

Built 1957 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 2,200

US HIGHWAY 101 NB

Good

Over: NIPOMO CREEK

05-SLO-101-1.36, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1957 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 28,000

OLD RIVER RD

Good

Over: INTERSTATE 5

06-KER-005-29.07, Kern, CA

Built 1967 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 2,955

HANAWALT AVE

Good

Over: FRIANT-KERN CANAL

0.15 MI EAST OF DRIVER RD, Kern, CA

Built 1948 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 200

US HIGHWAY 101 SB

Good

Over: NOJOQUI CREEK

05-SB-101-54.85, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1956 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 11,000

US HIGHWAY 101 NB

Good

Over: NOJOQUI CREEK

05-SB-101-54.85, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1956 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 11,000

STATE ROUTE 150

Good

Over: SISAR CREEK

07-VEN-150-28.48, Ventura, CA

Built 1958 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 3,150

STATE ROUTE 2

Good

Over: FERN CANYON

07-LA-002-29.55, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1931 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 3,700

ATLANTIC TO N71O

Good

Over: LOS ANGELES RIVER

07-LA-710-13.09-LBCH, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1971 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 5,250

INTERSTATE 40 EB

Good

Over: ROUTE 95

08-SBD-040-R143.74-NED, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1973 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 9,000

STATE ROUTE 91

Good

Over: STATE ROUTE 71

08-RIV-091-R2.08-COR, Riverside, CA

Built 1970 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 264,000

INTERSTATE 8 EB

Good

Over: PEUTZ VALLEY RD

11-SD-008-R26.73, San Diego, CA

Built 1969 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 17,000

STATE ROUTE 78

Good

Over: CONDIT DITCH

11-IMP-078-8.23, Imperial, CA

Built 1949 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 1,200

WINDING ROAD

Good

Over: NF STANISLAUS RIVER

NO DATA ENTERED, Tuolumne, CA

Built 1971 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 300

STATE ROUTE 254

Good

Over: OHMAN CREEK

01-HUM-254-0.88, Humboldt, CA

Built 1939 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 690

FERN RD

Good

Over: GLENDENNING CREEK

0.3 MI N WHITMORE RD, Shasta, CA

Built 1930 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 321

LONG HOLLOW ROAD

Good

Over: BURCH CREEK

AT BUTTE MOUNTAIN RD, Tehama, CA

Built 1974 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 60

ARLINGTON RD

Good

Over: INDIAN CREEK

0.1 MI W/O BCKW-GRNV RD, Plumas, CA

Built 1964 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 280

WATT AVE

Good

Over: CHICKEN RANCH SLOUGH

0.3 MI N MARCONI AVE, Sacramento, CA

Built 1938 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 54,658

J STREET

Good

Over: PARKING

BTWN RTE 5/SACRAMENTO RIV, Sacramento, CA

Built 1969 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 18,893

STATE ROUTE 108

Good

Over: S FORK STANISLAUS RIVER

10-TUO-108-31.24, Tuolumne, CA

Built 1937 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 5,100

COLUMBIA WAY

Good

Over: WOODS CREEK

0.3 MI N OF SR 49, Tuolumne, CA

Built 1912 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 375

FREEDOM BOULEVARD

Good

Over: STATE ROUTE 1

05-SCR-001-8.35, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1969 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 10,700

CENTRAL EXPRWY WB

Good

Over: SAN TOMAS AQUINO CREEK

0.25 MI N SAN TOMAS EXPY, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1963 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 36,160

DOREL DRIVE

Good

Over: PENITENCIA CREEK

PENITENCIA CREEK RD., Santa Clara, CA

Built 1965 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 55

Showing 13,251-13,300 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.