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

ROBLAR RD

Good

Over: AMERICANO CREEK

0.7 MI E JCT VALY FORD RD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1964 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,200

STATE ROUTE 29

Good

Over: AMERICAN CANYON CREEK

04-NAP-029-0.56, Napa, CA

Built 1943 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 48,000

SILVERADO TRAIL

Good

Over: SODA SPRINGS CREEK

0.06 MI N SODA CANYON, Napa, CA

Built 1972 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 3,211

BUTTS CANYON RD

Good

Over: FP CREEK

3.5 MI S LAKE COUNTY LINE, Napa, CA

Built 1968 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 240

MULBERRY ST

Good

Over: HOPPER CREEK

0.2 MI E YOUNT ST, Napa, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 785

CAPELL CROSS RD

Good

Over: CAPELL CREEK

0.1 MI W/O SR 128, Napa, CA

Built 1955 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 100

WINE COUNTRY AVE

Good

Over: NAPA DRAIN

AT SOLANO AVE, Napa, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 3,853

COUNTY ROAD 99W

Good

Over: BRETONA CREEK

03-YOL-005-R20.75, Yolo, CA

Built 1920 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 22,400

COUNTY ROAD 99W

Good

Over: OVERFLOW DITCH

0.53 MI SE OF CR 4, Yolo, CA

Built 1920 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,256

COUNTY ROAD 99W

Good

Over: SLOUGH S7

0.37 MI SE OF CR 96, Yolo, CA

Built 1921 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,500

C.R. 20A

Good

Over: WINTERS CANAL

0.32 MI E OF C.R. 85B, Yolo, CA

Built 1939 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 374

COUNTY ROAD 94

Good

Over: WILLOW SPRING CREEK

0.01 MI SOUTH OF CR 13, Yolo, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 700

INTERSTATE 780 EB

Good

Over: WEST 7TH STREET

04-SOL-780-2.96-BEN, Solano, CA

Built 1962 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 23,500

INTERSTATE 780 WB

Good

Over: WEST 7TH STREET

04-SOL-780-2.96-BEN, Solano, CA

Built 1962 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 23,500

LOPES ROAD

Good

Over: JAMESON CANYON CREEK

1.0 MI S OF I-80, Solano, CA

Built 1915 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 4,470

SWAN RD

Good

Over: V DRAIN

1.5 MI W LIBERTY ISLND RD, Solano, CA

Built 1957 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 134

POWER INN RD

Good

Over: FLORIN CREEK

0.25 MI S OF FLORIN RD, Sacramento, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 27,450

FOLSOM BOULEVARD

Good

Over: ALDER CREEK

0.2 MI S/W OF U.S. 50, Sacramento, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 4,545

SAN JUAN RD

Good

Over: EAST DRAINAGE CANAL

0.1 MI E AIRPORT RD, Sacramento, CA

Built 1965 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,773

SOUTH WATT AVE

Good

Over: CONVEYOR BELT

0.3 MI S OF STATE RTE 16, Sacramento, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 25,371

FLORIN RD

Good

Over: FLORIN CREEK

0.6 MI W FLORIN PERKIN RD, Sacramento, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 18,823

HOWE AVE

Good

Over: CHICKEN RANCH SLOUGH

0.1 MI SOUTH ARDEN WAY, Sacramento, CA

Built 1965 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 35,845

GREENBACK LANE

Good

Over: ARCADE CREEK

0.55 MI EAST OF I-80, Sacramento, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 70,140

FLORIN RD (SACTO)

Good

Over: ANDERSON DRAIN

0.1 MI E/O WOODBINE, Sacramento, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 32,880

NORWOOD AVE

Good

Over: MAGPIE DRAIN

N/O INTERSTATE 80, Sacramento, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 12,000

ACACIA AVE

Good

Over: HAGGINWOOD CREEK

100 E RIO LINDA BLVD, Sacramento, CA

Built 1965 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,479

BRANCH ST

Good

Over: HAGGINWOOD CREEK

0.05MI N/O ALAMOS AVE, Sacramento, CA

Built 1964 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 832

BELDEN ST

Good

Over: HAGGINWOOD CREEK

0.05 MI N/O ALAMOS AVE., Sacramento, CA

Built 1964 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 460

CLAY ST

Good

Over: HAGGINWOOD CREEK

BETWEEN ACACIA & ALAMOS, Sacramento, CA

Built 1964 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 424

ARNO RD

Good

Over: BADGER CREEK

0.8 MI W COLONY RD, Sacramento, CA

Built 1981 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,020

SAN JUAN RD

Good

Over: HIGHLINE CANAL

.45 MI W/O NORTHGATE BLVD, Sacramento, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 15,149

EDMONTON DR

Good

Over: HIGHLINE CANAL

.05 MI E/OF MONTVIEW WAY, Sacramento, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,800

25TH ST

Good

Over: ANDERSON DRAIN

0.1 MI S OF FLORIN RD, Sacramento, CA

Built 1955 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 501

COTTAGE WAY

Good

Over: CHICKEN RANCH SLOUGH

0.1 MI E OF HOWE AVE, Sacramento, CA

Built 1965 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 4,637

ARMSTRONG DR

Good

Over: STRONG RANCH SLOUGH

0.1 MI E FULTON AVE, Sacramento, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 722

ANTELOPE ROAD

Good

Over: CRIPPLE CREEK

0.35 MI W AUBURN BLVD, Sacramento, CA

Built 1965 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 22,294

SYLVAN ROAD

Good

Over: ARCADE CREEK

0.4 MI S AUBURN BLVD, Sacramento, CA

Built 1965 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 27,244

MARIPOSA AVENUE

Good

Over: MARIPOSA CREEK

JUST NORTH OF COOK AVE, Sacramento, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 3,071

CROSSWOODS CIRCLE

Good

Over: ARCADE CREEK

0.1 MI S CROSSWOODS PKWY, Sacramento, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,100

CALVIN DRIVE

Good

Over: CRIPPLE CREEK

0.15 MI E VAN MAREN WY, Sacramento, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 5,200

KARA DR

Good

Over: FLORIN CREEK

JUST SOUTH FLORIN RD, Sacramento, CA

Built 1968 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 800

SYLVAN ROAD

Good

Over: SAN JUAN CREEK

0.4 MI N GREENBACK LANE, Sacramento, CA

Built 1967 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 27,244

ALTA ARDEN

Good

Over: STRONG RANCH SLOUGH

0.22 MI E FULTON AVE, Sacramento, CA

Built 1972 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 18,444

ANTELOPE ROAD

Good

Over: CRIPPLE CREEK TRIBUTARY

0.35 MI EAST OF I-80, Sacramento, CA

Built 1959 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 29,403

WATT AVENUE

Good

Over: SIERRA CREEK

0.5 MI S/O ELVERTA ROAD, Sacramento, CA

Built 1963 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 24,943

MAPLE GLEN RD

Good

Over: STRONG RANCH SLOUGH

100 FT W/O CASCADE RD, Sacramento, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 531

MISSION AVE

Good

Over: CHICKEN RANCH SLOUGH

50 FT N/O NORTH AVE, Sacramento, CA

Built 1980 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 3,911

WINDING CREEK RD

Good

Over: STRONG RANCH SLOUGH

400 W ROCKWOOD DR, Sacramento, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 688

COTTAGE WAY

Good

Over: STRONG RANCH SLOUGH

285 FT E/O RICHMOND ST, Sacramento, CA

Built 1957 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 6,836

GOLD COUNTRY BLVD

Good

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

120 FT E/O SUNRISE BLVD, Sacramento, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 10,500

Showing 14,001-14,050 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.