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

GUNN AVE

Good

Over: SORENSEN DRN

0.3MI W/O MULBERRY DRIVE, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 8,466

PAINTER AVE

Good

Over: SORENSEN DRN

0.5MI N/O TELEGRAPH RD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 10,042

PARK SORRENTO

Good

Over: MC COY CYN CRK

0.1MI E/O PK GRANADA, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1968 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 3,978

DON JULIAN RD

Good

Over: STORM DRN BOND ISSUE 528

0.2MI W/O BASETDALE AVE, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1963 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 7,312

PARK CAPRI

Good

Over: MCCOY CYN CRK

300FT S/O PK GRANADA, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1967 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 6,180

BLOOMFIELD AVE

Good

Over: STORM DRN #21

0.3MI N/O DEL AMO BLVD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1962 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 21,640

MULBERRY DR E/XING

Good

Over: LEFFINGWELL CRK

0.2MI E/O LA MIRADA BLVD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1963 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 14,178

GOLD RUN DR

Good

Over: BREA CYN CHAN

0.4MI S/O DIAMOND BAR BLV, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1966 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 12,463

COLD SPRINGS LN

Good

Over: BREA CYN CHAN

0.8MI S/O PATHFINDER RD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1963 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,958

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS R

Good

Over: BREA CYN CHAN

0.5MI S/O PATHFINDER RD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1963 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 5,445

GALWAY AVE

Good

Over: PRIVATE DRN #669

0.3MI E/O AVALON BLVD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1966 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 4,040

ASHBRIDGE DR

Good

Over: PRIVATE DRN #553

0.5MI S/O SEPULVEDA BLVD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1967 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,657

THREE PALMS ST

Good

Over: HACIENDA CRK

0.2MI W/O HACIENDA BLVD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1968 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 29,157

GRANDIFLORAS RD

Good

Over: PRIVATE DRN #771

0.8MI N/O SR-14 FWY, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,020

BEGONIAS LN

Good

Over: PRIVATE DRN #771

0.3MI N/O SR-14 FWY, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 5,665

LIBERTY CYN RD

Good

Over: PRIVATE DRN #571

0.2MI S/O US-101 FWY, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1971 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 4,896

FOXFIELD DR

Good

Over: PRIVATE DRN #792

30FT S/O LINDERO CYN RD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1969 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 690

PARK ENTRADA

Good

Over: PRIVATE DRN #808

200FT N/O PKWY CALABASAS, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,754

LEWIS RD

Good

Over: CHESEBORO CYN CRK

0.1MI S/O US-101 FWY, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,754

BROADWAY

Good

Over: LEFFINGWELL CRK

0.3MI E/O MILLS AVE, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1971 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 6,222

SAN GABR RIV PRKWY

Good

Over: ROSE HILLS CHAN

1.1MI N/O BEVERLY BLVD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 8,858

CHERRY AVE

Good

Over: DOMINGUEZ CHAN

200FT W/O CRENSHAW BLVD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 4,141

VAN NESS AVE

Good

Over: DOMINGUEZ CHAN

0.3MI N/O ARTESIA BLVD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 14,280

COMPT. COLGE ACS R

Good

Over: COMPTON CRK E

0.3MI N/O SR-91 FWY, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1953 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,224

GREENLEAF BLVD

Good

Over: COMPTON CRK E

200FT E/O SANTA FE AVE, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1953 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 8,446

MONLACO RD

Good

Over: LOS CERRITOS DRN

0.2MI W/O BELLFLOWER BLVD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1963 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 816

CENTRALIA ST

Good

Over: LOS CERRITOS DRN

0.4MI W/O BELLFLOWER BLVD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1963 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 4,488

WINDSOR WAY

Good

Over: QUEEN MARY PRK LOT EXIT

0.3MI S/O HARBOR PLZ, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1969 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 14,280

NEW YORK AVE

Good

Over: VERDUGO WASH

0.3MI S/O I-10 FWY, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1967 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 612

BAYBAR RD

Good

Over: OLD SAN JOSE CRK

0.2MI N/O MISSION MILL RD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1966 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 330

ANA ST

Good

Over: PRIVATE DRN #875

0.2MI W/O SUSANA RD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1968 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 4,386

MARIA ST

Good

Over: PRIVATE DRN #880

0.1MI W/O SUSANA RD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1968 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,346

PARKER ST

Good

Over: SAN MARTINEZ CHIQUITO CR

170 FT S/O SAN MARTINEZ, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 101

ARTESIA BLVD

Good

Over: DRN CHAN

0.4MI W/O STUDEBAKER RD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1941 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 31,091

SIERRA LEONE AVE

Good

Over: PRIVATE DRN #208

0.1MI S/O COLIMA RD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1961 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,666

SANTA FE AVE

Good

Over: COMPTON CRK E

0.1MI S/O ALONDRA BLVD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1953 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 28,302

VASQUEZ CYN RD

Good

Over: UNNAMED WASH

0.5MI W/O SIERRA HWY, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1930 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 6,353

SANTA FE AV-ART BL

Good

Over: COMPTON CRK E

0.1MI N/O SR-91 FWY, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1952 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 28,302

WORKMAN AVE

Good

Over: CHARTER OAK WASH

0.3MI W/O BARRANCA AVE, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1966 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 10,035

ORO VISTA AVE.

Good

Over: BIG TUJUNGA WASH

0.3MI N/O BIG TUJUNGA CYN, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1971 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 300

PALMS BLVD

Good

Over: PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

0.42MI E/O SEPULVEDA BLVD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1953 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 24,738

EVERETT DR

Good

Over: SANTA CLARA RIV SF

0.4MI S/O LYONS AVE, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1971 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 816

FOOTHILL BLVD

Good

Over: HALLS BECKLEY CYN CH

0.1MI W/O CASTLE RD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1935 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 24,289

GARVEY AVE

Good

Over: FAIRGROVE STORM DRN

0.3MI W/O BLDWN PK BL, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1956 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 510

OLIVA AVE

Good

Over: DEL AMO BLVD CHAN

50FT S/O DEL AMO ON OLIVA, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1950 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 32,035

RIVERSIDE DR

Good

Over: BUENA VISTA CHAN

50FT S/O US-101 FWY, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1959 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 15,150

LAKEWOOD BLVD

Good

Over: SPRING ST STORM DRN

AT SPRING ST, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1958 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 41,234

LAKEWOOD BLVD

Good

Over: DOUGLAS DRN

0.3MI N/O WARDLOW RD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1966 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 38,690

LAKEWOOD BLVD

Good

Over: DOUGLAS PUC N

0.3MI N/O CONANT ST, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1941 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 35,616

LAKEWOOD BLVD

Good

Over: DEL AMO CHANNEL

07-LA-019-3.98-LBCH, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1952 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 27,000

Showing 14,351-14,400 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.