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

COLORADO BLVD

Good

Over: LINDA VISTA AVE

0.2MI E/O SAN RAFAEL AVE, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1954 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 18,346

STATE ROUTE 142

Good

Over: CARBON CANYON

08-SBD-142-0.18, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1928 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 13,600

EB 10 OFF RAMP

Good

Over: OAK GLEN CREEK

08-SBD-010-R36.90-YUCP, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1965 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 12,377

STATE ROUTE 60

Good

Over: SAN TIMOTEO CREEK

08-RIV-060-28.34, Riverside, CA

Built 1936 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 50,000

RAMON ROAD

Good

Over: UP RR & AMTRAK

0.1 MI. W/O ROUTE 10 FWY, Riverside, CA

Built 1962 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 26,402

RAGSDALE ROAD

Good

Over: FINEVIEW DITCH

2.2 MI E/O EAGLE MTN ROAD, Riverside, CA

Built 1932 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 200

INTERSTATE 8 WB

Good

Over: HARBISON CANYON RD

11-SD-008-R25.69, San Diego, CA

Built 1966 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 24,500

INTERSTATE 8 EB

Good

Over: HARBISON CANYON RD

11-SD-008-R25.68, San Diego, CA

Built 1966 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 24,500

INTERSTATE 15 NB

Good

Over: NATIONAL AVE

11-SD-015-R0.21R-SD, San Diego, CA

Built 1978 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 48,000

OCEANVIEW BLVD

Good

Over: I-15 RAMPS CHOLLAS CRK

11-SD-015-R0.59-SD, San Diego, CA

Built 1978 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 11,200

STATE ROUTE 86 NB

Good

Over: BERSA DITCH

11-IMP-086-60.14, Imperial, CA

Built 1981 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 7,300

STATE ROUTE 86 NB

Good

Over: INCIENSO DITCH

11-IMP-086-63.34, Imperial, CA

Built 1979 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 7,300

STATE ROUTE 86 NB

Good

Over: MATIS DITCH

11-IMP-086-64.63, Imperial, CA

Built 1981 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 7,200

STATE ROUTE 86 NB

Good

Over: ROMNEY DITCH

11-IMP-086-64.83, Imperial, CA

Built 1981 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 7,200

STATE ROUTE 86 NB

Good

Over: ZANTHE DITCH

11-IMP-086-65.22, Imperial, CA

Built 1981 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 7,200

STATE ROUTE 86 NB

Good

Over: COOLIDGE SPRINGS DITCH

11-IMP-086-65.35, Imperial, CA

Built 1981 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 7,200

STATE ROUTE 86 NB

Good

Over: SHORELINE DITCH

11-IMP-086-65.68, Imperial, CA

Built 1981 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 7,200

STATE ROUTE 111

Good

Over: CHICO WASH

11-IMP-111-42.35, Imperial, CA

Built 1950 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 3,650

STATE ROUTE 111

Good

Over: BUG WASH

11-IMP-111-44.82, Imperial, CA

Built 1950 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 3,600

STATE ROUTE 111

Good

Over: SAND WASH

11-IMP-111-47.35, Imperial, CA

Built 1950 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 3,600

INTERSTATE 8 EB

Good

Over: ALL AMERCN CANAL ANDRADE

11-IMP-008-R90.99, Imperial, CA

Built 1973 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 10,200

WINDING ROAD

Good

Over: STEELY FORK COSUMNES

NO DATA ENTERED, El Dorado, CA

Built 1975 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 50

RATTLESNAKE RIDGE

Good

Over: RATTLESNAKE CREEK

HELLS GATE CAMPGROUND, Trinity, CA

Built 1965 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 50

INTERSTATE 5

Good

Over: KILLGORE HILLS ROAD

02-SIS-005-R42.51, Siskiyou, CA

Built 1970 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 8,550

INTERSTATE 5

Good

Over: KILLGORE HILLS ROAD

02-SIS-005-R42.51, Siskiyou, CA

Built 1970 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 8,550

STATE ROUTE 36

Good

Over: HELY CREEK

01-HUM-036-11.46, Humboldt, CA

Built 1927 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 1,650

FOREST ROAD 360

Good

Over: NORTH FK OF S FK NOYO

1 MI N ROAD 300, Mendocino, CA

Built 1958 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 30

FOREST ROAD 300

Good

Over: NORTH FK OF SOUT FK NOYO

NE/O SAN FELIPE RD, Mendocino, CA

Built 1958 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 50

WESTSIDE RD

Good

Over: PORTER CREEK

1.0 MI N WOHLER BR, Sonoma, CA

Built 1921 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 1,738

YULUPA AVE

Good

Over: MATANZAS CREEK

0.2 M SOUTH CREEKSIDE RD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1961 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 10,000

ROCKVILLE ROAD

Good

Over: LEDGEWOOD CREEK

NEAR JUNCTION HWY 12 W/80, Solano, CA

Built 1980 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 5,950

LEWIS ROAD

Good

Over: NEW ULATIS CREEK

0.6 MI N HAWKINS RD, Solano, CA

Built 1964 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 1,439

STATE ROUTE 99

Good

Over: WHITEHOUSE CREEK

03-SAC-099-14.63, Sacramento, CA

Built 1956 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 120,000

DILLARD ROAD

Good

Over: STATE ROUTE 99

03-SAC-099-7.36, Sacramento, CA

Built 1958 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 2,470

US 50-RAMP A13-WB

Good

Over: I-5 C12 A4 BROADWAY

03-SAC-050-L0.26-SAC, Sacramento, CA

Built 1971 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 17,600

CHRISTENSEN RD

Good

Over: DEADMAN GULCH

0.9 MI S TWIN CITIES RD, Sacramento, CA

Built 1986 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 602

PATTON AVENUE

Good

Over: CRIPPLE CREEK

0.1 MI S TWIN OAKS AVE, Sacramento, CA

Built 1960 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 700

ELVERTA RD

Good

Over: NORTH CHANNEL DRY CREEK

BTWN 28TH ST GBSN RN PK R, Sacramento, CA

Built 1960 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 5,200

ST MARYS ROAD

Good

Over: LAS TRAMPAS CREEK

1.1 MI N RHEEM BLVD, Contra Costa, CA

Built 1975 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 10,570

VINEYARDS PKWY

Good

Over: MARSH CREEK

0.1 MI W/O MARSH CREEK RD, Contra Costa, CA

Built 2007 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 302

ORINDA BALLFLD LN

Good

Over: QUERCUS CREEK

.1 MI E OF WILDER RD, Contra Costa, CA

Built 2011 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 300

EAST LOCKEFORD ST

Good

Over: STATE ROUTE 99

10-SJ-099-31.03-LOD, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1963 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 4,000

JACK TONE ROAD

Good

Over: PADDY CREEK NORTH

NEAR KETTLEMAN LANE, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1962 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 2,471

LONE TREE RD

Good

Over: LONE TREE CREEK

0.3 MI W OF STA CO LINE, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1922 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 1,022

INTERSTATE 980

Good

Over: 30TH STREET

04-ALA-980-1.68-OAK, Alameda, CA

Built 1969 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 57,500

INTERSTATE 980

Good

Over: 30TH STREET

04-ALA-980-1.68-OAK, Alameda, CA

Built 1969 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 57,500

52ND-W24 ON RAMP

Good

Over: E24-ML KING JR OFF RAMP

04-ALA-024-R2.59-OAK, Alameda, CA

Built 1970 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 6,000

BAYSHORE BLVD

Good

Over: HILLSIDE

BAYSHORE AND 101, San Francisco, CA

Built 1970 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 1,000

SANTA CRUZ AVE

Good

Over: SANTA CRUZ AV NB OFF-RMP

04-SCL-017-6.16-LGTS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1956 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 39,400

BLANEY AVENUE

Good

Over: INTERSTATE 280

04-SCL-280-8.96-CPO, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1965 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 8,460

Showing 14,851-14,900 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.