How many bridges are in California?

California has 27,040 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. View detailed condition data for each bridge on PlainBridges.

What percentage of bridges in California are structurally deficient?

4.6% of bridges in California are classified as structurally deficient by the FHWA, compared to a national average of 7.0%.

State profile · Below national median SD

California bridge safety

Condition ratings, load ratings, and structural-deficiency data for every public highway bridge in California — drawn straight from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory.

Compiled byPlainbridges Editorial, Plain Bridges Editorial Team

27,040
Public bridges: 32.5%
Good condition: 4.6%
Poor condition: 4.6%
Structurally deficient

Total Bridges

27,040

Public highway bridges in California

Good Condition

32.5%

8,777 bridges rated 7-9

-17.5pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

4.6%

1,244 bridges rated 0-4

Structurally Deficient

4.6%

1,244 bridges flagged for repair priority

-2.4pp vs national avg 7.0%

California vs national bridge condition

California — Good condition share 32.5%

National avg

Share of bridges rated 7-9 on the FHWA 0-9 scale (deck, superstructure, substructure all good).

California — Structurally deficient share 15.3%

National avg

Lower is better. Bar maxes at 30% (worst-state ceiling). National average sits at 7.0%.

Condition Distribution

Bridge inventory deck-condition mix - California (FHWA NBI)

Counties (58)

Alameda 800 Alpine 32 Amador 62 Butte 441 Calaveras 106 Colusa 211 Contra Costa 686 Del Norte 96 El Dorado 196 Fresno 929 Glenn 242 Humboldt 398 Imperial 448 Inyo 67 Kern 686 Kings 168 Lake 129 Lassen 108 Los Angeles 3937 Madera 250 Marin 217 Mariposa 109 Mendocino 357 Merced 532 Modoc 87 Mono 49 Monterey 390 Napa 160 Nevada 135 Orange 1224 Placer 347 Plumas 170 Riverside 1142 Sacramento 775 San Benito 76 San Bernardino 1465 San Diego 1707 San Francisco 170 San Joaquin 666 San Luis Obispo 408 San Mateo 393 Santa Barbara 429 Santa Clara 1041 Santa Cruz 203 Shasta 500 Sierra 65 Siskiyou 423 Solano 383 Sonoma 613 Stanislaus 390 Sutter 120 Tehama 452 Trinity 194 Tulare 599 Tuolumne 128 Ventura 511 Yolo 282 Yuba 136

California vs nearby ranks

Adjacent states on the structurally deficient leaderboard (lower share = better)

States are ranked by share of bridges flagged structurally deficient — the FHWA classification for any span where deck, superstructure, or substructure carries a condition rating of 4 or below. Lower percentages indicate stronger maintenance funding and inspection follow-through. States here sit immediately above and below California on the same metric.

Ohio

4.54% top marginal rate

Structure: Progressive
Burden @ $100K: $26,753

New Jersey

4.59% top marginal rate

Structure: Progressive
Burden @ $100K: $6,796

Selected

California

4.60% top marginal rate

Structure: Progressive
Burden @ $100K: $27,040

Arkansas

4.71% top marginal rate

Structure: Progressive
Burden @ $100K: $5,544

Washington

4.81% top marginal rate

Structure: Progressive
Burden @ $100K: $8,808

Bridges Needing Most Attention in California

Six lowest-condition bridges in California, ranked by composite NBI rating. Each is inspected at least every 24 months.

SPRING CREEK RD

Poor

Over: FALL RIVER

0.5 MI N OF MCARTHUR RD, Shasta, CA

Built 1950 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 50

ORESTIMBA ROAD

Poor

Over: CCID MAIN CANAL

0.1 MI E DRAPER RD, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1919 Load: 2.9 t ADT: 684

CLARK STREET

Poor

Over: M.I.D. CANAL

0.1 MI WEST OF ROAD 26.0, Madera, CA

Built 1955 Load: 3.2 t ADT: 200

GULLING STREET

Structurally Deficient

Over: MIDDLE FORK FEATHER RIV

0.2 MI S SH 70, Plumas, CA

Built 1954 Load: 3.2 t ADT: 10,046

AVENUE 10

Poor

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK

JUST E/O ROAD 23, Madera, CA

Built 1950 Load: 3.6 t ADT: 50

S BISHOP AVE

Poor

Over: CRESCENT DITCH

0.64 MI S/O MT WHITNEY AV, Fresno, CA

Built 1950 Load: 3.9 t ADT: 125

All Bridges in California

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California vs national bridge condition

Condition Distribution

Counties (58)

Bridges Needing Most Attention in California

SPRING CREEK RD

ORESTIMBA ROAD

CLARK STREET

GULLING STREET

AVENUE 10

S BISHOP AVE

All Bridges in California

STATE ROUTE 96

BRICELAND-THORNE

12TH AVE

INTERSTATE 5

INTERSTATE 210

ROUTE 2

E210-S605 CONNECTR

SLAUSON AVE

BUENA VISTA-WINONA

MARSHALL ST

DUQUESNE AVE

82ND ST E

CANWOOD ST

LAKE VISTA DR

KELLOGG DR

U.S. HIGHWAY 101

W. GARZAS ROAD

LONOAK ROAD

BUTTS CANYON RD

OLD HWY 49

INTERSTATE 80

STATE ROUTE 70

PAXTON RD

HUMBUG RD

STATE ROUTE 111 NB

INTERSTATE 10 EB

AIRPORT BOULEVARD

STATE ROUTE 160

INTERSTATE 5

INTERSTATE 5

INTERSTATE 8 WB

INTERSTATE 8 EB

INTERSTATE 5 NB

INTERSTATE 5 NB

INTERSTATE 5 NB

JACK TONE RD

US HIGHWAY 101 NB

LAKESIDE AVE

INTERSTATE 280

STATE ROUTE 1 NB

U.S. HIGHWAY 101

CROY RD

SPRECKLES DR

STATE ROUTE 263

INTERSTATE 5

WARD AVENUE

ROAD 168

AVE 280

23S16

STATE ROUTE 126 WB

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