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

SR 12

Good

Over: PURPLE DRAW

04-SON-012-9.84, Sonoma, CA

Built 1995 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 23,050

STATE ROUTE 12

Good

Over: TYLERS DRAINAGE

04-SON-012-23.00, Sonoma, CA

Built 1950 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 21,000

US HIGHWAY 101 SB

Good

Over: SR 116 & NWP RR & DITCH

04-SON-101-3.65-PET, Sonoma, CA

Built 2007 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 43,000

US HIGHWAY 101

Good

Over: WEST RAILROAD AVENUE

04-SON-101-10.67, Sonoma, CA

Built 2011 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 90,000

OLD REDWOOD HWY N

Good

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

04-SON-101-7.65-PET, Sonoma, CA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,000

STATE ROUTE 128

Good

Over: REDWOOD CREEK

04-SON-128-21.78, Sonoma, CA

Built 2011 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,900

KASTANIA ROAD

Good

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

04-SON-101-2.60-PET, Sonoma, CA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,000

US HIGHWAY 101

Good

Over: PETALUMA RIVER

04-SON-101-3.23-PET, Sonoma, CA

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 76,000

OFFRAMP NB RTE 101

Good

Over: MARK WEST CREEK

04-SON-101-26.12, Sonoma, CA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,000

US HIGHWAY 101

Good

Over: STEELE LANE

04-SON-101-21.74-SRO, Sonoma, CA

Built 2009 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 96,000

U.S. ROUTE 101 NB

Good

Over: SMART RAILROAD TRACKS

04-SON-101-5.74-PET, Sonoma, CA

Built 2022 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 51,500

STATE ROUTE 116

Good

Over: LAGUNA DE SANTA ROSA TRB

04-SON-116-31.15, Sonoma, CA

Built 2020 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 18,000

STATE ROUTE 1

Good

Over: SCOTTY CREEK

04-SON-001-15.21, Sonoma, CA

Built 2023 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,200

STATE ROUTE 12

Good

Over: SONOMA CREEK

04-SON-012-25.82, Sonoma, CA

Built 2023 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 26,400

STATE ROUTE 12

Good

Over: HOOKER CREEK

04-SON-012-33.31, Sonoma, CA

Built 2023 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,900

HAHMAN DR

Good

Over: SPRING CREEK

0.1 M SOUTH SPRING CREEK, Sonoma, CA

Built 1960 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,000

STWRT PT-SKGG SPRG

Good

Over: SOUTH FORK GUALALA RIVER

2.5 MI E OF SH 1, Sonoma, CA

Built 1984 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 300

KING RIDGE RD

Good

Over: AUSTIN CREEK

0.5 MI N FORT ROSS RD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1958 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 200

OAKMONT DRIVE

Good

Over: GOLF CREEK

OAKMONT AREA OF SANTA RSA, Sonoma, CA

Built 1981 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 500

OLD REDWOOD HWY

Good

Over: EAST WINDSOR CREEK

0.1 MI S.E. OF SH101, Sonoma, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20,000

FOUNTAIN GROVE PKW

Good

Over: CHANATE ROAD

AT CHANATE ROAD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1997 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,000

YULUPA AVENUE

Good

Over: SANTA ROSA CREEK

0.1 MI N MONTGOMERY DR., Sonoma, CA

Built 1996 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,200

MOUNTAIN HAWK WAY

Good

Over: SKY HAWK CREEK

0.2 MI N/O SR 12, Sonoma, CA

Built 1995 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,320

WILD LILAC LANE

Good

Over: RINCON CREEK

NEAR BRUSH CREEK ROAD, Sonoma, CA

Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,800

GRANGE ROAD

Good

Over: MATANZAS CREEK

.1MI S BENNETT VALLEY RD, Sonoma, CA

Built 2005 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,250

WINDSOR ROAD

Good

Over: WINDSOR CREEK

AT VINTAGE GREENS ROAD, Sonoma, CA

Built 2005 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,000

CONDE LANE

Good

Over: PRUITT CREEK

0.1 MI N OF SHILOH ROAD, Sonoma, CA

Built 2008 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,000

CROSS CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: MARK WEST CREEK S BRANCH

BY RIEBLI ROAD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,000

MOUNTAIN HAWK WAY

Good

Over: SKY HAWK CREEK

E OF SAN RAMON WAY, Sonoma, CA

Built 1995 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,320

STONE BRIDGE ROAD

Good

Over: MEADOW CREEK

0.6 MI W OF OAKMONT DR, Sonoma, CA

Built 1978 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,000

WILD OAK DRIVE

Good

Over: OAKMONT CREEK

SW OF OAKMONT DRIVE, Sonoma, CA

Built 1963 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,000

BURGESS DRIVE

Good

Over: COLGAN CREEK FLOOD C CHN

NORTH OF BELLEVUE AVENUE, Sonoma, CA

Built 1994 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 500

VALDES COURT

Good

Over: PINER CREEK

NW OF VALDES DRIVE, Sonoma, CA

Built 1976 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 200

MONTECITO BLVD

Good

Over: DUCKER CREEK

S OF BAIRD BLVD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1983 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,000

WILLOW CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: WILLOW CREEK

1.45 MI E/O SR 1, Sonoma, CA

Built 2011 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 170

HAUSER BR RD

Good

Over: SOUTH FORK GUALALA RIVER

5 MI. EAST OF SEAVIEW RD., Sonoma, CA

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100

BOYES BLVD

Good

Over: SONOMA CREEK

JUST EAST OF RIVERSIDE DR, Sonoma, CA

Built 2022 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,600

STATE ROUTE 128

Good

Over: NAPA RIVER

04-NAP-128-5.25, Napa, CA

Built 1981 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,075

STATE ROUTE 128

Good

Over: CYRUS CREEK

04-NAP-128-3.74, Napa, CA

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 9,800

STATE ROUTE 29 SB

Good

Over: CFNR & PAOLI LOOP ROAD

04-NAP-029-R2.37, Napa, CA

Built 1979 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 22,625

STATE ROUTE 29 NB

Good

Over: CFNR & PAOLI LOOP ROAD

04-NAP-029-R2.37, Napa, CA

Built 1979 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 22,625

ST RTE 29 BYWAY E

Good

Over: CRAIG CREEK

04-NAP-029-14.11-NAP, Napa, CA

Built 1958 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 43,000

STATE ROUTE 29

Good

Over: PERFUME CREEK

04-NAP-029-17.81-YNTV, Napa, CA

Built 1963 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 43,000

STATE ROUTE 121

Good

Over: TULUCAY CREEK

04-NAP-121-R5.71, Napa, CA

Built 1949 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 27,000

SR 29

Good

Over: TO KALON CREEK

04-NAP-029-22.36, Napa, CA

Built 1995 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 28,000

SR 29

Good

Over: BALE SLOUGH

04-NAP-029-25.40, Napa, CA

Built 1995 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 26,000

STATE ROUTE 121

Good

Over: CAPELL CREEK

04-NAP-121-20.29, Napa, CA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,450

STATE ROUTE 29

Good

Over: TROUTDALE CREEK

04-NAP-029-47.20, Napa, CA

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 9,000

STATE ROUTE 29

Good

Over: NAPA RIVER

04-NAP-029-37.03-CSTG, Napa, CA

Built 2019 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 14,000

STATE ROUTE 128

Good

Over: CONN CREEK

04-NAP-128-R7.41, Napa, CA

Built 2020 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,300

Showing 16,801-16,850 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.