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

BOGERT TRAIL

Good

Over: PALM CANYON WASH

0.9 MI E/O PALM CANYON DR, Riverside, CA

Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,682

GENE AUTRY TRAIL

Good

Over: HIGHWAY 111 CHANNEL

50 S/O PALM CANYON DRIVE, Riverside, CA

Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,000

PALM HILLS DRIVE

Good

Over: HIGHWAY 111 CHANNEL

50 S/O PALM CANYON DR., Riverside, CA

Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,000

RAILROAD AVENUE

Good

Over: EAST CABAZON DITCH

0.2 MI. E/O MAIN STREET, Riverside, CA

Built 1964 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 240

VIA NORTE

Good

Over: MARGARITA CREEK

0.02 MI S CALE PINA COLDA, Riverside, CA

Built 1976 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,000

TIERRA DEL ORO

Good

Over: PALM VLY STRMWTR CHANNEL

200 W/O EDGEHILL DRIVE, Riverside, CA

Built 1984 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 300

THRUSH ROAD

Good

Over: PALM VLY STRMWTR CHANNEL

0.2 MI. W/O RTE. 74 HWY., Riverside, CA

Built 1984 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 200

PARK VIEW DRIVE

Good

Over: PALM VLY STRMWTR CHANNEL

0.34 MI. E/O RTE. 111 HWY, Riverside, CA

Built 1984 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,200

ALESSANDRO BLVD.

Good

Over: KITCHING STREET CHANNEL

50 W/O KITCHING STREET, Riverside, CA

Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 18,100

BELLGRAVE AVENUE

Good

Over: DAY CREEK CHANNEL

0.3 MI. W/O ETIWANDA AVE., Riverside, CA

Built 1980 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,000

PORTOLA AVENUE

Good

Over: HAYSTACK CHANNEL

200 N/O HAYSTACK ROAD, Riverside, CA

Built 1984 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 11,000

CEDAR AVENUE

Good

Over: BAUTISTA CREEK CHANNEL

0.2 MI. E/O MOUNTAIN AVE., Riverside, CA

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,759

YNEZ ROAD

Good

Over: SANTA GERTRUDIS CREEK

300 NW/O WINCHESTER RD., Riverside, CA

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,000

MAGNOLIA AVENUE

Good

Over: ARLINGTON CHANNEL

0.1 MI. W/O BUCHANAN ST., Riverside, CA

Built 1986 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 22,800

BUCHANAN STREET

Good

Over: ARLINGTON CHANNEL

100 S/O MAGNOLIA AVENUE, Riverside, CA

Built 1986 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,000

PIERCE STREET

Good

Over: ARLINGTON CHANNEL

0.2 MI. S/O MAGNOLIA AVE., Riverside, CA

Built 1986 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,200

INDIANA AVENUE

Good

Over: ARIZONA STREET CHANNEL

0.2 MI. W/O LA SIERRA AVE, Riverside, CA

Built 1986 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 9,260

LINCOLN AVENUE

Good

Over: SOUTH NORCO CHANNEL

0.3 MI. S/O RIVER ROAD, Riverside, CA

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,000

ADRIENNE AVENUE

Good

Over: FREDERICK STREET CHANNEL

0.2 MI. E/O ELSWORTH AVE., Riverside, CA

Built 1986 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,350

ALESSANDRO BLVD.

Good

Over: FREDERICK STREET CHANNEL

0.01 MI.E/O VETERANS WAY, Riverside, CA

Built 1986 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,350

PEREZ ROAD

Good

Over: CATHEDRAL CYN N CHANNEL

0.2 MI. W/O CATHEDRAL CYN, Riverside, CA

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,000

WASHINGTON STREET

Good

Over: LA QUINTA CHANNEL

0.2 MI S/O 50TH AVENUE, Riverside, CA

Built 1981 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 23,143

SUN CITY BOULEVARD

Good

Over: GOLF COURSE DRAIN

0.3 MI. S/O ROUSE ROAD, Riverside, CA

Built 1975 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,510

CHAMBERS AVENUE

Good

Over: GOLF COURSE DRAIN

0.3 MI. W/O SUN CITY BLVD, Riverside, CA

Built 1975 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,140

SUN CITY BOULEVARD

Good

Over: MCCALL BOULEVARD DRAIN

200 N/O MCCALL BLVD., Riverside, CA

Built 1975 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,410

DIAZ ROAD

Good

Over: RANCHO CALIF RD CHANNEL

50 N/O RANCHO CALIF. RD., Riverside, CA

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,000

MOUNTAIN AVENUE

Good

Over: MERIDIAN STREET CHANNEL

0.1 MI. SE/O ESPLANADE AV, Riverside, CA

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,091

4TH STREET

Good

Over: NORTH NORCO CHANNEL

50 FT E OF INTERSTATE 15, Riverside, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,421

LIMONITE AVENUE

Good

Over: EQUESTRIAN UC & DITCH

300 W/O DODD STREET, Riverside, CA

Built 1980 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 18,801

IRIS AVENUE

Good

Over: KITCHING STREET CHANNEL

AT KITCHING STREET, Riverside, CA

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 18,700

KRAMERIA STREET

Good

Over: KITCHING STREET CHANNEL

0.2 MI. E/O KITCHING ST., Riverside, CA

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 9,700

LASSELLE STREET

Good

Over: MORENO VALLEY RANCH LAKE

500 S/O IRIS AVENUE, Riverside, CA

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 16,900

BAY AVENUE

Good

Over: KITCHING CHANEL LINE Q

0.3 MI. E/O KITCHING ST., Riverside, CA

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,500

WB MURRIETA HS RD

Good

Over: TUCALOCA CREEK

0.2 MI. E/O ROUTE 79 HWY, Riverside, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 9,320

SEMINOLE DRIVE

Good

Over: DESERT HILLS DRAIN

0.3 MI. W/O MILLARD PASS, Riverside, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,090

ADAMS AVENUE

Good

Over: WARM SPRINGS CREEK

0.1 MI S/O CORNING PLACE, Riverside, CA

Built 1996 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,980

CACTUS AVENUE

Good

Over: SUNNYMEAD AREA DRAINAGE

AT VETERANS WAY, Riverside, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 40,600

CACTUS AVENUE

Good

Over: SUNNYMEAD STORM CHANNEL

100 W/O HEACOCK AVENUE, Riverside, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 33,400

MORENO BEACH DRIVE

Good

Over: STORM CHANNEL LINE F

0.2 MI N/O JF KENNEDY DR., Riverside, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 19,200

CACTUS AVENUE

Good

Over: STORM CHANNEL LINE G

0.5 MI. W/O JF KENNEDY DR, Riverside, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,800

GOLDEN AVENUE

Good

Over: LA SIERRA CHANNEL

0.2 MI. S/O COLLETT AVE., Riverside, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,000

KNABE ROAD

Good

Over: BROWN CANYON CHANNEL

1.0 MI. S/O WEIRICK ROAD, Riverside, CA

Built 1992 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,832

ANTELOPE ROAD

Good

Over: SALT CREEK CHANNEL

0.5 MI. N/O NEWPORT ROAD, Riverside, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,500

OVERLAND TRAIL

Good

Over: REDHAWK PARKWAY CHANNEL

100 FT E/O REDHAWK PKWY, Riverside, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,000

MARGARITA ROAD

Good

Over: SANTA GERTRUDIS CREEK

0.2 MI. NW/O ROUTE 79 HWY, Riverside, CA

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20,000

MORAGA ROAD

Good

Over: EMPIRE CREEK

0.2 MI. N/O RANCHO CALIF., Riverside, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 11,000

YNEZ ROAD

Good

Over: EMPIRE CREEK

0.3 MI. N/O RANCHO CALIF, Riverside, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 22,000

CLINTON KEITH ROAD

Good

Over: SLAUGHTERHOUSE CREEK

0.1 MI SW/O GRAND AVENUE, Riverside, CA

Built 1992 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,390

MAIN STREET

Good

Over: TEMESCAL CREEK CHANNEL

0.2 MI. N/O RIVER ROAD, Riverside, CA

Built 1972 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 34,000

HAMNER AVENUE

Good

Over: NORTH NORCO CHANNEL

0.3 MI N/O 2ND STREET, Riverside, CA

Built 1980 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 29,360

Showing 20,501-20,550 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.