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

AVENUE 40

Good

Over: COACHELLA CANAL

50 W/O MADISON STREET, Riverside, CA

Built 2008 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,600

LOMA LINDA ROAD

Good

Over: PECHANGA PARKWAY CHANNEL

0.8 MI S RTE 79, Riverside, CA

Built 2008 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 400

BRODIAEA AVENUE

Good

Over: HEACOCK CHANNEL

0.1 MI W HEACOCK ST, Riverside, CA

Built 2007 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 28,450

IVY STREET

Good

Over: BNSF RY & METROLINK

100 E/O STATE ROUTE 91, Riverside, CA

Built 2015 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,050

MADISON STREET

Good

Over: COACHELLA CANAL

0.1 MI N/O AVENUE 50, Riverside, CA

Built 2009 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,800

ROCKWOOD AVENUE

Good

Over: OLIVER STR CHANNEL

0.1 MI E/O OLIVER STR, Riverside, CA

Built 2008 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,600

COLUMBIA AVENUE

Good

Over: DODSON WAY BNSF RR

0.2 MI E/ CHICAGO AVENUE, Riverside, CA

Built 2010 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,200

HARRISON ST

Good

Over: LENCHO DITCH

1.5 MI S/O AVE 66, Riverside, CA

Built 1976 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,227

HARRISON ST

Good

Over: LUNDY DITCH

1.7 MI S/O PIERCE ST, Riverside, CA

Built 1976 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,000

ORANGE AVENUE

Good

Over: PERRIS VALLEY STORMDRAIN

.15 MI E/MURRIETTA ROAD, Riverside, CA

Built 2010 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 9,650

EVANS ROAD

Good

Over: PERRIS VALLEY LINE "Q"

1 MI N/ NUEVO RD., Riverside, CA

Built 2010 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,310

50TH AVENUE

Good

Over: GRAPEFRUIT BLVD & UP RR

0.2 MI E OF I86, Riverside, CA

Built 2003 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,785

GRAPEFRUIT BLVD

Good

Over: HAZY DITCH

0.1 MI SW/O 64TH AVE, Riverside, CA

Built 1949 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,601

GRAPEFRUIT BLVD

Good

Over: REE LINE DITCH

JUST S/O PIERCE ST., Riverside, CA

Built 1949 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,961

VINEYARD PARKWAY

Good

Over: COLE CREEK

0.2 MI S/CALLE DE OSO ORO, Riverside, CA

Built 2005 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 300

IOWA AVENUE

Good

Over: BNSF

0.5 MI S/O CENTER ST., Riverside, CA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,000

DEWEY AVE

Good

Over: STREETER AVE

DEWEY AVE & STREETER AVE, Riverside, CA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,050

MILES AVENUE

Good

Over: WHITEWATER RIVER

0.7 MI E/O JEFFERSON ST., Riverside, CA

Built 2011 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 14,000

BELARDO ROAD

Good

Over: TAHQUITZ CREEK

0.3 MI S/O RAMON ROAD, Riverside, CA

Built 2012 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,839

S/B VAN BUREN BLVD

Good

Over: SANTA ANA RIVER

1 MI S/O LIMONITE AVENUE, Riverside, CA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20,000

N/B VAN BUREN BLVD

Good

Over: SANTA ANA RIVER

1 MI S/O LIMONITE AVE, Riverside, CA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20,000

AUTO CENTER DR

Good

Over: BNSF RR

0.4M N/O STATE ROUTE 91, Riverside, CA

Built 2015 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,500

HEACOCK ST.

Good

Over: PERRIS VALLEY CHANNEL

0.1 MI S/O KRAMERIA ST., Riverside, CA

Built 2013 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 18,500

MAIN STREET

Good

Over: MURRIETA CREEK

0.1 MI SW/O FRONT STREET, Riverside, CA

Built 2013 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,000

IVY STREET

Good

Over: MURRIETA CREEK

0.3 MI SW/O WASHINGTON AV, Riverside, CA

Built 2012 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,500

POURROY ROAD

Good

Over: TUCALOTA CREEK

0.2M S BUENA VENTURA RD, Riverside, CA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,900

AIRPORT BLVD

Good

Over: GRAPEFRUIT BLVD (RT 111)

@ GRAPEFRUIT BLVD, Riverside, CA

Built 2018 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,000

MACHADO STREET

Good

Over: LEACH CANYON CHANNEL

0.25 M SW LINCOLN/MACHADO, Riverside, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 9,500

COLLIER AVENUE

Good

Over: WETLANDS

0.3 MI SE NICHOLS/COLLIER, Riverside, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,000

CEDAR MESA DRIVE

Good

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK

.01 MI NE CEDAR/COTTONWD, Riverside, CA

Built 2006 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,500

COLLIER AVENUE

Good

Over: WASSON DEBRIS BASIN

0.2 M SE CHANEY & COLLIER, Riverside, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,000

MINTHORN STREET

Good

Over: WASSON DEBRIS BASIN

.23 M SE CHANEY&MINTHORN, Riverside, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,000

PALOMAR STREET

Good

Over: PALOMAR CHANNEL

.01 M E OLD COACH&PALOMAR, Riverside, CA

Built 2006 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,000

CORYDON ROAD

Good

Over: PALOMAR CHANNEL

.1 M NE UNION & CORYDON, Riverside, CA

Built 2006 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,000

UNION STREET

Good

Over: CORYDON CHANNEL

0.1 MI NW OF CORYDON ROAD, Riverside, CA

Built 2006 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 800

CANYON HILLS ROAD

Good

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK

E OF COTTONWOOD CANYON RD, Riverside, CA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,556

PASADENA STREET

Good

Over: FLOOD CONTROL CHANNEL

BY 3RD STREET, Riverside, CA

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 500

COLLIER AVENUE

Good

Over: FLOOD CONTROL CHANNEL

BY THIRD STREET, Riverside, CA

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,000

NICHOLS ROAD

Good

Over: TEMESCAL CREEK

0.1 MI W OF COLLIER AVE, Riverside, CA

Built 1980 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,200

ROUTE 074

Good

Over: PEACH CREEK

100 FT N OF PEACH ST, Riverside, CA

Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 23,500

ROUTE 074

Good

Over: WASSON CREEK

1000 FT NW WASSON CYN RD, Riverside, CA

Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 25,000

FOOTHILL PARKWY SB

Good

Over: MWD PIPELINE

0.2 MI S OF PASEO GRANDE, Riverside, CA

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,000

FOOTHILL PARKWY NB

Good

Over: MWD PIPELINE

0.2 MI S OF PASEO GRANDE, Riverside, CA

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,000

GREEN RIVER DRIVE

Good

Over: SANTA ANA RIVER

0.1 MI W/O GREEN RIVER RD, Orange, CA

Built 2012 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,100

JACKSON AVENUE

Good

Over: WARM SPRING CREEK

250 FT SE/O ELM ST, Riverside, CA

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20,943

GUAVA STREET

Good

Over: LINE D DRAINAGE FACILITY

0.1 MI. FROM ADAMS AVE, Riverside, CA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,216

PALM AVENUE

Good

Over: SAN JACINTO MDP LINE "E"

0.2 MI S/O 7TH STREET, Riverside, CA

Built 2005 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,040

E NUEVO ROAD

Good

Over: PERRIS VALLEY STORM DRN

1.55 MI. E/O RTE. 215 FWY, Riverside, CA

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 16,020

STATE ROUTE 78

Good

Over: COLEMAN CREEK

11-SD-078-54.77, San Diego, CA

Built 1947 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,400

STATE ROUTE 67

Good

Over: FORESTER CREEK

11-SD-067-R0.09-ECJ, San Diego, CA

Built 1956 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 44,000

Showing 20,601-20,650 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.