State profile · Below median Poor share

California bridge safety

Condition ratings, load ratings, and Poor-condition data for every public highway bridge in California, based on the FHWA National Bridge Inventory.

27,040
Public bridges
32.5%
Good condition
4.6%
Poor condition

Data updated May 2026

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 whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

-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 - Poor-condition share 15.3%
National avg

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

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.

OH

Ohio

4.54% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$26,753

NJ

New Jersey

4.59% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$6,796
Selected

CA

California

4.60% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$27,040

AR

Arkansas

4.71% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$5,544

WA

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 the portal's composite display score. Inspection intervals are risk-based under current NBIS rules.

All Bridges in California

ORCHARD BEND RD

Good

Over: GREEN VALLEY CREEK

0.36MI S/O ESPOLA RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1986 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 500

OAK KNOLL RD

Good

Over: POMERADO CREEK

0.1MI E/O POWAY RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,250

MIDLAND RD

Good

Over: POWAY CREEK

375FT S/O POWAY RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 550

HILLEARY PLACE

Good

Over: WILLOW CREEK

0.12MI E/O COMMUNITY RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,202

COMMUNITY RD

Good

Over: RATTLESNAKE CREEK

0.47MI N/O POWAY RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 27,642

TIERRA BONITA RD

Good

Over: RATTLESNAKE CREEK

0.13MI S/O TWIN PEAKS RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1986 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,201

RANGE PARK RD

Good

Over: RATTLESNAKE CREEK

0.18MI S/O TWIN PEAKS RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1973 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 550

SYCAMORE VALLEY RD

Good

Over: POWAY CREEK

60FT N/O GARDEN RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 730

GARDEN RD

Good

Over: POWAY CREEK

200FT S/O HIDDEN VALLEY D, San Diego, CA

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,380

JULIAN AVE

Good

Over: LOS COCHES CREEK CHANNEL

0.1MI W/O LOS COCHES RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1983 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,395

LAMAR ST

Good

Over: SPRING VALLEY CREEK

0.3MI E/O SWEETWATER RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1986 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,669

VALENCIA ST

Good

Over: SPRING VALLEY CREEK

0.33MI E/O SWEETWATER RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1983 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,223

TROY STREET

Good

Over: CASA DE ORO CREEK

0.42MI E/O SWEETWATER RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,846

CANONITA DRIVE

Good

Over: PALA MESA GOLF COURSE

0.25MI W/O OLD HWY 395, San Diego, CA

Built 1980 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100

COLLEGE STREET

Good

Over: FALLBROOK CREEK WEST

300FT E/O MAIN ST, San Diego, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 487

RANCHOSANTAFE FARM

Good

Over: LA ZANJA CANYON

0.7M N/O CARMEL VALLEY RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1984 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,656

GRAVES AVENUE

Good

Over: PEPPER DRIVE CHANNEL

0.25 MI S/O PEPPER DRIVE, San Diego, CA

Built 1978 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,644

GRAVES AVENUE

Good

Over: FORESTER CREEK TRIBUTARY

300 FT S/O GREENFIELD DR, San Diego, CA

Built 1977 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,716

RANCHO SANTA FE RD

Good

Over: ESCONDIDO CREEK

0.2MI E/O MANCHESTER AVE, San Diego, CA

Built 1997 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 17,159

GUEJITO RD

Good

Over: ESCONDIDO CREEK

230FT S/O LAKE WOLFORD RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,210

CAMINO DEL REY

Good

Over: SAN LUIS REY RIVER

450FT E/O MISSION RD/SR76, San Diego, CA

Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,400

TELEGRAPH CYN RD

Good

Over: TELEGRAPH CANYON CHANNEL

0.17 MI E/O HERITAGE RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 45,423

'J' STREET

Good

Over: CENTRAL DRAINAGE

50 FT W/O RTE I-5 RAMPS, San Diego, CA

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,700

BAY BOULEVARD

Good

Over: CENTRAL DRAINAGE

175 FT S/O OF J ST, San Diego, CA

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,800

THIRD AVENUE

Good

Over: OTAY RIVER TRIBUTARY

125 FT S/O ORANGE ST, San Diego, CA

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 17,580

RANCHO DRIVE

Good

Over: POGGI CANYON

0.45 MI W/O MELROSE AVE, San Diego, CA

Built 1975 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 200

OLD HWY 80

Good

Over: KITCHEN CREEK

1.9 MI S/O BUCKMAN SPR RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1994 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,688

ELCAMINO DEL NORTE

Good

Over: ESCONDIDO CREEK

0.3MI E/O RANCHO SANTA FE, San Diego, CA

Built 1997 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,400

SHEARER CROSSING

Good

Over: SAN LUIS REY RIVER

0.16MI S/O SR 76, San Diego, CA

Built 1998 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,037

RANCHO DEL ORO

Good

Over: LOMA ALTA CR. TRIBUTARY

AT OCEANSIDE BLVD., San Diego, CA

Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,600

COLLEGE BLVD

Good

Over: BUENA VISTA CREEK

0.2MI S/O SR 78, San Diego, CA

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 49,051

THUNDER DRIVE

Good

Over: BUENA VISTA CREEK

350FT N/O LAKE BLVD, San Diego, CA

Built 1973 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,900

BONITA ROAD

Good

Over: SWEETWATER RIVER

0.13MI S/O SWEETWATER RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1997 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,792

SLOANE CANYON ROAD

Good

Over: SWEETWATER RIVER

0.54 MI S/O DEHESA RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1995 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 42

PATRICK DRIVE

Good

Over: HARBISON CREEK

130 FT S/O HARBISON CYN, San Diego, CA

Built 2003 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 120

BLACK CANYON RD

Good

Over: SANTA YSABEL CREEK

7.4 MI N/O ROUTE 78, San Diego, CA

Built 2010 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 75

MISSION RD

Good

Over: N. FORK SAN MARCOS CREEK

300 FT E/O TWINOAKS VLYRD, San Diego, CA

Built 1996 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 25,250

LAWSON VALLEY ROAD

Good

Over: LAWSON CREEK

4.1 M E/O SKYLINE TRCK TR, San Diego, CA

Built 2013 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 852

RIVERSIDE DRIVE

Good

Over: SAN DIEGO RVR TRIBUTARY

0.15 MI E/O RIVERFORD RD., San Diego, CA

Built 1984 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,330

RANGELAND ROAD

Good

Over: SANTA MARIA CREEK

200 FT N/O HIGHLAND VLY, San Diego, CA

Built 1997 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 661

WOODSIDE AVENUE

Good

Over: LOS COCHES CREEK CHANNEL

50 FT W/O CHANNEL RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 23,046

CACTUS STREET

Good

Over: LOS COCHES CREEK CHANNEL

0.02 MILE S/O WOODSIDE AV, San Diego, CA

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,450

ALPINE BOULEVARD

Good

Over: ALPINE CREEK

0.86 MI E/O TAVERN RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,800

MAGNOLIA AVENUE

Good

Over: FORESTER CREEK TRIBUTARY

INERSECTION OF VERNON WY, San Diego, CA

Built 1978 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,231

HELIX STREET

Good

Over: CASA DE ORO CREEK

350 FT N/O OLIVE DR., San Diego, CA

Built 1983 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,624

GREENFIELD DRIVE

Good

Over: FORESTER CREEK

0.4 MI S/O I-8, San Diego, CA

Built 1986 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 19,153

ALTA ROAD

Good

Over: ONIEL CANYON

1.6MI N/O OTAY MESA ROAD, San Diego, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 634

ALEXANDRA AVENUE

Good

Over: CASA DE ORO CREEK

10.0 FT S/O KENWOOD DR., San Diego, CA

Built 1998 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,057

POTRERO VALLEY RD

Good

Over: POTRERO CREEK

1.1M N/O SR94, San Diego, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 838

POTRERO VALLEY RD

Good

Over: POTRERO CREEK

1.6MI N/O SR94, San Diego, CA

Built 1980 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 833

Showing 22,601-22,650 of 27,040 bridges

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.

Every figure on PlainBridge is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.