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

US 101,W&E BAYSHR

Good

Over: SAN FRANCISQUITO CREEK

04-SM-101-0.01-PA, San Mateo, CA

Built 2018 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 225,800

STATE ROUTE 1

Good

Over: SAN PEDRO CREEK

04-SM-001-40.83, San Mateo, CA

Built 2015 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 14,500

BROADWAY ON-RAMP

Good

Over: U.S. HIGHWAY 101

04-SM-101-16.58-BURL, San Mateo, CA

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,500

VERDI ROAD

Good

Over: PURISMA CREEK

0.1 MI S PURISMA CRK RD, San Mateo, CA

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 63

LOBITOS CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: LOBITOS CREEK

1.1 MI N/W VERDE RD, San Mateo, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 73

MARINERS ISL BLVD

Good

Over: BRANCH MARINA LAGOON

0.1 MI W/O TILLER DR, San Mateo, CA

Built 1999 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,970

PENNSYLVANIA,UP RR

Good

Over: REDWOOD CREEK

WEST OF MAPLE ST, San Mateo, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100

ROAD-1 SOUTH

Good

Over: PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

TERMINAL 1 - AREA B, San Mateo, CA

Built 1964 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,930

ROAD-1 SOUTH

Good

Over: PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

TERMINAL 3 - AREA E, San Mateo, CA

Built 1973 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,930

THIRD AVENUE

Good

Over: SAN MATEO CREEK

0.3 MI N NORFOLK ST, San Mateo, CA

Built 1986 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,040

PORTOLA RD

Good

Over: CORTE MADERA CREEK

0.1 MI E WILLOWBROOK DR, San Mateo, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,000

MIDDLEFIELD RD

Good

Over: REDWOOD CREEK

WEST OF MAPLE ST, San Mateo, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 14,000

LOS TRANCOS RD

Good

Over: LOS TRANCOS CREEK

1.5 MI S ALPINE RD, San Mateo, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,700

SERVICE ROAD

Good

Over: GUADALUPE CHANNEL

BAYSHORE BLVD @ OLD CNTY, San Mateo, CA

Built 2007 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,646

SOUTH AIRPORT BLVD

Good

Over: SAN BRUNO CANAL

NORTH OF NORTH ACCESS RD, San Mateo, CA

Built 2018 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 19,327

ROAD- 1 SOUTH

Good

Over: PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

TERMINAL 3 AREA G, San Mateo, CA

Built 2001 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,930

U.S. HIGHWAY 101

Good

Over: ZACA CREEK

05-SB-101-R57.41, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1965 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 21,000

US HIGHWAY 101 SB

Good

Over: GAVIOTA CREEK

05-SB-101-47.90, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 16,000

US HIGHWAY 101 SB

Good

Over: DOS PUEBLOS CRK & CYN RD

05-SB-101-30.07, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 16,000

STATE ROUTE 166

Good

Over: BUCKHORN CREEK

05-SB-166-R24.07, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1969 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,700

STATE ROUTE 166

Good

Over: CUYAMA RIVER

05-SB-166-R69.94, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1980 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,500

STATE ROUTE 154

Good

Over: ALAMO PINTADO CREEK

05-SB-154-R2.55, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1971 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 9,550

STATE ROUTE 154

Good

Over: SAN ANTONIO CREEK

05-SB-154-30.21, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1980 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 14,550

STATE ROUTE 1

Good

Over: EL JARO CREEK

05-SB-001-9.89, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1994 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,900

STATE ROUTE 1

Good

Over: YTIAS CREEK

05-SB-001-10.11, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1994 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,900

STATE ROUTE 192

Good

Over: SAN ROQUE CANYON

05-SB-192-1.77-SB, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1984 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,300

STATE ROUTE 154

Good

Over: VEHICLE & CATTLE ACCESS

05-SB-154-18.83, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1963 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,500

STATE ROUTE 154

Good

Over: SAN LUCAS CREEK

05-SB-154-R11.51, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1968 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 14,500

STATE ROUTE 246

Good

Over: ZACA CREEK

05-SB-246-26.14, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1965 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 16,000

PATTERSON-S101 ON

Good

Over: MARIA YGNACIO CREEK

05-SB-101-20.95, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1997 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 49,500

US HIGHWAY 101 SB

Good

Over: MARIA YGNACIO CREEK

05-SB-101-20.95, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1997 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 60,500

U.S. HIGHWAY 101

Good

Over: CARNEROS CREEK

05-SB-101-23.56, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1945 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 65,000

U.S. HIGHWAY 101

Good

Over: GLEN ANNIE CREEK

05-SB-101-24.41, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1946 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 65,000

STATE ROUTE 135

Good

Over: HARRIS CANYON CREEK

05-SB-135-M9.78, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1966 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,950

STATE ROUTE 135

Good

Over: HARRIS CANYON CREEK

05-SB-135-M9.98, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1966 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,950

STATE ROUTE 135

Good

Over: HARRIS CANYON CREEK

05-SB-135-M10.72, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1966 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 18,600

STATE ROUTE 1

Good

Over: VEHICLE ACCESS (PRIVATE)

05-SB-001-R32.01, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1966 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,800

STATE ROUTE 1

Good

Over: VEHICLE ACCESS (PRIVATE)

05-SB-001-R32.25, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1966 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,800

STATE ROUTE 1

Good

Over: VEHICLE ACCESS (PRIVATE)

05-SB-001-R33.98, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1966 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,800

STATE ROUTE 135

Good

Over: ORCUTT CREEK

05-SB-135-R10.37, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1966 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,950

U.S. HIGHWAY 101

Good

Over: QUARANTINA STREET

05-SB-101-13.01-SB, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 109,000

U.S. HIGHWAY 101

Good

Over: CALLE CESAR CHAVEZ

05-SB-101-13.14-SB, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 109,000

US HIGHWAY 101 SB

Good

Over: MISSION CREEK

05-SB-101-13.96-SB, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 54,500

STATE ROUTE 154

Good

Over: HILLSIDE

05-SB-154-29.60, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2001 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 14,550

U.S. 101 NB ONRAMP

Good

Over: TECOLOTITO CREEK

05-SB-101-24.71, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1997 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,500

U.S. HIGHWAY 101

Good

Over: CHAPALA ST EQUALIZER

05-SB-101-13.89-SB, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1992 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 109,000

MAIN STREET

Good

Over: BRADLEY CHANNEL

05-SB-166-8.92-SMRA, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1962 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 17,800

US HIGHWAY 101

Good

Over: CACIQUE STREET

05-SB-101-12.61, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2012 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,000

S101-FAIRVIEW AVE

Good

Over: LAS VEGAS CREEK

05-SB-101-22.57, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,250

U.S. ROUTE 101

Good

Over: CARPINTERIA CREEK

05-SB-101-2.43-CARP, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2020 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 68,300

Showing 22,851-22,900 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.