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

STATE ROUTE 1

Good

Over: SALSIPUEDES CREEK

05-SB-001-15.61, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2020 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,500

SR 246

Good

Over: SR 246

05-SB-246-R15.00, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2018 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,000

US HIGHWAY 101

Good

Over: FRANKLIN CREEK

05-SB-101-3.30-CARP, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2022 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 69,000

US HIGHWAY 101

Good

Over: SANTA MONICA CREEK

05-SB-101-3.77-CARP, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2022 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 69,000

STATE ROUTE 192

Good

Over: MONTECITO CREEK

05-SB-192-8.12, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2020 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,100

STATE ROUTE 192

Good

Over: ROMERO CANYON CREEK

05-SB-192-10.96, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2019 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,100

STATE ROUTE 192

Good

Over: TORO CANYON CREEK

05-SB-192-12.49, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2019 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,000

STATE ROUTE 192

Good

Over: ARROYO PAREDON CREEK

05-SB-192-15.52, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2019 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,600

HOLLISTER AVE

Good

Over: MARIA YGNACIO CREEK

0.12 MI E PATTERSON AVE, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1964 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,239

CLIFF DRIVE

Good

Over: ARROYO BURRO CREEK

0.05 MI W OF S.H. 225, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1959 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,900

BASELINE AVE

Good

Over: ALAMO PINTADO CREEK

0.2 MI E ALAMO PINTADO RD, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,202

ALAMO PINTADO RD

Good

Over: ALAMO PINTADO CREEK

4.16 MI N OF SH 246, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1997 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,202

FIGUEROA MTN ROAD

Good

Over: ALAMO PINTADO CREEK

4.2 MI NE OF SH 154, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1997 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 400

FOXEN CANYON RD

Good

Over: ZACA CREEK

4.88 MI N OF S.H. 246, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 691

JALAMA RD

Good

Over: JALAMA CREEK

10.1 MI W OF SH 1, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1984 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 417

HOLLISTER AVENUE

Good

Over: SAN PEDRO CREEK

0.05 MI W FAIRVIEW AVE, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1995 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 18,211

CALLE REAL

Good

Over: SAN JOSE CREEK

0.7 MI E FAIRVIEW AVE, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 16,332

BELL ST

Good

Over: SAN ANTONIO CREEK

0.5 MI N OF SR 135, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2004 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 815

LOS CARNEROS RD

Good

Over: CARNEROS CREEK

NORTH OF SR 101, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1968 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,125

LILLINGSTON CYN RD

Good

Over: CARPINTERIA CREEK

0.08 MI N OF SR 192, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1973 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 600

VERDE DEL PADRE

Good

Over: TECOLOTE CREEK

WEST OF LEYENDA, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1961 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 126

VAREDA GALERIA

Good

Over: TECOLOTE CREEK

0.15 MI N VEREDA DEL PAD, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1961 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100

CENTRAL AVE

Good

Over: RODEO SAN PASQUAL CHAN

WEST DOUGLAS AVENUE, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1962 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,520

CLARK AVE

Good

Over: GRACIOSA CANYON CREEK

0.02 MI W BLOSSER RD, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1965 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,562

FIRESTONE

Good

Over: CARNEROS CREEK

EAST OF AERO CAMINO, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1967 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 400

NORTH AVENUE

Good

Over: SAN MIGUELITO CHANNEL

@ V STREET, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1981 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,661

COLLEGE AVE

Good

Over: SAN MIGUELITO CHANNEL

AT V STREET, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,003

PINE AVENUE

Good

Over: SAN MIGUELITO CHANNEL

AT V STREET, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,335

CENTRAL AVE

Good

Over: SAN MIGUELITO CHANNEL

AT V STREET, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,435

EAST CABRILLO BLVD

Good

Over: SYCAMORE CREEK

0.02 MI WEST OF NINOS DR, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1997 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 16,685

TAYLOR STREET

Good

Over: BLOSSER CHANNEL

@ BLOSSER ROAD, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1975 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,600

RAILROAD AVENUE

Good

Over: BRADLEY CHANNEL

AT CANAL STREET, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,600

VIA REAL

Good

Over: CARPINTERIA CREEK

0.2 MI S CASITAS PASS RD, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2020 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,000

LOS CARNEROS ROAD

Good

Over: UP RR & AMTRAK

SOUTH OF RTE 101 PM 23.7, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2015 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 24,275

CATHEDRAL OAKS RD

Good

Over: UP RR & AMTRAK

AT HOLLISTER AVENUE, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2011 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,000

CABRILLO BLVD

Good

Over: MISSION CREEK

NE OF STATE STREET, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,182

JONATA PARK RD

Good

Over: ZACA CREEK

3 MI N SH 246, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 825

SANDSPIT ROAD

Good

Over: GOLETA SLOUGH

AT GOLETA BEACH, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,786

COTA STREET

Good

Over: MISSION CREEK

NW OF BATH STREET, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,718

MASON STREET

Good

Over: MISSION CREEK

NE OF CHAPALA STREET, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,300

FERNALD POINT LANE

Good

Over: ROMERO CREEK

0.7 MI E OF EUCALYPTUS LN, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2022 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 200

BLOSSER ROAD

Good

Over: BATTLES CHANNEL

AT BLOSSER ROAD, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2005 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,800

BLACK ROAD

Good

Over: SOLOMON CANYON CREEK

0.2 MI N STATE ROUTE 1, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,000

JALAMA RD

Good

Over: JALAMA CREEK

8.8 MI WEST OF S.H. 1, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,319

CATHEDRAL OAKS RD

Good

Over: SAN ANTONIO CREEK

@ TURNPIKE ROAD, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 9,272

W GUTIERREZ STREET

Good

Over: MISSION CREEK

DE LA VINA ST /CHAPALA ST, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2019 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,800

DE LA GUERRA ST

Good

Over: MISSION CREEK

BTWN CASTILLO & BATH ST, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2020 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 900

PUNTA GORDA ROAD

Good

Over: SYCAMORE CREEK

0.3 KM SW OF SALINAS ST, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,700

SOUTH REFUGIO ROAD

Good

Over: QUIOTA CREEK

2.5 MI S SANTA YNEZ RIVER, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2013 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 150

SOUTH REFUGIO ROAD

Good

Over: QUIOTA CREEK

2.4 MI S SANTA YNEZ RIVER, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2013 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 150

Showing 22,901-22,950 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.