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

SOUTH REFUGIO ROAD

Good

Over: QUIOTA CREEK

2.0 MI S SANTA YNEZ RIVER, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2012 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 150

CLIFF DRIVE

Good

Over: HILLSIDE

0.1 M SW OF CASTILLO ST, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1969 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 24,000

QUINIENTOS STREET

Good

Over: SYCAMORE CREEK

SOLEDAD ST AND CANADA ST, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2020 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,900

ANAPAMU STREET

Good

Over: OLD MISSION CREEK

100 YDS NE OF SAN ANDREAS, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2019 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,100

SOUTH REFUGIO ROAD

Good

Over: QUIOTA CREEK

2.1 MI S SANTA YNEZ RIVER, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2015 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 150

SOUTH REFUGIO ROAD

Good

Over: QUIOTA CREEK

1.5 MI S SANTA YNEZ RIVER, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 76

SOUTH REFUGIO ROAD

Good

Over: QUIOTA CREEK

2.2 MI S SANTA YNEZ RIVER, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 150

MONTECITO STREET

Good

Over: SYCAMORE CREEK

E YANONALI STREET, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2019 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,019

SOUTH REFUGIO ROAD

Good

Over: QUIOTA CREEK

2.35 MI S SANTA YNEZ RIVR, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2018 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 150

SOUTH REFUGIO ROAD

Good

Over: QUIOTA CREEK

3.0 MI S SANTA YNEZ RIVER, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2019 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 150

SOUTH REFUGIO ROAD

Good

Over: QUIOTA CREEK

2.7 MI S SANTA YNEZ RIVER, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2020 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 150

STATE ROUTE 152

Good

Over: DEXTER CREEK

04-SCL-152-12.31, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1948 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 19,600

STATE ROUTE 152

Good

Over: JONES CREEK

04-SCL-152-13.80, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 23,550

STATE ROUTE 152 WB

Good

Over: CEDAR CREEK

04-SCL-152-R28.17, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,375

NB 101-TRIMBLE OFF

Good

Over: GUADALUPE RIVER

04-SCL-101-40.19-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2005 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 14,200

U.S. HIGHWAY 101

Good

Over: SAN TOMAS AQUINO CREEK

04-SCL-101-42.25-SCL, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1961 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 134,000

STATE ROUTE 17

Good

Over: LOS GATOS CREEK

04-SCL-017-6.55-LGTS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1955 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 71,400

MCCARTHY-WB 237 ON

Good

Over: COYOTE CREEK

04-SCL-237-8.72-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,000

INTERSTATE 880

Good

Over: CALTRAIN & UP RR

04-SCL-880-2.38-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1992 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 165,000

STATE ROUTE 237 WB

Good

Over: SAN TOMAS AQUINO CREEK

04-SCL-237-R5.68-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 62,500

STATE ROUTE 237 EB

Good

Over: SAN TOMAS AQUINO CREEK

04-SCL-237-R5.68-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 62,500

STATE ROUTE 237

Good

Over: CALABAZAS CREEK

04-SCL-237-M5.28-SUNV, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 125,000

INTERSTATE 280

Good

Over: PERMANENTE CREEK

04-SCL-280-12.93, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1967 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 117,000

INTERSTATE 280

Good

Over: STEVENS CREEK

04-SCL-280-11.20-CPO, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1967 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 138,000

STATE ROUTE 237 WB

Good

Over: GUADALUPE RIVER

04-SCL-237-R6.41-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 62,500

STATE ROUTE 237 EB

Good

Over: GUADALUPE RIVER

04-SCL-237-R6.41-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2006 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 62,500

INTERSTATE 280

Good

Over: ABANDONED UP RR ROW

04-SCL-280-R0.89-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1972 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 238,000

INTERSTATE 680

Good

Over: TULARCITOS CREEK

04-SCL-680-M8.38-MPS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1971 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 130,000

INTERSTATE 680

Good

Over: SILVER CREEK

04-SCL-680-M1.13-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1974 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 160,000

INTERSTATE 280

Good

Over: ADOBE CREEK

04-SCL-280-15.17-LAH, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1967 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 117,000

US 101,FRONTAGE RD

Good

Over: CALABAZAS CREEK

04-SCL-101-43.32-SUNV, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1960 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 134,000

STATE ROUTE 152

Good

Over: LLAGAS CREEK

04-SCL-152-11.16, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 22,300

SB US HIGHWAY 101

Good

Over: GOLF CART PATH

04-SCL-101-R21.55-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 50,000

INTERSTATE 280

Good

Over: CALABAZAS CREEK

04-SCL-280-7.93-CPO, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1965 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 138,500

SB STATE ROUTE 85

Good

Over: CANOAS CREEK

04-SCL-085-4.28-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 51,500

NB STATE ROUTE 85

Good

Over: CANOAS CREEK

04-SCL-085-4.28-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 51,500

SB STATE ROUTE 87

Good

Over: ABANDONED UP RR ROW

04-SCL-087-3.88-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 65,000

STATE ROUTE 152 WB

Good

Over: PACHECO CREEK

04-SCL-152-R26.30, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,375

STATE ROUTE 152 EB

Good

Over: PACHECO CREEK

04-SCL-152-R26.30, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,375

STATE ROUTE 152 WB

Good

Over: PACHECO CREEK

04-SCL-152-R26.70, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,375

STATE ROUTE 152 EB

Good

Over: PACHECO CREEK

04-SCL-152-R26.70, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,375

STATE ROUTE 152

Good

Over: WEST BRANCH LLAGAS CREEK

04-SCL-152-M10.20-GIL, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 18,800

SR 85 & CAMDEN AVE

Good

Over: ROSS CREEK

04-SCL-085-8.15-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 122,000

STATE ROUTE 85 SB

Good

Over: SCCTA LRT

04-SCL-085-1.22-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 40,500

SB STATE ROUTE 85

Good

Over: MANASSAS ROAD

04-SCL-085-0.93-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1992 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 40,500

NB STATE ROUTE 85

Good

Over: MANASSAS ROAD

04-SCL-085-0.93-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1992 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 40,500

N&S17-N85 CONNECTR

Good

Over: LOS GATOS CREEK

04-SCL-017-9.42-LGTS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,100

S17-N85 CONNECTOR

Good

Over: OKA ROAD

04-SCL-017-9.45-LGTS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,700

INTERSTATE 880

Good

Over: PENITENCIA CREEK

04-SCL-880-10.38-MPS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 194,000

SB880 CONN&OFFRAMP

Good

Over: HETCH HETCHY AQUEDUCT

04-SCL-880-7.98-MPS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 150,000

Showing 22,951-23,000 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.