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 82

Good

Over: ADOBE CREEK

04-SCL-082-22.34-PA, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2004 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 43,250

INTERSTATE 880 NB

Good

Over: HETCH HETCHY AQUEDUCT

04-SCL-880-8.00-MPS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2003 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 11,500

STEVENS CR BLVD

Good

Over: SARATOGA CREEK

LAWRENCE EXPRESSWAY, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1964 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 55,000

CAPITOL EXPWY

Good

Over: SILVER CREEK

0.6 MI E OF I-680, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 71,250

ALMADEN EXPWAY

Good

Over: CALTRAIN, UP RR, AMTRAK

AT UP RR, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 39,804

CAMPBELL AVE

Good

Over: SAN TOMAS AQUINO CREEK

AT SAN TOMAS AQUINO CR, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1966 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,750

HOMESTEAD RD

Good

Over: SARATOGA CREEK

0.8 MI E LWRNCE EXPRS WAY, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1962 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 16,000

A STREET

Good

Over: FOOTHILL EXPRESSWAY

AT FREMONT AVENUE, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1967 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,470

QUITO RD

Good

Over: WILDCAT CREEK

N/O ALLENDALE AVE, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1979 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20,000

PAGE MILL RD

Good

Over: MATADERO CREEK

0.3 MI SOUTH OF I-280, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1978 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,000

SAN FELIPE RD

Good

Over: YERBA BUENA CREEK

YERBA BUENA RD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1981 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,700

HAMILTON AVE

Good

Over: SAN TOMAS AQUINO CREEK

AT SAN TOMAS EXPWY, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1966 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,000

STORY ROAD

Good

Over: SILVER CREEK

500' SOUTH OF LYNDALE, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1973 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 60,000

QUIMBY RD

Good

Over: THOMPSON CREEK

NR CAPITOL EXPRESSWAY, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 11,800

GREAT AMERICA PKWY

Good

Over: SAN TOMAS AQUINO CRK

NORTH TASMAN DR, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1975 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,000

PROSPECT ROAD

Good

Over: SARATOGA CREEK

NEAR ENGLISH DR, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1971 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 26,000

MABURY ROAD

Good

Over: PENITENCIA CREEK

0.5 MI E I-680, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1994 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,600

BRANHAM LN

Good

Over: CANOAS CREEK

0.3 MI W VISTAPARK DR, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1976 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 18,150

MALONE RD

Good

Over: GUADALUPE RIVER

0.1 MI WEST OF ALMEDAN RD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,700

I.O.O.F AVE

Good

Over: MILLER SLOUGH

0.1 MI E. OF MONTEREY ST, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1999 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,666

PAYNE AVE

Good

Over: SAN TOMAS AQUINO CREEK

AT SAN TOMAS EXPWY, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1966 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,000

OAKLAND RD

Good

Over: COYOTE CREEK

1.0 MI N OF US 101, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 56,000

KIFER RD

Good

Over: CALABAZAS CREEK

0.5 MI E LAWERENCE EXPWAY, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2003 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 9,200

LA CROSSE DR

Good

Over: LITTLE LLAGAS CREEK

S/O VINEYARD BLVD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1979 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 400

MOSS PT DR

Good

Over: SILVER CREEK

NEAR SUNDOWN LANE, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1976 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,200

YERBA BUENA ROAD

Good

Over: THOMPSON CREEK

AT SAN FELIPE, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1983 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,850

MONTEREY ROAD

Good

Over: WEST BRANCH LLAGAS CREEK

0.6 MI N LEAVESLY RD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 11,300

DAY ROAD

Good

Over: WEST BRANCH LLAGAS CREEK

1 MI W MONTEREY HWY, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,990

KERN AVE

Good

Over: LIONS CREEK

JUST N/O TATUM AVE, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 700

CHURCH ST

Good

Over: W BRANCH LLAGAS CREEK

0.2 MI N RONAN AVE, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,800

W MIDDLE AVE

Good

Over: W LITTLE LLAGAS CREEK

0.25 MI W MONTEREY HWY, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,170

YERBA BUENA RD

Good

Over: COYOTE CREEK

JUST WEST OF TUERS RD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,600

LELONG ST

Good

Over: BY-PASS CHANNEL

AT ALMA AVE, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,000

BROKAW RD

Good

Over: COYOTE CREEK

0.1 MI E SR 880, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 58,800

SILVER CRK VLY RD

Good

Over: SILVER CREEK

0.5 KM S FARNSWORTH DR, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,150

SCENIC MEADOWLAND

Good

Over: THOMPSON CREEK

NE/O SAN FELIPE RD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 300

MEADOWLAND LANE

Good

Over: THOMPSON CREEK

NE/O SAN FELIPE RD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 300

JACKSON AVE

Good

Over: PENITENCIA CREEK

300 FT N MOSSDALE WY, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1992 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,000

COSMO LANE

Good

Over: W LITTLE LLAGAS CREEK

200 M W/O MONTEREY RD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,100

EDES CT

Good

Over: W LITTLE LLAGAS CREEK

200 M W/O MONTEREY RD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 900

TRACY COURT

Good

Over: ARASTRADERO CREEK

WEST OF PAGE MILL ROAD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100

HEDDING ST

Good

Over: GUADALUPE RIVER & TRAIL

NEAR CIVIC CENTER, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,600

HEDDING ST

Good

Over: GUADALUPE RIVER

NEAR CIVIC CENTER, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,600

FREMONT AVE

Good

Over: PERMANENTE CREEK

JUST WEST OF MIRAMONTE, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 14,369

ROBERTS ROAD

Good

Over: LOS GATOS CREEK

0.1 MI S BLOSSOM HILL RD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2010 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,500

DIERICX DRIVE

Good

Over: CROSS CHANNEL

WASATCH DR & LUBICH DR, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2010 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 600

CAMINO ARROYO ST

Good

Over: WEST BRANCH LLAGAS CREEK

500 FT SOUTH OF GILMAN RD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2009 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 25,100

ALVAREZ COURT

Good

Over: PENETENCIA CREEK

JWO S ABEL STREET, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2006 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 890

MONTEREY ROAD

Good

Over: W. LITTLE LLAGAS CREEK

JEO WATSONVILLE ROAD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1965 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 22,000

DEER CREEK LANE

Good

Over: DEER CREEK

JUST EAST OF PURISSIMA RD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2013 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100

Showing 23,001-23,050 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.