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

SAMUEL LANE

Good

Over: DEER CREEK

JUST EAST OF PURISSIMA RD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1996 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100

BUENA VISTA AVE

Good

Over: LLAGAS CREEK

0.5 MI W NEW AVE, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,540

CHARLESTON RD

Good

Over: PERMANENTE CREEK

BTWN SH 101 & STIERLIN RD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1980 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,600

DUNNE LANE

Good

Over: PACHECO CREEK

1.5 MI S OF SH 152, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1986 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 490

SILVER CRK VLY RD

Good

Over: COYOTE CREEK

0.5 MI E OF SH 101, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1992 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 19,000

GILMAN ROAD

Good

Over: LLAGAS CREEK

HOLSCLAW ROAD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,570

SUNSET AVE

Good

Over: SILVER CREEK

BTWN ALUMROCK & SAN ANTNO, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1979 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,120

UVAS ROAD

Good

Over: UVAS CREEK

0.7MI W OF WATSONVILLE RD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2008 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,040

STEVENS CAYON ROAD

Good

Over: STEVENS CREEK

2.5 MI SW/O MT EDEN ROAD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 224

STEVENS CAYON ROAD

Good

Over: STEVENS CREEK

2.7 MI SW/O MT EDEN ROAD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 224

STEVENS CYN RD

Good

Over: STEVENS CREEK

2.9MI S/O MT EDEN RD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2011 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 140

STEVENS CYN RD

Good

Over: STEVENS CREEK

3.2MI S/O MT EDEN RD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2011 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 140

SAN ANTONIO VLY RD

Good

Over: ISABEL CREEK

8.3 MI EAST OF KINCAID RD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2018 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 50

BASSETT ST

Good

Over: VTA LRT

AT FIRST ST, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,000

BAILEY AVE

Good

Over: COYOTE CREEK

JUST WEST OF US HWY 101, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2004 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,200

SILVER CRK VLY PL

Good

Over: COYOTE CREEK

ABUTS INTO S3 OF 37C0532, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2005 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100

WOOSTER AVENUE

Good

Over: SILVER CREEK

0.2 MI N/O JULIAN ST, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2003 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,300

WILLOW GLEN WAY

Good

Over: GUADALUPE RIVER

NEAR CREEK DR, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2006 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,400

AIRPORT PARKWAY

Good

Over: GUADALUPE RIVER

0.4 MI S OF US 101, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 34,700

MONTGMRY & PARK AV

Good

Over: LOS GATOS CREEK

BET PARK & SAN CARLOS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1965 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,550

ALUM ROCK AVE

Good

Over: SILVER CREEK

10 FT SW OF CHECKERS DR, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2006 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 28,500

CHRISTOPHER LANE

Good

Over: MATADERO CREEK

NEAR OLD PAGE MILL ROAD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1975 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 250

JACKSON AVE

Good

Over: SILVER CREEK

NEAR I-680, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 49,500

Old Alviso Milp Rd

Good

Over: Coyote Creek

0.3 MI E I-880, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1997 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 350

EDMUNDSON AVE

Good

Over: LLAGAS CREEK

OAK GLEN AVE, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1998 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,410

HERITAGE WAY

Good

Over: UVAS CREEK

.1 MI SW/O WATSONVILLE RD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2007 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100

ADOBE LODGE ROAD

Good

Over: ADOBE CREEK

SOUTH OF MOODY ROAD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100

FRANCEMONT DRIVE

Good

Over: ADOBE CREEK

SOUTH OF MOODY ROAD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 800

TURTURICI WAY

Good

Over: MISERY CREEK

NE OF SAN FELIPE RD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 250

OLD MTNVIEW-ALVISO

Good

Over: CALABAZAS CREEK, TRAIL

S OF ROUTE 237, PM 5.28, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2018 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,000

COHANSEY AVENUE

Good

Over: WEST LLAGAS CREEK

0.25 MI W OF MONTEREY HWY, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2019 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,521

W 3RD STREET

Good

Over: LITTLE LLAGAS CREEK

NE OF DEL MONTE AVE, Santa Clara, CA

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,000

STATE ROUTE 1

Good

Over: BRANCIFORTE CREEK

05-SCR-001-16.43-SCR, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1958 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 88,000

N1-EMELINE AVE OFF

Good

Over: BRANCIFORTE CREEK

05-SCR-001-16.43-SCR, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 2008 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 30,000

N1-EMELINE AVE OFF

Good

Over: CARBONERA CREEK

05-SCR-001-16.49, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 2008 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 30,000

STATE ROUTE 1

Good

Over: MEDER CREEK

05-SCR-001-21.51, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1958 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 11,000

STATE ROUTE 9 SB

Good

Over: HILLSIDE

05-SCR-009-15.20, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1984 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,100

STATE ROUTE 9 NB

Good

Over: HILLSIDE

05-SCR-009-10.75, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,000

STATE ROUTE 17

Good

Over: HILLSIDE

05-SCR-017-9.43, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 2007 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 56,000

STATE ROUTE 9 NB

Good

Over: HILLSIDE

05-SCR-009-8.50, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 2013 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 21,100

STATE ROUTE 9 NB

Good

Over: HILLSIDE

05-SCR-009-3.76, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 2015 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,000

HIGHWAY 129

Good

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

05-SCR-129-3.52, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 2012 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,000

STATE ROUTE 9 NB

Good

Over: HILLSIDE

05-SCR-009-3.81, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 2015 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,000

STATE ROUTE 17

Good

Over: HILLSIDE

05-SCR-017-8.60, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 2018 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 61,000

STATE ROUTE 17

Good

Over: HILLSIDE

05-SCR-017-9.01, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 2018 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 61,000

STATE ROUTE 9 NB

Good

Over: HILLSIDE

05-SCR-009-11.00, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 2018 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 21,100

TEILH DRIVE

Good

Over: SAN LORENZO RIVER

0.05 MI W OF SR 9, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1998 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 250

RANDPORT RD

Good

Over: HARKINS SLOUGH

0.5 MI. E. OF BUENA VISTA, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1974 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,000

LAUREL ST

Good

Over: SAN LORENZO RIVER

0.8 MI E OF S.R. I, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1968 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 18,604

BROWNS VALLEY ROAD

Good

Over: LOS CORRALITOS CREEK

EAST OF CORRALITOS, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,000

Showing 23,051-23,100 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.