State profile · Below median Poor share

California bridge safety

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, condition ratings, load ratings, and Poor-condition shares for every public highway bridge in California.

25,848
Public bridges
45.6%
Good condition
5.9%
Poor condition

California holds 25,848 public highway bridges (#4 of 52 by inventory) with a 5.91% Poor share (#28 of 52 by Poor share).

That is 5.9% of the state's inventory, against an average of 7.5% across the 54 states and territories with Poor-rated bridges on file, which places it 25 of 54 ordered from the lowest Poor share upward. A bridge is rated Poor when its weakest applicable component scores 4 or below on the inspecting agency's 0-9 scale, so the category is a maintenance and funding signal rather than a closure order or a live crossing-safety verdict.

Inventory: FHWA NBI 2024 · last ETL August 2026

Total Bridges

25,848

Public highway bridges in California

Good Condition

45.6%

11,798 bridges rated 7-9

-4.4pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

5.9%

1,527 bridges whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

-1.6pp vs national avg 7.5%

California vs national bridge condition

California - Good condition share 45.6%
National avg

Share of bridges rated 7-9 on the FHWA 0-9 scale (deck, superstructure, substructure all good).

California - Poor-condition share 19.7%
National avg

Lower is better. Bar maxes at 30% (worst-state ceiling). National average sits at 7.5%.

California in the national condition pattern

Each point is a state or territory in the FHWA NBI; the highlighted point is this profile.

Inventory size and Poor-condition share are different measures: California has 25,848 bridges and a 5.9% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #25 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The dashed comparisons mark the national average state rate and the midpoint of the plotted inventory range; neither is a live safety or closure threshold. Scatter plot of 54 data points. 0%10%20%30%40% 0k20k40k60k Public bridges in inventory (thousands) Poor-condition share (%) CA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 25.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.91%AL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 16.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 3.35%AK, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 1.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.89%AZ, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.15%AR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.43%CO, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 9k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.82%CT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.72%DE, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.26%DC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.95%FL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.79%GA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 15.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.59%GU, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0k · Poor-condition share (%): 12.77%HI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 1.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.53%ID, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.9%IL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 26.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 9.35%IN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 19.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.22%IA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 23.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 19.16%KS, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 24.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.26%KY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.37%LA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 12.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 11.48%ME, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 15.41%MD, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.56%MA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 8.88%MI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 11.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 11.27%MN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.44%MS, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 16.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.03%MO, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 24.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 8.95%MT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.81%NE, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 15.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.9%NV, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.14%NH, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.51%NJ, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 6.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.01%NM, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.51%NY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 17.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 9.43%NC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 19.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.76%ND, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 10.98%OH, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 26.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.74%OK, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 22.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.7%OR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.61%PA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 23.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 12.58%PR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 13.92%RI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 15.2%SC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 9.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.17%SD, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 16.36%TN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 20.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.41%TX, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 56.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.23%UT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 3.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.91%VT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.9%VI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0k · Poor-condition share (%): 29.17%VA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 3.39%WA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.45%WV, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 7.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 18.64%WI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.52%WY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 3.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.51%
Inventory size and Poor-condition share are different measures: California has 25,848 bridges and a 5.9% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #25 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The dashed comparisons mark the national average state rate and the midpoint of the plotted inventory range; neither is a live safety or closure threshold.

California vs all states by public bridge inventory

Where this state's FHWA NBI public-highway bridge count sits among every state and territory on PlainBridges

25,848 4th of 54 higher than 50 of 54 states

States and territories, banded by public bridge inventory size

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source FHWA National Bridge Inventory · 2024

Read the rank neighborhood for California

The highlighted point is California: 25,848 bridges and 5.91% in Poor condition, rank #25 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The five jurisdictions immediately above and below California on that same Poor-share ordering:

  • Arkansas: 12,974 bridges · 5.43% Poor
  • Washington: 8,474 bridges · 5.45% Poor
  • California: 25,848 bridges · 5.91% Poor
  • New Jersey: 6,827 bridges · 6.01% Poor
  • Mississippi: 16,739 bridges · 6.03% Poor

The full national sortable table lives on the rankings page.

Material families in California

Exclusive FHWA material families across all 25,848 bridges in this state; continuous variants fold into the parent family. Orthogonal to the Poor-share scatter above.

Who maintains California’s inventory

State agency holds 48.8% of the 25,848 public highway bridges filed under California in the 2024 NBI, the agency-of-record split for this state, not a condition verdict.

When California’s bridges were built

Pre-1950 construction accounts for 15.5% of the 25,848 bridges with a recorded original year in California. Era bands are orthogonal to the Poor-share ranking above.

Condition Distribution

California45.6%48.4%GoodFairPoor
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix - California (FHWA NBI)

Counties (58)

Alameda 658 Alpine 32 Amador 61 Butte 437 Calaveras 105 Colusa 211 Contra Costa 618 Del Norte 96 El Dorado 192 Fresno 916 Glenn 242 Humboldt 396 Imperial 444 Inyo 66 Kern 668 Kings 168 Lake 129 Lassen 108 Los Angeles 3547 Madera 247 Marin 207 Mariposa 109 Mendocino 357 Merced 528 Modoc 87 Mono 49 Monterey 377 Napa 158 Nevada 135 Orange 1164 Placer 337 Plumas 165 Riverside 1117 Sacramento 740 San Benito 76 San Bernardino 1422 San Diego 1632 San Francisco 143 San Joaquin 644 San Luis Obispo 401 San Mateo 361 Santa Barbara 418 Santa Clara 964 Santa Cruz 192 Shasta 492 Sierra 65 Siskiyou 421 Solano 373 Sonoma 609 Stanislaus 386 Sutter 121 Tehama 450 Trinity 194 Tulare 589 Tuolumne 125 Ventura 501 Yolo 271 Yuba 127

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.

AR

Arkansas

5.43% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$12,974

WA

Washington

5.45% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$8,474
Selected

CA

California

5.91% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$25,848

NJ

New Jersey

6.01% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$6,827

MS

Mississippi

6.03% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$16,739

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.

OLD COTTONWOOD CR

Poor

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK

0.2 MI E/O COTTONWOOD CK, Siskiyou, CA

Built 1957 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 10

STATE ROUTE 211

Poor

Over: EEL RIVER

01-HUM-211-78.10, Humboldt, CA

Built 1911 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 5,300

CR 305 (MAPES RD)

Poor

Over: HARTSON SLOUGH

0.4 MI E/O RD 303, Lassen, CA

Built 1978 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 100

CR 111 (PITTVILLE)

Poor

Over: BEAVER CREEK

1.0 MI S OF CR 404, Lassen, CA

Built 1975 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 100

RD 424 (BASSETT)

Poor

Over: WILLOW CREEK

1.5 MI N OF RD A-2, Lassen, CA

Built 1960 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 120

CR417 (PUNKIN CTR)

Poor

Over: MUDDY SLOUGH NO 1

2.8 MI S OF CR A2, Lassen, CA

Built 1955 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 200

All Bridges in California

TAMALPAIS DRIVE

Fair

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

04-MRN-101-7.37-CMAD, Marin, CA

Built 1957 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 40,000

SIR-FRANCIS DRAKE

Fair

Over: LAGUNITAS CREEK

SHAFTER BRIDGE, Marin, CA

Built 1982 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 3,000

INTERSTATE 580 WB

Fair

Over: HILLSIDE

04-CC-580-R5.60-RCH, Contra Costa, CA

Built 1985 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 34,000

MANTHEY ROAD

Fair

Over: PARADISE CUT

1.2 MI S/W STEWART RD, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1932 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 50

OLD STATE ROUTE 88

Fair

Over: WEST FORK CARSON RIVER

10-ALP-088-16.22, Alpine, CA

Built 1939 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 3,200

INTERSTATE 580

Fair

Over: SAN LEANDRO CREEK

04-ALA-580-R34.55-SLN, Alameda, CA

Built 1964 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 140,000

CENTER ST

Fair

Over: SAN LORENZO CREEK

0.3 MI S OF GROVE WAY, Alameda, CA

Built 1913 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 23,400

STATE ROUTE 1

Fair

Over: KOBBE AVE HITCHCOCK ST

04-SF-001-6.67-SF, San Francisco, CA

Built 1939 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 64,000

KEHOE AVENUE

Fair

Over: 16TH AVENUE CHANNEL

WEST OF LODI AVE, San Mateo, CA

Built 1955 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 3,910

FERN DR

Fair

Over: SAN LORENZO RIVER

0.05 MI W OF SR 9, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1950 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 400

SANTA TERESA BLVD

Fair

Over: LLAGAS CREEK

0.5 MI SE WATSONVILLE RD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1969 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 5,110

STONE AVENUE

Fair

Over: M.I.D. LATERAL #5

0.4 MI S OF CALIF AVENUE, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1920 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 300

STATE ROUTE 165

Fair

Over: INTERSTATE 5

10-MER-165-L0.01, Merced, CA

Built 1971 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 1,800

DWIGHT WAY

Fair

Over: LIVINGSTON CANAL

0.2 MI N OLIVE AVE, Merced, CA

Built 1960 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 236

EUCALYPTUS AVENUE

Fair

Over: LIVINGSTON CANAL

0.2 MI W SULTANA DR, Merced, CA

Built 1940 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 448

MILES CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: MILES CREEK

0.2 MI N VASSER AVENUE, Merced, CA

Built 1960 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 49

MERCED AVENUE

Fair

Over: HIGH LINE CANAL

0.5 MI SOUTH BLOSS AVE, Merced, CA

Built 1955 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 50

STATE ROUTE 145

Fair

Over: STINSON CANAL

06-FRE-145-17.18, Fresno, CA

Built 1951 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 5,400

S ENGLEHART AVE

Fair

Over: REEDLEY MAIN CANAL

0.3 MI N OF AMERICAN AVE, Fresno, CA

Built 1936 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 250

CHATEAU FRESNO AVE

Fair

Over: HERNDON CANAL

AT BARSTOW AVE, Fresno, CA

Built 1942 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 200

E JEFFERSON AVE

Fair

Over: ALTA EAST BRANCH CANAL

0.4 MI E OF CRAWFORD AVE, Fresno, CA

Built 1940 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 350

US HIGHWAY 101 SB

Fair

Over: BROADWAY

05-MON-101-R41.19L, Monterey, CA

Built 1968 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 17,600

SAN JON RD

Fair

Over: MAIN CANAL

0.2 MI E SR 183, Monterey, CA

Built 1962 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 1,500

14TH AVE

Fair

Over: LAST CHANCE DITCH

0.8 MI N OF GRANGEVILLE, Kings, CA

Built 1957 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 2,841

STATE ROUTE 198

Fair

Over: COUNTY ROAD 156

06-TUL-198-R13.74, Tulare, CA

Built 1964 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 26,000

M 220

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

6.7 MI E OF BALCH PARKRD, Tulare, CA

Built 1956 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 220

STATE ROUTE 227

Fair

Over: CORBETT CANYON CREEK

05-SLO-227-1.43-ARGD, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1914 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 3,350

STATE ROUTE 178

Fair

Over: HILLSIDE

06-KER-178-13.74, Kern, CA

Built 1923 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 4,350

MT VERNON AVE

Fair

Over: UP RR BNSF RY EDISON HWY

0.3 MI N CALIFORNIA ST., Kern, CA

Built 1960 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 31,500

JALAMA ROAD

Fair

Over: SALSIPUEDES CREEK

WEST OF SR 1, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1941 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 669

SUEY CROSSING RD

Fair

Over: SANTA MARIA RIVER

EAST OF SUEY PARK, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2001 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 1,000

STATE ROUTE 23

Fair

Over: TIERRA REJADA ROAD

07-VEN-023-R10.16-MRPK, Ventura, CA

Built 1970 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 60,000

FREMONT AVENUE

Fair

Over: STATE ROUTE 110

07-LA-110-31.01-SPAS, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1940 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 17,000

GRAMERCY PLACE

Fair

Over: INTERSTATE 10 AND RAMPS

07-LA-010-R12.57-LA, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1962 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 3,310

SPRING STREET

Fair

Over: INTERSTATE 605

07-LA-605-R0.29-LBCH, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1965 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 16,700

CASTAIC RD

Fair

Over: VIOLIN CRK

1.0MI N/O LAKE HUGHES RD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1930 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 8,652

IMPERIAL HWY

Fair

Over: WILMINGTON AVE / MTA

0.8MI W/O ALAMEDA ST, Los Angeles, CA

Built 2004 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 37,956

INTERSTATE 10 WB

Fair

Over: ETWNDA-SN SEVN FL CN CHN

08-SBD-010-11.64, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1953 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 95,000

INTERSTATE 215

Fair

Over: EAST BRANCH LYTLE CREEK

08-SBD-215-6.31-SBD, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1957 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 135,000

INTERSTATE 40

Fair

Over: MESQUITE WASH

08-SBD-040-147.25, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1967 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 7,200

MAIN STREET W/B

Fair

Over: SAN DIEGO CREEK CHANNEL

0.3 MI E JAMBOREE RD, Orange, CA

Built 1969 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 8,700

ROUTE 74

Fair

Over: ANTSELL ROCK CREEK

08-RIV-074-63.45, Riverside, CA

Built 1958 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 3,570

HALL AVENUE

Fair

Over: STATE ROUTE 60

08-RIV-060-9.96, Riverside, CA

Built 1962 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 980

TEMESCAL CANYON RD

Fair

Over: INDIAN WASH

0.2 MI. E/O INDIAN TRUCK, Riverside, CA

Built 1941 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 1,498

STATE ROUTE 94

Fair

Over: DULZURA CREEK

11-SD-094-28.50, San Diego, CA

Built 1930 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 7,800

STATE ROUTE 79

Fair

Over: DESCANSO CREEK

11-SD-079-2.57, San Diego, CA

Built 1946 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 3,200

INTERSTATE 15 NB

Fair

Over: ROUTE 8

11-SD-015-R6.10-SD, San Diego, CA

Built 1960 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 113,000

INTERSTATE 5

Fair

Over: CHOLLAS CREEK

11-SD-005-R12.73-SD, San Diego, CA

Built 1963 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 164,000

ADAMS AVE

Fair

Over: TEXAS STREET

0.45M S/O ROUTE I-8, San Diego, CA

Built 1964 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 9,100

BUCKMAN SPRINGS RD

Fair

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK

3.5 MI S/O ROUTE I-8, San Diego, CA

Built 1950 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 4,300

Showing 2,351-2,400 of 25,848 bridges

Related

All states → | National rankings → | Understanding conditions → | Retired SD term explained →
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.

Understanding Bridge Conditions

How FHWA rates bridge condition on a 0-9 scale.

Check Your Daily Bridges

How to look up bridge condition data for bridges on your route.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

What to do with this

Use California's inventory picture to drill to a county or a specific span.

  • Browse counties in California and open the highest-Poor shares first. County list
  • See where this state sits among peers on Poor-condition share. State rankings
  • Compare this state with another jurisdiction on the same measures. State compare

NBI condition ratings are inventory snapshots, not live crossing-safety verdicts.

Every figure on PlainBridges is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. California Good/Fair/Poor shares and county rollups on this page are computed from the same NBI extract as the national boards; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2024 NBI release. NBI condition categories reflect the latest reported inventory record, not a live safety, closure, or travel decision.