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

ARTERIAL ROAD

Fair

Over: FISH CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Madera, CA

Built 1974 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 50

ROAD

Fair

Over: JOE CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Siskiyou, CA

Built 1954 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 10

BIG OAK FLAT ROAD

Fair

Over: WILDCAT CREEK

7.0 miles east from El Po, Mariposa, CA

Built 1939 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,530

STATE ROUTE 299

Fair

Over: RAMP ROAD

01-HUM-299-R4.04, Humboldt, CA

Built 1965 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 9,700

EAST FRONTAGE ROAD

Fair

Over: PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

0.2 MI N 14TH ST, Humboldt, CA

Built 1976 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 2,000

FOREST AVENUE

Fair

Over: SYDNEY GULCH

0.2 MI SOUTH OF SR 299, Trinity, CA

Built 1949 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 1,946

SOUTH FORK ROAD

Fair

Over: BIG CREEK

4.8 MI N HYAMPOM RD, Trinity, CA

Built 1940 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 160

NEWVILLE RD

Fair

Over: ORLAND IRRIGATION CANAL

1 MI NW GLENN CNTY LN E, Tehama, CA

Built 1960 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 900

STATE ROUTE 36

Fair

Over: NORTH FORK FEATHER RIVER

02-PLU-036-8.84, Plumas, CA

Built 1966 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 5,500

E GOBBI ST

Fair

Over: U.S. HIGHWAY 101

01-MEN-101-R24.06-UKI, Mendocino, CA

Built 1964 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 18,100

CENTER VALLEY RD

Fair

Over: HAEHL CREEK

0.9 MI E SH 101, Mendocino, CA

Built 1953 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 1,166

COUNTY ROAD 27

Fair

Over: INTERSTATE 5

03-GLE-005-R20.82, Glenn, CA

Built 1966 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 1,000

COUNTY ROAD 25

Fair

Over: INTERSTATE 5

03-GLE-005-R21.82, Glenn, CA

Built 1966 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 500

COUNTY ROAD 24

Fair

Over: INTERSTATE 5

03-GLE-005-R22.81, Glenn, CA

Built 1966 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 500

AUBURN RAVINE ROAD

Fair

Over: INTERSTATE 80

03-PLA-080-R19.46, Placer, CA

Built 1967 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 18,406

DONNER PASS ROAD

Fair

Over: SOUTH YUBA RIVER

NORTH OF YUBA DRIVE, Placer, CA

Built 1929 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 250

HAMPSHIRE ROCKS RD

Fair

Over: SOUTH YUBA RIVER

1.7 MI E OF CISCO, Placer, CA

Built 1928 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 100

HAMPSHIRE ROCKS RD

Fair

Over: SOUTH YUBA RIVER

2.3 MI E OF CISCO, Placer, CA

Built 1929 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 100

LOCUST RD

Fair

Over: CURRY CREEK

1.0 MILE N OF BASELINE RD, Placer, CA

Built 1940 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 739

US HIGHWAY 101 SB

Fair

Over: CITRUS FAIR DRIVE

04-SON-101-R51.62-CLVD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1994 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 6,800

JAMISON RD

Fair

Over: MATANZAS CREEK

0.4 MI E SONOMA MTN RD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1969 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 150

WINDSOR RD

Fair

Over: BRANCH WINDSOR CREEK

0.3 MI N OF SILK RD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1946 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 1,500

ST RTE 160 SB LRT

Fair

Over: UP RR BNSF RY NORTHGATE

03-SAC-160-R44.65-SAC, Sacramento, CA

Built 1942 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 26,500

AUBURN BOULEVARD

Fair

Over: ARCADE CREEK

0.5 MI N GREENBACK LANE, Sacramento, CA

Built 1927 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 26,461

POWER INN RD

Fair

Over: ELDER CREEK

0.1 MI S OF GERBER RD, Sacramento, CA

Built 1970 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 20,750

STATE ROUTE 4

Fair

Over: MAINTENANCE ACCESS

04-CC-004-24.97-ANT, Contra Costa, CA

Built 1953 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 114,000

MONUMENT BLVD

Fair

Over: WALNUT CREEK

AT MOHR LANE, Contra Costa, CA

Built 1965 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 33,600

BRENTWOOD BLVD

Fair

Over: MARSH CREEK

0.1 M N/O KAYLA PL, Contra Costa, CA

Built 1928 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 17,900

NEWELL AVE

Fair

Over: SAN RAMON CREEK

0.1 MI E OF S MAIN ST, Contra Costa, CA

Built 1940 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 16,200

INTERSTATE 5 SB

Fair

Over: STATE RTE 4 (CHARTER WY)

10-SJ-005-25.35-STKN, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1971 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 61,050

HAM LANE

Fair

Over: PIXLEY SLOUGH

0.1MI S/O WEST LANE, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1926 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 457

STATE ROUTE 49

Fair

Over: WOODS CREEK

10-TUO-049-17.49-SRA, Tuolumne, CA

Built 1902 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 11,500

INTERSTATE 880

Fair

Over: S880-S238 CONNECTOR RAMP

04-ALA-880-20.68-SLN, Alameda, CA

Built 1952 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 219,000

NORFOLK ST

Fair

Over: FIESTA CHANNEL

0.1 MI N/O DAY AVE, San Mateo, CA

Built 1955 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 8,800

PACIFIC BLVD

Fair

Over: HILLSDALE BLVD

PACIFIC BLVD @ HILLSDALE, San Mateo, CA

Built 1965 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 3,650

MIDDLE AVENUE

Fair

Over: U.S. HIGHWAY 101

04-SCL-101-R13.74, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1972 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 3,000

INTERSTATE 280

Fair

Over: COYOTE CREEK

04-SCL-280-R1.08-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1972 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 238,000

STEVENS CR BLVD

Fair

Over: STEVENS CREEK

0.2 MI E/O STEVENS CYN RD, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1922 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 15,041

MONTE VISTA AVENUE

Fair

Over: T.I.D. MAIN CANAL

0.2 MI E/O SANTA FE AVE, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1920 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 1,733

LAMBUTH ROAD

Fair

Over: S SAN JOAQUIN MAIN CANAL

0.6 MI S OF SCHULTZ RD, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1927 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 52

STODDARD

Fair

Over: M.I.D. LATERAL #4

0.2 MI W OF VIRGINIA AVE, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1938 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 2,849

STATE ROUTE 99 NB

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

10-MER-099-16.38-MER, Merced, CA

Built 1962 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 25,500

RAYMOND RD 415

Fair

Over: FRESNO RIVER

0.75 MI W/O RD 400, Madera, CA

Built 1971 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 3,993

CO RD 16

Fair

Over: FRESNO FLOOD CHANNEL

1.1 MI N OF AVE 14, Madera, CA

Built 1973 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 368

RD 12

Fair

Over: FRESNO FLOOD CHANNEL

1.0 MI N AVE 14, Madera, CA

Built 1974 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 10

W OLSON AVE

Fair

Over: KINGS RIVER

0.1 MI WEST OF REED AVE, Fresno, CA

Built 1975 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 5,375

N WEBER AVE (SB)

Fair

Over: BELMONT AVE

.6 MI EAST OF ROUTE 99, Fresno, CA

Built 1953 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 10,613

N FOWLER AVE

Fair

Over: FANCHER CREEK CANAL

NORTH OF TULARE ST, Fresno, CA

Built 1959 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 22,391

WHITLEY AVE

Fair

Over: MIDDLE BRANCH CROSS CRK

0.5 MI EAST OF 10TH AVE, Kings, CA

Built 1940 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 2,268

DIAGONAL ROAD 92B

Fair

Over: UP RR

AT SR 99 OVER SPRR, Tulare, CA

Built 1960 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 1,000

Showing 2,401-2,450 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.