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

STEINER FLAT ROAD

Poor

Over: DUTTON CREEK

3.8 MI NW OF SR3 @D.CITY, Trinity, CA

Built 1950 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 100

STATE ROUTE 89

Poor

Over: LAKE BRITTON

02-SHA-089-29.19, Shasta, CA

Built 1938 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 1,700

MIDDLE CREEK RD

Poor

Over: MIDDLE CREEK

0.7 MI E OF IRON MTN RD, Shasta, CA

Built 1925 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 61

REEDS CREEK RD

Poor

Over: BRUSH CREEK

1.2 MI W WILDER RD, Tehama, CA

Built 1930 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 1,660

VESTAL ROAD

Poor

Over: COLDFORK COTTONWOOD CRK

2.1 MI N PETTY JOHN ROAD, Tehama, CA

Built 1921 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 60

IRR COUNTY RD 306

Poor

Over: WATSON CREEK

0.3 MI N OF RD #305, Glenn, CA

Built 1930 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 268

NUESTRO RD

Poor

Over: SNAKE RIVER

0.7 MI E OF E BUTTE RD, Sutter, CA

Built 1925 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 325

AZALEA AVE

Poor

Over: FAIRFAX CREEK

80 FT W OF ARROYO RD, Marin, CA

Built 1930 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 110

ITALIAN BAR RD

Poor

Over: ROSE CREEK

10.7 MI NE BIG HILL ROAD, Tuolumne, CA

Built 1925 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 20

STATE ROUTE 1 SB

Poor

Over: S17-OCEAN OFF OCEAN-N17

05-SCR-001-17.19-SCR, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1956 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 30,000

STUHR ROAD

Poor

Over: DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL

100 EAST OF BELL ROAD, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1949 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 2,184

RD 28 1/2

Poor

Over: DRY CREEK

0.9 MI N AVE 21, Madera, CA

Built 1948 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 68

NORTH FORK ROAD

Poor

Over: LEWIS CREEK

0.1 MI NE SH 198, Monterey, CA

Built 1948 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 200

HUASNA RD

Poor

Over: HUASNA RIVER

2.55 MI E OF HUASNA, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1940 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 401

DE LA VINA ST

Poor

Over: MISSION CREEK

0.1 MI N ALAMAR AVE, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1916 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 11,250

SOLEDAD CYN RD

Poor

Over: SANTA CLARA RIV BR

0.3MI E/O AGUA DULCE CY, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1936 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 2,550

N. COAST HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: SAN LUIS REY RIVER

0.22M S/O HARBOR DR, San Diego, CA

Built 1929 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 12,000

ROAD 48

Poor

Over: WILLOW CREEK

1.0 MI W/O ROAD D, Glenn, CA

Built 1935 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 87

COUNTY ROAD 99S

Poor

Over: INTERSTATE 5

03-YOL-005-R9.41, Yolo, CA

Built 1973 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 5,000

BRYANT AVE

Poor

Over: COLONY MAIN CANAL

0.05 MI S/O VALERIA AVE, Merced, CA

Built 1940 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 200

ORNGE AV AND HILL

Poor

Over: LBC BIKE PATH

0.5MI S/O WILLOW ST, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1932 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 17,663

3RD ST (CORNING)

Poor

Over: THEMPER DITCH

0.5 MI N SOLANO RD, Tehama, CA

Built 1915 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 4,152

CORNING ROAD

Poor

Over: SOUTH FORK JEWETT CREEK

1.3 MI W/D I-5, Tehama, CA

Built 1938 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 2,500

CAPAY RD

Poor

Over: MOORE CREEK

3.6 MI E OF RD 99 W, Tehama, CA

Built 1919 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 982

COUNTY ROAD 303

Poor

Over: CLARKS VALLEY CREEK

5.0 MI S RD 302, Glenn, CA

Built 1935 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 27

COUNTY ROAD 306

Poor

Over: BRANCH STONY CREEK

9.98 MI N CO LINE, Glenn, CA

Built 1930 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 235

NEAL RD

Poor

Over: NANCE CANYON

0.5 MI E OROVLE CHICO HWY, Butte, CA

Built 1920 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 400

LA GRANDE RD

Poor

Over: GLENN-COLUSA CANAL

0.3 MI WEST DANLEY RD, Colusa, CA

Built 1940 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 42

ROCK CREEK RD

Poor

Over: ROCK CREEK

1 MI E OF RECTOR RD, Nevada, CA

Built 1920 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 80

LARKIN RD

Poor

Over: S BRNCH SUTTER-BUTTE CNL

0.2 MI N OF ENCINAL RD, Sutter, CA

Built 1925 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 1,159

SANDERS RD

Poor

Over: SUTTER CO EXTENSION CNL

1.2 MI W OF BROADWAY, Sutter, CA

Built 1940 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 177

NUESTRO ROAD

Poor

Over: SUTTER CO EXTENSION CNL

0.8 MI E OF E BUTTE RD, Sutter, CA

Built 1940 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 325

GEYSERS ROAD

Poor

Over: CAMACHO CREEK

24 MI N OF SR 128, Sonoma, CA

Built 1974 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 60

GREEN VALLEY ROAD

Poor

Over: MOUND SPRINGS CREEK

0.8 MI W MISSOURI FLAT R, El Dorado, CA

Built 1935 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 4,351

BELL ROAD

Poor

Over: BIG INDIAN CREEK

0.15 MI E/O SH 49, Amador, CA

Built 1925 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 26

STATE ROUTE 1

Poor

Over: REDWOOD CREEK

04-MRN-001-6.02, Marin, CA

Built 1926 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 3,900

STATE ROUTE 120

Poor

Over: CHINESE CREEK

10-TUO-120-14.73, Tuolumne, CA

Built 1914 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 2,800

98TH AVE

Poor

Over: SAN LEANDRO CREEK

0.3 MI W OF I 880, Alameda, CA

Built 1939 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 7,991

MAIN ST

Poor

Over: PILARCITOS CREEK

0.25 MI S/O SR 92, San Mateo, CA

Built 1900 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 2,350

PILARCITOS CREEK R

Poor

Over: PILARCITOS CREEK

0.46 MI N OF S.H. 92, San Mateo, CA

Built 1910 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 42

W. STANISLAUS ROAD

Poor

Over: W STANISLAUS I.D. LAT 4

200 W HAMILTON RD, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1930 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 119

MONTE VISTA AVENUE

Poor

Over: T.I.D. CERES MAIN CANAL

0.3 MI W FAITH HOME ROAD, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1914 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 473

LANGWORTH ROAD

Poor

Over: M.I.D. MAIN CANAL

3 MI N MILNES RD, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1925 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 1,873

ARROYA AVENUE

Poor

Over: WEST DELTA CANAL

0.9 MI N OF SR 152, Merced, CA

Built 1930 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 40

N GOLDEN STATE BL

Poor

Over: HERNDON CANAL

0.05 MI SE OF BARSTOW, Fresno, CA

Built 1925 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 9,815

MAIN CAMP FIRE RD

Poor

Over: BIG SUR RIVER

PFEIFFER BIG SUR ST PARK, Monterey, CA

Built 2009 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 100

CENTER STREET

Poor

Over: MILL CREEK

@ TIPTON STREET, Tulare, CA

Built 1930 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 400

BELL ACCESS RD

Poor

Over: OAK CREEK

0.1 MI EOF BELL ACCESS RD, Inyo, CA

Built 1940 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 50

2ND ST

Poor

Over: MARINE STAD / APPIAN

0.3MI W/O SR-1 HWY, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1955 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 45,571

SOLEDAD CYN RD

Poor

Over: LACMTA AND SCRRA TRACK

0.1MI E/O AGUA DULCE CYN, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1938 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 3,162

Showing 24,551-24,600 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.