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

SARTORI DR

Poor

Over: ADOBE CREEK

0.2 MI SE CASA GRANDE AVE, Sonoma, CA

Built 1976 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 1,475

BIRD ROAD

Poor

Over: CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT

0.5 MI N BLEWETT RD, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1966 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 3,491

FOREST HILL DR

Poor

Over: BEAR CREEK

0.2 MI W BEAR CREEK RD, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1961 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 1,200

INTERSTATE 5 SB

Poor

Over: INGRAM CREEK

10-STA-005-23.07, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1967 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 20,500

SNTA RTA OLD CR RD

Poor

Over: OLD CREEK

0.3 MI E CYPRESS MTN DR, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1940 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 249

PERKINS AVE

Poor

Over: UP RR

0.25 MI W BROWNING RD, Kern, CA

Built 1963 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 3,970

SANTA ANITA AVE

Poor

Over: RIO HONDO

0.8MI W/O PECK RD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1959 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 32,849

FRANCISQUITO AVE

Poor

Over: WALNUT CRK

0.1MI S/O I-10 FWY, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1958 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 31,805

STUDEBAKER RD N/B

Poor

Over: S CAL EDISON S CHAN

300FT S/O LOYNES DRIVE, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1966 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 38,584

ORVLE CHICO HWY

Poor

Over: DURHAM MUTUAL DITCH

0.9 MI N OF NEAL RD, Butte, CA

Built 1920 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 1,552

STATE ROUTE 128

Poor

Over: HOPPER SLOUGH

04-NAP-128-5.12, Napa, CA

Built 1921 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 2,075

NB JEFFERSON BLVD

Poor

Over: DEEP WATER CANAL

0.2 MI SOUTH OF STONE ST, Yolo, CA

Built 1960 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 17,439

BRIONES VALLEY RD

Poor

Over: BRIONES VALLEY CREEK

2.9 MI W DEER VALLEY RD, Contra Costa, CA

Built 2001 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 50

BUCKMAN RD

Poor

Over: DUCK CREEK BRANCH

0.8 MI N OF SR 4, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1931 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 13

CAMPUS DR

Poor

Over: LION CREEK TRIBUTARY

0.5 MI SE REDWOD RD, Alameda, CA

Built 1970 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 9,189

BERMUDA DR

Poor

Over: FIESTA CHANNEL

SOUTH OF FIESTA DRIVE, San Mateo, CA

Built 1955 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 1,920

N FRUIT AVE

Poor

Over: HOUGHTON CANAL

AT NIELSEN AVE, Fresno, CA

Built 1954 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 1,135

6TH AVE

Poor

Over: E BRANCH LAKELAND CANAL

3.3 MI S OF KANSAS AVE, Kings, CA

Built 1986 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 400

US HIGHWAY 101 NB

Poor

Over: ATASCADERO CREEK

05-SLO-101-45.72-ATAS, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1956 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 30,000

W10 & E10 BUSWAYS

Poor

Over: RIO HONDO RIVER

07-LA-010S-28.33-EMTE, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1972 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 500

BADILLO ST

Poor

Over: BIG DALTON WASH

0.1MI W/O PUENTE AVE, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1959 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 13,081

GILBERT DR

Poor

Over: SHELTER CHANNEL

0.4 MI E/O ADMIRALTY DR, Orange, CA

Built 1963 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 900

KUBLER RD

Poor

Over: GREESON WASH

0.45 MI E/O BROCKMAN RD, Imperial, CA

Built 1940 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 100

WINDING ROAD

Poor

Over: DINKEY CREEK

11S02-0.1, Fresno, CA

Built 1938 Load: 22.1 t ADT: 110

RD 311

Poor

Over: DEEP CUT (BAXTER) CREEK

1.1 MI E/O A3, Lassen, CA

Built 1978 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 100

MOORE AVE

Poor

Over: WEST BRANCH RUSSIAN RIV

0.1 MI E JCT N STATE ST, Mendocino, CA

Built 1958 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 2,776

HIRSCHDALE RD

Poor

Over: UP RR BNSF RY & AMTRAK

2.5 MI S OF BOCA, Nevada, CA

Built 1926 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 70

SACRAMENTO AVE

Poor

Over: SUTTER BYPASS E CHANNEL

1.1 MI WEST OF SR 99, Sutter, CA

Built 1975 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 334

WATMAUGH ROAD

Poor

Over: FOWLER CREEK

0.3 MI E ARNOLD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1920 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 3,300

LAWRENCE ROAD

Poor

Over: SOUTH FORK COSUMNES RIV

EL DORADO CO LINE, Amador, CA

Built 1960 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 25

SAN PABLO AVE

Poor

Over: BNSF RY AND AMTRAK

WEST OF CAROL LANE, Contra Costa, CA

Built 1938 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 10,300

MINER RD

Poor

Over: SAN PABLO CREEK

AT CAMINO PABLO, Contra Costa, CA

Built 1931 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 6,368

BUENA VISTA DRIVE

Poor

Over: HARKINS SLOUGH

30 S LARKIN VALLEY RD, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1950 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 6,000

INTERSTATE 5 SB

Poor

Over: INGRAM CREEK ROAD

10-STA-005-22.99, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1967 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 20,500

US HIGHWAY 101 SB

Poor

Over: SANTA MARGARITA CREEK

05-SLO-101-37.99, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1956 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 21,000

BAILARD AVENUE

Poor

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

05-SB-101-1.62-CARP, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1963 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 700

NAT TRAILS HWY

Poor

Over: LAMEGO DITCH

4.3 MI E KELBAKER RD, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1930 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 502

INTERSTATE 5 SB

Poor

Over: NCTD BNSF & AMTRAK SCRRA

11-SD-005-R55.39L-OCN, San Diego, CA

Built 1967 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 96,000

STATE ROUTE 1

Poor

Over: ALBION RIVER

01-MEN-001-43.74, Mendocino, CA

Built 1944 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 2,100

INTERSTATE 5 NB

Poor

Over: WEBER PERSHING FREMONT

10-SJ-005-26.47-STKN, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1972 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 56,500

GRANT LINE ROAD

Poor

Over: DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL

1.8 MI NE OF I 580, Alameda, CA

Built 1948 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 5,100

INTERSTATE 5 NB

Poor

Over: OAK FLAT ROAD

10-STA-005-12.53, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1967 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 18,000

LAS PALMAS AVENUE

Poor

Over: SAN JOAQUIN RIVER

3 MI N/E STATE ROUTE 33, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1959 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 12,585

BUHACH ROAD

Poor

Over: LIVINGSTON CANAL

0.3 MI N JUNIPER AVENUE, Merced, CA

Built 1965 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 9,555

ROAD 200

Poor

Over: LITTLE FINE GOLD CREEK

14.1 MI NE STATE RTE 41, Madera, CA

Built 1958 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 800

LIMEKILN ROAD

Poor

Over: PESCADERO CREEK

0.1 MI S CIENEGA RD, San Benito, CA

Built 1980 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 500

ATLANTIC AVE

Poor

Over: LOS ANGELES RIV

0.5MI S/O ALONDRA BLVD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1937 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 23,298

MAIN ST

Poor

Over: CHOLLAS CREEK

0.12M S/O 32ND ST, San Diego, CA

Built 1937 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 18,545

WEST LANE

Poor

Over: BEAR CREEK

1.6 MI N HAMMER LANE, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1966 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 14,064

ALMA ST

Poor

Over: UNIVERSITY AVE

AT UNIVERSITY AVE, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1940 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 22,000

Showing 24,801-24,850 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.