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

ASSOCIATED RD

Poor

Over: FULLERTON DAM DIV CHAN

0.3 MI N/O BASTANCHURY, Orange, CA

Built 1941 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 10,400

STATE ROUTE 98

Poor

Over: WESTSIDE MAIN CANAL

11-IMP-098-22.02, Imperial, CA

Built 1955 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 2,100

RIVER RD

Poor

Over: RUSSIAN RIVER

5.31 MI INTX WITH SR 116, Sonoma, CA

Built 1914 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 10,000

STATE ROUTE 12

Poor

Over: SACRAMENTO RIVER SR 84

04-SOL-012-26.24-RVS, Solano, CA

Built 1944 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 20,100

VALLECITOS ROAD

Poor

Over: ARROYO DEL VALLE

450 FT NW OF VINEYARD AVE, Alameda, CA

Built 1940 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 19,250

FAITH HOME ROAD

Poor

Over: T.I.D. UPPER LATERAL #4

0.5 MI N/O W. MAIN ST, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1919 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 1,461

SAN RAMON ROAD

Poor

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

05-SLO-101-49.32, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1967 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 1,000

RIVER RD

Poor

Over: HUER HUERO CREEK

1.55 MI S WELLSONA AVE, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1965 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 569

EL SEGUNDO BLVD

Poor

Over: COMPTON CRK

0.8MI W/O WILMINGTON AVE, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1948 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 23,426

INTERSTATE 40

Poor

Over: GOFFS ROAD

08-SBD-040-R107.17, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1970 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 7,500

MAPLE CREEK ROAD

Poor

Over: NORTH FORK MAD RIVER

IN KORBEL, Humboldt, CA

Built 1928 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 624

HOOKTON ROAD

Poor

Over: SALMON CREEK

0.1 MI W EEL RIVER DR, Humboldt, CA

Built 1922 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 486

INTERSTATE 680

Poor

Over: MONUMENT BOULEVARD

04-CC-680-R17.70-PLHL, Contra Costa, CA

Built 1998 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 235,000

INTERSTATE 5 SB

Poor

Over: WALKER SLOUGH

10-SJ-005-R23.93-STKN, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1971 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 43,750

COLEMAN OFF RAMP

Poor

Over: DE LA CRUZ BLVD NB

NEAR DE LA CRUZ, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1969 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 15,000

HENRY MILLER AVE

Poor

Over: INTERSTATE 5

10-MER-005-21.38, Merced, CA

Built 1966 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 1,420

U.S. HIGHWAY 6

Poor

Over: OWENS RIVER

09-INY-006-3.73-BIS, Inyo, CA

Built 1949 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 4,550

VALLEY BLVD

Poor

Over: RUBIO WASH

0.5MI W/O ROSEMEAD BLVD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1926 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 27,122

17TH STREET

Poor

Over: E ST-S5 ON RAMP

11-SD-005-R15.11-SD, San Diego, CA

Built 1928 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 500

HUMBOLDT HILL ROAD

Poor

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

01-HUM-101-73.72, Humboldt, CA

Built 1963 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 3,100

ROAD 99W

Poor

Over: STONY CREEK

1.3 MI N OF S.H. 32, Glenn, CA

Built 1913 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 4,157

MANZANITA AVE

Poor

Over: BIG CHICO CREEK

BTW VALLOMBROSA&CENTENNAL, Butte, CA

Built 1974 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 12,000

INTERSTATE 80 EB

Poor

Over: KINGVALE ROAD

03-PLA-080-69.23, Placer, CA

Built 1959 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 13,500

WINDSOR ROAD

Poor

Over: POOL CREEK

0.2 MI N OF SHILOH RD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1967 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 5,900

DIAMOND STREET

Poor

Over: MORMON SLOUGH

0.1 MI N OF DR MLK JR BL, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1960 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 2,164

BRIDGE ROAD

Poor

Over: NELDER CREEK

0.1 MI W DORSTAN RD, Madera, CA

Built 1966 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 367

US HIGHWAY 101 NB

Poor

Over: MARIA YGNACIO CREEK

05-SB-101-20.95, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1961 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 60,500

INTERSTATE 40 EB

Poor

Over: WILLOW SPRINGS WASH

08-SBD-040-R77.37, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1972 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 8,500

INTERSTATE 80 EB

Poor

Over: HAMPSHIRE ROCKS S YUBA R

03-PLA-080-R64.54R, Placer, CA

Built 1963 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 27,000

KNOXV-BERRYESSA RD

Poor

Over: POPE CRK.(LAKE BERRYESSA

.2 MI S/O POPE CANYON RD, Napa, CA

Built 1957 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 3,570

CAMP 1 TEN MILE RD

Poor

Over: SOUTH FORK TENMILE RIVER

1.88 MILES EAST OF SR 1, Mendocino, CA

Built 1965 Load: 29.5 t ADT: 2

INTERSTATE 80 WB

Poor

Over: BLUE CANYON ROAD

03-PLA-080-53.36, Placer, CA

Built 1959 Load: 29.5 t ADT: 13,250

CUNNINGHAM ROAD

Poor

Over: OWENS CREEK

0.3 MI N CHILDS AVENUE, Merced, CA

Built 1965 Load: 29.5 t ADT: 630

COLLEGE PARK DR

Poor

Over: SAN GABRIEL RIV

0.3MI E/O STUDEBAKER RD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1964 Load: 29.5 t ADT: 2,958

STUDEBAKER RD N/B

Poor

Over: S C EDISON N CHAN

350FT N/O LOYNES DRIVE, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1966 Load: 29.5 t ADT: 38,584

INTERSTATE 40 WB

Poor

Over: WILLOW SPRINGS WASH

08-SBD-040-R77.39, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1972 Load: 29.5 t ADT: 8,500

HUMBOLDT DRIVE

Poor

Over: SHORT CHANNEL

0.1 MI W/O SAYBROOK LN, Orange, CA

Built 1963 Load: 29.5 t ADT: 3,000

INDIAN CANYON DRIV

Poor

Over: UP RR & AMTRAK

0.6 MI. S/O RTE. I-10 FWY, Riverside, CA

Built 1953 Load: 29.5 t ADT: 15,979

STATE ROUTE 78

Poor

Over: PALO VERDE DRAIN

11-IMP-078-75.57, Imperial, CA

Built 1964 Load: 29.5 t ADT: 2,150

33007: BUTTE CREEK

Poor

Over: Butte Creek

40 mi. SE of Fortuna, Humboldt, CA

Built 1980 Load: 29.5 t ADT: 50

RIVERA ROAD

Poor

Over: INTERSTATE 80

04-SOL-080-23.96-VAC, Solano, CA

Built 1965 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 2,500

5TH AVE

Poor

Over: STATE ROUTE 99

03-SAC-099-23.69-SAC, Sacramento, CA

Built 1959 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 3,500

OAKDALE-WATERFORD

Poor

Over: CLARIBEL LATERAL

0.5 MI N/O CLARIBEL RD, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1920 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 4,100

PARK AVE

Poor

Over: PORTER SLOUGH

0.4 MI N SR190 @CORONA DR, Tulare, CA

Built 1948 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 1,100

PANORAMA DRIVE

Poor

Over: MANOR STREET

0.15 MI FROM COLUMBUS AV, Kern, CA

Built 1957 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 12,000

CONE GROVE ROAD

Poor

Over: ANTELOPE CREEK

1.4 MI E OF SR 99, Tehama, CA

Built 1935 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 300

DRY CR RD

Poor

Over: DRY CREEK

0.8 MI W MT VEEDER RD, Napa, CA

Built 1920 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 2,490

MACKVILLE ROAD

Poor

Over: MOKELUMNE RIVER

0.1 MI S JAHANT RD, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1976 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 1,202

STATE ROUTE 13 SB

Poor

Over: MORAGA AVE

04-ALA-013-8.28-OAK, Alameda, CA

Built 1964 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 57,000

CHETWOOD ST

Poor

Over: INTERSTATE 580

04-ALA-580-44.07-OAK, Alameda, CA

Built 1961 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 4,640

Showing 25,051-25,100 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.