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

STATE ROUTE 126

Poor

Over: CASTAIC CREEK

07-LA-126-R4.09, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 37,500

U.S. HIGHWAY 101

Poor

Over: ARGYLE AV & FRANKLIN AV

07-LA-101-7.06-LA, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1953 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 175,000

U.S. HIGHWAY 101

Poor

Over: CAHUENGA BLVD

07-LA-101-7.46-LA, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1952 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 170,000

US HIGHWAY 101 SB

Poor

Over: HIGHLAND-NB 101 ON RAMP

07-LA-101-7.84-LA, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1954 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 145,500

INTERSTATE 110

Poor

Over: SLAUSON AVE & BNSF RY

07-LA-110-17.98-LA, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1996 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 300,000

INTERSTATE 405

Poor

Over: VERMONT AVE 190TH ST

07-LA-405-13.28-LA, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1962 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 269,000

ROUTE 105 & LRT

Poor

Over: WRIGHT ROAD

07-LA-105-R13.21-LYN, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 217,000

ROUTE 105 & LRT

Poor

Over: CRENSHAW BLVD

07-LA-105-R4.73-ING, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1992 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 107,100

CLARK AVENUE

Poor

Over: ROUTE 105 LRT

07-LA-105-R16.14-DNY, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,400

ROUTE 105 & LRT

Poor

Over: YUKON AVENUE

07-LA-105-R4.23-ING, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 107,100

FIRST STREET

Poor

Over: FIGUEROA STREET

0.4 MI SW/O US 101, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1940 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 17,257

ARTESIA BLVD

Poor

Over: UPRR / METROLINK

0.3MI W/O ALAMEDA ST, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1974 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 25,440

AZUSA AVE

Poor

Over: LITTLE DALTON WASH

0.3MI N/O GLADSTONE ST, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1959 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,433

INTERSTATE 40 WB

Poor

Over: BNSF RY & AMTRAK

08-SBD-040-R107.56, San Bernardino, CA

Built 2006 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,500

INTERSTATE 40

Poor

Over: MACDONALD WASH

08-SBD-040-R94.37, San Bernardino, CA

Built 2007 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,600

FAIRWAY DRIVE

Poor

Over: WARM CREEK

0.5 MI W OF RTE I-215, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1973 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,000

FOURTH ST

Poor

Over: LITTLE CREEK OVERFLOW

0.25 MI E OF RTE 66, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1973 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,500

YUCCA ST

Poor

Over: BNSF RY AMTRAK & UP RR

0.3 MI N OF MAIN ST, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,100

OAK GLEN ROAD

Poor

Over: WILSON CREEK

0.2 MI W/O BRYANT ST, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1999 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,709

ROCK SPRINGS ROAD

Poor

Over: MOJAVE RIVER

.9 MI E ARROWHEAD LK RD, San Bernardino, CA

Built 2005 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,780

ORANGE SHOW ROAD

Poor

Over: TWIN WARM CREEK CHANNEL

0.5 MI W. OF WATERMAN AVE, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1999 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,607

STATE ROUTE 57

Poor

Over: BNSF RY AMTRAK METROLINK

12-ORA-057-12.27-ANA, Orange, CA

Built 1976 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 229,000

SR 55

Poor

Over: S405-N55 CONNECTOR

12-ORA-055-R5.89-CMS, Orange, CA

Built 1966 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 167,000

S133-S5 CONNECTOR

Poor

Over: INTERSTATE 5 ST RTE 133

12-ORA-133-M9.40-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1998 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,933

E/B ALICIA PARKWAY

Poor

Over: SCRRA BNSF RY AMTRAK

0.20 MI SW/O JERONIMO RD, Orange, CA

Built 1973 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 21,500

WALNUT AVENUE

Poor

Over: HARBOR BLVD

0.15 MI N/O VALENCIA DR, Orange, CA

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,200

YORBA LINDA BLVD

Poor

Over: BNSF RY ESPERANZA RD

AT ESPERANZA ROAD, Orange, CA

Built 1981 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 36,000

LAKEVIEW AVENUE

Poor

Over: SANTA ANA RIVER CHANNEL

0.43 MI. N/O ROUTE 91 FWY, Orange, CA

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 37,300

STATE ROUTE 86 SB

Poor

Over: MEMEL DITCH

08-RIV-086-1.58, Riverside, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,300

STATE ROUTE 86 SB

Poor

Over: COPHY DITCH

08-RIV-086-1.38, Riverside, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,300

Route 74

Poor

Over: LAKE ELSINORE OUTLT CHNL

08-RIV-074-R15.36-ESN, Riverside, CA

Built 1994 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 29,580

JEFFERSON AVENUE

Poor

Over: SANTA GERTRUDIS CREEK

0.2 MI. NW/O WINCHSTR RD, Riverside, CA

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 22,000

RAMON ROAD

Poor

Over: WHITEWATER RIVER

0.8 MI. E/O GENE AUTRY TR, Riverside, CA

Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 35,273

MURRIETA ROAD

Poor

Over: SALT CREEK CHANNEL

0.6 MI. N/O NEWPORT ROAD, Riverside, CA

Built 1981 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 14,000

INTERSTATE 5

Poor

Over: RTE 163 CONNECTORS

11-SD-005-R16.02-SD, San Diego, CA

Built 1961 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 199,000

E54-N805 CONNECTOR

Poor

Over: RTES 805 & 54 SWEETWATER

11-SD-054-1.81, San Diego, CA

Built 1974 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,600

NATIONAL CITY BLVD

Poor

Over: SR 54 & SWEETWATER RIVER

11-SD-054-0.39R-NATC, San Diego, CA

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 27,400

HIGHLAND AVENUE

Poor

Over: ROUTE 54 & SWEETWATER RI

11-SD-054-0.89L-NATC, San Diego, CA

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 26,800

INTERSTATE 805

Poor

Over: TELEGRAPH CANYON DRAIN

11-SD-805-6.12-CHV, San Diego, CA

Built 1971 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 250,000

STATE ROUTE 52 EB

Poor

Over: MAST BL SAN DIEGO RIVER

11-SD-052-13.80-SNT, San Diego, CA

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 42,000

DAIRY MART ROAD

Poor

Over: MESA CREEK

0.15 MI S/O ROUTE I-5, San Diego, CA

Built 1978 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 9,991

CITRUS AVE

Poor

Over: ESCONDIDO CREEK

0.3 MI N/O VALLEY PKWY, San Diego, CA

Built 1971 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 14,600

MURRAY DRIVE

Poor

Over: MTDB LRT & SDIV RR

AT INT. OF WATER ST, San Diego, CA

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,500

PACIFIC ST.

Poor

Over: LOMA ALTA CREEK

0.3MI S/O OCEANSIDE BLVD, San Diego, CA

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,320

MAST BLVD

Poor

Over: SANTEE LAKE #2

1MI E/O WEST HILLS PKWY, San Diego, CA

Built 1992 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,100

LEVANTE STREET

Poor

Over: ENCINITAS CREEK

250 FT W/O EL CAMINO REAL, San Diego, CA

Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,986

STATE ROUTE 111

Poor

Over: CLAY WASH

11-IMP-111-50.65, Imperial, CA

Built 1950 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,600

STATE ROUTE 111

Poor

Over: FRINK WASH

11-IMP-111-52.43, Imperial, CA

Built 1950 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,600

INTERSTATE 8 EB

Poor

Over: COLORADO RI UP RR AMTRAK

11-IMP-008-R96.81, Imperial, CA

Built 1978 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,350

STUART MESA ROAD

Poor

Over: SANTA MARGARITA RIVER

0.4 MILE NW OF VANDEGRIFT, San Diego, CA

Built 1960 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 15,000

Showing 25,351-25,400 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.