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

SAN FERNANDO RD

Poor

Over: TUJUNGA WASH

0.2 MI NW TRUESDALE ST, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1935 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 21,500

JOSHUA STREET

Poor

Over: INTERSTATE 15

08-SBD-015-32.32, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1964 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 2,500

LOS ALAMITOS BLVD.

Poor

Over: COYOTE CREEK CHANNEL

0.3 MI. N/O CERRITOS AVE., Orange, CA

Built 1955 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 24,008

STATE ROUTE 86 SB

Poor

Over: AMEROSA DITCH

11-IMP-086-57.34, Imperial, CA

Built 1989 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 7,300

N OLD STAGE RD

Poor

Over: SHASTA RIVER

0.8 MI N COLLEGE AVE, Siskiyou, CA

Built 1968 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 379

GERICKE RD

Poor

Over: AMERICANO CREEK

0.2 MI S VALLEY FORD RD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1972 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 100

MILL CREEK RD

Poor

Over: MILL CREEK

5.4 MI W OF WESTSIDE RD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1961 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 210

CENTER PARKWAY

Poor

Over: UNION HOUSE CREEK

JUST N OF COSUMNES BLVD, Sacramento, CA

Built 1975 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 13,295

NEWTOWN ROAD

Poor

Over: U.S. HIGHWAY 50

03-ED-050-20.74, El Dorado, CA

Built 1961 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 5,000

SR 120 EB

Poor

Over: MCKINLEY AVE

10-SJ-120-R2.29, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1980 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 37,500

WOODLAND AVE

Poor

Over: STATE ROUTE 99

10-STA-099-R17.51-MOD, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1963 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 10,500

INTERSTATE 5 SB

Poor

Over: KERN RIVER

06-KER-005-42.00, Kern, CA

Built 1969 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 15,000

INTERSTATE 5 NB

Poor

Over: KERN RIVER

06-KER-005-42.00, Kern, CA

Built 1969 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 15,000

BREA CYN RD

Poor

Over: SAN JOSE CRK

150FT S/O VAL BLVD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1968 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 23,929

ANAHEIM ST

Poor

Over: LONG BEACH FREEWAY

0.1MI W/O I-710 FWY, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1954 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 32,118

OLD GASQUET TOLL

Poor

Over: EIGHTEEN MILE CREEK

5 MI FROM ROUTE 199, Del Norte, CA

Built 1970 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 20

MORAN ROAD

Poor

Over: INTERSTATE 5

02-TEH-005-R11.34, Tehama, CA

Built 1965 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 55

RAILROAD AVENUE

Poor

Over: EAST BRANCH SMITHNECK CR

1/4 MI SOUTH OF ROUTE 49, Sierra, CA

Built 1987 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 1,000

WILFRED AVE

Poor

Over: BELVIEW-WILFRED CREEK

0.2 MI E PRIMROSE AVE, Sonoma, CA

Built 1963 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 1,857

COUNTY ROAD 12

Poor

Over: INTERSTATE 5

03-YOL-005-R18.97, Yolo, CA

Built 1970 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 3,000

ROSE LANE

Poor

Over: NORTH FORK JACKSON CREEK

50 FT WEST OF N. MAIN ST., Amador, CA

Built 1971 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 30

INTERSTATE 880

Poor

Over: GUADALUPE RIVER

04-SCL-880-3.15-SJS, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1960 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 165,000

MCCRACKEN ROAD

Poor

Over: INGRAM CREEK

0.1 MI N HOWARD ROAD, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1967 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 296

US HIGHWAY 101 SB

Poor

Over: BRADLEY RD

05-MON-101-R7.94, Monterey, CA

Built 1965 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 8,100

AGOURA RD

Poor

Over: LAS VIRGENES CRK

0.1MI W/O LAS VIRGENES, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1972 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 8,709

LIVE OAK AVE

Poor

Over: SAN GABRIEL RIV

0.3MI E/O I-605 FWY, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1961 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 25,359

LAGUNA ROAD

Poor

Over: MUGU LAGOON

NBVC POINT MUGU, Ventura, CA

Built 1949 Load: 34.6 t ADT: 200

SIXTY-EIGHTH AVE

Poor

Over: SOUTH FORK ANTELOPE CRK

AT SR 99, Tehama, CA

Built 1929 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 500

WATERLOO RD

Poor

Over: STOCKTON DIVERTING CANAL

0.2 MI S/W OF S.H. 99, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1967 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 13,366

TURNPIKE RD

Poor

Over: WALKER SLOUGH

1/4 MI N DOWNING AVE, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1971 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 2,100

MANTHEY ROAD

Poor

Over: WALKER SLOUGH

1/4 MI N DOWNING AV, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1971 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 4,600

RAMP/CONNECTOR 580

Poor

Over: 30TH STREET

04-ALA-580-45.22-OAK, Alameda, CA

Built 1969 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 67,400

INTERSTATE 5 SB

Poor

Over: MILLUX ROAD & SUNSET RR

06-KER-005-30.75, Kern, CA

Built 1967 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 17,000

STATE ROUTE 103

Poor

Over: UP RR & N103-FORD AV OFF

07-LA-103-0.07-LA, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1947 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 14,427

LOWER AZUSA RD

Poor

Over: ARCADIA WASH

0.4MI W/O SANTA ANITA AVE, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1959 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 30,816

GARIBALDI AVE

Poor

Over: EATON WASH

0.4MI W/O ROSEMEAD BLVD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1953 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 918

CHAPMAN AVENUE

Poor

Over: SANTA ANA RIVER CHANNEL

0.1 MI. W/O ROUTE 57 FWY, Orange, CA

Built 1976 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 32,900

EDGAR RD

Poor

Over: THISTLE CANAL

0.55 MI W/O FORRESTER RD, Imperial, CA

Built 1974 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 80

ARNOLD DR

Poor

Over: SONOMA CREEK

7.8 MI N OF SR 116, Sonoma, CA

Built 1924 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 13,900

8TH ST EAST

Poor

Over: SCHELL CREEK

0.25 MILE NORTH OF RT 12, Sonoma, CA

Built 1968 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 1,500

NOVATO BLVD

Poor

Over: NOVATO CREEK

0.5 MILE S OF SUTRO AVE., Marin, CA

Built 1969 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 10,024

MARSH CREEK RD

Poor

Over: MARSH CREEK

3 MI E DEER VALLEY ROAD, Contra Costa, CA

Built 1937 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 3,979

NB AND SB RTE 280

Poor

Over: LYELL STREET

04-SF-280-R2.91-SF, San Francisco, CA

Built 1964 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 170,000

SCOTT BLVD

Poor

Over: SAN TOMAS AQUINO CREEK

W OF SAN TOMAS EXPWY, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1973 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 11,000

INTERSTATE 5 SB

Poor

Over: COVELL ROAD (PRIVATE)

10-STA-005-11.22, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1967 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 18,000

INTERSTATE 5 NB

Poor

Over: COVELL ROAD (PRIVATE)

10-STA-005-11.22, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1967 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 18,000

STATE ROUTE 99 NB

Poor

Over: BLACK RASCAL CANAL

10-MER-099-17.30, Merced, CA

Built 1962 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 25,500

STATE ROUTE 217

Poor

Over: SAN JOSE CREEK

05-SB-217-1.02-SB, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1963 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 12,500

S33-S101 CONNECTOR

Poor

Over: US HIGHWAY 101

07-VEN-033-0.03-VEN, Ventura, CA

Built 1962 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 18,500

INTERSTATE 40 EB

Poor

Over: WEST LUDLOW WASH

08-SBD-040-R49.71, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1968 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 8,250

Showing 25,451-25,500 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.