How many bridges are in California?

California has 27,040 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. View detailed condition data for each bridge on PlainBridges.

What percentage of bridges in California are structurally deficient?

4.6% of bridges in California are classified as structurally deficient by the FHWA, compared to a national average of 7.0%.

State profile · Below national median SD

California bridge safety

Condition ratings, load ratings, and structural-deficiency data for every public highway bridge in California — drawn straight from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory.

Reviewed byPlainbridges Editorial, Plain Bridges Editorial Team · June 6, 2026

27,040
Public bridges: 32.5%
Good condition: 4.6%
Poor condition: 4.6%
Structurally deficient

Total Bridges

27,040

Public highway bridges in California

Good Condition

32.5%

8,777 bridges rated 7-9

-17.5pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

4.6%

1,244 bridges rated 0-4

Structurally Deficient

4.6%

1,244 bridges flagged for repair priority

-2.4pp vs national avg 7.0%

California vs national bridge condition

California — Good condition share 32.5%

National avg

Share of bridges rated 7-9 on the FHWA 0-9 scale (deck, superstructure, substructure all good).

California — Structurally deficient share 15.3%

National avg

Lower is better. Bar maxes at 30% (worst-state ceiling). National average sits at 7.0%.

Condition Distribution

Bridge inventory deck-condition mix — California (FHWA NBI)

Counties (58)

Alameda 800 Alpine 32 Amador 62 Butte 441 Calaveras 106 Colusa 211 Contra Costa 686 Del Norte 96 El Dorado 196 Fresno 929 Glenn 242 Humboldt 398 Imperial 448 Inyo 67 Kern 686 Kings 168 Lake 129 Lassen 108 Los Angeles 3937 Madera 250 Marin 217 Mariposa 109 Mendocino 357 Merced 532 Modoc 87 Mono 49 Monterey 390 Napa 160 Nevada 135 Orange 1224 Placer 347 Plumas 170 Riverside 1142 Sacramento 775 San Benito 76 San Bernardino 1465 San Diego 1707 San Francisco 170 San Joaquin 666 San Luis Obispo 408 San Mateo 393 Santa Barbara 429 Santa Clara 1041 Santa Cruz 203 Shasta 500 Sierra 65 Siskiyou 423 Solano 383 Sonoma 613 Stanislaus 390 Sutter 120 Tehama 452 Trinity 194 Tulare 599 Tuolumne 128 Ventura 511 Yolo 282 Yuba 136

California vs nearby ranks

Adjacent states on the structurally deficient leaderboard (lower share = better)

States are ranked by share of bridges flagged structurally deficient — the FHWA classification for any span where deck, superstructure, or substructure carries a condition rating of 4 or below. Lower percentages indicate stronger maintenance funding and inspection follow-through. States here sit immediately above and below California on the same metric.

Ohio

4.54% top marginal rate

Structure: Progressive
Burden @ $100K: $26,753

New Jersey

4.59% top marginal rate

Structure: Progressive
Burden @ $100K: $6,796

Selected

California

4.60% top marginal rate

Structure: Progressive
Burden @ $100K: $27,040

Arkansas

4.71% top marginal rate

Structure: Progressive
Burden @ $100K: $5,544

Washington

4.81% top marginal rate

Structure: Progressive
Burden @ $100K: $8,808

Bridges Needing Most Attention in California

Six lowest-condition bridges in California, ranked by composite NBI rating. Each is inspected at least every 24 months.

Publisher	Kiznis Studio
Sources	FHWA National Bridge Inventory, public U.S. government datasets

California vs national bridge condition

Condition Distribution

Counties (58)

Bridges Needing Most Attention in California

SPRING CREEK RD

ORESTIMBA ROAD

CLARK STREET

GULLING STREET

AVENUE 10

S BISHOP AVE

All Bridges in California

CARLTON HILL BLVD

US HIGHWAY 101 NB

MAIN STREET

ACCESS RD CITY YDS

INTERSTATE 5 SB

U.S. HIGHWAY 101

LAMBERT ROAD

STATE ROUTE 242

ISLAY ST

E MEADOW DR

SKYWAY RD EB

MARSHALL PETLUM RD

WALSH AVE

RAMP/CONNECTOR 101

AYERS ROAD

WATER ST

STATE ROUTE 84

INTERSTATE 280 NB

LEININGER RD

FOREST ROAD 452

STATE ROUTE 86 NB

STATE ROUTE 126

WASHINGTON AVE

STATE ROUTE 24

INLAND CENTER DR

MTN VIEW-ALVISO RD

PICACHO RD

MCKINLEY ROAD

21ST ST

CUYAMACA ST.

LOS ALISOS BLVD

E ANNADALE AVE

E CENTRAL AVE

STATE ROUTE 86 NB

HETZEL ROAD

PEARBLOSSOM HWY

STATE ROUTE 20

AVE S E

MADERA ROAD

HENRY MILLER AVE

AVE OF THE FLAGS

PICACHO RD

NOGALES ST

PINE FLAT RD

GENTRY RD

PRKFLD COALINGA RD

STATE ROUTE 86 NB

MARIPOSA ST

S MARKS AVE

US HIGHWAY 101 SB

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