State profile · Below median Poor share

California bridge safety

Condition ratings, load ratings, and Poor-condition data for every public highway bridge in California, based on the FHWA National Bridge Inventory.

27,040
Public bridges
32.5%
Good condition
4.6%
Poor condition

Data updated May 2026

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 whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

-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 - Poor-condition share 15.3%
National avg

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

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.

OH

Ohio

4.54% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$26,753

NJ

New Jersey

4.59% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$6,796
Selected

CA

California

4.60% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$27,040

AR

Arkansas

4.71% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$5,544

WA

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 the portal's composite display score. Inspection intervals are risk-based under current NBIS rules.

All Bridges in California

SLAUSON AVE

Poor

Over: LOS ANGELES RIV

0.8MI E/O ATLANTIC BLVD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1942 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 34,736

STATE ROUTE 152 EB

Poor

Over: ARROYO CANAL

10-MER-152-23.96, Merced, CA

Built 1969 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 9,300

ZENOS RD

Poor

Over: ALAMO RIVER

0.6 MI E/O SR-115, Imperial, CA

Built 1965 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 948

INTERSTATE 5 SB

Poor

Over: DELTA-MENDOTA CANAL

10-MER-005-19.55, Merced, CA

Built 1966 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 15,500

STATE ROUTE 1

Poor

Over: LIMEKILN CREEK

05-MON-001-20.95, Monterey, CA

Built 1957 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 2,000

W120-N5 CONNECTOR

Poor

Over: UP RR

10-SJ-120-R0.76, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1980 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 19,750

STIMSON AVE

Poor

Over: SAN JOSE CRK

E/O HACIENDA BLVD, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1967 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 18,869

US HIGHWAY 101 SB

Poor

Over: UP RR & AMTRAK

05-SB-101-R0.26, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1971 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 32,500

FIRST STREET

Poor

Over: STANISLAUS RIVER

STANLS-SAN JOAQIN CO LINE, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1967 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 11,900

BECKWITH ROAD

Poor

Over: UP RR

JUST W/O STATE RTE 99, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1976 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 9,068

STATE ROUTE 41

Poor

Over: O STREET

06-FRE-041-R22.95-FRE, Fresno, CA

Built 1974 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 76,000

ALDERPOINT ROAD

Poor

Over: BURR CREEK

4 MI S OF SR 36, Humboldt, CA

Built 1960 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 173

INTERSTATE 5 SB

Poor

Over: KERN RIVER FLOOD CANAL

06-KER-005-71.64, Kern, CA

Built 1967 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 16,000

INTERSTATE 5 NB

Poor

Over: KERN RIVER FLOOD CANAL

06-KER-005-71.66, Kern, CA

Built 1967 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 16,000

INTERSTATE 5 SB

Poor

Over: CANAL ROAD

10-MER-005-19.40, Merced, CA

Built 1966 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 15,500

INTERSTATE 5

Poor

Over: CANAL ROAD

10-MER-005-19.40, Merced, CA

Built 1966 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 17,300

MISSION GORGE RD

Poor

Over: FORESTER CREEK

0.7MI W/O CUYAMACA ST, San Diego, CA

Built 1959 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 10,997

E EVANS REIMER RD

Poor

Over: SUTTER-BUTTE CANAL

JUST E/O ALEXANDER AVE, Butte, CA

Built 1940 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 10

U.S. HIGHWAY 101

Poor

Over: LONG VALLEY CREEK

01-MEN-101-59.90, Mendocino, CA

Built 1957 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 6,700

TAFT AVENUE

Poor

Over: SANTA ANA RIVER CHANNEL

0.3 M E/O FWY 57, Orange, CA

Built 1967 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 34,300

LIVE OAK CYN RD

Poor

Over: LIVE OAK CREEK

2.0 MI SW'LY OF I-10, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1970 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 2,200

INTERSTATE 5 NB

Poor

Over: SAN LUIS REY RIVER

11-SD-005-R54.04-OCN, San Diego, CA

Built 1970 Load: 39.8 t ADT: 78,500

U.S. HIGHWAY 101

Poor

Over: NOVATO CREEK

04-MRN-101-R20.51-NVTO, Marin, CA

Built 1974 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 61,500

CISCO RD

Poor

Over: SOUTH YUBA RIVER

NEAR HAMPSHIRE ROCKS RD, Placer, CA

Built 1963 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 250

AUBURNDALE STREET

Poor

Over: TEMESCAL CREEK

0.2 MI. N/O RINCON STREET, Riverside, CA

Built 1981 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 4,000

STATE ROUTE 25

Poor

Over: PAJARO RIVER

05-SBT-025-60.04, San Benito, CA

Built 1951 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 18,000

INTERSTATE 15 SB

Poor

Over: WHEATON WASH

08-SBD-015-173.84L, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1963 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 18,500

W BERNARDO DR

Poor

Over: GREEN VALLEY CREEK

1.4MI N/O RANCHO BERNARDO, San Diego, CA

Built 1983 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 7,200

ALISAL ROAD

Poor

Over: SANTA YNEZ RIVER

0.8 MI S SR 246, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1971 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,712

W80-S680&N680-W80

Poor

Over: GREEN VALLEY CREEK

04-SOL-080-12.90-FRFD, Solano, CA

Built 1961 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 33,700

HICKMAN ROAD

Poor

Over: T.I.D. MAIN CANAL

1.2 MI N WHITMORE AVE, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1924 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 4,874

STATE ROUTE 24 WB

Poor

Over: LAFAYETTE STA PUC(BARTD)

04-CC-024-R6.08-LFYT, Contra Costa, CA

Built 1970 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 79,500

WILDWOOD ROAD

Poor

Over: POSO CREEK

2.4 MI S OF POND ROAD, Kern, CA

Built 1966 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 640

GUN CLUB ROAD

Poor

Over: POSO CREEK

5.5 MI N/O SR 46, Kern, CA

Built 1966 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 680

SANBORN RD

Poor

Over: UP RR & AMTRAK

0.3 MI N ABBOT ST, Monterey, CA

Built 1948 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 28,392

HOWARD ROAD

Poor

Over: SAN JOAQUIN RIVER 01

1.6 MI W OF S WOLFE RD, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1975 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 1,482

U.S. HWY 101 (SB)

Poor

Over: LLAGAS CREEK

04-SCL-101-R10.63, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1973 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 55,000

U.S. HWY 101 (NB)

Poor

Over: LLAGAS CREEK

04-SCL-101-R10.63, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1972 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 55,000

SALMON RIVER ROAD

Poor

Over: SALMON RIVER

13.2 MI W/O SAWYERS BAR R, Siskiyou, CA

Built 1966 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 210

EL SEGUNDO BLVD

Poor

Over: ACTA

25FT E/O ALAMEDA ST, Los Angeles, CA

Built 2000 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 11,268

INTERSTATE 5 SB

Poor

Over: CANAL ROAD

10-MER-005-19.65, Merced, CA

Built 1966 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 15,500

SB US HIGHWAY 101

Poor

Over: COYOTE CREEK

04-SCL-101-29.83, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1947 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 64,000

LOMAND ST

Poor

Over: SAN LORENZO RIVER

0.5 MI E SR 9, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1941 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 3,000

INTERSTATE 5

Poor

Over: CASTLE CREEK ROAD

02-SHA-005-63.58, Shasta, CA

Built 1960 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 18,000

GREEN VALLEY RD

Poor

Over: GREEN VALLEY CREEK

1.3 MI W SH 116, Sonoma, CA

Built 1958 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 2,700

BRIGGSMORE ROAD

Poor

Over: UP RR & BRINK AVENUE

SPRR & 9TH STREET, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1976 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 71,797

MADERA ROAD

Poor

Over: UP RR, AMTRAK, METROLINK

0.3 MI S OF STATE RTE 118, Ventura, CA

Built 1981 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 33,000

INTERSTATE 40

Poor

Over: BLOSSOM WASH

08-SBD-040-R12.00, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1968 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 19,500

CREEKSIDE DR

Poor

Over: SAN RAMON CREEK

200 FT E OF S MAIN ST, Contra Costa, CA

Built 1959 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 5,800

STATE ROUTE 134

Poor

Over: PACIFIC AVE

07-LA-134-R6.57-GNDL, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1967 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 240,000

Showing 26,851-26,900 of 27,040 bridges

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.

Every figure on PlainBridge is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.