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

EB STATE ROUTE 12

Fair

Over: SANTA ROSA AVE

04-SON-012-R16.26-SRO, Sonoma, CA

Built 1964 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 36,500

REDWOOD

Fair

Over: LAGUNA DE SANTA ROSA

JUST W/O US 101, Sonoma, CA

Built 1956 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,050

REDWOOD DR

Fair

Over: COPELAND CREEK

0.42 MI S ROHNERT PK EXPY, Sonoma, CA

Built 1956 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 3,000

PORTER CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: PORTER CREEK

24.3 MI BEGING RTE 786, Sonoma, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 5,800

CALISTOGA RD

Fair

Over: WEEKS CREEK

AT ST. HELENA RD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1953 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 6,000

DRY CRK CANYON RD

Fair

Over: DUTCHER CREEK

INTRX DUTCHER CREEK RD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1968 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,800

DRY CREEK RD

Fair

Over: CANYON CREEK

INTERSECTION CANYON RD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1963 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,800

MIDDLE RINCON RD

Fair

Over: AUSTIN CREEK

0.25 MI N OF SH 12, Sonoma, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,200

CLEVELAND AVE

Fair

Over: PAULINE CREEK

0.3 MI N GUERNEVILLE RD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1963 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 13,000

CALISTOGA ROAD

Fair

Over: AUSTIN CREEK

N INTRX WITH S.R. 12, Sonoma, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 17,770

PINER ROAD

Fair

Over: PINER CREEK

IN SANTA ROSA, Sonoma, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 5,900

COFFEY LANE

Fair

Over: PINER CREEK

0.1 MILES S/O PINER ROAD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 3,100

MARLOW ROAD

Fair

Over: PINER CREEK

MARLOW ROAD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,300

MARLOW RD

Fair

Over: PAULINE CREEK

MARLOW RD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 12,500

SNYDER LN

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF FIVE CREEK

1.1 MI N ROHNERT PARK EXP, Sonoma, CA

Built 1965 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,500

SNYDER LANE

Fair

Over: COPELAND CREEK

0.5 MI N E. COTATI AVE, Sonoma, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 3,124

COMMERCE BLVD

Fair

Over: HINEBAUGH CREEK

0.1 MI N RNPK EXPRESSWAY, Sonoma, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 500

E COTATI AVE

Fair

Over: FLOOD CONTROL DITCH

0.1 MI NE OLD REDWOOD HWY, Sonoma, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 3,000

GEYSERS RD

Fair

Over: GIRD CREEK

0.4 MI N OF SR 128, Sonoma, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 500

WATMAUGH ROAD

Fair

Over: RODGERS CREEK

0.3 MI W ARNOLD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 4,000

RAILROAD AVE

Fair

Over: DOWDALL CREEK

0.3 MI S/O VERANO, Sonoma, CA

Built 1961 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 524

ST HELENA ROAD

Fair

Over: VAN BUREN CREEK

1.2 MI W CALISTOGA RD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1952 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,100

GILMORE AVENUE

Fair

Over: GOSSAGE CREEK

0.1 MI N/O DERBY LANE, Sonoma, CA

Built 1972 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 100

SCENIC AVE

Fair

Over: NO NAME CREEK

0.1 MI W OF S MOORLAND AV, Sonoma, CA

Built 1950 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 615

MECHAM RD

Fair

Over: STEMPLE CREEK

S OF 9TH ST, Sonoma, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 3,300

PEPPER RD

Fair

Over: STEMPLE CREEK

4 MI W OF US 101, Sonoma, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 3,500

WALKER RD

Fair

Over: GOSSAGE CREEK

AT VALLEY FORD ROAD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1967 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 250

RAINSVILLE RD

Fair

Over: MARIN CREEK

0.5 MI W STONY POINT RD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1950 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 3,200

CASA GRANDE AVE

Fair

Over: ADOBE CREEK

0.4 MI N ELY RD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,600

CASA GRANDE AVE

Fair

Over: ADOBE CREEK

0.25 MI S ADOBE RD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,000

E RAILROAD AVE

Fair

Over: LICHAU CREEK

0.1 MI E PETALUMA HILL RD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 750

SWEETWATER SPRG RD

Fair

Over: BRANCH REDWOOD CREEK

1.2 MI NE ARMSTRNG WOOD R, Sonoma, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 140

SWEETWTR SPRNGS RD

Fair

Over: PORTER CREEK

7.7 MI W ARMSTRONG RD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1968 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 140

ADOBE CANYON ROAD

Fair

Over: HILLSIDE

1.1 MI NW/O SR 12, Sonoma, CA

Built 1965 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 650

DUTCHER CREEK RD

Fair

Over: DUTCHER CREEK

0.1 MI N DRY CREEK RD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1957 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 900

SKAGGS SPRINGS RD

Fair

Over: WARM SPRINGS CREEK

10.9 MI W JCT RCKPLE RD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1978 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 400

LLANO ROAD

Fair

Over: ROSELAND CR FLD CNTL CHN

2.4 MI N JCT WITH SR 116, Sonoma, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 3,000

GROVE RD

Fair

Over: CARRIGER CREEK

1.7 MI W JCT ARNOLD RD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,850

HYDE ROAD

Fair

Over: ARROYO SECO

0.4 MI S JCT NAPA RD, Sonoma, CA

Built 1965 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 400

REDWOOD ROAD

Fair

Over: HINEBAUGH CREEK

0.3 MI N ROHNERT PK EXPWY, Sonoma, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 4,000

BETHARDS DRIVE

Fair

Over: MATANZAS CREEK

BET TECHEVAH & YULUPA AV, Sonoma, CA

Built 1966 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 6,000

APACHE STREET

Fair

Over: PAULIN CREEK

0.1 MI N OF STEELE LANE, Sonoma, CA

Built 1964 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,000

CHANATE ROAD

Fair

Over: PAULIN CREEK

NEAR MENDOCINO AVENUE, Sonoma, CA

Built 1965 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 17,942

MADISON STREET

Fair

Over: WASHINGTON CREEK

NORTH OF HOLLY LANE, Sonoma, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 300

HARNEY DRIVE

Fair

Over: SONOMA CREEK

SONOMA STATE INSTITUTION, Sonoma, CA

Built 1935 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 250

POPE VALLEY RD

Fair

Over: DUVALL CREEK

5.50 MI S LAKE CO LINE, Napa, CA

Built 1972 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,658

CRYSTAL SPRINGS RD

Fair

Over: BELL CREEK

0.9 MI N SANITARIAN RD, Napa, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 209

RAGATZ LANE

Fair

Over: NAPA RIVER OVERFLOW

0.45 MI NE FRONTAGE RD, Napa, CA

Built 1950 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 161

CHILES POPE VLY RD

Fair

Over: CHILES CREEK

4.0 MI N OF SR 128, Napa, CA

Built 1968 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 750

TROWER AVE

Fair

Over: NAPA DRAIN

JUST E JEFFERSON ST, Napa, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,673

Showing 2,701-2,750 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.