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

ESQUILINE RD

Fair

Over: HITCHCOCK CANYON CREEK

0.1 MI N OSITOS, Monterey, CA

Built 1950 Load: 10.4 t ADT: 2,700

ROAD 192

Fair

Over: FRIANT-KERN CANAL

1.0 MI SOUTH OF AVE 80, Tulare, CA

Built 1949 Load: 10.4 t ADT: 510

AVENUE 268

Fair

Over: FRIANT-KERN CANAL

0.8 MI EAST OF ROAD 204, Tulare, CA

Built 1949 Load: 10.4 t ADT: 300

AVE 174 (LINDA)

Fair

Over: FRIANT-KERN CANAL

0.3 MI WEST OF ROAD 232, Tulare, CA

Built 1949 Load: 10.4 t ADT: 750

WOOLLOMES AVE

Fair

Over: FRIANT-KERN CANAL

0.3 MI EAST OF ZACHARY AV, Kern, CA

Built 1949 Load: 10.4 t ADT: 470

INTERSTATE 110

Fair

Over: DOMINGUEZ CHANNEL

07-LA-110-9.13-LA, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1960 Load: 10.4 t ADT: 273,760

PATHFINDER ROAD

Fair

Over: STATE ROUTE 57

07-LA-057-R3.17-DMBR, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1972 Load: 10.4 t ADT: 18,000

NAT TRAILS HWY

Fair

Over: BARODA DITCH

24.8 MI E OF CRUCERO RD, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1930 Load: 10.4 t ADT: 239

NAT TRAILS HWY

Fair

Over: TERZILLA DITCH

10.2 MI E KELBAKER RD, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1930 Load: 10.4 t ADT: 502

RD 318

Fair

Over: SUSAN RIVER

1.7 MI E/O RD 305, Lassen, CA

Built 1975 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 100

PLUM CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: PAYNES CREEK

200S PAYNES CREEK LOOP, Tehama, CA

Built 1933 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 350

INTERSTATE 680 NB

Fair

Over: RR INDUSTRIAL WY CREEK

04-SOL-680-R1.33-BEN, Solano, CA

Built 1966 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 31,500

CASE AVENUE

Fair

Over: MISSION CREEK

1600 FT W OF SUNOL BLVD, Alameda, CA

Built 2004 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 3,545

DOGTOWN ROAD

Fair

Over: MAXWELL CREEK

1.6 MI E GREELY HILL R, Mariposa, CA

Built 1958 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 120

DOVER CANYON RD

Fair

Over: JACK CREEK

1.3 MI SW OF VINEYARD DR, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1920 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 151

WINDING ROAD

Fair

Over: WEST KAISER CREEK

07S05-15.4, Fresno, CA

Built 1961 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 50

ACCESS ROAD

Fair

Over: COYOTE CREEK

2 MI E OF PROBERTA, Tehama, CA

Built 1970 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 10

CENTER ACCESS ROAD

Fair

Over: MUD SLOUGH

REFUGE ACCESS RD/PRK.LOT3, Merced, CA

Built 1990 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 10

HICKS LANE

Fair

Over: MUD CREEK

1.2 MI S KEEFER RD, Butte, CA

Built 1900 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 744

LOWER WYANDOTTE RD

Fair

Over: BRANCH WYMAN RAVINE

1 MI S LAS PLUMAS AVE, Butte, CA

Built 1940 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 7,160

BERRYESSA-KNOXVLLE

Fair

Over: ETICUERA CREEK

7.8 MI N/O POPE CYN ROAD, Napa, CA

Built 1920 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 370

DOGTOWN RD

Fair

Over: SAN DOMINGO CREEK

4.5 MI NE/O SR 49, Calaveras, CA

Built 1940 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 84

SR 180 (KINGS CYN)

Fair

Over: FRIANT-KERN CANAL

06-FRE-180-79.30, Fresno, CA

Built 1947 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 4,375

N DEL REY AVE

Fair

Over: FRESNO CANAL

0.5 MI SOUTH OF MCKINLEY, Fresno, CA

Built 1939 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 700

STATE ROUTE 118

Fair

Over: KADOTA STREET

07-VEN-118-R28.31-SIMV, Ventura, CA

Built 1968 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 144,000

SIERRA AVE

Fair

Over: UP RR & AMTRAK

0.1 MI S OF I-10, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1959 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 22,000

NAT TRAILS HWY

Fair

Over: SIBERIA DITCH

13.2 MI E CRUCERO RD, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1930 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 235

NAT TRAILS HWY

Fair

Over: TROJAN DITCH

16.8 MI E CRUCERO RD, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1930 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 235

LOWER GAS POINT RD

Fair

Over: NORTH FORK COTTONWOOD CR

0.5 MI N OF GAS PONT ROAD, Shasta, CA

Built 1920 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 10

FLORES AVE

Fair

Over: OAT CREEK

0.6 MI W/O 99W, Tehama, CA

Built 1937 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 980

REEVES CANYON ROAD

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

4.6 MI W SR 101, Mendocino, CA

Built 1980 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 105

CENTRAL HOUSE RD

Fair

Over: WYMAN RAVINE

0.2 MI E OF SH70, Butte, CA

Built 1910 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 71

MICHIGAN BAR RD

Fair

Over: COSUMNES RIVER

1.2 MI N OF S.R. 16, Sacramento, CA

Built 1909 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 21

C.R. 210

Fair

Over: FINE GOLD CREEK

2.8 MI E OF CR 211, Madera, CA

Built 1920 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 65

AV 288 (MARINETTE)

Fair

Over: FRIANT-KERN CANAL

0.1 MI EAST OF ROAD 204, Tulare, CA

Built 1949 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 75

AVE 170 (N GRAND)

Fair

Over: FRIANT-KERN CANAL

0.25 MI EAST OF ROAD 224, Tulare, CA

Built 1949 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 475

NAT TRAILS HWY

Fair

Over: SCARPA DITCH

22.2 MI E CRUCERO RD, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1930 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 230

CANYON CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: SCOTT RIVER

SCOTT BAR, Siskiyou, CA

Built 1958 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 50

FENDER FERRY

Fair

Over: DOG CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Shasta, CA

Built 1917 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 50

LOUIE ROAD

Fair

Over: SHASTA RIVER

4.0 MI N/E OF I-5, Siskiyou, CA

Built 1935 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 45

SODA CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: SODA CREEK

3.0 MI EAST OF I-5, Shasta, CA

Built 1930 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 2

CR306 (CAPEZOLLI)

Fair

Over: WHITEHEAD SLOUGH

0.3 MI E OF GALEPPI RD, Lassen, CA

Built 1950 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 100

EDGAR AVE

Fair

Over: COMANCHE CREEK

0.7 MI E OF CROUGH AVE, Butte, CA

Built 1930 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 21

ARNOLD DRIVE

Fair

Over: SONOMA CREEK

7.6 MI NORTH OF SR 116, Sonoma, CA

Built 1930 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 13,900

NAT TRAILS HWY

Fair

Over: VERADO DITCH

14.4 MI E OF CRUCERO RD, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1930 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 230

NAT TRAILS HWY

Fair

Over: BANGOR DITCH

16.2 MI E CRUCERO RD, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1930 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 235

NAT TRAILS HWY

Fair

Over: DURANGO DITCH

17.2 MI E CRUCERO RD, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1930 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 235

NAT TRAILS HWY

Fair

Over: CINDER DITCH

17.5 MI E CRUCERO RD, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1930 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 235

NAT TRAILS HWY

Fair

Over: CASHIO DITCH

21.3 MI E OF CRUCERO RD, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1930 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 235

NAT TRAILS HWY

Fair

Over: EDLOFT DITCH

12.7 MI E KELBAKER RD, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1930 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 502

Showing 251-300 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.