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

INTERSTATE 10

Fair

Over: TOWNSHIP CREEK

08-RIV-010-R5.43, Riverside, CA

Built 1936 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 89,000

INTERSTATE 10

Fair

Over: STATE ROUTE 243 (8TH ST)

08-RIV-010-12.85-BAN, Riverside, CA

Built 1956 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 120,000

INTERSTATE 10

Fair

Over: EL CASCO CREEK

08-RIV-010-R2.81-CMSA, Riverside, CA

Built 1937 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 98,000

INTERSTATE 10 WB

Fair

Over: WEST SADDLE GULCH

08-RIV-010-R79.25, Riverside, CA

Built 1965 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 11,250

RAMSEY STREET

Fair

Over: SMITH CREEK

1.2 MI E/O HGHLND SPG AVE, Riverside, CA

Built 1935 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 25,000

CHUCKWALLA VLY RD

Fair

Over: SEGAL DITCH

7.6 MI E/O CORN SPRNGS RD, Riverside, CA

Built 1961 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 40

VAN BUREN BOULEVRD

Fair

Over: SAN SEVAINE CHANNEL

0.1 MI. NW/O BELLEGRAVE, Riverside, CA

Built 1954 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 26,000

VAN BUREN BLVD.

Fair

Over: PYRITE CHANNEL

0.6 MI. S/O JURUPA ROAD, Riverside, CA

Built 1954 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 33,871

LIMONITE AVENUE

Fair

Over: SUNNYSLOPE STORM CHANNEL

0.1 MI. NE/O PACIFIC AVE., Riverside, CA

Built 1965 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 15,852

RAMON ROAD

Fair

Over: BARISTO FLOOD CONTROL CH

0.1 MI. W/O SUNRISE WAY, Riverside, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 23,400

RAMONA EXPWY

Fair

Over: PERRIS WASH

1.0 MI. W/O LAKEVIEW AVE, Riverside, CA

Built 1959 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 19,375

MC CALL BOULEVARD

Fair

Over: GOLF COURSE DRAIN

0.4 MI. W/O SUN CITY BLVD, Riverside, CA

Built 1969 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 13,000

GALENA STREET

Fair

Over: BLY CHANNEL

AT FELSPAR ST., Riverside, CA

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 5,000

RIVERVIEW DRIVE

Fair

Over: SUNNYSLOPE STORM CHAN

0.3 MI. S/O LIMONITE AVE., Riverside, CA

Built 1965 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,000

PACIFIC AVENUE

Fair

Over: SUNNYSLOPE STORM CHAN

0.3 MI. N/O LIMONITE AVE., Riverside, CA

Built 1965 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 4,000

SUNRISE WAY

Fair

Over: BARISTO FLOOD CONTROL CH

0.15 MI. S/O RAMON ROAD, Riverside, CA

Built 1951 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 18,143

COTTONWOOD AVENUE

Fair

Over: SUNNYMEAD STORM CHANNEL

0.2 MI. E/O HEACOCK ST., Riverside, CA

Built 1967 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 10,900

INDIAN STREET

Fair

Over: SUNNYMEAD STORM CHANNEL

0.4 MI N/O COTTONWOOD AVE, Riverside, CA

Built 1964 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 7,400

EUCALYPTUS AVENUE

Fair

Over: SUNNYMEAD STORM CHANNEL

0.1 MI. E/O INDIAN STREET, Riverside, CA

Built 1964 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 6,500

APELA DRIVE

Fair

Over: STRAWBERRY CREEK

0.2 MI. N/O TOLL GATE RD., Riverside, CA

Built 1958 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 704

COTA STREET

Fair

Over: CORONA STORM DRAIN

0.4 MI. S/O RIVER ROAD, Riverside, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,500

RIO ROAD

Fair

Over: SUNNYSLOPE STORM CHANNEL

0.2 MI. SE/O RIVERVIEW DR, Riverside, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 88

DEL RIO ROAD

Fair

Over: EMPIRE CREEK

0.2 MI. NW/O FRONT STREET, Riverside, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,000

INTERSTATE 8

Fair

Over: ALVARADO CANYON CREEK

11-SD-008-10.61-LMSA, San Diego, CA

Built 1939 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 175,000

INTERSTATE 8 WB

Fair

Over: LOS COCHES RD

11-SD-008-R20.04, San Diego, CA

Built 1965 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 39,500

HOME AV-N805 ONRMP

Fair

Over: HOME AVENUE

11-SD-805-13.95-SD, San Diego, CA

Built 1974 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 4,850

INTERSTATE 5

Fair

Over: LAS ENCINAS CREEK

11-SD-005-R46.60-CBD, San Diego, CA

Built 1965 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 222,000

ANNA AVE

Fair

Over: CUDAHY CHANNEL

0.1MI N/O CHP STATION, San Diego, CA

Built 1933 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 50

POWAY RD

Fair

Over: RATTLESNAKE CREEK

100FT E/O TARASCAN DR., San Diego, CA

Built 1964 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 33,122

CARLSBAD BLVD

Fair

Over: ENCINA DISCHARGE CH

0.5 MI N/O CANNON RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1954 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 22,760

LILAC RD

Fair

Over: KEYS CREEK

2.7MI N/O OLD CASTLE RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1968 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,433

GOPHER CYN RD

Fair

Over: S FK GOPHER CYN

2.9MI W/O ROUTE I-15, San Diego, CA

Built 1972 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 14,975

FAIRBURN ST

Fair

Over: LOS PENASQUITOS CRK TRIB

125FT E/O FLORAL AVE, San Diego, CA

Built 1972 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 100

GATE DR

Fair

Over: POWAY CREEK

0.08MI S/O POWAY RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1971 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 750

47TH ST

Fair

Over: CHOLLAS CREEK

0.3 MI S/O MARKET ST, San Diego, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 10,400

LINCOLN AVE

Fair

Over: REIDY CREEK

0.3M E/O ROCK SPRNGS RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1966 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 15

LINCOLN AVE

Fair

Over: WASHINGTON CHANNEL

0.11MI S/O OF MAIN ST, San Diego, CA

Built 1969 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 3,000

LAWRENCE WELK DR

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK MOOSA CREEK

250 FT E/O CHAMPAGNE BLVD, San Diego, CA

Built 1966 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,625

CROUCH ST

Fair

Over: LOMA ALTA CREEK

110FT S/O OCEANSIDE BLVD, San Diego, CA

Built 1965 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 10,900

HOLLAND RD

Fair

Over: POMERADO CREEK

300FT E/O POMERADO RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1972 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,500

VAUGHAN RD

Fair

Over: POMERADO CREEK

300FT E/O POMERADO RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1972 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,500

WANESTA DR

Fair

Over: RATTLESNAKE CREEK

0.12MI E/O TARASCAN RD, San Diego, CA

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 120

HALECREST DRIVE

Fair

Over: TELEGRAPH CANYON CHANNEL

20 FT N/O TELEGRAPH CYN, San Diego, CA

Built 1966 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 4,100

GREENFIELD DRIVE

Fair

Over: FORESTER CREEK TRIBUTARY

0.2MI E/O PIONEER@VERNON, San Diego, CA

Built 1971 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 11,400

WINTER HAVEN ROAD

Fair

Over: SAN LUIS REY RIVER TRIB

0.1MI E/O MISSION RD., San Diego, CA

Built 1954 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,495

STATE ROUTE 111

Fair

Over: CEDAR WASH

11-IMP-111-48.85, Imperial, CA

Built 1950 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 3,600

ST RTE 98 BOWKER

Fair

Over: ALL AMERICAN CANAL

11-IMP-098-34.43, Imperial, CA

Built 1938 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 15,343

IN-KO-PAH RD

Fair

Over: BOULDER CREEK

0.44 MI E/O SD CO LINE, Imperial, CA

Built 1932 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 138

EVAN HEWES HWY

Fair

Over: OCOTILLO WASH

0.4 MI E/O IMPERIAL HWY, Imperial, CA

Built 1932 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 272

TITSWORTH RD

Fair

Over: EAST HIGHLINE CANAL

1.5 MI E/O BUTTERS RD, Imperial, CA

Built 1950 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 50

Showing 3,201-3,250 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.