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

BALFOUR RD.

Fair

Over: MARSH CREEK

1.1 MI WEST OF SR 4, Contra Costa, CA

Built 1996 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 10,600

STATE ROUTE 4

Fair

Over: PRIVATE ACCESS

10-SJ-004-14.22, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1933 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 19,950

INTERSTATE 205

Fair

Over: SUGAR SPUR RR

10-SJ-205-R7.85-TRA, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1970 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 47,500

FRAIZER ROAD

Fair

Over: MOSHER CREEK

1.5 MI W OF CLEMENTS RD, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1956 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 221

MCKINLEY ROAD

Fair

Over: N BR FRENCH CAMP SLOUGH

1.0 MI N FRENCH CAMP/RD, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1923 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 4,300

STATE ROUTE 49

Fair

Over: MOCCASIN CREEK

10-TUO-049-4.47, Tuolumne, CA

Built 1952 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 765

MLK JR-W24 ON RAMP

Fair

Over: 40TH STREET

04-ALA-024-R2.20-OAK, Alameda, CA

Built 1970 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 8,600

INDUSTRIAL PARKWAY

Fair

Over: INTERSTATE 880 WARD CRK

04-ALA-880-14.54-HAY, Alameda, CA

Built 1968 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 36,000

BALLENA BLVD

Fair

Over: BALLENA BAY

0.1 MI S OF CENTRAL AVE, Alameda, CA

Built 1966 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 1,621

EB STATE ROUTE 92

Fair

Over: STATE ROUTE 82

04-SM-092-R11.19-SM, San Mateo, CA

Built 1963 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 36,000

EAST ZAYANTE RD

Fair

Over: ZAYANTE CREEK

3.7 MI N GRAHAM HILL RD, Santa Cruz, CA

Built 1955 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 2,000

STATE ROUTE 152 EB

Fair

Over: SANTA CLARA CONDUIT DRN

04-SCL-152-R23.50, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1991 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 15,375

BLOSSOM HILL RD

Fair

Over: GUADALUPE RIVER

0.3 MI E ALMADEN EXP, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1948 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 20,400

FAIR OAKS AVE

Fair

Over: CALTRAIN UP RR HENDY AVE

SOUTH CENTRAL EXPWY, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1967 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 26,342

VINEYARD ROAD

Fair

Over: DEL PUERTO CREEK

200 FT N/O LOQUAT AVE, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1935 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 949

WHITE ROCK ROAD

Fair

Over: DEADMAN CREEK

0.05 MI E WESTFALL RD, Mariposa, CA

Built 1960 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 20

STATE ROUTE 99 SB

Fair

Over: ASH SLOUGH

06-MAD-099-26.80, Madera, CA

Built 1957 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 19,250

S MAPLE AVE

Fair

Over: GRANT CANAL

0.15 MI S/O WOOD AVE, Fresno, CA

Built 1946 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 234

E LINCOLN AVE

Fair

Over: COLE SLOUGH CANAL

0.65 MI E OF ACADEMY AVE, Fresno, CA

Built 1925 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 300

S PLACER AVE

Fair

Over: JAMES BYPASS CANAL

0.28 MI N/O LINCOLN, Fresno, CA

Built 1984 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 2,000

DE WOODY AVE

Fair

Over: GRANT CANAL

0.7 MI EAST OF FOWLER AVE, Fresno, CA

Built 1932 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 1,000

PANOCHE ROAD

Fair

Over: LOS AGUILAS CREEK

14 MI W LITTLE PANOCHE RD, San Benito, CA

Built 1947 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 800

STATE ROUTE 1

Fair

Over: BIG SUR RIVER

05-MON-001-46.60, Monterey, CA

Built 1940 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 4,050

GLACIER LODGE RD

Fair

Over: BIG PINE CREEK

3.8 MI W OF ROUTE 395, Inyo, CA

Built 1987 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 510

STATE ROUTE 1 SB

Fair

Over: SANTA YNEZ RIVER

05-SB-001-22.52, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 1967 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 9,900

BONITA SCHOOL ROAD

Fair

Over: SANTA MARIA RIVER

0.3 MI N SR 166, Santa Barbara, CA

Built 2002 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 4,195

INTERSTATE 5

Fair

Over: MARIETTA STREET

07-LA-005-16.29-LA, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1948 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 258,000

ESPERANZA STREET

Fair

Over: ROUTE 5

07-LA-005-15.33-LA, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1948 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 5,500

US 101 NB

Fair

Over: I 110 101-110 CONNECTORS

07-LA-101-1.57-LA, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1949 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 187,000

CARSON STREET

Fair

Over: I-110

07-LA-110-7.02-LA, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1962 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 39,000

INTERSTATE 605

Fair

Over: ARTESIA BLVD

07-LA-605-R4.77-CRTS, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1966 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 245,000

ROSEMONT AVE

Fair

Over: ROUTE 210

07-LA-210-R17.72, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1972 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 3,500

AMELIA AVE

Fair

Over: SAN DIMAS WASH

0.1MI N/O FOOTHILL AVE, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1962 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 7,262

GREENLEAF BLVD

Fair

Over: COMPTON CRK

0.1MI W/O WILLOWBROOK AVE, Los Angeles, CA

Built 1963 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 8,446

ANDERSON ST

Fair

Over: UP RR & AMTRAK

0.65 MI SOUTH I-10, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1968 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 2,595

TIPPECANOE AVE

Fair

Over: MISSION STORM DRAIN

0.6 MI N OF I-10, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1950 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 24,642

FARMINGTON ST

Fair

Over: CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT

0.3 MI W OF 7TH AVE, San Bernardino, CA

Built 1971 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 50

NAT TRAILS HWY

Fair

Over: LANZIT DITCH

2.8 MI E/O KELBAKER RD, San Bernardino, CA

Built 2017 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 502

KITTERMAN DRIVE

Fair

Over: SILVERADO CANYON CREEK

0.1 MI. S/O SLVRDO CYN RD, Orange, CA

Built 1970 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 200

W/B ALTON PARKWAY

Fair

Over: BNSF RY AMTRAK METROLINK

0.3 MI NE/O MUIRLAND BLVD, Orange, CA

Built 1981 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 17,000

AIRPORT BOULEVARD

Fair

Over: WHITEWATER RIVER

0.21 MI. W/O ST RTE 86S, Riverside, CA

Built 1951 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 5,000

ARBOR PARKWAY

Fair

Over: WHITTIER AVENUE CHANNEL

AT WHITTIER AVENUE, Riverside, CA

Built 1973 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 2,000

MORENA BLVD

Fair

Over: BALBOA AVE

750 FT E/O I-5 FREEWAY, San Diego, CA

Built 1969 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 19,479

STATE ROUTE 111

Fair

Over: SY WASH

11-IMP-111-49.20, Imperial, CA

Built 1950 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 3,600

ROAD 30N03

Fair

Over: SUSAN RIVER

14 MI W SUSANVILLE, Lassen, CA

Built 1972 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 20

UNIVERSITY AVE

Fair

Over: I 80 EB OFFRMP 4 &2 ST

04-ALA-080-5.82-BER, Alameda, CA

Built 1939 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 50,000

ROAD

Fair

Over: ELLIOTT CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Siskiyou, CA

Built 1953 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 12

ROAD

Fair

Over: ELLIOTT CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Siskiyou, CA

Built 1954 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 10

CEDAR GROVE ROAD (

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK KINGS RIVER

KINGS CANYON HWY MP 32.1, Fresno, CA

Built 1950 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 278

INTERSTATE 5 SB

Fair

Over: STATE ROUTE 3

02-SIS-005-R48.23-YRE, Siskiyou, CA

Built 1970 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 8,300

Showing 3,451-3,500 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.