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

WILSON ST

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 55

12-ORA-055-R3.20-CMS, Orange, CA

Built 1990 ADT: 142,000

DEL MAR AVE

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 55

12-ORA-055-R3.78-CMS, Orange, CA

Built 1990 ADT: 142,000

MESA DRIVE

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 55

12-ORA-055-R4.02-CMS, Orange, CA

Built 1990 ADT: 142,000

AVENIDA VISTA HERM

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5

12-ORA-005-4.08-SCLE, Orange, CA

Built 1981 ADT: 220,000

AVENIDA VISTA HERM

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5

12-ORA-005-4.10-SCLE, Orange, CA

Built 2004 ADT: 220,000

VON KARMAN AVE

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 405

12-ORA-405-7.40-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1979 ADT: 266,000

BROADWAY

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5

12-ORA-005-33.31-SA, Orange, CA

Built 1985 ADT: 300,000

S1-N5 CONNECTOR

Unknown

Over: SR 1 CAMINO LAS RAMBLAS

12-ORA-001-R0.13-SJCP, Orange, CA

Built 1973 ADT: 37,000

ALTON PARKWAY

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5

12-ORA-005-22.21-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1984 ADT: 30,200

HARVARD AVENUE

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 405

12-ORA-405-6.20-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1983 ADT: 266,000

LOS ALISOS BLVD

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5

12-ORA-005-17.94-LGNH, Orange, CA

Built 1984 ADT: 285,000

BNSF,AMTRAK,METRO

Unknown

Over: ST RTE 39 (BEACH BLVD)

12-ORA-039-16.04-BPK, Orange, CA

Built 1984 ADT: 57,500

BIRCH ST

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 73

12-ORA-073-R25.46-NPTB, Orange, CA

Built 1985 ADT: 172,000

MACARTHUR-N73 ONRA

Unknown

Over: MACARTHUR BLVD

12-ORA-073-24.67-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1985 ADT: 20,000

YALE AVENUE

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5

12-ORA-005-R25.80-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1984 ADT: 290,000

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 405

12-ORA-405-4.67-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1986 ADT: 266,000

MCFADDEN STREET

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 55

12-ORA-055-R9.96-TUS, Orange, CA

Built 1988 ADT: 269,700

S5-NEWPORT AV OFF

Unknown

Over: N55-S5 CONNECTOR RAMP

12-ORA-005-30.17-TUS, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 15,000

N55-N5 CONNECTOR

Unknown

Over: ROUTE 5 & 55, & CONNS

12-ORA-055-10.37-TUS, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 246,000

S55-S5 CONNECTOR

Unknown

Over: ROUTE 5 & 55, CONNS

12-ORA-055-10.67-TUS, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 269,000

N5-N55 CONNECTOR

Unknown

Over: N55-4TH ST & IRVINE RD

12-ORA-005-30.32-TUS, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 6,601

1ST ST

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5

12-ORA-005-30.90-SA, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 300,000

1ST ST

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 55 & RAMPS

12-ORA-055-10.80-TUS, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 51,770

4TH ST-S55 ON RAMP

Unknown

Over: S55-N&S5 CONNECTORS

12-ORA-055-10.90-SA, Orange, CA

Built 1992 ADT: 53,540

4TH ST

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5

12-ORA-005-31.09-SA, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 300,000

FOURTH STREET

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 55

12-ORA-055-10.98-SA, Orange, CA

Built 1992 ADT: 51,770

ALTON PARKWAY WB

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 133 & RAMP

12-ORA-133-8.75-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1987 ADT: 40,000

ALTON PARKWAY EB

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 133 & RAMP

12-ORA-133-8.74-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1987 ADT: 40,000

BARRANCA PKWAY

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 133

12-ORA-133-9.00-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1990 ADT: 40,000

ROUTE 5

Unknown

Over: JAMBOREE ROAD

12-ORA-005-27.59-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1991 ADT: 65,000

TUSTIN RANCH ROAD

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5

12-ORA-005-28.25-TUS, Orange, CA

Built 1992 ADT: 355,000

N133-N5 CONNECTOR

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5

12-ORA-133-M9.48-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1991 ADT: 243,700

S5-4TH ST & MABURY

Unknown

Over: S 5 (LANE #6)

12-ORA-005-31.10-TUS, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 300,000

N5-1ST OFF-RAMP

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5

12-ORA-005-31.08-SA, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 300,000

SANTA ISABEL AVE

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 55

12-ORA-055-R3.27-CMS, Orange, CA

Built 1990 ADT: 142,000

BARRANCA PARKWAY

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5

12-ORA-005-22.80-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1990 ADT: 30,300

AIRPORT N55 OC

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 405

12-ORA-405-7.84-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1990 ADT: 274,000

BALL ROAD

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5

12-ORA-005-37.64-ANA, Orange, CA

Built 1990 ADT: 276,300

INTERSTATE 5 SB

Unknown

Over: GRAND AVE

12-ORA-005-31.65-SA, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 3,539

INTERSTATE 5 NB

Unknown

Over: GRAND AVE

12-ORA-005-31.76-SA, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 36,000

BNSF,AMTRAK,METRO

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5

12-ORA-005-32.04-SA, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 298,000

INTERSTATE 5 SB

Unknown

Over: 17TH STREET

12-ORA-005-32.46-SA, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 35,000

INTERSTATE 5 NB

Unknown

Over: 17TH STREET

12-ORA-005-32.46-SA, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 35,000

17TH ST NB ON RA

Unknown

Over: 17TH STREET

12-ORA-005-32.46-SA, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 35,000

MAIN ST

Unknown

Over: I 5, MAIN-N5 ON, N5 OFF

12-ORA-005-33.09-SA, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 16,832

LINCOLN AVE

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5

12-ORA-005-32.05-SA, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 300,000

BRISTOL ST-LA VETA

Unknown

Over: I 5 & CONS TO SR 57 & 22

12-ORA-005-34.14-SA, Orange, CA

Built 1992 ADT: 62,255

STATE ROUTE 22

Unknown

Over: I-5 & CONNECTORS

12-ORA-022-R10.38-SA, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 17,000

S57-W22 CONNECTOR

Unknown

Over: I 5 & CONNECTOR RAMPS

12-ORA-057-10.82L-SA, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 5,000

S5&S57-E22 CONNECT

Unknown

Over: I 5 & CONNECTOR RAMPS

12-ORA-005-33.88-SA, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 300,000

Showing 3,701-3,750 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.