State profile · Below national median SD

California bridge safety

Condition ratings, load ratings, and structural-deficiency data for every public highway bridge in California — drawn straight from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory.

27,040
Public bridges
32.5%
Good condition
4.6%
Poor condition
4.6%
Structurally deficient

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 rated 0-4

Structurally Deficient

4.6%

1,244 bridges flagged for repair priority

-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 — Structurally deficient share 15.3%
National avg

Lower is better. Bar maxes at 30% (worst-state ceiling). National average sits at 7.0%.

Condition Distribution

Bridge inventory deck-condition mix — California (FHWA NBI)

California32.45931952662722%34.67455621301775%GoodFairPoorStructurally Deficient
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix — California (FHWA NBI)

Counties (58)

Alameda 800 Alpine 32 Amador 62 Butte 441 Calaveras 106 Colusa 211 Contra Costa 686 Del Norte 96 El Dorado 196 Fresno 929 Glenn 242 Humboldt 398 Imperial 448 Inyo 67 Kern 686 Kings 168 Lake 129 Lassen 108 Los Angeles 3937 Madera 250 Marin 217 Mariposa 109 Mendocino 357 Merced 532 Modoc 87 Mono 49 Monterey 390 Napa 160 Nevada 135 Orange 1224 Placer 347 Plumas 170 Riverside 1142 Sacramento 775 San Benito 76 San Bernardino 1465 San Diego 1707 San Francisco 170 San Joaquin 666 San Luis Obispo 408 San Mateo 393 Santa Barbara 429 Santa Clara 1041 Santa Cruz 203 Shasta 500 Sierra 65 Siskiyou 423 Solano 383 Sonoma 613 Stanislaus 390 Sutter 120 Tehama 452 Trinity 194 Tulare 599 Tuolumne 128 Ventura 511 Yolo 282 Yuba 136

California vs nearby ranks

Adjacent states on the structurally deficient leaderboard (lower share = better)

States are ranked by share of bridges flagged structurally deficient — the FHWA classification for any span where deck, superstructure, or substructure carries a condition rating of 4 or below. Lower percentages indicate stronger maintenance funding and inspection follow-through. States here sit immediately above and below California on the same metric.

39

Ohio

4.54% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$26,753

34

New Jersey

4.59% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$6,796
Selected

06

California

4.60% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$27,040

05

Arkansas

4.71% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$5,544

53

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 composite NBI rating. Each is inspected at least every 24 months.

SPRING CREEK RD

Poor

Over: FALL RIVER

0.5 MI N OF MCARTHUR RD, Shasta, CA

Built 1950 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 50

ORESTIMBA ROAD

Poor

Over: CCID MAIN CANAL

0.1 MI E DRAPER RD, Stanislaus, CA

Built 1919 Load: 2.9 t ADT: 684

CLARK STREET

Poor

Over: M.I.D. CANAL

0.1 MI WEST OF ROAD 26.0, Madera, CA

Built 1955 Load: 3.2 t ADT: 200

GULLING STREET

Structurally Deficient

Over: MIDDLE FORK FEATHER RIV

0.2 MI S SH 70, Plumas, CA

Built 1954 Load: 3.2 t ADT: 10,046

AVENUE 10

Poor

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK

JUST E/O ROAD 23, Madera, CA

Built 1950 Load: 3.6 t ADT: 50

S BISHOP AVE

Poor

Over: CRESCENT DITCH

0.64 MI S/O MT WHITNEY AV, Fresno, CA

Built 1950 Load: 3.9 t ADT: 125

All Bridges in California

S57-S5 CONNECTOR

Unknown

Over: I 5; 22-N55 CONN

12-ORA-057-10.78L-SA, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 36,000

S57-E22 CONNECTOR

Unknown

Over: I 5 & CONNECTOR RAMPS

12-ORA-057-10.80L-SA, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 241,000

S5-MAIN ST OFF-RP

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5 SB

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

Built 1996 ADT: 183,000

SANTA CLARA-N5 ON

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5

12-ORA-005-33.00-SA, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 25,000

INTERSTATE 5

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 261

12-ORA-005-27.53-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1992 ADT: 34,600

S5-S55&N55-N5 HOV

Unknown

Over: I 5, SR 55, RAMPS & STS

12-ORA-055-R10.06-SA, Orange, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 134,850

S5&S57-E22 CONN

Unknown

Over: N5-W22 CONNECTOR RAMP

12-ORA-005-33.85-ORA, Orange, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 30,443

5-57 HOV

Unknown

Over: I 5 NB,I 5 NB HOV,22-N5

12-ORA-057-10.79R-SA, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 36,000

ANTONIO PARKWAY

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 241

12-ORA-241-17.60-RSM, Orange, CA

Built 1998 ADT: 18,300

AVENIDA DE LAS BAN

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 241

12-ORA-241-18.07-RSM, Orange, CA

Built 2003 ADT: 18,300

STA MARGARITA PKWY

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 241

12-ORA-241-18.53-RSM, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 18,300

STATE ROUTE 241 SB

Unknown

Over: MELINDA ROAD

12-ORA-241-19.33-RSM, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 5,000

STATE ROUTE 241 NB

Unknown

Over: MELINDA ROAD

12-ORA-241-19.33-RSM, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 5,000

LOS ALISOS BLVD

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 241

12-ORA-241-20.12-RSM, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 42,000

ROUTE 241

Unknown

Over: ALISO CREEK & EL TORO RD

12-ORA-241-21.00-MSNV, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 15,000

ROUTE 241

Unknown

Over: ALISO CREEK & EL TORO RD

12-ORA-241-21.00-MSNV, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 15,000

STATE ROUTE 241 SB

Unknown

Over: PORTOLA PARKWAY

12-ORA-241-21.85-LKFR, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 15,000

STATE ROUTE 241

Unknown

Over: LAKE FOREST DRIVE

12-ORA-241-22.50-LKFR, Orange, CA

Built 1993 ADT: 15,000

SR 241

Unknown

Over: BAKE PARKWAY

12-ORA-241-22.77-LKFR, Orange, CA

Built 1993 ADT: 15,000

ALTON PKWY

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 241

12-ORA-241-23.46-LKFR, Orange, CA

Built 1993 ADT: 43,000

S241-ALTON PKW OFF

Unknown

Over: TOWNE CENTRE DR

12-ORA-241-23.62-LKFR, Orange, CA

Built 1993 ADT: 5,000

SR 241 SB

Unknown

Over: TOWNE CENTRE DR

12-ORA-241-23.62-LKFR, Orange, CA

Built 1993 ADT: 5,000

PORTOLA PKWY

Unknown

Over: STATE ROUTE 241

12-ORA-241-25.02-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 48,000

STATE ROUTE 91 EB

Unknown

Over: W91-S55 CONNECTOR

12-ORA-091-R9.17-ANA, Orange, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 69,600

91-55 FASTTRACK

Unknown

Over: W91-S55 CONNECTORS

12-ORA-091-R9.91-ANA, Orange, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 69,600

N5-N73 CONNECTOR

Unknown

Over: I 5; C. C.; METRO RAIL

12-ORA-005-12.51-LGNG, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 5,000

S73-S5 CONNECTOR

Unknown

Over: CAMINO CAPISTRANO,METRO

12-ORA-073-10.34-SJCP, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 10,000

S73-GLENWOOD OFF

Unknown

Over: EL TORO RD-S73 ON RAMP

12-ORA-073-15.80, Orange, CA

Built 2003 ADT: 5,000

SR 73 SB

Unknown

Over: EL TORO ROAD

12-ORA-073-16.25-LGNB, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 10,000

SR 73 NB

Unknown

Over: EL TORO ROAD

12-ORA-073-16.25-LGNB, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 10,000

SR 73 SB

Unknown

Over: SAN DIEGO CR, UNIVERSITY

12-ORA-073-24.36-NPTB, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 10,000

SR 73 NB

Unknown

Over: SAN DIEGO CR, UNIVERSITY

12-ORA-073-24.36-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 10,000

MACARTHUR-S73 ONRA

Unknown

Over: SR 73 & MACARTHUR-N73 ON

12-ORA-073-24.02-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 66,000

MACARTHUR BLVD

Unknown

Over: SR 73, RAMPS, BONITA CRK

12-ORA-073-23.82-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 66,000

MACARTHUR-N73 ONRA

Unknown

Over: SR 73, RAMPS, BONITA CRK

12-ORA-073-23.75-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 4,880

STATE ROUTE 55

Unknown

Over: UTILITY OC

12-ORA-055-R2.52-CMS, Orange, CA

Built 1992 ADT: 122,000

BAKE PARKWAY

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5

12-ORA-005-20.84-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 282,000

BAKE PKWY-N405 RMP

Unknown

Over: INTERSTATE 5

12-ORA-005-21.33-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 28,000

S5-BAKE PKWY OFFRP

Unknown

Over: I 405,5-405 HOV, & RAMPS

12-ORA-005-21.33-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 2,336

N5-IRVINE CTR OFF

Unknown

Over: BAKE PKWY-N405 ON-RAMP

12-ORA-005-21.60-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 28,200

BISON AV-N73 ON RA

Unknown

Over: N73-MACARTHUR BL OFF-RMP

12-ORA-073-23.60-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 5,850

S73-BISON OFF-RAMP

Unknown

Over: MACARTHUR-S73 ON-RAMP

12-ORA-073-23.60-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 4,880

SR 73 SB

Unknown

Over: LAGUNA CANYON ROAD

12-ORA-073-16.75-LGNB, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 10,000

SR 73 NB

Unknown

Over: LAGUNA CANYON ROAD

12-ORA-073-16.75-LGNB, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 10,000

SR 73 SB

Unknown

Over: CABOT ROAD

12-ORA-073-11.28-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 5,000

SR 73 NB

Unknown

Over: CROWN VALLEY PK,CABOT RD

12-ORA-073-11.31-LGNG, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 5,000

SR 73 SB

Unknown

Over: CROWN VALLEY PARKWAY

12-ORA-073-11.42-LGNG, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 15,000

SR 73 SB

Unknown

Over: GREENFIELD DRIVE

12-ORA-073-11.76-LGNH, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 10,000

SR 73 NB

Unknown

Over: GREENFIELD DRIVE

12-ORA-073-11.76-LGNH, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 10,000

LA PAZ RD-S73 ON

Unknown

Over: MOULTON PARKWAY

12-ORA-073-12.91-LGNG, Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 10,000

Showing 3,751-3,800 of 27,040 bridges

Related

All states → | National rankings → | Understanding conditions → | SD bridges explained →
Data sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI), latest released cycle. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges Editorial.

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). A "structurally deficient" rating is a repair-priority signal, not a closure or unsafe-to-cross designation. Consult a qualified civil engineer before making decisions based on this data.

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.