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

STATE ROUTE 44

Fair

Over: COW CREEK

02-SHA-044-R7.40, Shasta, CA

Built 1964 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 7,000

GIRVAN RD

Fair

Over: OLNEY CREEK

0.6 MI E OF SR 273, Shasta, CA

Built 1960 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 7,730

INTERSTATE 5 NB

Fair

Over: DIBBLE CREEK

02-TEH-005-R28.16, Tehama, CA

Built 1965 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 15,500

STATE ROUTE 32

Fair

Over: CHICO CREEK

02-TEH-032-1.55, Tehama, CA

Built 1934 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 1,050

RIDGE ROAD

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF RED BANK CREEK

8.7 MI SW LIVE OAK RD, Tehama, CA

Built 1957 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 80

CLIO-STATE 40A RD

Fair

Over: MIDDLE FORK FEATHER RIV

0.1 MILE NORTH OF SR 89, Plumas, CA

Built 1953 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 570

US HIGHWAY 101 NB

Fair

Over: ROBINSON CREEK

01-MEN-101-20.91, Mendocino, CA

Built 1963 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 7,350

EAST ROAD

Fair

Over: SALT HOLLOW CREEK

2.15 MI N SH 20, Mendocino, CA

Built 1940 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 4,439

STATE ROUTE 70

Fair

Over: NORTH HONCUT CREEK

03-BUT-070-0.15, Butte, CA

Built 1941 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 11,700

MANZANITA AVE

Fair

Over: LINDO CHANNEL

BTW EAST AVE & HOOKER OAK, Butte, CA

Built 1968 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 11,900

PORT WINE RIDGE RD

Fair

Over: ROCK CREEK

0.5 MI W JCT CNCL HILL RD, Sierra, CA

Built 1961 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 25

EVANS RD

Fair

Over: TEHAMA-COLUSA CANAL

0.6 MI N HAHN RD, Colusa, CA

Built 1976 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 134

STATE ROUTE 99 SB

Fair

Over: CROSS CANAL

03-SUT-099-5.92, Sutter, CA

Built 1949 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 18,750

INTERSTATE 80 WB

Fair

Over: NYACK ROAD

03-PLA-080-54.81, Placer, CA

Built 1959 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 13,250

INTERSTATE 80 WB

Fair

Over: BIG BEND ROAD

03-PLA-080-R65.00L, Placer, CA

Built 1964 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 13,500

SHIRT TAIL CYN RD

Fair

Over: SHIRT TAIL CREEK

0.5 MI N YANKEE JIM RD, Placer, CA

Built 1940 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 25

STATE ROUTE 116

Fair

Over: RUSSIAN RIVER

04-SON-116-10.46, Sonoma, CA

Built 1940 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 8,450

STWRT PT-SKGG SPRG

Fair

Over: HOUSE CREEK

13.5 MI E/O SR 1, Sonoma, CA

Built 1921 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 300

INTERSTATE 505 SB

Fair

Over: PUTAH CRK RD PUTAH CREEK

03-YOL-505-0.01, Yolo, CA

Built 1959 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 12,000

INTERSTATE 505

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK WILLOW SLOUGH

03-YOL-505-10.33, Yolo, CA

Built 1959 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 6,000

INTERSTATE 505

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK WILLOW SLOUGH

03-YOL-505-10.33, Yolo, CA

Built 1959 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 6,000

COUNTY ROAD 17

Fair

Over: SLOUGH S7

0.13 MI WEST OF CR 95A, Yolo, CA

Built 1930 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 580

INTERSTATE 80 EB

Fair

Over: LYNCH ROAD

04-SOL-080-R9.65, Solano, CA

Built 1969 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 57,000

STATE ROUTE 37

Fair

Over: SONOMA CREEK

04-SOL-037-R0.01, Solano, CA

Built 1969 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 32,000

INTERSTATE 80

Fair

Over: RED TOP ROAD

04-SOL-080-R11.39-FRFD, Solano, CA

Built 1969 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 115,000

W EL CAMINO AVE

Fair

Over: INTERSTATE 80

03-SAC-080-M1.36, Sacramento, CA

Built 1970 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 40,000

CANAL ST

Fair

Over: HANGTOWN CREEK

50 FEET SOUTH OF U.S. 50, El Dorado, CA

Built 1954 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 6,500

U. S. HIGHWAY 101

Fair

Over: 2ND 3RD 4TH 5TH MSSN

04-MRN-101-10.72-SRF, Marin, CA

Built 1941 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 64,500

APPIAN WAY

Fair

Over: SAN PABLO CREEK

AT SAN PABLO DAM ROAD, Contra Costa, CA

Built 1938 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 11,492

STATE ROUTE 26

Fair

Over: DUCK CREEK

10-SJ-026-16.87, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1984 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 5,200

STATE ROUTE 4

Fair

Over: SAN JOAQUIN RIVER

10-SJ-004-14.15, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1933 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 19,950

STATE ROUTE 88

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

10-SJ-088-8.91, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1964 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 8,850

STATE ROUTE 12

Fair

Over: STATE ROUTE 99

10-SJ-012-18.08-LOD, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1963 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 11,800

STATE ROUTE 4

Fair

Over: MADISON STREET

10-SJ-004-R16.47-STKN, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1972 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 15,500

STATE ROUTE 4

Fair

Over: MADISON STREET

10-SJ-004-R16.47-STKN, San Joaquin, CA

Built 1972 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 15,500

INTERSTATE 80

Fair

Over: BURIED WALKWAY

04-ALA-080-3.96-EMV, Alameda, CA

Built 1954 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 531,000

N580-WEST ST OFF-R

Fair

Over: MARTIN LUTHER KING JR WY

04-ALA-580-45.25-OAK, Alameda, CA

Built 1961 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 10,100

BASCOM AVE

Fair

Over: LOS GATOS CREEK

NEAR SW EXPRESSWAY, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1972 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 28,300

PASEO REFUGIO

Fair

Over: TULARCITOS CREEK

NEAR HILLVIEW DR, Santa Clara, CA

Built 1981 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 1,900

CHILDS AVE

Fair

Over: OWENS CREEK

0.1 MI W CUNNINGHAM RD, Merced, CA

Built 1965 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 207

BUTTS ROAD

Fair

Over: CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT

0.4 MI WEST OF I-5, Merced, CA

Built 1968 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 50

ROAD 225

Fair

Over: WHISKEY CREEK

3 MI SE RD 274 IN N FORK, Madera, CA

Built 1964 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 1,000

E ANNADALE AVE

Fair

Over: KINGS RIVER

AT RIVERBEND AVENUE, Fresno, CA

Built 1962 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 4,200

E HUNTSMAN AVE

Fair

Over: TRAVERS CREEK

0.5 MI W ENGLEHART AVE, Fresno, CA

Built 1948 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 1,500

US HIGHWAY 101 NB

Fair

Over: SAN BENITO RIVER

05-SBT-101-5.21, San Benito, CA

Built 1951 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 25,500

OLD COAST HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: BIXBY CREEK

0.94 MI SE SH 1, Monterey, CA

Built 1965 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 250

M348 S FORK DR

Fair

Over: S FORK KAWEAH RIVER

4.1 MI SE CO RD M347, Tulare, CA

Built 1959 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 260

R136

Fair

Over: DEER CREEK

0.6 MI S OF AVE 78, Tulare, CA

Built 1955 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 750

ROAD 108

Fair

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK

0.05 MI N OF AVE 368, Tulare, CA

Built 1951 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 300

CHOLAME VALLEY RD

Fair

Over: CHOLAME CREEK

1.4 MI NW SR 46, San Luis Obispo, CA

Built 1948 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 130

Showing 3,901-3,950 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.