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

SLATER AVENUE

Unknown

Over: ROUTE 405

12-ORA-405-14.13-FNV, Orange, CA

Built 2019 ADT: 280,000

WESTMINSTER BLVD

Unknown

Over: ROUTE 405

12-ORA-405-19.00-WTM, Orange, CA

Built 2022 ADT: 256,000

VENTA SPUR TRAIL

Unknown

Over: SR 133

12-ORA-133-11.35-IRVN, Orange, CA

Built 2022 ADT: 37,700

BNSF RR, METROLINK

Unknown

Over: KATELLA AVENUE

0.2 MI E/O STATE COLLEGE, Orange, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 35,600

PEDESTRIAN OC

Unknown

Over: NEWPORT BOULEVARD

1.0 MI. S/O CHAPMAN AVE., Orange, CA

Built 1969 ADT: 9,000

METROLINK, BNSF

Unknown

Over: 1 ST STREET

0.71 MI W/O I-5, Orange, CA

Built 1962 ADT: 35,000

METROLINK, BNSF

Unknown

Over: FIRST STREET

0.7 MI W/O I-5, Orange, CA

Built 1962 ADT: 35,000

CROWN VALLEY PKWY

Unknown

Over: SCRRA,BNSF RY,AMTRAK,ETC

100 FT W/O ROUTE 5, Orange, CA

Built 1970 ADT: 5,800

BNSF,AMTRAK,METRO

Unknown

Over: LAKE FOREST DRIVE

0.3 MI N/O MUIRLANDS BLVD, Orange, CA

Built 1974 ADT: 49,000

METROLINK, BNSF RR

Unknown

Over: RIDGE ROUTE DRIVE

0.2 MI S/O JERONIMO ROAD, Orange, CA

Built 1967 ADT: 13,000

BNSF,AMTRAK,METRO

Unknown

Over: GILBERT STREET

0.1M N. COMMONWEALTH AVE, Orange, CA

Built 1986 ADT: 32,900

LEMON STREET POC

Unknown

Over: LEMON STREET

0.3 MI N ORANGETHORPE AVE, Orange, CA

Built 1977 ADT: 28,900

WALNUT AVE

Unknown

Over: LEMON STREET

0.11 MI S/O COMMONWEALTH, Orange, CA

Built 1978 ADT: 28,900

BNSF RR, METROLINK

Unknown

Over: LIMON STREET

0.1 M S/O COMMONWEALTH AV, Orange, CA

Built 1978 ADT: 28,900

UNION PACIFIC RR

Unknown

Over: COMMONWEALTH AVENUE

0.2 MI E/O BROOKHURST RD, Orange, CA

Built 1961 ADT: 19,500

BNSF,AMTRAK,METRO

Unknown

Over: EUCLID ST

0.11 MI S/O COMMONWEALTH, Orange, CA

Built 1960 ADT: 38,300

BNSF,AMTRAK,METRO

Unknown

Over: EUCLID ST

0.1 MI S/O COMMONWEALTH, Orange, CA

Built 1960 ADT: 38,300

HARBOR BLVD POC

Unknown

Over: HARBOR BOULEVARD

0.1 MI N/O VALENCIA DRIVE, Orange, CA

Built 1970 ADT: 36,900

WALNUT AVENUE

Unknown

Over: HARBOR BLVD

0.15 MI N/O VALENCIA DR, Orange, CA

Built 1970 ADT: 35,000

BNSF RR

Unknown

Over: HARBOR BLVD

0.1 MI S/O COMMONWEALTH, Orange, CA

Built 1970 ADT: 38,000

UP RR

Unknown

Over: ELLIS AVENUE

0.5 MI W ROUTE 39, Orange, CA

Built 1980 ADT: 10,000

UP RR & METRO LINK

Unknown

Over: LEWIS STREET

0.4 MI. S/O BALL ROAD, Orange, CA

Built 1972 ADT: 6,500

PASEO DE COLINAS

Unknown

Over: SCRRA,BNSF RY,AMTRAK,ETC

0.1 MI N OF AVERY PKWY, Orange, CA

Built 1965 ADT: 20,700

YORBA LINDA BLVD

Unknown

Over: BNSF RY, ESPERANZA RD

AT ESPERANZA ROAD, Orange, CA

Built 1981 ADT: 34,600

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

Unknown

Over: CHAPMAN AVE

0.1 MI E/O LEMON ST, Orange, CA

Built 1984 ADT: 34,100

CHEVRON SERVICE RD

Unknown

Over: NORTH GILBERT STREET

0.8 MI S/O IMPERIAL HWY, Orange, CA

Built 1985 ADT: 13,300

ALTON PARKWAY POC

Unknown

Over: ALTON PARKWAY

0.8 MI. SE/O CULVER DRIVE, Orange, CA

Built 1986 ADT: 21,800

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

Unknown

Over: CAMPUS DRIVE

0.5 MI. SE/O UNIVERSITY, Orange, CA

Built 1987 ADT: 22,200

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY

Unknown

Over: PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY

0.5 M S/O PARK LANTEM, Orange, CA

Built 1986 ADT: 19,000

JAMBOREE ROAD

Unknown

Over: WARNER AVENUE

0.5 MI. NE/O BARRANCA PWY, Orange, CA

Built 1991 ADT: 11,000

BNSF RR, METROLINK

Unknown

Over: LINCOLN AVENUE

0.5 MI. E/O ANAHEIM BLVD, Orange, CA

Built 1988 ADT: 22,700

BROOKHURST RD POC

Unknown

Over: BROOKHURST ROAD

0.1 M S. COMMONWEALTH AV, Orange, CA

Built 1989 ADT: 23,000

BRISTOL STREET POC

Unknown

Over: BRISTOL STREET

0.2 MI S/O SUN FLOWER AVE, Orange, CA

Built 1992 ADT: 26,000

BARRANCA PKWY POC

Unknown

Over: BARRANCA PKWY

1.0 MI SW/O JEFFERY ROAD, Orange, CA

Built 1997 ADT: 22,400

OCTA METROLINK

Unknown

Over: CULVER DRIVE

0.5 M S/O WALNUT AVENUE, Orange, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 41,720

WALNUT TRAIL POC

Unknown

Over: CULVER DRIVE

0.5 MI S/O WALNUT AVE, Orange, CA

Built 1994 ADT: 41,720

FAIRMONT BLVD

Unknown

Over: AMTRAK, ESPERANZA RD

AT ESPERANZA ROAD, Orange, CA

Built 1998 ADT: 11,000

JAMBOREE ROAD

Unknown

Over: EDINGER AVENUE

AT EDINGER AVENUE, Orange, CA

Built 1999 ADT: 29,000

BEAR STREET POC

Unknown

Over: BEAR STREET

0.1 MI N/O SOUTH COAST DR, Orange, CA

Built 2000 ADT: 30,000

OSO PARKWAY POC

Unknown

Over: MEANDERING TRAIL

0.4 MI. E/O ANTONIO PKWY., Orange, CA

Built 1999 ADT: 27,000

PEDESTRIAN OC

Unknown

Over: CROWN VALLEY PARKWAY

0.04 M W/O SIENNA PKWY, Orange, CA

Built 2000 ADT: 20,000

MACARTHUR BLVD

Unknown

Over: SAN DIEGO CR, UNIVERSITY

0.5 MI S/O JAMBOREE ROAD, Orange, CA

Built 1976 ADT: 35,000

BNSF RAILROAD

Unknown

Over: DALE STREET

0.2 MI. S/O MALVERN AVE., Orange, CA

Built 1996 ADT: 16,147

BNSF RY, METROLINK

Unknown

Over: HIGHLAND AVENUE

0.1 MI. S/O COMMONWEALTH, Orange, CA

Built 1999 ADT: 8,500

ALTON PARKWAY POC

Unknown

Over: ALTON PARKWAY

0.4 MI. W/O SAND CNYN RD., Orange, CA

Built 2000 ADT: 18,800

HICKS CNYN HAUL RD

Unknown

Over: SANTIAGO CANYON ROAD

4.6 MI. SE/O CHAPMAN AVE., Orange, CA

Built 1995 ADT: 6,500

DISNEYLAND FLYOVER

Unknown

Over: BALL ROAD

AT BALL ROAD, Orange, CA

Built 2000 ADT: 44,200

DOWNTOWN DISNY POC

Unknown

Over: DISNEYLAND DRIVE

0.5 MI N/O KATELLA AVENUE, Orange, CA

Built 2000 ADT: 10,000

BN&SF RAILROAD

Unknown

Over: MELROSE STREET

0.07 MI N/O CROWTHER AVE., Orange, CA

Built 2004 ADT: 8,000

HARBOR BLVD POC

Unknown

Over: HARBOR BLVD

0.0 MI S/O BASTANCHURY RD, Orange, CA

Built 2008 ADT: 15,000

Showing 3,951-4,000 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.