State profile · Below median Poor share

Colorado 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 Colorado.

8,965
Public bridges
35.7%
Good condition
4.8%
Poor condition

Colorado holds 8,965 public highway bridges (#27 of 52 by inventory) with a 4.82% Poor share (#34 of 52 by Poor share).

That is 4.8% 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 19 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

8,965

Public highway bridges in Colorado

Good Condition

35.7%

3,197 bridges rated 7-9

-14.3pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

4.8%

432 bridges whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

-2.7pp vs national avg 7.5%

Colorado vs national bridge condition

Colorado - Good condition share 35.7%
National avg

Share of bridges rated 7-9 on the FHWA 0-9 scale (deck, superstructure, substructure all good).

Colorado - Poor-condition share 16.1%
National avg

Lower is better. Bar maxes at 30% (worst-state ceiling). National average sits at 7.5%.

Colorado 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: Colorado has 8,965 bridges and a 4.8% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #19 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 (%) CO, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 9k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.82%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%CA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 25.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.91%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: Colorado has 8,965 bridges and a 4.8% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #19 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.

Colorado 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

8,965 27th of 54 higher than 27 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 Colorado

The highlighted point is Colorado: 8,965 bridges and 4.82% in Poor condition, rank #19 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The five jurisdictions immediately above and below Colorado on that same Poor-share ordering:

  • Connecticut: 4,365 bridges · 4.72% Poor
  • Ohio: 26,729 bridges · 4.74% Poor
  • Colorado: 8,965 bridges · 4.82% Poor
  • Idaho: 4,616 bridges · 4.90% Poor
  • Indiana: 19,495 bridges · 5.22% Poor

The full national sortable table lives on the rankings page.

Material families in Colorado

Exclusive FHWA material families across all 8,965 bridges in this state; continuous variants fold into the parent family. Orthogonal to the Poor-share scatter above.

Who maintains Colorado’s inventory

State agency holds 38.8% of the 8,965 public highway bridges filed under Colorado in the 2024 NBI, the agency-of-record split for this state, not a condition verdict.

When Colorado’s bridges were built

Pre-1950 construction accounts for 8.5% of the 8,965 bridges with a recorded original year in Colorado. Era bands are orthogonal to the Poor-share ranking above.

Condition Distribution

Colorado35.7%59.5%GoodFairPoor
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix - Colorado (FHWA NBI)

Counties (64)

Adams 535 Alamosa 16 Arapahoe 391 Archuleta 44 Baca 106 Bent 68 Boulder 311 Broomfield 66 Chaffee 84 Cheyenne 61 Clear Creek 77 Conejos 62 Costilla 39 Crowley 28 Custer 20 Delta 64 Denver 458 Dolores 28 Douglas 263 Eagle 174 El Paso 686 Elbert 85 Fremont 137 Garfield 167 Gilpin 19 Grand 88 Gunnison 100 Hinsdale 31 Huerfano 94 Jackson 47 Jefferson 464 Kiowa 31 Kit Carson 130 La Plata 102 Lake 17 Larimer 559 Las Animas 207 Lincoln 129 Logan 182 Mesa 319 Mineral 26 Moffat 80 Montezuma 61 Montrose 118 Morgan 192 Otero 195 Ouray 39 Park 55 Phillips 27 Pitkin 62 Prowers 137 Pueblo 264 Rio Blanco 54 Rio Grande 71 Routt 96 Saguache 41 San Juan 13 San Miguel 59 Sedgwick 64 Summit 57 Teller 27 Washington 75 Weld 614 Yuma 49

Colorado 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 Colorado on the same metric.

CT

Connecticut

4.72% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$4,365

OH

Ohio

4.74% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$26,729
Selected

CO

Colorado

4.82% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$8,965

ID

Idaho

4.90% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$4,616

IN

Indiana

5.22% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$19,495

Bridges Needing Most Attention in Colorado

Six lowest-condition bridges in Colorado, ranked by the portal's composite display score. Inspection intervals are risk-based under current NBIS rules.

144TH AVENUE

Poor

Over: LOST CREEK

1.2 MILES WEST OF SH 79, Adams, CO

Built 1960 Load: 0.0 t

County Road 79.0

Poor

Over: Salado Creek

2.8 Mi N of CR 64, Las Animas, CO

Built 2020 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 2

County Road 59

Poor

Over: N. Sterling Outlet Canal

0.3 Mi N of Co Rd 58, Logan, CO

Built 1940 Load: 1.4 t ADT: 6

COTTONWOOD ST

Poor

Over: NORTH CRESTONE CREEK

IN TOWN OF CRESTONE, Saguache, CO

Built 1991 Load: 2.3 t ADT: 65

CO Rd 32

Poor

Over: Feeder Ditch

0.28 MI E of Co Rd 75, Las Animas, CO

Built 1970 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 7

POTOMAC STREET

Poor

Over: OBRIAN CANAL

0.2 MILE NORTH OF SH 2, Adams, CO

Built 1940 Load: 3.8 t ADT: 190

All Bridges in Colorado

US 285 ML

Fair

Over: NORTH TURKEY CREEK

6 MI W OF C470, Jefferson, CO

Built 1948 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 26,000

US 6 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

1 Mi W of SH470, Jefferson, CO

Built 1951 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 32,000

US 36 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

0.8 MI E OF JCT SH 71, Washington, CO

Built 1938 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 700

SH 83 ML

Fair

Over: KINNEY CREEK

5.0 MI N JCT SH 86, Douglas, CO

Built 1981 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 34,000

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

4.2 MI. W. OF US 385, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1966 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 4,600

US 24 ML

Fair

Over: S FK SOUTH PLATTE RVR

0.5 MI SE OF JCT SH 9 E-W, Park, CO

Built 1978 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 3,900

US 50 ML

Fair

Over: S ARKANSAS RIVER

0.1 MI EAST OF JCT SH291, Chaffee, CO

Built 1978 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 5,600

SH 141 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

20.1 MI NW OF URAVAN, Montrose, CO

Built 1958 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 260

SH 62 ML

Fair

Over: DALLAS CREEK

4 MI W OF RIDGWAY, Ouray, CO

Built 1980 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 4,000

US 491 ML

Fair

Over: MONUMENT CREEK

0.3 MI NW OF JCT SH 141 M, Dolores, CO

Built 1958 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 3,200

US 491ML

Fair

Over: SHARPS CREEK

2.4 MILES NW OF CAHONE, Dolores, CO

Built 1937 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 3,400

US 491 ML

Fair

Over: CAHONE CREEK

24.6 MI NW OF JCT US 160, Dolores, CO

Built 1937 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 3,200

US 550 ML

Fair

Over: CASCADE CREEK

30 MI NO OF JCT US 160, San Juan, CO

Built 1949 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 1,900

I 25 ML

Fair

Over: ARROYO

0.5 MI S. OF TRINIDAD, Las Animas, CO

Built 1951 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 16,000

SH 133 ML

Fair

Over: JAY CREEK

2 MI NE OF HOTCHKISS, Delta, CO

Built 1949 Load: 90.4 t ADT: 4,500

US 50 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

2.6 MI E OF JCT SH 96/SH, Pueblo, CO

Built 1976 Load: 90.5 t ADT: 14,000

SH 74 ML

Fair

Over: GAME CROSSING

NEAR BERGEN PARK, Jefferson, CO

Built 1996 Load: 90.8 t ADT: 18,000

County Road 21C

Fair

Over: Larimer Co. Canal No. 2

0.3 Mi N of Co Rd 50, Larimer, CO

Built 1983 Load: 91.2 t ADT: 4,081

CO RD 265

Fair

Over: MUDDY CREEK

1.5 MI N of SH 133, Gunnison, CO

Built 1982 Load: 91.4 t ADT: 201

GALLUP STREET

Fair

Over: LITTLES CREEK

AT PEAKVIEW AVE, Arapahoe, CO

Built 2021 Load: 91.4 t ADT: 4,328

VOYAGER PARKWAY

Fair

Over: BLACK SQUIRREL CREEK

.5 MI N HWY 83/INTERQUEST, El Paso, CO

Built 1988 Load: 91.7 t ADT: 26,529

SABLE BLVD

Fair

Over: HIGHLINE CANAL

0.5 MI S OF 6TH AVE, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1975 Load: 91.9 t ADT: 12,122

YOSEMITE STREET

Fair

Over: WILLOW CREEK

AT INT OF LONE TREE PKWY, Douglas, CO

Built 1985 Load: 92.2 t ADT: 16,337

I 25 ML

Fair

Over: WASH

1 MI N. OF JCT I25 & SH29, El Paso, CO

Built 1990 Load: 92.2 t ADT: 94,000

SH 115 ML

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE

1.5 MI S. OF US 85 ML, El Paso, CO

Built 1990 Load: 92.4 t ADT: 23,000

S. PLATTE RIVER DR

Fair

Over: SANDERSON GULCH

0.1 MI N OF FLORIDA, Denver, CO

Built 2020 Load: 92.7 t ADT: 2,581

County Road 21C

Fair

Over: New Mercer Canal

0.2 Mi N of Co Rd 50, Larimer, CO

Built 1983 Load: 93.9 t ADT: 4,081

SH 96 ML

Fair

Over: PECK CREEK

16.8 MI EAST OF JCT SH 67, Pueblo, CO

Built 1970 Load: 94.0 t ADT: 4,000

BOX CANYON ROAD

Fair

Over: RED MOUNTAIN CREEK

RD TO BOX CANYON PARK, Ouray, CO

Built 1988 Load: 94.2 t ADT: 233

County Road 21

Fair

Over: Wildcat Creek

0.8 Mi No of Co Rd X, Morgan, CO

Built 1998 Load: 94.4 t ADT: 40

SH 21-POWERS BLVD

Fair

Over: SAND CREEK

0.3 MI N PALMER PARK BLVD, El Paso, CO

Built 1987 Load: 94.7 t ADT: 60,000

EL DIENTE ST

Fair

Over: VAN BIBBER CREEK

0.1 M N OF 58TH AVENUE, Jefferson, CO

Built 1999 Load: 94.9 t ADT: 908

I 25 ML

Fair

Over: RTD Pedestrian Underpass

Southmoor PNR, Denver, CO

Built 2003 Load: 95.3 t ADT: 261,000

US 36 ML

Fair

Over: COAL CREEK

9 MI W OF LAST CHANCE, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1990 Load: 95.3 t ADT: 590

MOLINE STREET

Fair

Over: HIGHLINE CANAL

.5 MI N OF ALAMEDA AVE, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1975 Load: 95.7 t ADT: 2,235

I 76 ML

Fair

Over: UPPER PLATTE BEAVER DITC

0.4 MI E OF JCT SH 52, Morgan, CO

Built 1958 Load: 96.6 t ADT: 15,000

SH 71 ML

Fair

Over: TWO MILE CREEK

18 MI NORTH OF JCT SH 14, Weld, CO

Built 1957 Load: 96.9 t ADT: 1,000

SH 59 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

38.3 MI N OF JCT US 34, Phillips, CO

Built 1967 Load: 96.9 t ADT: 220

136TH AVENUE

Fair

Over: SECOND CREEK

50 FT EAST OF US 85, Adams, CO

Built 1996 Load: 96.9 t ADT: 4,016

I 76 ML

Fair

Over: MORGAN CANAL

3.1 MI NE OF JCT US 34-B, Morgan, CO

Built 1959 Load: 96.9 t ADT: 16,000

SH 59 ML

Fair

Over: PATENT CREEK

30.7 MI NO OF JCT US 34, Phillips, CO

Built 1956 Load: 96.9 t ADT: 220

SH 59 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

27.9 MI NO OF JCT US 34, Phillips, CO

Built 1956 Load: 96.9 t ADT: 220

LIPAN ST

Fair

Over: SANDERSON GULCH

AT ARKANSAS AVENUE, Denver, CO

Built 2019 Load: 96.9 t ADT: 1,123

E-470

Fair

Over: Coal Creek Trib.

18.62 MI from I25, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1997 Load: 96.9 t ADT: 39,095

SH 9 ML

Fair

Over: S FK SOUTH PLATTE RVR

0.2 MI S. OF HARTSEL, Park, CO

Built 1966 Load: 96.9 t ADT: 1,100

SH 141 ML

Fair

Over: EAST CREEK

14 MI SW OF WHITEWATER, Mesa, CO

Built 1958 Load: 96.9 t ADT: 540

SH 348 ML

Fair

Over: IRONSTONE CANAL

1.5 MI W of Olathe, Montrose, CO

Built 1930 Load: 96.9 t ADT: 940

US 50 ML EBND

Fair

Over: SIX MILE CREEK

5.6 MI E OF JCT SH 115, Fremont, CO

Built 1976 Load: 96.9 t ADT: 7,000

County Road 55

Fair

Over: Lewis Creek

1.3 Mi N of Co Rd 52, Logan, CO

Built 2004 Load: 96.9 t ADT: 29

County Road 20

Fair

Over: Dry Creek

0.3 Mi E of Co Rd 29, Larimer, CO

Built 1982 Load: 96.9 t ADT: 2,122

Showing 5,101-5,150 of 8,965 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 Colorado's inventory picture to drill to a county or a specific span.

  • Browse counties in Colorado 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. Colorado 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.