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

COUNTY ROAD 19

Good

Over: I 70 ML

14.5 MI E OF FLAGLER, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1964 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 17

COUNTY ROAD 23

Good

Over: I 70 ML

16.4 MI E OF FLAGLER, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1964 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 42

COUNTY ROAD 25

Good

Over: I 70 ML

20.5 MI. E. OF FLAGLER, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1964 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 21

COUNTY ROAD 45

Good

Over: I 70 ML

3 MI. W. OF JCT. US 385, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1966 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 112

SH 348 ML

Good

Over: IRONSTONE CANAL

2.7 MI W of Olathe, Montrose, CO

Built 1982 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 940

COUNTY ROAD E

Good

Over: COLT DITCH

2.1 MI E OF SH 96, Kiowa, CO

Built 1988 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 10

I 25 ACCESS ROAD

Good

Over: SCROGGS ARROYO AR

NEAR I25 EXIT 77 (EAST), Pueblo, CO

Built 1964 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 121

ARIZONA DRIVE

Good

Over: SKUNK CREEK

CITY STREET -ARIZONA DR, San Miguel, CO

Built 2019 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 88

County Road 18

Good

Over: N. Sterling Inlet Canal

25 Ft. W. of Co. Rd. 25, Logan, CO

Built 1987 Load: 21.9 t ADT: 202

NFSR 443.1

Good

Over: MIDDLE FORK ELK RIVER

0.2 MI. S. OF NFSR 400.1, Routt, CO

Built 1975 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 50

US 287 ML

Good

Over: PED/BIKE TRAIL

0.1 MI S OF FTHILLS PKWY, Larimer, CO

Built 1948 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 37,000

US 285 ML

Good

Over: KENNEDY GULCH RD

1/2 MI W OF CONIFER, Jefferson, CO

Built 2002 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 26,000

County Road 121

Good

Over: S.Fk Williams Fork River

0.42 Mi S of Moff Co Line, Rio Blanco, CO

Built 1984 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 32

RAMP TO I 70 EBND

Good

Over: SOUTH PLATTE RIVER

DENVER @ Washington St., Denver, CO

Built 2001 Load: 22.1 t ADT: 73,000

US 285 ML

Good

Over: N FK SOUTH PLATTE RVR

0.2 MI S OF BAILY SCHOOLS, Park, CO

Built 1995 Load: 22.1 t ADT: 5,900

I 25 ML SBND

Good

Over: SAND CREEK

14 MI. N. OF PUEBLO, El Paso, CO

Built 1958 Load: 22.1 t ADT: 17,500

N MESA RD (6450RD)

Good

Over: CEDAR CREEK

0.4 MI NE of SAN JUAN, Montrose, CO

Built 2005 Load: 22.1 t ADT: 4,087

I 25 ML NBND

Good

Over: FLOOD DRAINAGE

2 MI N OF JCT SH 14, Larimer, CO

Built 1950 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 19,000

I 25 ML NBND/RAMP

Good

Over: FLOOD DRAINAGE

2.3 MI N OF JCT SH 14, Larimer, CO

Built 1950 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 14,000

COLORADO BLVD

Good

Over: HIGHLINE CANAL

0.30 MI N OF QUINCY AVE, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1981 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 3,916

RAMP/EVANS AVE SE

Good

Over: RAMP TO EVANS AVE[SE] R

2.06 MI N OF JCT US 285, Denver, CO

Built 1986 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 76,000

BROOK VALLEY WAY

Good

Over: LITTLE DRY CREEK

.1 MI S OF ORCHARD RD, Arapahoe, CO

Built 2000 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 69

County Road 68

Good

Over: Sanborn Draw

0.2 MI East of Co Rd 83, Weld, CO

Built 2009 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 431

County Road 21

Good

Over: Dove Creek Canal Reach 1

Yellow Jacket Colorado, Montezuma, CO

Built 1985 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 20

E-470 NB

Good

Over: Second Creek

37.07 MI FROM I25, Adams, CO

Built 2001 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 32,000

PEYTON HIGHWAY

Good

Over: W FK BLACK SQUIRREL CK

2.0 MI SOUTH OF SH 94, El Paso, CO

Built 1994 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 413

North Shields St.

Good

Over: Dry Creek

0.3 Mi N of US Hwy 287, Larimer, CO

Built 1987 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 4,254

Kechter Road

Good

Over: Fossil Creek Res. Inlet

.1 Mi E Strauss Cabin Rd, Larimer, CO

Built 1988 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 8,732

I 25 ML

Good

Over: DRAW

16.6 MI NO OF WALSENBURG, Huerfano, CO

Built 1948 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 14,000

Route 5

Good

Over: Drainage channel

50 ft N of junc w/ Rte 4, El Paso, CO

Built 1984 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 100

SHOUP ROAD

Good

Over: KETTLE CREEK

.75 MI W OF BLACK FS ROAD, El Paso, CO

Built 1989 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 4,226

County Road 28

Good

Over: East Douglas Creek

0.2 Mi E of Co Rd 27, Rio Blanco, CO

Built 1983 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 23

COUNTY ROAD G49

Good

Over: FALL CREEK

8.2 MI S OF PLACERVILLE, San Miguel, CO

Built 1995 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 14

92ND LANE

Good

Over: FARMERS HIGHLINE CANAL

JUST N OF 92 AVENUE, Jefferson, CO

Built 1995 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 609

MILITARY RES BNDRY

Good

Over: Drainage channel

500 YDS S RTE 5, El Paso, CO

Built 1984 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD 100

Good

Over: EMPIRE CANAL

9.5 MI SW OF ALAMOSA, Alamosa, CO

Built 1991 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 1,052

FDR 578

Good

Over: DOLORES RIVER

6.0 MI NNE OF RICO, Dolores, CO

Built 1955 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 69

County Road 3

Good

Over: Williams Fork River

4.9 mi South of US Hwy 40, Grand, CO

Built 2019 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 569

COUNTY ROAD EE22

Good

Over: SAN MIGUEL RIVER

1.6 MI SE OF URAVAN, Montrose, CO

Built 2016 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 11

I 76 ML WBND

Good

Over: CLEAR CREEK

.3 MI EAST OF JCT SH 95, Adams, CO

Built 1985 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 39,500

I 76 ML

Good

Over: UP RR

1.2 MI NE OF JCT I 270, Adams, CO

Built 2011 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 84,000

SH 83 ML

Good

Over: CHERRY CREEK

4.5 MI S OF FRANKTWN SH86, Douglas, CO

Built 1948 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 7,900

SH 16 ML

Good

Over: FOUNTAIN CREEK

JUST E. OF SECURITY INT., El Paso, CO

Built 2009 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 37,000

US 50 ML

Good

Over: OLD SH 227 ML SALT CREE

LEAVE PUEBLO, Pueblo, CO

Built 2003 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 23,000

US 385 ML

Good

Over: WOLF CREEK

IN GRANADA, Prowers, CO

Built 2003 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 510

SH 69 ML

Good

Over: TURKEY CREEK

18.8 MI NW OF JCT I 25, Huerfano, CO

Built 2012 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 740

41ST AVENUE

Good

Over: LENA GULCH

JUST E OF KIPLING, Jefferson, CO

Built 1981 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 411

McCarthyBlvd/CR922

Good

Over: BESSEMER DITCH

JUST SOUTH OF SH 96, Pueblo, CO

Built 1990 Load: 22.8 t ADT: 833

County Road 68

Good

Over: Crow Creek

0.15 Mi E of Co Rd 61, Weld, CO

Built 1965 Load: 22.8 t ADT: 1,051

SH 82 WBND ML

Good

Over: DRAW

NEAR ASPEN, Pitkin, CO

Built 2003 Load: 22.9 t ADT: 21,000

Showing 5,501-5,550 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.