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 24.5

Good

Over: I 70 ML

3.3 MI W / HORIZON DRIVE, Mesa, CO

Built 1965 Load: 24.2 t ADT: 1,177

NFSR 496

Good

Over: ENCAMPMENT RIVER

3.7 MI. SE OF HOG PARK CG, Jackson, CO

Built 1967 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 216

NFSR 292

Good

Over: CHALK CREEK

JUST N OF CR 162, Chaffee, CO

Built 1989 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 9

E-470 EB

Good

Over: Happy Canyon Creek

3.26 MI FROM I 25, Douglas, CO

Built 1990 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 24,896

SB E470 RAMP-120TH

Good

Over: Obrian Canal

34.42 MI FROM I25, Adams, CO

Built 2002 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 660

E-470 NB

Good

Over: I76 BNSFRR CAMERON DR

35.44 MI FROM I25, Adams, CO

Built 2001 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 21,177

County Road Y.5

Good

Over: Jackson Lake Outlet Cana

0.4 Mi W of Co Rd 4, Morgan, CO

Built 2016 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 336

County Road 38

Good

Over: New Ish Ditch

0.1 Mi E of Co Rd 3, Weld, CO

Built 1960 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 113

COUNTY ROAD 26

Good

Over: I 70 ML

1.8 MI W OF HORIZON DRIVE, Mesa, CO

Built 1965 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 2,525

HOT SPRINGS RD.

Good

Over: PONCHA CREEK

.2 MI S of US 50, Chaffee, CO

Built 2004 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 154

County Road 82

Good

Over: Boxelder Creek Tributary

0.5 Mi E of Co Rd 15, Larimer, CO

Built 1980 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 363

County Road 25

Good

Over: Peterson Ditch

0.4 Mi. No. of Co. Rd. 32, Sedgwick, CO

Built 1984 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 10

SH 131 ML

Good

Over: EAGLE RIVER

0.7 MI N OF JCT I70, Eagle, CO

Built 2005 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 2,200

COUNTY ROAD 24

Good

Over: I 70 ML

2.3 MI E OF JCT US 6 ML, Mesa, CO

Built 2005 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 13,931

US 50 ML

Good

Over: CEDAR CREEK

3 MI EAST OF MONTROSE, Montrose, CO

Built 1958 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 5,000

NFSR 200

Good

Over: PONCHA CREEK

7.5 MI SSW OF PONCHA SPGS, Saguache, CO

Built 1985 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 33

GRANDVIEW AVENUE

Good

Over: WADSWORTH BYPASS

0.1 MI S OF RALSTON RD, Jefferson, CO

Built 2008 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 1,294

E-470 WB

Good

Over: Happy Canyon Creek

3.26 MI FROM I 25, Douglas, CO

Built 1989 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 26,727

E-470 NB

Good

Over: US85 UPRR FULTON DITCH

37.83 MI FROM I25, Adams, CO

Built 2001 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 19,615

E-470 NB

Good

Over: Big Dry Creek

44.98 MI FROM I25, Adams, CO

Built 2003 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 18,236

E-470 SB

Good

Over: Big Dry Creek

44.98 MI FROM I25, Adams, CO

Built 2001 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 18,466

I 70 ML

Good

Over: CLEAR CREEK

2.0 MI E OF JCT SH 130, Clear Creek, CO

Built 1989 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 47,000

BECKERS LANE

Good

Over: FOUNTAIN CREEK

150 FT N OF MANITOU AVE, El Paso, CO

Built 2021 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 1,622

US 160 RAMP

Good

Over: US 160 ML WILSON GULCH

.5 MI EAST OF HWY 550, La Plata, CO

Built 2010 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 2,685

N SPRING GULCH RD

Good

Over: CLEAR CREEK AR

3.7 MI EAST OF JCT US 40, Clear Creek, CO

Built 1965 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 36,000

RAMP TO SH 470 EBD

Good

Over: BEAR CREEK R

SW CRNR OF MORRISON RD.IN, Jefferson, CO

Built 1989 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 39,500

COUNTY ROAD FF

Good

Over: OTERO CANAL

.1 MI E OF CR 14, Otero, CO

Built 1966 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 154

US 550 ML

Good

Over: CHAFFEE GULCH

8.7 MI N OF JCT SH 62, Ouray, CO

Built 1975 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 8,300

County Road 33

Good

Over: Trout Creek

.3 Mi NE of CR 179, Routt, CO

Built 2010 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 277

COMM. VEH. ROAD

Good

Over: RTD COMMUTER LINE

S OF TERMINAL BLDG, Denver, CO

Built 2017 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 1,749

E-470 SB

Good

Over: I-70

20.50 MI FROM I25, Arapahoe, CO

Built 2006 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 18,260

E-470 SB

Good

Over: I76 BNSFRR CAMERON DR

35.44 MI FROM I25, Adams, CO

Built 2001 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 21,940

SH 115 ML

Good

Over: DRAW

11.3 MI S / SH83 CO SPGS, El Paso, CO

Built 1960 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 8,900

US 50 ML EBND

Good

Over: EIGHT MILE CREEK

1.0 MI E OF JCT SH 67, Fremont, CO

Built 1976 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 7,000

I 70 ML

Good

Over: DRAW

7.2 MI E OF JCT SH 65 ML, Mesa, CO

Built 1959 Load: 25.0 t ADT: 17,000

LIGGETT ROAD

Good

Over: BRANCH OF PLUM CREEK

0.2 MI W OF I-25, Douglas, CO

Built 1988 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 2,833

SH 9 ML

Good

Over: BLUE RIVER

4.1 MI NO OF BRECKENRIDGE, Summit, CO

Built 2013 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 21,000

S JACKSON PL

Good

Over: HIGH LINE CANAL

0.2 MI S OF SH88, Arapahoe, CO

Built 2017 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 6,503

BUCKLEY ROAD

Good

Over: OBRIAN CANAL

0.2 MILE N OF 120TH AVE, Adams, CO

Built 1990 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 12,176

E-470 NB

Good

Over: I-70

20.50 MI FROM I25, Arapahoe, CO

Built 2006 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 18,345

I 70 ML EBND

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

2.5 Mi E of RIFLE, Garfield, CO

Built 1975 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 10,500

I 70 ML WBND

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

2.5 MI E of RIFLE, Garfield, CO

Built 1975 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 10,500

I 25 ML

Good

Over: DRAW

8.2 MI NO OF JCT SH 165 M, Pueblo, CO

Built 1932 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 15,000

JORDAN ROAD

Good

Over: NEWLIN GULCH

0.1 MI S OF LINCOLN AVE., Douglas, CO

Built 1995 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 23,638

CANYONSIDE BLVD

Good

Over: LOCAL DRAINAGE

JUST N OF WESTBRIDGE, Douglas, CO

Built 2019 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 2,104

WBND ACADEMY BLVD

Good

Over: RAMP D TO WBND ACADEMY

0.8 MI W OF I-25, El Paso, CO

Built 2012 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 22,809

26.5 Road

Good

Over: GRAND VALLEY CANAL

JUST N OF RD F.50, Mesa, CO

Built 2010 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 3,572

CO RD 43

Good

Over: TOMICHI CREEK

0.1 MI S of SH 50, Gunnison, CO

Built 2013 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 80

County Road 80

Good

Over: North Poudre Canal

1.1 Mi N of US Hwy 287, Larimer, CO

Built 1990 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 123

County Road 4

Good

Over: Antelope Creek

100 Ft. N of Co Rd D, Morgan, CO

Built 1991 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 89

Showing 5,601-5,650 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.