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 45.5

Good

Over: NO NAME DITCH

1.6 MILES S OF DEBEQUE, Mesa, CO

Built 2008 Load: 30.3 t ADT: 872

County Road 74

Good

Over: Elkhead Creek

2 Mi E of County Rd 76, Routt, CO

Built 1997 Load: 30.4 t ADT: 5

MARK DABLING BLVD

Good

Over: SOUTH DOUGLAS CREEK

0.5 MI N OF FILLMORE, El Paso, CO

Built 1984 Load: 30.4 t ADT: 2,007

US 6 ML

Good

Over: MAYHEM GULCH

1.8 MI E OF JCT SH 119, Jefferson, CO

Built 1950 Load: 30.4 t ADT: 7,500

County Road 24

Good

Over: Riverside Canal

1.0 Mi N of Co Rd W, Morgan, CO

Built 1987 Load: 30.4 t ADT: 476

COUNTY ROAD 46

Good

Over: SAGUACHE CREEK

.6 MI S OF CR 2, Saguache, CO

Built 1990 Load: 30.4 t ADT: 58

Morrow Dam Road

Good

Over: Cimarron River

Approx .1 mi E Cimarron, Montrose, CO

Built 1970 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 150

I 76 ML EBND

Good

Over: US 385 ML

JULESBURG INTERCHANGE, Sedgwick, CO

Built 1969 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 3,600

US 224 ML-70TH AVE

Good

Over: I 25 ML

70TH BTWN 76 AND 36 INTCH, Adams, CO

Built 1991 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 20,000

E-470 NB

Good

Over: Riverdale RD and Ditch

39.51 MI FROM I25, Adams, CO

Built 2001 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 18,518

ROONEY ROAD

Good

Over: SB C470 TO WB I70 RMP

I70 RAMP AT ROONEY RD., Jefferson, CO

Built 2004 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 2,615

Rawhide Flats Road

Good

Over: Rawhide Creek

Just N of CR 15 and CR 84, Larimer, CO

Built 2008 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 233

Rawhide Flats Road

Good

Over: Wire Draw

.8 Mi N of CR15 and CR84, Larimer, CO

Built 2008 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 204

ACOMA AVE.

Good

Over: FT. MORGAN CANAL

0.3 MI E of S WEST ST, Morgan, CO

Built 2016 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 1,235

SH 82 ML

Good

Over: ROARING FORK RIVER

NEAR BASALT, Eagle, CO

Built 1987 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 21,000

US 550 ML

Good

Over: MINERAL CREEK

SILVERTON, San Juan, CO

Built 2011 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 1,900

I 76 ML

Good

Over: DRAW

18.6 MI NE OF JCT SH 52, Weld, CO

Built 1958 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 14,000

US 36 ML

Good

Over: DRAW

6 MI E OF JCT I 70, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1961 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 1,100

County Road Y

Good

Over: Riverside Canal

0.7 Mi W of Co Rd 1, Morgan, CO

Built 2002 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 76

MESA AVENUE

Good

Over: BESSEMER DITCH

IN PUEBLO, Pueblo, CO

Built 1903 Load: 30.6 t ADT: 992

IRR# COUNTY RD 213

Good

Over: LA POSTA CANYON

5.9 MI NW OF SH 550, La Plata, CO

Built 1997 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 1,225

E-470 SB

Good

Over: Smith Road & UPRR

21.01 MI FROM I25, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1997 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 17,890

I 225 ML

Good

Over: TOLLGATE CREEK

IN AURORA, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1965 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 140,000

US 36 ML

Good

Over: DRAW

1.81 MI E OF JCT I 70, Adams, CO

Built 1990 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 1,500

Rocky Mtn. Avenue

Good

Over: Farmers Independent Ditc

220 Ft. N of U.S. Hwy 34, Larimer, CO

Built 1994 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 15,405

COUNTY ROAD 7

Good

Over: MONTROSE AND DELTA CANAL

JUST W OF SH 550, Montrose, CO

Built 1994 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 115

YOSEMITE STREET NB

Good

Over: TODD CREEK

0.6 MILE S OF 160TH AVE, Adams, CO

Built 1998 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 835

112TH AVENUE

Good

Over: E FK LITTLE MUDDY CREEK

0.1 M E OF DETER WINTERS, Adams, CO

Built 2002 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 5

US 85 ML

Good

Over: SH 52 ML

IN FORT LUPTON, Weld, CO

Built 1974 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 24,000

EB76 RMP TO I25 NB

Good

Over: SH 53 ML

.4 MI W OF JCT I76 &, Adams, CO

Built 1993 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 98,000

E-470 SB

Good

Over: Riverdale RD and Ditch

39.51 MI FROM I25, Adams, CO

Built 2001 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 18,798

MILLER RANCH ROAD

Good

Over: EAGLE RIVER

0.1 MI N OF U.S 6, Eagle, CO

Built 2004 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 3,887

US 6 ML

Good

Over: CLEAR CREEK

1.5 MI E OF JCT I70, Clear Creek, CO

Built 1984 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 5,600

VENETUCCI BLVD

Good

Over: FISHERS CANYON CREEK

N. OF ACADEMY, El Paso, CO

Built 2019 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 2,573

I 70 ML EBND

Good

Over: COUNTY ROAD 59

11.5 MI. E OF JCT SH. 385, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1969 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 4,950

SH 133 ML

Good

Over: N FK GUNNISON RIVER

1.5 MI NE OF SOMERSET, Gunnison, CO

Built 1982 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 1,200

US 50 ML

Good

Over: DRAW

1.1 MI E OF JCT SH 231, Pueblo, CO

Built 1976 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 8,600

COUNTY ROAD 6

Good

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

1.8 MILES SOUTH OF ROAD D, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1992 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 35

COUNTY ROAD A

Good

Over: SANTANTA CANAL

JUST W OF CR 41.2, Kiowa, CO

Built 1991 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 20

SH 12 ML

Good

Over: CUCHARAS RIVER

SW EDGE OF LA VETA, Huerfano, CO

Built 1985 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 1,600

County Road 35

Good

Over: Evans Ditch No. 2

.6 Mi N of CR 38, Weld, CO

Built 2010 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 352

COUNTY RD 173

Good

Over: BRANCH W. BIJOU CREEK

.2 MI SOUTH OF US36, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1988 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 237

SYLVAN LAKE RD

Good

Over: BRUSH CREEK

JUST SOUTH OF US6, Eagle, CO

Built 2001 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 6,966

SH 470 ML EBND

Good

Over: BIG DRY CREEK

1.96 MI E OF JCT SH 177, Douglas, CO

Built 1984 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 49,000

SH 470 ML WBND

Good

Over: BIG DRY CREEK

3.2 M W OF JCT I25, Douglas, CO

Built 1984 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 49,000

Airport Road

Good

Over: St. Vrain River

600 Ft. S of 9th Ave., Boulder, CO

Built 2006 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 13,131

County Road 6

Good

Over: Lupton Bottom Ditch

0.8 Mi E of Co Rd 23, Weld, CO

Built 1989 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 3,861

County Road 54

Good

Over: Rock Creek

0.20 Mi E of Co Rd D, Yuma, CO

Built 1992 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 372

PEORIA STREET

Good

Over: UPPR SMITH RD 37TH AVE

0.2 MI S OF E 39TH AVE, Denver, CO

Built 2014 Load: 31.0 t ADT: 32,908

RAMP TO I 25 SBND

Good

Over: CLEAR CREEK R

.2 MI N I76; .1 MI W I25, Adams, CO

Built 1992 Load: 31.0 t ADT: 121,000

Showing 6,001-6,050 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.