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

I70 ML EBND

Good

Over: SIMBA RUN UNDERPASS

1.2 MI W of EXIT 176, Eagle, CO

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 14,500

I 70 ML WBND

Good

Over: POLK CREEK

4.7 MI W VAIL PASS SUMMIT, Eagle, CO

Built 2023 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 23,000

US 85 ML NBND

Good

Over: DAD CLARK GULCH

IN LITTLETON, Arapahoe, CO

Built 2013 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 22,000

US 85 ML SBND

Good

Over: DAD CLARK GULCH

IN LITTLETON, Arapahoe, CO

Built 2004 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 22,000

US 85 TO C470 RAMP

Good

Over: ERICKSON BLVD.

LITTLETON, Douglas, CO

Built 2012 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 81,000

SH 88 ML FEDERAL

Good

Over: US 6 ML

FEDERAL / 6 IN DENVER, Denver, CO

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 35,000

US 6 ML

Good

Over: BNSF RR and US 6 RAMP

EAST EDGE OF I-25 INT., Denver, CO

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 136,000

US 6 RAMP

Good

Over: EB C-D ROAD

EBND ON RAMP, Jefferson, CO

Built 2015 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 136,000

US 40 ML EBND

Good

Over: SAND CREEK

2.6 MI E OF I225, Arapahoe, CO

Built 2013 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 11,000

US 40 ML WBND

Good

Over: SAND CREEK

2.6 MI E OF I225, Arapahoe, CO

Built 2013 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 11,000

I 25 ML

Good

Over: SH 88 ML EAST

ARAPAHOE RD I25, Arapahoe, CO

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 212,000

US 85 ML

Good

Over: SAND CREEK

2.9 MI. N. OF JCT S.H. 67, Douglas, CO

Built 2022 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 16,600

SH 67 ML

Good

Over: LOY GULCH

1.4 MI N OF WOODLAND PARK, Teller, CO

Built 2011 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,700

US 24 ML

Good

Over: DRAW / STOCK PASS

9.8 MI NE OF JCT US 285, Chaffee, CO

Built 2008 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,700

US 24 ML EBND

Good

Over: SAND CREEK

EAST OF MURRAY BLVD, El Paso, CO

Built 1975 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,000

US24 ML

Good

Over: WALDO CANYON

.6 MI W OF JCT 24 BUS. RT, El Paso, CO

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 23,000

OLD RANCH ROAD

Good

Over: SH 21 ML

1.3 MI SE of INTERQUEST, El Paso, CO

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,041

I25 ML NBND

Good

Over: MARK DABLING/UPRR

IN COLORADO SPRINGS, El Paso, CO

Built 2008 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 57,000

RAMP TO I 25 NBND

Good

Over: FOUNTAIN CREEK

IN COLORADO SPRINGS, El Paso, CO

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 58,000

SH 94 ML

Good

Over: DRAW

7.4 MI E OF JCT US 24, El Paso, CO

Built 1983 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 9,900

SH 115 ML

Good

Over: LITTLE FOUNTAIN CREEK

CO-115 7 Mi S of I-25, El Paso, CO

Built 2004 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,000

US 85 ML

Good

Over: I25 ML

AT JCT I25 ML, El Paso, CO

Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,000

SH 120 ML

Good

Over: RR ARKANSAS RIVER

0.3 MI E OF PORTLAND, Fremont, CO

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 190

SH 67 ML

Good

Over: ADOBE CREEK

5.5 Mi S of Florence, Fremont, CO

Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,300

SH 96 ML

Good

Over: DRAW

1.1 MI CROWLEY-KIOWA, Kiowa, CO

Built 2011 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 420

Taft Avenue

Good

Over: Big Barnes Ditch

200 ft N of W 10th St, Larimer, CO

Built 2019 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 19,446

S Railroad Ave

Good

Over: Flood plain

0.6 mi N of CR 18, Larimer, CO

Built 2019 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,443

County Rd 41G

Good

Over: N. Fork Big Thompson R.

N of CR 43, Larimer, CO

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 674

CR 50 (Willox Ln)

Good

Over: Larimer & Weld Canal

0.2 Mi E of Co Rd 17, Larimer, CO

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,416

County Road 17

Good

Over: Riverside Canal

100 ft. N of Co Rd U, Morgan, CO

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 246

US160 ML

Good

Over: Lake Fork

4.7 MI SW of MIN-RIO G CL, Mineral, CO

Built 2010 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,900

SH 116 ML

Good

Over: N FK WILD HORSE CREEK

7 MI E OF JCT US 287, Baca, CO

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 200

US 350 ML

Good

Over: PURGATOIRE RIVER

6.6 MI NE of JCT US160, Las Animas, CO

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 730

US 550 ML

Good

Over: GULCH A

0.4 MI S OF US160, La Plata, CO

Built 2023 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,800

EB COTTONWOOD DR

Good

Over: CHERRY CREEK

0.5 MI E OF PARKER RD, Douglas, CO

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 16,005

W. 11TH STREET

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

0.2 Mi E of Adee Ave, Pueblo, CO

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 709

County Road 38

Good

Over: Evans Ditch No. 2

0.7 Mi E of Co Rd 31, Weld, CO

Built 2015 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 107

County Road 49

Good

Over: Gilmore Ditch

0.1 Mi N of Co Rd 52, Weld, CO

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,821

County Road 49

Good

Over: Latham Ditch

100 Ft N of Co Rd 54, Weld, CO

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,819

Jefferson Ave.

Good

Over: Boxelder Creek

West of 3rd Avenue, Larimer, CO

Built 2005 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,596

I 76 ML EBND

Good

Over: UP RR

0.2 MI E OF JCT US 85, Adams, CO

Built 2016 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 16,500

I 70 ML EBND

Good

Over: GRIZZLY CREEK

3.4 MI E OF GLENWD. SPGS., Garfield, CO

Built 1986 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 8,500

MAIN STREET

Good

Over: RAILROAD AND LRT

JUST E OF RIO GRANDE ST, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1985 Load: 32.5 t ADT: 12,746

IRR BIA RTE 159

Good

Over: PINE RIVER CANAL

3 KM S 10 KM E OF IGNACIO, La Plata, CO

Built 1998 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 10

COUNTY ROAD 5800

Good

Over: IRONSTONE CANAL

.15 MI S OF SH348, Montrose, CO

Built 1992 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 62

SH 392 ML

Good

Over: GREELEY CANAL NO 2

9.1 MI E OF JCT SH 257, Weld, CO

Built 1969 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 6,500

YORK ST

Good

Over: EAST HARVARD GULCH

YORK ST N OF VASSAR AVE, Denver, CO

Built 1967 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 735

SH 74 ML

Good

Over: TROUBLESOME CREEK

WEST EDGE OF KITTREDGE, Jefferson, CO

Built 1959 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 6,000

County Road 68

Good

Over: Harmony No. 1 Canal

At Junct. of Co Rd 95/68, Logan, CO

Built 2001 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 13

SH 370 ML

Good

Over: EMPIRE CANAL

5.9 MI E OF JCT SH 15, Rio Grande, CO

Built 1955 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 330

Showing 6,201-6,250 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.