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

Sheridan Boulevard

Good

Over: Local Drainage

0.6 Mi N of 120th Ave, Broomfield, CO

Built 1987 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 24,570

Zuni Street

Good

Over: Ped Undrpss/Plaster Rsrv

0.2 mi N of 136th Ave, Broomfield, CO

Built 2002 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,638

Wildwood Road

Good

Over: Bear Canyon Creek

150 Ft W of Bear Mtn. Rd, Boulder, CO

Built 1970 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 242

48th CT

Good

Over: S. Goose Creek

30 Ft N of Pearl Parkway, Boulder, CO

Built 1986 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 641

Mohawk Drive

Good

Over: Bear Crk and Bike Path

0.25 Mi No of Baseline Rd, Boulder, CO

Built 1996 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,707

Aurora Avenue

Good

Over: Gregory Creek

15 Ft. W of 6th Street, Boulder, CO

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 226

27th Street

Good

Over: Goose Creek

50 ft N of Mapleton Ave, Boulder, CO

Built 2001 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 201

34th Street

Good

Over: Wonderland Creek

40 ft S. of Iris Ave, Boulder, CO

Built 2018 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,200

Gilpin Drive

Good

Over: Bear Canyon Creek

350 ft S of Evans Dr, Boulder, CO

Built 1997 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 281

Valmont Road

Good

Over: Elmers Twomile Creek

400 ft W of 28th, Boulder, CO

Built 2010 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 10,720

48th Street

Good

Over: Goose Creek

Just N. of Pearl St, Boulder, CO

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 664

BRIGHTON ROAD

Good

Over: SOUTHERN OUTFALL DRAINAG

.2 MI S OF BROMLEY LANE, Adams, CO

Built 2004 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,620

168th Avenue

Good

Over: Speer Canal

1.1 Miles West of I-76, Adams, CO

Built 2023 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 8,798

I25/CNTR LOAD BUS

Good

Over: PEDESTRIAN UNDERPASS

1.0 MI N OF JCT US 34, Larimer, CO

Built 2021 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 34,500

US 6 ML

Good

Over: SOUTH PLATTE DITCH

16.2 MI NO OF JCT I-76, Washington, CO

Built 1926 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,000

CASTLE OAK DRIVE

Good

Over: MCMURDO GULCH

0.1 MI S OF JUNIPER PLACE, Douglas, CO

Built 2022 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,289

PLUM CREEK PARKWAY

Good

Over: WILDLIFE CROSSING

0.6 MI E OF LAKE GULCH RD, Douglas, CO

Built 2009 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,195

TIMBER MILL PKWY

Good

Over: EAST PLUM CREEK

0.6 MI SE OF US 85, Douglas, CO

Built 2022 Load: 32.7 t

N MEADOWS PARKWAY

Good

Over: EAST PLUM CREEK

0.1 MI S OF US 85, Douglas, CO

Built 2015 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 13,877

EASTER AVENUE

Good

Over: BIG DRY CREEK

.5 M EAST OF UNIVERSITY, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1971 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,332

COUNTY ROAD 371

Good

Over: ARKANSAS RIVER

1.6 MI N OF MAIN STREET, Chaffee, CO

Built 1987 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 487

56TH AVE

Good

Over: SAND CREEK

JUST E OF DAHLIA STREET, Adams, CO

Built 1981 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 20,316

88TH AVENUE

Good

Over: SECOND CREEK

.6 MI W OF TOWER ROAD, Adams, CO

Built 2004 Load: 32.7 t

81ST AVENUE

Good

Over: TRIB TO SECOND CREEK

0.1 MI W OF TOWER RD, Adams, CO

Built 1995 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,842

COUNTY ROAD 10

Good

Over: ALAMOSA RIVER

.6 MI N OF SH 15, Conejos, CO

Built 1989 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 102

COUNTY ROAD 28

Good

Over: CONEJOS RIVER DIVERSION

.6 MI N OF CR X, Conejos, CO

Built 2024 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 60

MAROON AVENUE

Good

Over: COAL CREEK

IN CITY OF CRESTED BUTTE, Gunnison, CO

Built 1992 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 768

21ST STREET

Good

Over: BEAR CREEK

JUST S OF RIO GRANDE ST, El Paso, CO

Built 1957 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 11,188

CIMARRON STREET

Good

Over: FOUNTAIN CREEK

0.1 MI E OF I-25, El Paso, CO

Built 2017 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 16,597

CIMARRON STREET

Good

Over: UP RR/CONEJOS ST

0.2 MI E OF I25, El Paso, CO

Built 2009 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 16,597

BROOKSIDE STREET

Good

Over: CHEYENNE CREEK

0.1 MI E OF TEJON, El Paso, CO

Built 1976 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,260

NEVADA AVENUE

Good

Over: FOUNTAIN CREEK

JUST N OF I-25, El Paso, CO

Built 2003 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 28,277

NEVADA AVE

Good

Over: PEDESTRIAN UNDERPASS

.6 MI N OF AUSTIN BLUFFS, El Paso, CO

Built 2009 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 36,709

AUSTIN BLUFFS PKWY

Good

Over: UNION BLVD/TGAP BASIN

AUSTIN BLUFFS PKWY/UNION, El Paso, CO

Built 2009 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 46,425

RAMP TO EB

Good

Over: TEMPLETON GAP FLOODWAY

AUSTIN BLUFFS PKWY/UNION, El Paso, CO

Built 2009 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,256

CHELTON ROAD

Good

Over: SPRING CREEK

0.3 MI N OF FOUNTAIN BLVD, El Paso, CO

Built 1972 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,421

CHELTON ROAD

Good

Over: LOCAL DRAINAGE

0.1 MI NORTH OF HANCOCK, El Paso, CO

Built 2007 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,369

PALMER PARK BLVD

Good

Over: WEST FORK SAND CREEK

0.25 MI E OF ACADEMY BLVD, El Paso, CO

Built 1999 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,784

FOREST MEADOWS AVE

Good

Over: LOCAL DRAINAGE

JUST E OF KIANA DRIVE, El Paso, CO

Built 2015 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,732

MARKSHEFFEL RD

Good

Over: LOCAL DRAINAGE

1 MI S of BRADLEY RD, El Paso, CO

Built 2017 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,226

COUNTY ROAD 15

Good

Over: CULEBRA EASTDALE CANAL

JUST N OF CR P.7 AND 14.6, Costilla, CO

Built 1990 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 41

EAST 7TH STREET

Good

Over: UNNAMED DRAINAGE

EAST OF L WAY, Montezuma, CO

Built 2005 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,316

MARKET ST

Good

Over: CHERRY CREEK

MARKET ST AT SPEER BLVD, Denver, CO

Built 1985 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 16,876

STOUT ST

Good

Over: CHERRY CREEK

STOUT AT SPEER BLVD, Denver, CO

Built 1985 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,674

GRANT ST

Good

Over: CHERRY CREEK

GRANT ST AT SPEER BLVD, Denver, CO

Built 1986 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,732

LOGAN ST

Good

Over: CHERRY CREEK

LOGAN AT SPEER BLVD, Denver, CO

Built 1985 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 8,235

ARKINS CT

Good

Over: LOCAL DRAINAGE

ARKINS CT N OF 38TH ST, Denver, CO

Built 1962 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,724

SH 64 ML

Good

Over: YELLOW CREEK

26 MI E OF RANGELY, Rio Blanco, CO

Built 1997 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 670

SH 131 ML

Good

Over: YAMPA RIVER

9.2 MI NO OF JCT SH 134, Routt, CO

Built 1989 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,500

CHERRY CK DR

Good

Over: STORM DRAINAGE

JUST E OF MONACO PKWY, Denver, CO

Built 1995 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,921

Showing 6,301-6,350 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.