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

US 285 ML

Good

Over: FARMERS UNION CANAL

0.5 MI NO OF JCT SH 112 M, Saguache, CO

Built 1994 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,600

US 287 ML

Good

Over: SOUTH MULE CREEK

18.7 MI S OF LAMAR, Prowers, CO

Built 1999 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,000

Canyon Creek Dr.

Good

Over: Entrance Creek

.5 MI N of S Broadway, Mesa, CO

Built 2023 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 103

COUNTY ROAD 34.6

Good

Over: GOVT. HIGHLINE CANAL

0.18 MI N OF COUNTY RD G, Mesa, CO

Built 1992 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 27

COUNTY ROAD 36

Good

Over: ORCHARD MESA CANAL NO. 1

0.1 MI N OF RD E.25, Mesa, CO

Built 2003 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 214

COUNTY ROAD 4

Good

Over: WEST SALT CREEK

2.0 MI NW OF CR S, Mesa, CO

Built 2010 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 25

COUNTY ROAD 6.5

Good

Over: GOVT. HIGHLINE CANAL

.5 MI N OF RD S, Mesa, CO

Built 1988 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5

COUNTY ROAD G.7

Good

Over: PRICE DITCH

.1 MI E OF RD 36.30, Mesa, CO

Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 650

Birch Street

Good

Over: Loutsenhizer Canal

0.1 Mi E of S Hillcrest, Montrose, CO

Built 2022 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 64

SH 112 ML

Good

Over: RIO GRANDE OVERFLOW

0.6 MI N OF JCT US 160, Rio Grande, CO

Built 1947 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,800

SH 112 ML

Good

Over: MCLEAN DITCH

5.5 MI NE OF JCT US 160, Rio Grande, CO

Built 1947 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,800

SH 89 ML

Good

Over: NORTH BEAR CREEK

8.6 MI NO OF JCT SH 116, Prowers, CO

Built 2002 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 130

ACOMA STREET

Good

Over: FARMERS HIGHLINE CA

.8 MI N OF 104TH AVENUE, Adams, CO

Built 1960 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 126

NWP WB

Good

Over: WB Dillon Road

5.59 MI FROM I-25, Broomfield, CO

Built 2002 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 12,000

US160 ML

Good

Over: MCCABE CREEK

San Juan St & S 6th St, Archuleta, CO

Built 2019 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 16,600

COUNTY ROAD 31

Good

Over: HORSE CREEK

1.6 MI N OF CR MM, Otero, CO

Built 1972 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 272

CANAL ROAD

Good

Over: FORT LYON CANAL SLUICE

IN CITY OF NORTH LA JUNTA, Otero, CO

Built 1970 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 238

COUNTY ROAD 24

Good

Over: DALLAS CREEK

3.2 MI W OF US 550, Ouray, CO

Built 1999 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 399

7TH AVE

Good

Over: UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER

IN CITY OF OURAY, Ouray, CO

Built 1992 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 959

US 550 ML

Good

Over: GULCH B

0.3 MI S OF US160, La Plata, CO

Built 2023 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,800

US 550 ML

Good

Over: WILSON GULCH/PED PATH

US160/550 Interchange, La Plata, CO

Built 2010 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,207

US 160 ML

Good

Over: DRAW

6.1 MI E OF JCT I 25, Las Animas, CO

Built 1968 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,700

US 160 ML

Good

Over: SALT CREEK

18.1 MI E OF JCT US 350, Las Animas, CO

Built 1949 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 170

COUNTY ROAD 10SW4

Good

Over: N FK SOUTH PLATTE RIVER

N OF SHAWNEE AND US 285, Park, CO

Built 1960 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 28

COUNTY ROAD 77

Good

Over: TARRYALL CREEK

AT TARRYALL RES OUTLET, Park, CO

Built 2011 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 170

HESS ROAD WB

Good

Over: CHERRY CREEK

0.5 MI W OF PARKER RD, Douglas, CO

Built 2008 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 10,120

HESS ROAD EB

Good

Over: CHERRY CREEK

.5 MI W. OF PARKER RD., Douglas, CO

Built 2014 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 11,038

PINE LANE

Good

Over: CHERRY CREEK

0.4 MI W OF PARKER RD, Douglas, CO

Built 2008 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 17,155

COUNTY ROAD 4

Good

Over: FRYING PAN RIVER

AT INLET TO REUDI RESERVO, Pitkin, CO

Built 1970 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 241

CR105 (NICHOLS RD)

Good

Over: ATSF/DRGW RR

JUST S OF BELLA CASA DR, Pueblo, CO

Built 1968 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,932

West 31st ST

Good

Over: WILD HORSE CREEK

0.2 MI EAST OF SH45, Pueblo, CO

Built 2005 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 566

CYPRESS ST.

Good

Over: BESSEMER DITCH

CORNER OF BAYSTATE/CYPRES, Pueblo, CO

Built 1965 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 158

NEWMAN AVE.

Good

Over: BESSEMER DITCH

CORNER OF NEWMAN/VAIL, Pueblo, CO

Built 1970 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,030

SPRUCE ST.

Good

Over: BESSEMER DITCH

CORNER OF CANAL/SPRUCE, Pueblo, CO

Built 1967 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 254

COUNTY ROAD 17

Good

Over: RIO GRANDE RIVER

.9 MI N OF SH 160, Rio Grande, CO

Built 1986 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 222

COUNTY ROAD 19Q

Good

Over: DISAPPOINTMENT CREEK

5.2 MI S of SH 141, San Miguel, CO

Built 1990 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 6

COUNTY ROAD 63J

Good

Over: S.FORK SAN MIGUEL RIVER

2 MI S OF SH 145, San Miguel, CO

Built 1989 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 78

WOOD RD

Good

Over: TRAUMA LANE

.08 MI S OF BRUSH CR RD, Pitkin, CO

Built 2008 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,498

Spencer Parkway

Good

Over: Draw

300 Ft N Battlement Pkwy, Garfield, CO

Built 1981 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,590

Prussman Blvd.

Good

Over: Clover Ditch

Prussman and Barkeley Ave, El Paso, CO

Built 1989 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 400

McGrath Ave.

Good

Over: Drainage Ditch

.6 mi East of Specker Ave, El Paso, CO

Built 1988 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,000

CARHENGE

Good

Over: SAN MIGUEL RIVER

JUST S OF W. PACIFIC AV, San Miguel, CO

Built 2019 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 431

TOWNSEND STREET

Good

Over: CORNET CREEK

400 FT N of SH145, San Miguel, CO

Built 2006 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50

130TH AVE

Good

Over: LOCAL DRAINAGE

0.2 MI E OF HOLLY ST, Adams, CO

Built 2006 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,942

144TH AVE

Good

Over: EAST FRONTAGE RD

0.1 MI E OF I-25, Adams, CO

Built 2006 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 23,906

152ND AVENUE

Good

Over: BIG DRY CREEK TRIBUTARY

0.3 MI EAST OF WASHINGTON, Adams, CO

Built 2000 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,431

GRANT STREET

Good

Over: LOCAL DRAINAGE

JUST N OF 140TH AVE, Adams, CO

Built 2018 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,074

QUEBEC ST

Good

Over: BRANTNER GULCH

0.5MI N OF 120TH AVE, Adams, CO

Built 2005 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,456

QUEBEC STREET

Good

Over: BRANTNER GULCH TRIB

.35 MI N OF 128TH AVE, Adams, CO

Built 2003 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,519

THORNTON PKWY

Good

Over: NIVER CREEK

.25 MI W OF I25, Adams, CO

Built 1990 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 20,525

Showing 6,501-6,550 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.