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

15TH STREET

Good

Over: I 25 ML

IN DENVER, Denver, CO

Built 2011 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 9,145

WINDERMERE STREET

Good

Over: BIG DRY CREEK

.3 MI N OF BELLEVIEW AVE, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1997 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 4,656

I 70 ML WBND

Good

Over: FRENCH CREEK

3 MI E OF SHOSHONE DAM, Garfield, CO

Built 1989 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 8,500

TITAN PARKWAY

Good

Over: SH 85 ML

IN DOUGLAS COUNTY, Douglas, CO

Built 2003 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 9,315

US 385 ML

Good

Over: DRAW

6.3 MI N OF JCT US 40, Cheyenne, CO

Built 1995 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 730

SH 120 ML

Good

Over: DRAW UP RR

1.5 MI E OF FLORENCE, Fremont, CO

Built 2015 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 800

COUNTY ROAD S

Good

Over: KIOWA CREEK

0.3 MI WEST OF EADS, Kiowa, CO

Built 1995 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 57

County Road 54

Good

Over: Box Elder Creek

0.5 Mi East of I-25, Larimer, CO

Built 1993 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 98

I25 ML SBND

Good

Over: WALSEN ARROYO

1.7 MI S.OF WALSENBURG BU, Huerfano, CO

Built 2001 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 5,500

US 34 ML WBND

Good

Over: 1ST AVE

0.72 MI. E OF JCT US 85, Weld, CO

Built 1975 Load: 36.4 t ADT: 8,500

COUNTY ROAD B

Good

Over: UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER

5.2 MI SE OF DELTA, Delta, CO

Built 1996 Load: 36.4 t ADT: 162

US 40 ML

Good

Over: UP RR

0.7 MI E OF KIT CARSON, Cheyenne, CO

Built 2007 Load: 36.4 t ADT: 3,500

US 50 BUS. RT.

Good

Over: BNSF RR

SE EDGE OF PUEBLO, Pueblo, CO

Built 2003 Load: 36.4 t ADT: 23,000

County Road 36

Good

Over: Prewitt Inlet Canal

0.7 Mi N of Co Rd AA, Morgan, CO

Built 2000 Load: 36.4 t ADT: 13

COUNTY ROAD 6530

Good

Over: LOUTSENHIZER CANAL

.4 MI N OF FLAT TOP RD, Montrose, CO

Built 2009 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 72

SB UNIVERSITY BLVD

Good

Over: CHERRY CREEK

S OF CHERRY CREEK DR, Denver, CO

Built 1989 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 22,904

NB CENTRAL PK BLVD

Good

Over: E-W LINEAR

NORTH OF 25TH AVENUE, Denver, CO

Built 2004 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 11,085

SB CENTRAL PK BLVD

Good

Over: E-W LINEAR

NORTH OF 25TH AVENUE, Denver, CO

Built 2004 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 8,390

US 550 ML

Good

Over: MONTROSE+DELTA CANAL

4.5 MI S OF MONTROSE, Montrose, CO

Built 1992 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 11,000

County Road 35

Good

Over: Springdale Ditch

0.6 Mi. N. of Co. Rd. 24, Logan, CO

Built 1993 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 647

Piney River Drive

Good

Over: Greeley Loveland Canal

0.1 Mi N of McWhinney Blv, Larimer, CO

Built 2000 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 1,319

I 25 BUS RT

Good

Over: SULL CREEK

2 MILES NORTH OF JCT US 1, Huerfano, CO

Built 2014 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 5,100

COUNTY ROAD Z

Good

Over: CROOKED ARROYO

1.8 MI W OF SH 350, Otero, CO

Built 1985 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 172

FSR 523

Good

Over: RED MOUNTAIN CREEK

10.2 MI SSW OF CREEDE, Mineral, CO

Built 1981 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 78

TROUT ROAD

Good

Over: UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER

0.25 M E OF SH 550, Montrose, CO

Built 1989 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 259

SPECTRUM LOOP ROAD

Good

Over: VOYAGER PKWY/ I-25 RAMPS

0.5 MI S OF N GATE BLVD, El Paso, CO

Built 2019 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 783

US 34 ML

Good

Over: N FK COLORADO RIVER

11.9 MI NO OF JCT US 40, Grand, CO

Built 2018 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 6,200

WESTBOUND 56TH AVE

Good

Over: MONTBELLO DITCH

JUST W. OF HAVANA ST, Denver, CO

Built 2010 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 17,679

US 36 ML

Good

Over: DAVIDSON DITCH

2.2 MI SE OF JCT SH 157, Boulder, CO

Built 2015 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 77,000

SH44 ML(104TH AVE)

Good

Over: SOUTH PLATTE RIVER

1.1 MI W OF JCT US 85, Adams, CO

Built 2013 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 14,000

LEMESANY ROAD

Good

Over: BIG SANDY CREEK TRIB

.2 MI NORTH OF RAMAH ROAD, El Paso, CO

Built 1999 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 36

I 70 EBND

Good

Over: FOREST SERVICE ROAD

2.6 MI W OF EISENHWR TUNL, Summit, CO

Built 2021 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 36,000

US 6 ML

Good

Over: DRAW

7.3 MI E OF JCT I 70, Jefferson, CO

Built 1949 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 7,500

US 24 ML

Good

Over: UP RR

9 MI S OF LEADVILLE, Lake, CO

Built 1995 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 4,200

COLORADO BLVD

Good

Over: CLEAR CREEK

IN IDAHO SPRINGS, Clear Creek, CO

Built 2018 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 3,792

SH 266 ML

Good

Over: FT LYON STORAGE CANAL

2.5 MI NE OF ROCKY FORD, Otero, CO

Built 2013 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 380

COUNTY ROAD 24

Good

Over: GRAND VALLEY CANAL

.1 MI N OF RD I, Mesa, CO

Built 2013 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 2,362

COUNTY ROAD 24.5

Good

Over: ARKANSAS RIVER

0.9 MI N OF SWINK, Otero, CO

Built 1986 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 723

COUNTY ROAD II35

Good

Over: NATURITA CREEK

1 MI S OF REDVALE, Montrose, CO

Built 1991 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 31

17th AVE

Good

Over: TOLLGATE CREEK

Just E OF FITZSIMONS PY, Arapahoe, CO

Built 2011 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 1,325

SH 88-FEDERAL BLVD

Good

Over: Light Rail

JUST N OF HOLDEN, Denver, CO

Built 2011 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 39,000

SH 348 ML

Good

Over: Ironstone Canal

4.7 MI W of Olathe, Montrose, CO

Built 2001 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 270

US 287 ML

Good

Over: DRAW

0.5 MILE NORTH OF CAMPO, Baca, CO

Built 1971 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 3,000

County Road 61.5

Good

Over: Crow Creek

0.05 Mi N of Co Rd 68, Weld, CO

Built 2000 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 178

County Rd 64/O St.

Good

Over: Eaton Draw

0.8 Mi E of US Hwy 85, Weld, CO

Built 1995 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 564

County Road 84

Good

Over: Pierce Lateral Canal

0.7 Mi E of Co Rd 21, Weld, CO

Built 1990 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 102

MOORE STREET

Good

Over: LENA GULCH

200 FT S OF 38TH AVENUE, Jefferson, CO

Built 1986 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 263

County Road 76

Good

Over: Elkhead Creek

5.4 Mi N of US Hwy 40, Routt, CO

Built 1999 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 31

I 76 ML WBND

Good

Over: BNSF RR

38.3 MI SE OF JCT SH 59, Logan, CO

Built 1966 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 4,150

COUNTY ROAD 10

Good

Over: FT. LYON CANAL

2.3 MI N OF SH 194, Bent, CO

Built 1999 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 77

Showing 7,051-7,100 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.