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 98

Good

Over: RUNNING CREEK

1.3 MILES EAST OF ROAD 5, Elbert, CO

Built 1990 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 301

SH 94 ML

Good

Over: JIMMY CAMP CREEK

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

Built 1981 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 9,900

COUNTY RD 85.5

Good

Over: EL POSO ARROYO

.1 MI S OF CR 22, Las Animas, CO

Built 1990 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 26

US 160 ML

Good

Over: SAND ARROYO

5 MI W OF WALSENBURG, Huerfano, CO

Built 1995 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 5,900

COUNTY ROAD 21

Good

Over: ANIMAS RIVER

2.9 MI NE OF SILVERTON, San Juan, CO

Built 1989 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 81

County Road 24

Good

Over: Walton Creek

0.3 Mi E of US Hwy 40, Routt, CO

Built 1998 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 108

Valmont Rd

Good

Over: Boulder Creek

200 Ft. E of 55th Street, Boulder, CO

Built 1999 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 14,324

COUNTY ROAD CC

Good

Over: MID FK BIG SPRING CREEK

1.1 MI E OF CR 16, Cheyenne, CO

Built 1991 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 37

I 70 ML EBND

Good

Over: POST BLVD

2 MI E OF AVON INT., Eagle, CO

Built 2003 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 19,000

US 285 ML

Good

Over: WILDLIFE CROSSING

_, Chaffee, CO

Built 2019 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 9,700

SH 12 ML

Good

Over: PURGATOIRE RIVER

1.9 MI NW WESTON, Las Animas, CO

Built 2013 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 520

COUNTY ROAD 7

Good

Over: AMITY CANAL

2.3 MI NW OF LAMAR, Prowers, CO

Built 1997 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 1,426

112TH AVENUE

Good

Over: MUDDY CREEK

.3 MI E OF PRICE ROAD, Adams, CO

Built 1999 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 30

123rd Place

Good

Over: Local Drainage

North of Wolff Drive, Broomfield, CO

Built 1996 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 1,232

BELLE CREEK BLVD

Good

Over: BELLE CREEK

NW OF 104TH AND SH85, Adams, CO

Built 2003 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 3,208

PENA BLVD NBND RMP

Good

Over: I 70 ML

.8 MI E OF CHAMBERS ROAD, Adams, CO

Built 1993 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 54,507

I 25 ML NBND

Good

Over: NWP

JUST S OF 160TH AVE, Broomfield, CO

Built 2002 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 54,000

SB I-25

Good

Over: NWP/E470

Just South of 160th Ave, Broomfield, CO

Built 2003 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 54,000

I 225 ML SBND

Good

Over: CHERRY CREEK

3.1 MI E of I-25, Arapahoe, CO

Built 2005 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 68,000

11th Street

Good

Over: Greeley No. 3 Ditch

1600 Blk-11th Street, Weld, CO

Built 1986 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 613

SH 62 ML

Good

Over: UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER

IN RIDGWAY, Ouray, CO

Built 2013 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 6,600

COUNTY ROAD F.25

Good

Over: ORCHARD MESA CANAL NO. 2

0.1 MI W OF RD 38, Mesa, CO

Built 2015 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 1,130

PRIVATE LAND ACESS

Good

Over: LIGHTNER CREEK AR

W. EDGE OF DURANGO, La Plata, CO

Built 1970 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 12,000

COUNTY ROAD 21

Good

Over: CROOKED ARROYO

.5 MI N OF SH 350, Otero, CO

Built 1999 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 12

I 25 SBND OFFRAMP

Good

Over: PURGATOIRE RIVER

IN TRINIDAD, Las Animas, CO

Built 2010 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 8,000

COUNTY ROAD 10

Good

Over: FT. LYON CANAL OVERFLOW

.2 MI S OF CR SS, Prowers, CO

Built 1997 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 95

18TH STREET

Good

Over: AT and SF RR

IN PUEBLO, Pueblo, CO

Built 1989 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 7,548

COUNTY RD HH50

Good

Over: KERBER CREEK

JUST S OF CR LL.56, Saguache, CO

Built 1992 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 75

LOG ROAD

Good

Over: SQUIRREL CREEK

2.0 MI S OF JONES ROAD, El Paso, CO

Built 1997 Load: 40.7 t ADT: 65

RAMP TO I 25 ML

Good

Over: SOUTH PLATTE RIVER R

IN DENVER, Denver, CO

Built 1987 Load: 40.7 t ADT: 215,000

County Road 30

Good

Over: Platte Valley Canal

0.2 Mi E of US Hwy 85, Weld, CO

Built 1981 Load: 40.7 t ADT: 62

COUNTY ROAD 613

Good

Over: ARKANSAS RIVER

0.8 MI N OF SH 50, Pueblo, CO

Built 1989 Load: 40.7 t ADT: 39

SCHRIEVER ST

Good

Over: DRY DRAINAGE SWALE

0.7 miles east of Enoch R, El Paso, CO

Built 2008 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 200

POST BLVD

Good

Over: EAGLE RIVER

JUST N OF HWY 6, Eagle, CO

Built 2004 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 6,590

SH 257 ML

Good

Over: LARIMER COUNTY CANAL

0.5 MI SOUTH OF SH 14, Weld, CO

Built 1984 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 5,100

49TH AVENUE

Good

Over: QUEBEC STREET

INTER 49TH AND QUEBEC, Denver, CO

Built 2004 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 14,135

SH 93 ML

Good

Over: Bear Creek Ditch

1/2 MI S OF BOULDER LIMIT, Boulder, CO

Built 1969 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 17,000

I 76 ML WBND

Good

Over: TENNYSON STREET

0.53 MI E OF JCT 95, Adams, CO

Built 1986 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 39,500

WBND I70 Off Ramp

Good

Over: SOUTH PLATTE RIVER

DENVER @ Washington St, Denver, CO

Built 2003 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 73,000

E-470 Off-Ramp

Good

Over: Cottonwood Creek

0.47 MI FROM I-25, Douglas, CO

Built 2003 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 800

Gartrell Road

Good

Over: E-470

8.90 MI FROM I25, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1997 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 26,000

Smoky Hill Road

Good

Over: E-470

10.66 MI FROM I25, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1996 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 29,000

Jewell Avenue

Good

Over: E-470

16.35 MI FROM I25, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1997 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 18,600

State Highway 30

Good

Over: E-470

17.58 MI FROM I25, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1997 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 19,300

6th Parkway

Good

Over: E-470

18.91 MI FROM I25, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1997 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 38,000

64th Avenue

Good

Over: E-470

25.48 MI FROM I25, Adams, CO

Built 1996 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 10,200

Tower Road

Good

Over: E-470

33.22 MI FROM I25, Adams, CO

Built 1996 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 9,100

SABLE ROAD/SH 2

Good

Over: E-470

36.27 MI FROM I25, Adams, CO

Built 2002 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 27,878

E-470 CONNECTOR

Good

Over: US 85 ML

37.72 MI FROM I25, Adams, CO

Built 2001 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 1,500

US 85 CONNECTOR

Good

Over: E-470

38.38 MILES FROM I25, Adams, CO

Built 2001 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 1,500

Showing 7,451-7,500 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.