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 143

Fair

Over: OAK CREEK

11.7 MI S OF SH 115, Fremont, CO

Built 1945 Load: 21.4 t ADT: 242

I 25 ML NBND

Fair

Over: PORTER DRAW

10.3 MI S OF EL PASO-PUEB, Pueblo, CO

Built 1958 Load: 21.4 t ADT: 17,500

COUNTY ROAD 13

Fair

Over: CATLIN CANAL

.2 MI S OF SH 50, Otero, CO

Built 1961 Load: 21.4 t ADT: 89

County Road 5

Fair

Over: Cottonwood & Settler

0.4 Mi. No. of US Hwy 138, Sedgwick, CO

Built 1988 Load: 21.4 t ADT: 11

US 6 ML

Fair

Over: SOUTH PLATTE RIVER

1 MI EAST OF JCT SH 14, Logan, CO

Built 1957 Load: 21.5 t ADT: 9,900

COUNTY ROAD 166

Fair

Over: ARKANSAS RIVER

2.2 MI E of SH285, Chaffee, CO

Built 1989 Load: 21.5 t ADT: 222

US 34 ML

Fair

Over: SURVEYOR CREEK

8.7 MI E OF AKRON, Washington, CO

Built 1935 Load: 21.5 t ADT: 2,900

SH 74 ML

Fair

Over: KERR GULCH

0.8 MI E OF KITTREDGE, Jefferson, CO

Built 1956 Load: 21.5 t ADT: 3,300

I 70 BUSINESS RT

Fair

Over: GRAND VALLEY CANAL

2 MI E OF GRAND JUNCTION, Mesa, CO

Built 1956 Load: 21.5 t ADT: 16,000

SH 348 ML

Fair

Over: IRONSTONE CANAL

0.8 MI W of Olathe, Montrose, CO

Built 1982 Load: 21.5 t ADT: 2,300

SH 291 ML

Fair

Over: ARKANSAS RIVER

6.8 MI NW OF SALIDA, Chaffee, CO

Built 1962 Load: 21.5 t ADT: 3,900

US 287 ML

Fair

Over: FORT LYON CANAL

6 MI N OF SH 196, Prowers, CO

Built 1978 Load: 21.5 t ADT: 3,100

County Road 13E

Fair

Over: Jackson Ditch

0.2 Mi No of Co Rd 52C, Larimer, CO

Built 1962 Load: 21.5 t ADT: 315

County Road 32E

Fair

Over: Cache La Poudre River

0.1 Mi E of Co Rd 3, Larimer, CO

Built 1972 Load: 21.5 t ADT: 6,341

SH 12 ML

Fair

Over: MIDDLE FK PURGATOIRE RVR

0.2 MI E. OF STONEWALL, Las Animas, CO

Built 1938 Load: 21.5 t ADT: 320

PINE STREET

Fair

Over: EAGLE RIVER/RR

JUST S OF MONUMENT ST, Eagle, CO

Built 1992 Load: 21.5 t ADT: 138

SH 59 ML

Fair

Over: SOUTH PLATTE RIVER

1.6 MI N OF I-76 SEDGWICK, Sedgwick, CO

Built 1987 Load: 21.6 t ADT: 560

SH 52 ML

Fair

Over: UPRR PLATTE BEAVER CANAL

0.3 MI NO OF JCT SH 144, Morgan, CO

Built 1951 Load: 21.6 t ADT: 5,800

WILCOX STREET

Fair

Over: EAST PLUM CREEK

.1 MI S PLUM CREEK PKWAY, Douglas, CO

Built 1966 Load: 21.6 t ADT: 11,059

SH 95 ML

Fair

Over: LITTLE DRY CREEK

200 FT N OF 76 AVE, Adams, CO

Built 1971 Load: 21.6 t ADT: 38,000

COUNTY ROAD 67

Fair

Over: EIGHT MILE CREEK

19.2 MI N OF CR 123, Fremont, CO

Built 1960 Load: 21.6 t ADT: 32

US 24 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

1.4 MI E OF CALHAN, El Paso, CO

Built 1935 Load: 21.6 t ADT: 4,200

I 25 ML SBND

Fair

Over: DRAW

5.3 MI S OF SH 85 FOUNTAN, El Paso, CO

Built 1958 Load: 21.6 t ADT: 20,500

COUNTY ROAD 49

Fair

Over: UNNAMED DRAINAGE

2.1 MILES NORTH OF ROAD G, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1940 Load: 21.6 t ADT: 33

CNTY RD_OLD SH 196

Fair

Over: BAGGS CREEK

.8 MI W OF CR 22, Prowers, CO

Built 1958 Load: 21.6 t ADT: 225

I 25 BUS RT

Fair

Over: CUCHARAS RIVER

IN WALSENBURG, Huerfano, CO

Built 1933 Load: 21.6 t ADT: 2,000

US 160 ML

Fair

Over: CHACUACO CREEK

24 Miles W of Kim, Las Animas, CO

Built 1934 Load: 21.6 t ADT: 130

County Road 8

Fair

Over: Beebe Seep Canal

0.1 Mi E of CR 41, Weld, CO

Built 2006 Load: 21.6 t ADT: 2,136

County Road 30

Fair

Over: Trib. to Buck Creek

0.65 Mi. E. of Co. Rd. R, Washington, CO

Built 1974 Load: 21.6 t ADT: 15

FSR 250

Fair

Over: WIGHTMAN FORK

26.3 MI ON FSR 250, Rio Grande, CO

Built 1954 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 44

COUNTY ROAD 38

Fair

Over: E. BIJOU CREEK

.4 MILE W OF US 40, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1965 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 315

AIRPORT ROAD

Fair

Over: WEST FORK SAND CREEK

0.4 MI W OF POWERS BLVD., El Paso, CO

Built 1979 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 13,681

PALMER DIVIDE ROAD

Fair

Over: IRON GULCH

2.8 MI EAST OF SH 83, Douglas, CO

Built 1995 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 474

COUNTY ROAD 122

Fair

Over: SOUTH TURKEY CREEK

3 MI S OF TINYTOWN, Jefferson, CO

Built 1991 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 1,020

COUNTY ROAD 30

Fair

Over: LAKE FORK GUNNISON RIVER

8.8 MI S OF LAKE CITY, Hinsdale, CO

Built 1994 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 303

US 50 ML

Fair

Over: FIVE POINT GULCH

4.3 MI EAST OF JCT SH 69, Fremont, CO

Built 1949 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 2,500

SH 120 ML

Fair

Over: COCKELBURR CREEK

0.1 MI E OF JCT SH 115, Fremont, CO

Built 1930 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 800

SH 165 ML

Fair

Over: NORTH HARDSCRABBLE CREEK

0.1 MI SOUTH OF JCT SH 96, Custer, CO

Built 1959 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 200

County Road 48

Fair

Over: Larimer & Weld Canal

0.8 Mi East of I-25, Larimer, CO

Built 1970 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 2,271

CHURCH AVENUE

Fair

Over: UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER

.25 MI S OF SH 348, Montrose, CO

Built 1965 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 687

44TH AVENUE

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK

.71 MI EAST OF KIPLING, Jefferson, CO

Built 1974 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 13,333

County Road 12W

Fair

Over: N Fork N Platte River

8.0 Mi W of St Hwy 14, Jackson, CO

Built 1985 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 110

County Road 1

Fair

Over: Crosby Creek

2.5 Mi S of CR 24, Jackson, CO

Built 1987 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 9

County Road 64

Fair

Over: North Fork Elk River

8.5 Mi NE of Co Rd 129, Routt, CO

Built 1955 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 160

US 85 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

2.3 MI S OF WYOMING S.L., Weld, CO

Built 1956 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 3,000

CROSS DRIVE

Fair

Over: LEHMAN RUN

100 N. OF INTERIOR DR. O, El Paso, CO

Built 1958 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 1,100

US 287 ML

Fair

Over: LARIMER COUNTY CANAL

FT COLLINS, Larimer, CO

Built 1948 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 37,000

SH 131 ML

Fair

Over: EGERIA CREEK

40 MI S of STMBOAT SPRNGS, Routt, CO

Built 1948 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 1,000

US 34 ML

Fair

Over: REPUBLICAN RIVER

8 MI E OF WRAY, Yuma, CO

Built 1949 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 1,100

SH 6 ML SBND

Fair

Over: I 76 ML

AT JCT I-76, Adams, CO

Built 1967 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 9,500

Showing 751-800 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.