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

I 25 NB ML

Good

Over: WILDLIFE UNDERPASS

0.7 MI N OF PALMER DIVIDE, Douglas, CO

Built 2021 Load: 58.3 t ADT: 66,000

I 25 SB ML

Good

Over: WILDLIFE UNDERPASS

0.7 MI N OF PALMER DIVIDE, Douglas, CO

Built 2021 Load: 58.3 t ADT: 66,000

COUNTY ROAD 404

Good

Over: I 25 ML

2.6 MI N OF MONUMENT, El Paso, CO

Built 2021 Load: 58.3 t ADT: 3,100

I 25 ML

Good

Over: GREENLAND ROAD

4.1 MI N OF COUNTY LINE, Douglas, CO

Built 2020 Load: 58.3 t ADT: 53,700

I 25 SB ML

Good

Over: WILDLIFE UNDERPASS

1.8 MI N OF MONUMENT, El Paso, CO

Built 2020 Load: 58.3 t ADT: 67,000

County Road 11C

Good

Over: Boyd/Horseshoe Canal

1 Mi S of Co Rd 24E, Larimer, CO

Built 2015 Load: 58.3 t ADT: 7,723

County Road Y

Good

Over: Wildcat Creek

0.3 Mile E of CR20, Morgan, CO

Built 2020 Load: 58.3 t ADT: 302

COUNTY ROAD 8A

Good

Over: COW CREEK

0.4 MI EAST OF US 550, Ouray, CO

Built 2000 Load: 58.4 t ADT: 53

US 6 ML

Good

Over: BEAVER CREEK

0.4 MI NE OF JCT I-76, Morgan, CO

Built 1987 Load: 58.6 t ADT: 1,400

80TH AVE

Good

Over: US 36 ML

IN WESTMINSTER, Adams, CO

Built 2010 Load: 58.6 t ADT: 15,264

TENNYSON STREET

Good

Over: LAKEWOOD GULCH

0.3 MI SOUTH OF 9TH ST, Denver, CO

Built 2005 Load: 58.7 t ADT: 2,166

I 70 ML EBND

Good

Over: US 6 ML

3.6 mi W of SH13 RIFLE, Garfield, CO

Built 1975 Load: 58.7 t ADT: 10,000

US 6 ML

Good

Over: NORTH CLEAR CREEK

US 6 OVER CLEAR CREEK, Clear Creek, CO

Built 1998 Load: 58.7 t ADT: 5,600

IRR# CO RD 522A

Good

Over: ALLISON DITCH

N OF JCT OF 524 & 522, La Plata, CO

Built 1999 Load: 58.8 t ADT: 36

Timberline Road

Good

Over: Cache La Poudre River

0.1 Mi S of Hwy 14, Larimer, CO

Built 1998 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 15,131

County Road 21

Good

Over: Fort Morgan Canal

1.2 Mi N of Co Rd N, Morgan, CO

Built 2006 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 965

I 76 ML WBND

Good

Over: SH 55 ML

CROOK INTERCHANGE, Logan, CO

Built 1966 Load: 59.1 t ADT: 3,800

CO RD 82

Good

Over: SLATER CREEK

9.2 M E OF MOFFAT CO LINE, Routt, CO

Built 2012 Load: 59.3 t ADT: 13

ORCHARD RD

Good

Over: HIGHLINE CANAL

1 MI WEST OF HOLLY STREET, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1990 Load: 59.3 t ADT: 2,514

US 385 ML

Good

Over: BEAVER CREEK

5 MI S OF BURLINGTON, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1995 Load: 59.3 t ADT: 1,000

US 24 ML

Good

Over: CALIFORNIA GULCH

2.3 MI E OF LEADVILLE, Lake, CO

Built 2013 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 4,600

I 76 SERVICE RD

Good

Over: BOX ELDER CREEK SR

2.4 MI NE OF JCT SH 52, Weld, CO

Built 2000 Load: 59.8 t ADT: 847

Co Rd 29.5

Good

Over: Grand Valley Canal

.63Mi N of US6, Mesa, CO

Built 2017 Load: 59.9 t ADT: 4,180

US 285 ML

Good

Over: SAGUACHE CREEK

1 MI S OF SAGUACHE, Saguache, CO

Built 1968 Load: 60.0 t ADT: 2,300

County Road 34

Good

Over: N. Sterling Inlet Canal

0.1 Mi. E. of Co. Rd. 35, Logan, CO

Built 1987 Load: 60.0 t ADT: 237

SH 119 NBND

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

4.5 MI NE OF JCT US 36, Boulder, CO

Built 1959 Load: 60.2 t ADT: 18,500

I 25 ML SBND

Good

Over: DRAW

4.5 MI S OF EL PASO-PUEBL, Pueblo, CO

Built 2021 Load: 60.3 t ADT: 37,000

FORD STREET

Good

Over: CLEAR CREEK

0.58 MI NW OF 19TH STREET, Jefferson, CO

Built 1999 Load: 60.4 t ADT: 8,647

CAPITAL DRIVE

Good

Over: EAST FORK SAND CREEK

JUST E OF RIVERWALK PKWY, El Paso, CO

Built 2003 Load: 60.5 t ADT: 1,234

COUNTY ROAD 6N

Good

Over: RIO GRANDE CANAL

0.3 MI E of CR 3W, Rio Grande, CO

Built 2009 Load: 60.5 t ADT: 25

USFS RD 302

Good

Over: QUAYLE CREEK

1-70 AT BAKERVILLE EXIT, Clear Creek, CO

Built 2006 Load: 60.6 t ADT: 10

SPIRIT TRAIL BLVD

Good

Over: BRANDY GULCH

AVANTI-SPIRIT TRAIL BLVD, Douglas, CO

Built 2021 Load: 60.6 t ADT: 6,360

SHERIDAN BLVD

Good

Over: SOUTHWESTERLY GULCHES

.35 MI N QUINCY AVENUE, Denver, CO

Built 1996 Load: 60.8 t ADT: 15,645

SH 470 ML WBND

Good

Over: SH 121-WADSWORTH BLVD

3.2 MI W - JCT US 85 + SH, Jefferson, CO

Built 1987 Load: 60.8 t ADT: 30,500

US 287 ML

Good

Over: WILEY DRAINAGE DITCH

3.5 MI NO OF JCT US 50 ML, Prowers, CO

Built 1982 Load: 60.8 t ADT: 2,700

Olympia Avenue

Good

Over: Spring Gulch

200 feet E of Boise Court, Boulder, CO

Built 2000 Load: 61.0 t ADT: 1,207

PEORIA STREET

Good

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK

0.4 MI N OF ARAPAHOE ROAD, Arapahoe, CO

Built 2002 Load: 61.1 t ADT: 7,843

BRIARGATE PARKWAY

Good

Over: I 25 ML

1.4 MI N OF SH 83 SPUR, El Paso, CO

Built 1987 Load: 61.2 t ADT: 13,577

RAMP TO SB ACADEMY

Good

Over: PARKING LOT EXIT

JUST S OF WOODMEN RD, El Paso, CO

Built 2012 Load: 61.5 t ADT: 4,629

I 25 ML NBND

Good

Over: COUNTY ROAD 46

1 MI NO OF JCT SH 56, Weld, CO

Built 2023 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 41,000

MONUMENT HILL ROAD

Good

Over: WILDLIFE UNDERPASS RR

1.8 MI N OF MONUMENT, El Paso, CO

Built 2020 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 200

SH 133 ML

Good

Over: WEST MUDDY CREEK

14 MI SW OF MCCLURE PASS, Gunnison, CO

Built 1980 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 930

SH 12 ML

Good

Over: CUCHARAS RIVER

4.2 MI SO OF LA VETA, Huerfano, CO

Built 1982 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 1,600

COUNTY ROAD 5

Good

Over: STOCK PASS 7

19 Mi W of Co Rd 13, Rio Blanco, CO

Built 2019 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 462

CURTIS ROAD

Good

Over: CHICO CREEK TRIBUTARY

2.25 MI N OF DRENNAN RD, El Paso, CO

Built 1999 Load: 61.8 t ADT: 476

SH 71 ML

Good

Over: SANDY CREEK

1.5 MI S OF LIMON, Lincoln, CO

Built 1984 Load: 61.8 t ADT: 1,600

US 40 ML

Good

Over: DRAW

11.3 MI SE OF WILDHORSE, Cheyenne, CO

Built 1982 Load: 61.8 t ADT: 3,800

US 40 ML

Good

Over: DRAW

10.4 MI SE OF WILDHORSE, Cheyenne, CO

Built 1982 Load: 61.8 t ADT: 3,800

CNTY RD 17 AND 51

Good

Over: COLOWYO COAL RAILROAD

1 MI NW of St Hwy13 MP 64, Moffat, CO

Built 1975 Load: 61.9 t ADT: 110

US 6 ML

Good

Over: PAWNEE CREEK OVERFLOW

1.9 MI N OF JCT SH 63, Logan, CO

Built 1941 Load: 62.1 t ADT: 3,700

Showing 8,201-8,250 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.