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

PINON ROAD

Good

Over: FARM ROAD B

2 MI NE OF EXIT 110-I25, Pueblo, CO

Built 2004 Load: 62.1 t ADT: 217

CR M25/MARBLE RD

Good

Over: SURFACE CREEK

.2 MI W OF SH 65, Delta, CO

Built 1993 Load: 62.3 t ADT: 102

I25SR/MTN VISTA RD

Good

Over: BOX ELDER CRK OVRFLOW AR

0.1 MI. EAST OF I 25, Larimer, CO

Built 1985 Load: 62.4 t ADT: 8,266

US 50 ML

Good

Over: RIVERVIEW CANAL

7.4 MI W OF LAMAR, Prowers, CO

Built 2004 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 3,800

FOURTH ST.

Good

Over: ARKANSAS RIVER

0.15 MI S OF US 50, Fremont, CO

Built 2001 Load: 62.8 t ADT: 2,706

I 25 ML

Good

Over: EAST PLUM CREEK

1.3 MI N OF LARKSPUR, Douglas, CO

Built 2021 Load: 62.9 t ADT: 75,000

North Madison Ave

Good

Over: Greeley Loveland Canal

0.5 Mi N of East 1st St, Larimer, CO

Built 2015 Load: 62.9 t ADT: 8,312

SH 14 ML

Good

Over: GRIZZLY CREEK

8.5 MI NE OF JCT US 40, Jackson, CO

Built 2005 Load: 63.0 t ADT: 1,300

HANCOCK AVENUE

Good

Over: TEMPLETON GAP FLOODWAY

.5 MI NE FILLMORE/NEVADA, El Paso, CO

Built 2012 Load: 63.0 t ADT: 3,792

CR 275/RYE TRT FRM

Good

Over: GREENHORN CREEK

0.2 MI SW OF SH 165, Pueblo, CO

Built 1991 Load: 63.1 t ADT: 23

WOLFF STREET

Good

Over: LAKEWOOD GULCH

JUST S OF 8TH AVE, Denver, CO

Built 2013 Load: 63.2 t ADT: 1,058

COUNTY ROAD 301

Good

Over: COLORADO RIVER

16.3 MI NORTH OF I-70, Eagle, CO

Built 2017 Load: 63.2 t ADT: 152

CR 230/3R RD

Good

Over: N. FORK ST.CHARLES RIVER

.4 MI S of SH 78, Pueblo, CO

Built 1991 Load: 63.6 t ADT: 317

US 34 ML

Good

Over: KIOWA CREEK

3.4 MI E OF JCT SH 144, Morgan, CO

Built 1999 Load: 63.7 t ADT: 5,800

US 36 ML

Good

Over: LOST CREEK

9 MI E OF JCT I 70, Adams, CO

Built 1983 Load: 63.8 t ADT: 1,900

I 70 ML EBND

Good

Over: HILLSIDE

3.8 MI E OF GLENWOOD SPRI, Garfield, CO

Built 1986 Load: 63.9 t ADT: 8,500

US 34 ML

Good

Over: N FK REPUBLICAN RIVER

5 M E OF WRAY, Yuma, CO

Built 2013 Load: 64.2 t ADT: 1,600

SH 133 ML

Good

Over: EAST MUDDY CREEK

12 MI SW OF MCCLURE PASS, Gunnison, CO

Built 1980 Load: 64.2 t ADT: 930

BRUSH CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: BRUSH CREEK/E MAYFLY TRL

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

Built 2023 Load: 64.2 t ADT: 4,512

CR80/RIVERSIDE Dr

Good

Over: LEROUX CREEK

0.5 MI SW OF HOTCHKISS, Delta, CO

Built 1993 Load: 64.6 t ADT: 365

SH 125 ML

Good

Over: WILLOW CREEK

5.5 MI NO OF JCT US 40, Grand, CO

Built 2015 Load: 64.8 t ADT: 900

US 34 ML

Good

Over: REPUBLICAN RIVER

0.5 MI W OF WRAY, Yuma, CO

Built 2021 Load: 64.8 t ADT: 3,600

I 25 NB ML

Good

Over: WILDLIFE UNDERPASS

1.8 MI N OF MONUMENT, El Paso, CO

Built 2019 Load: 64.8 t ADT: 67,000

Main Street

Good

Over: James Creek

Inter of Main and Mill, Boulder, CO

Built 2018 Load: 64.8 t ADT: 180

COUNTY ROAD 9

Good

Over: EAST FORK ARKANSAS RIVER

Near national park, Lake, CO

Built 2021 Load: 64.8 t ADT: 134

Rocky Mountain Ave

Good

Over: Greeley Loveland Canal

0.2 mi N of McWhinney St, Larimer, CO

Built 2000 Load: 65.4 t ADT: 12,268

COUNTY ROAD 23

Good

Over: UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER

4.3 MI NNW OF OURAY, Ouray, CO

Built 1997 Load: 65.5 t ADT: 1,226

COUNTY RD 26 (361)

Good

Over: CANYON CREEK

1.9 MI SW OF OURAY, Ouray, CO

Built 1995 Load: 65.5 t ADT: 640

W. Flatiron Circle

Good

Over: Rock Cr and IRR Dtch

200ft N of Flatiron W Ent, Broomfield, CO

Built 2000 Load: 65.7 t ADT: 6,174

COUNTY ROAD 2

Good

Over: ANIMAS RIVER

4.0 MI NE OF SILVERTON, San Juan, CO

Built 1988 Load: 65.7 t ADT: 920

County Road 81

Good

Over: James Creek

25 ft S of Lefthand Cyn, Boulder, CO

Built 2019 Load: 65.8 t ADT: 777

SH 79 ML

Good

Over: WEST SAND CREEK

4.5 MI S OF PROSPECT VALL, Weld, CO

Built 1991 Load: 65.8 t ADT: 1,400

County Road 46E

Good

Over: Pleasant Valley Lake Can

0.15 Mi W of Co Rd 21, Larimer, CO

Built 2005 Load: 65.8 t ADT: 1,623

JAMES E. CASEY AVE

Good

Over: LOCAL DRAINAGE

0.2 MI E OF PEORIA STREET, Douglas, CO

Built 1996 Load: 66.3 t ADT: 907

I 25 ML NBND

Good

Over: PLUM CREEK PARKWAY

8.9 MI N. OF JCT S.H. 18, Douglas, CO

Built 2010 Load: 66.6 t ADT: 33,000

COUNTY ROAD 5

Good

Over: STOCK PASS 17

6 Mi S of Co Rd 64, Rio Blanco, CO

Built 2015 Load: 66.7 t ADT: 325

Redwing Road

Good

Over: Larimer Co. Canal No. 2

100 Ft N of Flicker Dr., Larimer, CO

Built 1950 Load: 66.8 t ADT: 818

MEADOWS BLVD

Good

Over: EAST PLUM CREEK TRIBUTAR

MEADOWS BLVD N OF MEADOWS, Douglas, CO

Built 1986 Load: 67.0 t ADT: 6,672

COUNTY ROAD N50

Good

Over: TONGUE CREEK

1.9 MI NW OF SH 65, Delta, CO

Built 2008 Load: 67.0 t ADT: 604

95TH AVE.

Good

Over: SHEEP DRAW

95TH AVE/US 34, Weld, CO

Built 1968 Load: 67.2 t ADT: 26,000

MERIDIAN RANCH BLV

Good

Over: SQUIRREL CREEK TRIBUTARY

0.2 MI N OF STAPELTON RD, El Paso, CO

Built 2002 Load: 67.2 t ADT: 1,808

Crystal Bridge Dr

Good

Over: Crystal River

0.18 MI S OF SH133, Garfield, CO

Built 1997 Load: 67.4 t ADT: 2,225

5TH STREET

Good

Over: UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER

.5 MI W OF SH 50, Delta, CO

Built 1991 Load: 67.8 t ADT: 3,187

I 25 W FR. ROAD AR

Good

Over: BOXELDER CREEK

ACCESS TO REST AREA SR, Larimer, CO

Built 2008 Load: 68.0 t ADT: 773

CoRd94(LH Cnyn RD)

Good

Over: LEFTHAND CREEK

0.6 Mi W of Oldstage Rd, Boulder, CO

Built 2016 Load: 68.0 t ADT: 1,681

71st Avenue

Good

Over: Sheep Draw Creek

0.3 MI S OF 10TH AND 34TH, Weld, CO

Built 2018 Load: 68.0 t ADT: 9,083

County Road 27

Good

Over: Buckhorn Creek

8.7 Mi NW of Co Rd 38E, Larimer, CO

Built 2015 Load: 68.0 t ADT: 591

COUNTY ROAD 265

Good

Over: GREENHORN CREEK

1.0 MILES WEST OF RYE, Pueblo, CO

Built 2002 Load: 68.2 t ADT: 24

US 287

Good

Over: DRAW

JUST N OF NW PKWY, Boulder, CO

Built 1993 Load: 68.3 t ADT: 39,000

Kirk Street

Good

Over: Local Drainage

50 Ft N of E. 1st Street, Broomfield, CO

Built 1999 Load: 68.4 t ADT: 1,384

Showing 8,251-8,300 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.