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

1005: SPRAGUE GULC

Good

Over: Piceance Creek

25 mi NW of Rifle, Rio Blanco, CO

Built 2008 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 50

NFSR 121.1

Good

Over: WILLOW CREEK

Just S of NFSR 107, Grand, CO

Built 2011 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 15

I25 NB RAMP

Good

Over: SMITH CREEK

JUST S OF NORTHGATE BLVD, El Paso, CO

Built 2022 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 15,000

County Road 27

Good

Over: Buckhorn Creek

9.0 Mi NW of CR38E, Larimer, CO

Built 2015 Load: 97.4 t ADT: 576

County Road 22H

Good

Over: Handy Ditch

0.4 Mi E of Co Rd 31D, Larimer, CO

Built 1980 Load: 97.6 t ADT: 61

E. FREMONT DR

Good

Over: DOVE CREEK

.2 MI E OF JORDAN RD, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1985 Load: 98.4 t ADT: 1,205

IRR BIA RTE 202

Good

Over: NAVAJO WASH

2 KM EAST OF TOWAOC CO, Montezuma, CO

Built 1980 Load: 99.0 t ADT: 1,600

IRR BIA RT 201

Good

Over: NAVAJO WASH

S TOWOAC .4KM W HWY 160, Montezuma, CO

Built 1995 Load: 99.0 t ADT: 400

SH 115 ML

Good

Over: RED CREEK

16 MI S / 83 ACADEMY BLV, El Paso, CO

Built 2002 Load: 99.0 t ADT: 8,900

COUNTY ROAD 240

Good

Over: FLORIDA RIVER

2 MI NE OF CR 225, La Plata, CO

Built 1976 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 3,235

SH 71 ML

Good

Over: HORSETAIL CREEK

11.6 MI NORTH OF JCT SH 1, Weld, CO

Built 1957 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 1,000

US 385 ML

Good

Over: SAND CREEK

20 MI S OF JULESBURG, Phillips, CO

Built 2001 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 560

PATROL ROAD

Good

Over: EAST CHANNEL

0.45 miles east of Enoch, El Paso, CO

Built 2022 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 50

ALEXANDER DRIVE

Good

Over: EAST TOLLGATE CREEK

0.1 MI E OF AURORA PKWY, Arapahoe, CO

Built 2005 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 4,138

SH 13 ML

Good

Over: DRAW

3.2 MI NORTH OF CRAIG, Moffat, CO

Built 2006 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 2,000

US 287 ML

Good

Over: Little Cache La Poudre D

NW OF FT. COLLINS, Larimer, CO

Built 1987 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 9,900

SH 14 ML

Good

Over: LARIMER CO CANAL

0.8 MI E OF JCT SH 257, Weld, CO

Built 1990 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 8,000

Lookout Road

Good

Over: Boulder Cr. Supply Ditch

0.28 Mi E of Spine Road, Boulder, CO

Built 1996 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 10,395

Lookout Road

Good

Over: Whiterock Ditch

0.32 Mi Eof Spine Street, Boulder, CO

Built 1996 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 10,395

I 76 ML

Good

Over: BIG BEAVER CREEK

1.7 MI NE OF JCT SH 71 B, Morgan, CO

Built 1961 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 12,000

COUNTY ROAD 165

Good

Over: UNNAMED DRAW

.8 MI N of CR 160, Chaffee, CO

Built 1995 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 57

RANGEWOOD DRIVE

Good

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK

0.4 MI S OF WOODMEN RD, El Paso, CO

Built 1985 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 8,083

LOCAL DRAINAGE

Good

Over: FOREIGN TRADE ZONE BLVD

0.1 MI N OF BRADLEY RD, El Paso, CO

Built 1901 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 435

US 40 ML

Good

Over: PASS CREEK

0.71 MI W OF JCT SH 134, Grand, CO

Built 1994 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 2,300

I25 SERVICE ROAD

Good

Over: CHANNEL MD-B SR

NE CORNER OF DACONO INTER, Weld, CO

Built 2000 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 5,338

51ST AVENUE

Good

Over: MONTBELLO DITCH

JUST WEST OF HAVANA ST, Denver, CO

Built 1995 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 3,953

US 34 ML

Good

Over: DRAW

IN THE TOWN OF OTIS, Washington, CO

Built 2006 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 3,100

WILLIAMS STREET

Good

Over: GREENWAY CHANNEL

WILLIAMS ST/GRNWY CHANNEL, Denver, CO

Built 2020 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 881

TANK TRAIL

Good

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

TANK TRAIL, El Paso, CO

Built 2009 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 500

COUNTY ROAD 4175

Good

Over: GRAVEL ROAD

.1 MI S OF SH 133, Delta, CO

Built 1979 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 286

GLENEAGLES VILLAGE

Good

Over: BIG DRY CREEK

0.6 MI W OF SOUTH QUEBEC, Douglas, CO

Built 1985 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 4,091

SH 139 ML

Good

Over: LOWER HORSE DRAW

7 MI S OF 64 @ RANGELY, Rio Blanco, CO

Built 1990 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 620

CO RD 25/ELBERT RD

Good

Over: KIOWA CREEK TRIBUTARY

4.6 MI S OF HWY 86, Elbert, CO

Built 1998 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 1,410

DZURIS ROAD

Good

Over: BIG SANDY CREEK TRIB.

JUST E OF FAIRPLAY ROAD, El Paso, CO

Built 1989 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 53

HARRISVILLE RD

Good

Over: MUSTANG CREEK

0.8 MI WEST OF SIMLA HWY, El Paso, CO

Built 1988 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 124

HARRISVILLE RD

Good

Over: MUSTANG CREEK

1.2 MI EAST OF SIMLA HWY, El Paso, CO

Built 1988 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 82

ALTA VISTA ROAD

Good

Over: MUSTANG CREEK

0.4 MI E OF BERRIDGE RD, El Paso, CO

Built 1989 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 24

DAVENPORT ROAD

Good

Over: LITTLE HORSE CREEK

0.1 MI N OF CORONA ROAD, El Paso, CO

Built 1991 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 36

EURICH ROAD

Good

Over: BIG SANDY CREEK TRIB

1.87 MI N OF MCCLASKEY RD, El Paso, CO

Built 1995 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 60

SIMLA HIGHWAY

Good

Over: MUSTANG CREEK

1.2 MI N OF FUNK ROAD, El Paso, CO

Built 1994 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 30

RAMAH HIGHWAY

Good

Over: N. FORK HORSE CREEK

1.5 MI S HARRISVILLE ROAD, El Paso, CO

Built 1991 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 118

Timberline Road

Good

Over: Fossil Creek

0.2 Mi. N. Carpenter Rd., Larimer, CO

Built 2004 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 12,006

I 70 SERVICE RD

Good

Over: DRAW SR

0.75 MI W. OF KS BORDER, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1963 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 380

JOSEPH CIRCLE

Good

Over: TUCKER GULCH

1.5 BLOCKS SE OF HWY 93, Jefferson, CO

Built 2005 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 548

RAMP TO WB I-70B

Good

Over: LEACH CREEK

NE OF REDLANDS PKWY INTR, Mesa, CO

Built 1983 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 981

28.25 ROAD

Good

Over: GRAND VALLEY CANAL

0.25 MI N OF ORCHARD AVE, Mesa, CO

Built 1980 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 7,811

US 24 ML

Good

Over: LAKE CREEK

JUST N. JCT SH82, Lake, CO

Built 1993 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 4,200

SH 59 ML

Good

Over: DRAW

4.8 MI S OF JCT I70, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1990 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 400

US 385 ML

Good

Over: DRAW

9.2 MI S OF BURLINGTON, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1995 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 1,000

W FRONTAGE ROAD

Good

Over: SAND CREEK

FRONTAGE RD N OF AIRPORT, El Paso, CO

Built 1995 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 52,000

Showing 8,451-8,500 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.