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 6

Poor

Over: ALAMOSA RIVER

1.0 MI N OF CR 255, Conejos, CO

Built 1968 Load: 6.6 t ADT: 102

County Road 83

Poor

Over: Duck Creek

0.9 Mi N of Co Rd 64, Logan, CO

Built 1993 Load: 6.6 t ADT: 3

COUNTY ROAD 6

Poor

Over: ROCKY FORD HIGHLINE CANA

.3 MI S OF CR HH.5, Otero, CO

Built 1950 Load: 6.7 t

COUNTY RD 75.0

Poor

Over: LEITENSDORFER ARROYO

1.4 MI S OF HOEHNE RD, Las Animas, CO

Built 1950 Load: 7.1 t ADT: 70

COUNTY ROAD 28

Poor

Over: FORT LYON STORAGE CANAL

.1 MI N CR 808, Otero, CO

Built 1982 Load: 7.1 t ADT: 10

COUNTY ROAD 191

Poor

Over: ARKANSAS RIVER

.3 MI E of SH 291, Chaffee, CO

Built 1908 Load: 7.3 t

COUNTY ROAD G

Poor

Over: RIO GRANDE RIVER

14 MI E OF SH 285, Conejos, CO

Built 1892 Load: 7.3 t ADT: 37

COUNTY ROAD 749

Poor

Over: EAST RIVER DIVER. CANAL

.4 MI W OF SH 135, Gunnison, CO

Built 1950 Load: 7.3 t ADT: 16

COUNTY RD 22.0

Poor

Over: SAN FRANCISCO CREEK

.1 MI E OF CR 101.8, Las Animas, CO

Built 1930 Load: 7.3 t ADT: 8

COUNTY RD 79.0

Poor

Over: FEEDER DITCH

.2 MI S OF CR 38, Las Animas, CO

Built 1945 Load: 7.3 t ADT: 47

CONVERSE ROAD

Poor

Over: LOST CREEK TRIBUTARY

0.2 MI S OF 88TH AVE, Adams, CO

Built 1960 Load: 7.6 t ADT: 118

COUNTY ROAD 24

Poor

Over: ARKANSAS RIVER

18 MI W LAMAR CO., Bent, CO

Built 1948 Load: 7.9 t ADT: 173

COUNTY RD 105.5

Poor

Over: THOMPSON CREEK

1.1 MI SE OF CR 12.5, Las Animas, CO

Built 1930 Load: 7.9 t ADT: 13

CO RD 7

Poor

Over: OHIO CREEK

9.5 MI NW OF GUNNISON, Gunnison, CO

Built 1942 Load: 8.1 t ADT: 45

COUNTY ROAD M

Poor

Over: CONEJOS RIVER

.3 MI NE OF CR 19, Conejos, CO

Built 1987 Load: 8.3 t ADT: 118

County Road 91

Poor

Over: Trib.N.Fork Frenchman Ck

0.8 Mi N of Co Rd 22, Logan, CO

Built 1940 Load: 8.7 t ADT: 65

County Road 26

Poor

Over: N. Sterling Inlet Canal

0.1 Mi East of Co Rd 29, Logan, CO

Built 1940 Load: 9.0 t ADT: 73

COUNTY ROAD HH.5

Poor

Over: ROCKY FORD HIGHLINE CANA

.3 MI E OF CR 4, Otero, CO

Built 1970 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 49

CO RD 10

Poor

Over: GUNNISON RIVER

5.5 MI NE OF GUNNISON, Gunnison, CO

Built 1973 Load: 9.2 t ADT: 211

COUNTY ROAD 16

Poor

Over: RIO SAN ANTONIO

1.1 MI S OF CR G, Conejos, CO

Built 1976 Load: 9.4 t ADT: 59

COUNTY ROAD 28

Poor

Over: CONEJOS RIVER

1.5 MI N OF CRX, Conejos, CO

Built 1947 Load: 9.5 t ADT: 68

I 70 ML EBND

Poor

Over: POLK CREEK

3.8 MI WEST OF EAGLE-SUMM, Eagle, CO

Built 1978 Load: 9.7 t ADT: 10,000

COUNTY ROAD G

Poor

Over: BOB CREEK

.2 MI E OF RD 12, Crowley, CO

Built 1977 Load: 9.9 t ADT: 124

WINDERMERE ST

Poor

Over: HIGHLINE CANAL

0.93 MI S OF RIDGE RD, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1964 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 299

County Road 27

Poor

Over: Illinois River

0.6 Mi N of St Hwy 125, Jackson, CO

Built 1980 Load: 10.2 t ADT: 108

COUNTY ROAD 36

Poor

Over: FORT LYON STORAGE CANAL

4 MI NW OF TIMBER LANE RD, Otero, CO

Built 1960 Load: 10.3 t ADT: 10

COUNTY RD 22.0

Poor

Over: SAN ISIDRO CREEK

1 MI W OF CR 107.7, Las Animas, CO

Built 1967 Load: 10.4 t ADT: 10

COUNTY ROAD 397

Poor

Over: ARKANSAS RIVER

AT GRANITE, Chaffee, CO

Built 1911 Load: 10.5 t ADT: 85

COUNTY RD 185.0

Poor

Over: WEST CARRIZO CREEK

5 MI S OF SH 160, Las Animas, CO

Built 1939 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 17

RAMP TO I 25 NBND

Poor

Over: US 6 ML

JCT I25 + SH6 IN DENVER, Denver, CO

Built 1989 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 107,500

County Road 52

Poor

Over: N. Sterling Outlet Canal

1.8 Mi E of Co Rd 45, Logan, CO

Built 1985 Load: 11.1 t ADT: 33

CR 120/PORTLAND RD

Poor

Over: BEAVER CREEK

3.5 MI E OF PORTLAND, Fremont, CO

Built 1923 Load: 11.6 t ADT: 35

JUNIPER VILLAGE DR

Poor

Over: SAN MIGUEL RIVER

.5 MI S OF SH 145, San Miguel, CO

Built 1930 Load: 11.6 t ADT: 166

COUNTY ROAD H

Poor

Over: MANCOS RIVER

2.5 MI SW OF MANCOS, Montezuma, CO

Built 1965 Load: 11.8 t ADT: 188

SH 96 ML

Poor

Over: BOB CREEK CANAL

BOONE, Pueblo, CO

Built 1929 Load: 11.8 t ADT: 1,400

56TH AVENUE

Poor

Over: COMANCHE CREEK

0.3 MI E OF STRASBURG RD, Adams, CO

Built 1975 Load: 12.1 t ADT: 80

US 6 ML

Poor

Over: ELK CREEK

IN NEW CASTLE, Garfield, CO

Built 1933 Load: 12.2 t ADT: 2,200

US 24 ML

Poor

Over: DRAW

0.1 MI W of 71N, Lincoln, CO

Built 1934 Load: 12.3 t ADT: 5,200

IRR# COUNTY RD 122

Poor

Over: LA PLATA RIVER

1.4 MI N SH 140, La Plata, CO

Built 1930 Load: 12.4 t ADT: 92

WATER STREET

Poor

Over: EAGLE RIVER/RR

0.1 MI W OF HIGHWAY 24, Eagle, CO

Built 1934 Load: 12.6 t ADT: 231

I 70 FRONTAGE RD

Poor

Over: CLEAR CREEK SR

4.7 MI E OF JCT SH 103, Clear Creek, CO

Built 1936 Load: 12.8 t ADT: 47,000

COUNTY RD 105.5

Poor

Over: GURULE ARROYO

4 MI SE OF CR 12.5, Las Animas, CO

Built 1945 Load: 12.8 t ADT: 14

STRASBURG ROAD

Poor

Over: KIOWA CREEK

0.6 MI S OF ROAD 144, Adams, CO

Built 1960 Load: 13.1 t ADT: 299

COUNTY ROAD 162

Poor

Over: CHALK CREEK

AT ST. ELMO/60 FT S CR267, Chaffee, CO

Built 1953 Load: 13.4 t ADT: 102

COUNTY RD 57.7

Poor

Over: REILLY CANYON CREEK

1.0 MI N OF SH 12, Las Animas, CO

Built 1926 Load: 13.4 t ADT: 592

COUNTY ROAD HH.5

Poor

Over: APISHAPA RIVER

.2 MI E OF CR 5, Otero, CO

Built 1918 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 22

COUNTY ROAD 395

Poor

Over: HARDSCRABBLE CREEK

.2 MI NE OF SH 96, Custer, CO

Built 1935 Load: 14.0 t ADT: 22

COUNTY RD 105.5

Poor

Over: TRIB. SAN FRANCISCO CRK

1 MI W OF CR 12.5, Las Animas, CO

Built 1960 Load: 14.0 t ADT: 25

UNION AVENUE

Poor

Over: UPRR BNSF AR

IN CITY OF PUEBLO, Pueblo, CO

Built 1925 Load: 14.2 t ADT: 6,216

COUNTY ROAD 7

Poor

Over: FT. LYON CANAL

.3 MI N OF CR UU, Prowers, CO

Built 1979 Load: 14.3 t ADT: 28

Showing 8,551-8,600 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.