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

CO RD 245

Poor

Over: FLORIDA RIVER

500 FT E OF CR 240, La Plata, CO

Built 1984 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 191

RAMP TO US 6 ML

Poor

Over: CLEAR CREEK R

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

Built 1959 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 41,000

SH 141 ML

Poor

Over: COLORADO RIVER

S EDGE OF CLIFTON, Mesa, CO

Built 1968 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 8,300

COUNTY ROAD CC.5

Poor

Over: ROCKY FORD CANAL

.1 MI E OF CR 22, Otero, CO

Built 1964 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 4

I 70 ML WBND

Poor

Over: SH 72 ML

WHEATRIDGE, Jefferson, CO

Built 1968 Load: 27.6 t ADT: 56,000

SH 6 ML

Poor

Over: SAND CREEK

VASQUEZ/56th AVE S OF 270, Adams, CO

Built 1940 Load: 27.6 t ADT: 40,000

SH 291 ML

Poor

Over: CR 150 ARKANSAS RIVER

1.3 MI NW OF SALIDA, Chaffee, CO

Built 1959 Load: 27.6 t ADT: 4,300

UNCOMPAHGRE ROAD

Poor

Over: SOUTH CANAL

1 M E OF US 550, Montrose, CO

Built 1981 Load: 27.7 t ADT: 57

SH 63 ML

Poor

Over: DRAW

19 MI NO OF JCT US 36, Washington, CO

Built 1954 Load: 27.7 t ADT: 530

County Road 4

Poor

Over: Denver Hudson Canal

0.1 Mi E of Co Rd 41, Weld, CO

Built 1996 Load: 27.8 t ADT: 1,382

88TH AVENUE

Poor

Over: LOST CREEK

1.3 MI E OF SCHUMAKER RD, Adams, CO

Built 1995 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 856

US 34 ML EBND

Poor

Over: RAMP TO US85 SB 8TH AVE

AT JCT US85, Weld, CO

Built 1968 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 15,000

SH 86 ML

Poor

Over: WEST BIJOU CREEK

9.0 MI E OF KIOWA, Elbert, CO

Built 1966 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 1,600

I 76 ML EBND

Poor

Over: I 70 ML WBND

IN ARVADA, Jefferson, CO

Built 1982 Load: 28.0 t ADT: 38,000

I 70 STRASBURG SPU

Poor

Over: UP RR

0.15 MI N OF JCT I 70 ML, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1962 Load: 28.0 t ADT: 4,400

County Road 91

Poor

Over: Empire Intake Canal

1.3 Mi S of US Hwy 34, Weld, CO

Built 1970 Load: 28.0 t ADT: 77

US 34 EB

Poor

Over: UP RR

S. SIDE OF GREELEY, Weld, CO

Built 1962 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 16,500

US 6 ML

Poor

Over: SH 121 ML

IN LAKEWOOD, Jefferson, CO

Built 1972 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 101,000

I 70 ML WBND

Poor

Over: WEST 20TH AVE

2 MI W OF JCT SH 58, Jefferson, CO

Built 1968 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 45,500

AVENUE F

Poor

Over: BEAR CREEK

S OF SH 74 IN KITTREDGE, Jefferson, CO

Built 1987 Load: 28.4 t ADT: 540

SH 69 ML

Poor

Over: DRAW

2 MILES NW OF GARDNER, Huerfano, CO

Built 1957 Load: 28.4 t ADT: 420

COUNTY ROAD 11.25

Poor

Over: CATLIN CANAL

.1 MI N OF SH 50, Otero, CO

Built 1950 Load: 28.4 t ADT: 73

COUNTY ROAD MM

Poor

Over: UNNAMED DRAIN

0.1 MI E OF CR 8, Prowers, CO

Built 1975 Load: 28.6 t ADT: 314

I 270 ML WBND

Poor

Over: SH 265 ML UP RR BNSF RR

IN COMMERCE CITY, Adams, CO

Built 1969 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 48,500

SH 83 ML

Poor

Over: WEST CHERRY CREEK

10.4 MI N OF DOUGLAS-EL, Douglas, CO

Built 1968 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 4,400

COUNTY ROAD SS

Poor

Over: TRIBUTARY OF AMITY CANAL

.2 MI W OF CR 8, Prowers, CO

Built 1986 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 59

CIRCLE DRIVE EB

Poor

Over: RDWY UP RR BNSF RR DITC

0.7 MI NE OF JCT I-25, El Paso, CO

Built 1963 Load: 28.9 t ADT: 16,339

SH 177 ML

Poor

Over: LITTLE DRY CREEK

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1965 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 29,000

I 70 ML WBND

Poor

Over: SH 391 ML

WHEATRIDGE, Jefferson, CO

Built 1967 Load: 29.1 t ADT: 57,000

CIRCLE DR WB

Poor

Over: RDWY UP RR BNSF RR DITC

0.7 MI NE OF JCT I25, El Paso, CO

Built 1963 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 16,248

COUNTY ROAD 19

Poor

Over: GRANADA CREEK

4 MI N OF CR N, Prowers, CO

Built 1930 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 29

I 70 ML EBND

Poor

Over: SH 391 ML

WHEATRIDGE, Jefferson, CO

Built 1967 Load: 29.4 t ADT: 57,000

RAMP TO I 70 EBND

Poor

Over: I 70 ML R

END OF SH 58 @ I 70, Jefferson, CO

Built 1968 Load: 29.4 t ADT: 17,000

CR J25 (Fairview)

Poor

Over: TONGUE CREEK

.3 MI W OF SH 65, Delta, CO

Built 1984 Load: 29.4 t ADT: 267

COUNTY ROAD 6

Poor

Over: AMITY CANAL

.6 MI N OF US 50, Prowers, CO

Built 1988 Load: 29.4 t ADT: 245

FDR 360

Poor

Over: SOUTH FORK

1.2 MI SW OF SOUTH FORK, Rio Grande, CO

Built 1976 Load: 29.5 t ADT: 738

US 85 ML SBND

Poor

Over: SOUTH PLATTE RIVER

S. EDGE OF EVANS, Weld, CO

Built 1955 Load: 29.5 t ADT: 12,500

I 70 ML WBND

Poor

Over: COUNTY ROAD 197

7.4 MI W OF DEERTRAIL SPU, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1964 Load: 29.5 t ADT: 6,000

CIRCLE DR WB

Poor

Over: FOUNTAIN CREEK

0.5 MI E OF I-25, El Paso, CO

Built 1963 Load: 29.6 t ADT: 16,248

I 70 ML EBND

Poor

Over: COUNTY ROAD 197

4.9 MI E OF JCT US 36 (BY, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1964 Load: 29.6 t ADT: 6,000

COUNTY ROAD 38

Poor

Over: MIDDLE BIJOU CREEK

2.7 MI W OF US 40, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1987 Load: 29.7 t ADT: 146

SH 121 ML SBND

Poor

Over: US 287 ML RR SPUR

IN BROOMFIELD, Broomfield, CO

Built 1972 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 25,000

COUNTY ROAD 67

Poor

Over: SOUTH PLATTE RIVER

5 MI NORTH OF DECKERS, Jefferson, CO

Built 1990 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 725

CR107 (Liggett RD)

Poor

Over: I 25 ML

0.5 MI N CASTLE ROCK BUS., Douglas, CO

Built 1964 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 2,731

SH 52 ML

Poor

Over: DENVER HUDSON CANAL

3.5 MI E OF JCT I-76, Weld, CO

Built 1952 Load: 30.0 t ADT: 2,900

SH 88 ML

Poor

Over: BEAR CREEK

0.1 MI S of JCT US285, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1966 Load: 30.0 t ADT: 21,000

23RD AVENUE

Poor

Over: I 25 ML

IN DENVER, Denver, CO

Built 1952 Load: 30.0 t ADT: 6,956

US 6 ML

Poor

Over: COLORADO RIVER

IN PALISADE, Mesa, CO

Built 1949 Load: 30.0 t ADT: 2,900

3rd Ave WB

Poor

Over: GW RR

.15 Mi W of Jct 119, Boulder, CO

Built 1974 Load: 30.0 t ADT: 9,116

I 270 ML WBND

Poor

Over: SERVICE RD BNSF RR

IN COMMERCE CITY, Adams, CO

Built 1970 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 48,500

Showing 8,801-8,850 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.