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 74E

Fair

Over: South Lone Pine Creek

9.9 Mi E of Co Rd 68C, Larimer, CO

Built 1967 Load: 22.1 t ADT: 2,242

Rustic Road

Fair

Over: Cache La Poudre River

Just S of CR14, Larimer, CO

Built 1959 Load: 22.1 t ADT: 81

STONEHENGE WAY

Fair

Over: SULPHUR GULCH

.05 MI S OF MAIN STREET, Douglas, CO

Built 1972 Load: 22.1 t ADT: 1,585

NEALE AVE

Fair

Over: ROARING FORK RIVER

2 BLK E OF HWY 82, Pitkin, CO

Built 1985 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 1,596

PEORIA STREET

Fair

Over: HIGHLINE CANAL

0.5 MI S OF 6TH AVE, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1987 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 13,515

US 287 ML

Fair

Over: BIG THOMPSON RIVER

0.4 MI N OF JCT SH 402, Larimer, CO

Built 1950 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 18,000

US 34 ML

Fair

Over: UPPR PLATTE BEAVER CANAL

6.1 MI E OF JCT SH 52, Morgan, CO

Built 1940 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 4,300

COUNTY ROAD 122

Fair

Over: TURKEY CREEK

JUST SOUTH OF US285, Jefferson, CO

Built 1948 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 1,204

I270 WBND ML

Fair

Over: I76 RAMP SH224 CLEAR CRK

I25/US36 HOV PHASE II, Adams, CO

Built 1998 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 37,500

US 6 ML

Fair

Over: ELK CREEK

4.3 MI E OF JCT SH 119, Jefferson, CO

Built 1950 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 7,500

COUNTY ROAD 1A

Fair

Over: OAK CREEK

0.95 MI S OF COTOPAXI, Fremont, CO

Built 1984 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 839

County Road 243

Fair

Over: Main Elk Creek

5.5 mi N of CR 245, Garfield, CO

Built 1957 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 44

SH 141 ML

Fair

Over: GUNNISON RIVER

WHITEWATER, Mesa, CO

Built 1958 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 540

COUNTY ROAD EE

Fair

Over: ROCKY FORD HIGHLINE CANA

.2 MI E OF CR 14, Otero, CO

Built 1975 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 34

COUNTY ROAD 25

Fair

Over: GRANADA CREEK

1 MI N OF CR X, Prowers, CO

Built 1975 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 27

JIG ROAD

Fair

Over: COAL CREEK

7.3 MI NW OF MONTROSE, Montrose, CO

Built 1982 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 87

County Road 56

Fair

Over: Elkhead Creek

2.5 M E of Moffat Co Line, Routt, CO

Built 1950 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 21

AIRPORT BLVD

Fair

Over: EAST TOLLGATE CREEK

0.3 MI N OF ALAMEDA AVE, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1981 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 32,839

US 6 ML

Fair

Over: PAWNEE CANAL

18.2 MI NO OF JCT I-76, Logan, CO

Built 1966 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 1,000

QUITMAN ST

Fair

Over: WEIR GULCH

NORTH OF 1ST AVENUE, Denver, CO

Built 1976 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 298

COUNTY ROAD 67

Fair

Over: SOUTH PLATTE RIVER

.1 MI N OF DECKERS, Jefferson, CO

Built 1988 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 849

I 70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: BOX ELDER CREEK

1 MI E OF WATKINS INTERCH, Adams, CO

Built 1960 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 13,000

I 70 DEERTRAIL SPU

Fair

Over: DRAW

IN DEERTRAIL, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1965 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 940

SH 82 ML

Fair

Over: CO RD CASTLE CREEK

ASPEN, Pitkin, CO

Built 1961 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 25,000

I25 ML

Fair

Over: CHEY CRK/NV AVE/TEJON

IN COLORADO SPRINGS, El Paso, CO

Built 2002 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 88,000

MARILYN PLACE

Fair

Over: BESSEMER DITCH

CORNER OF MARILYN/ ADAMS, Pueblo, CO

Built 1939 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 679

County Road 22

Fair

Over: Dove Creek Canal Reach 1

Yellow Jacket Colorado, Montezuma, CO

Built 1985 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 20

County Road 20

Fair

Over: Dove Creek Canal Reach 1

Yellow Jacket Colorado, Montezuma, CO

Built 1985 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 30

SPRING CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

12.5 MI. N.E. ALMONT CO., Gunnison, CO

Built 1965 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 146

160TH AVENUE

Fair

Over: LOST CREEK

0.3 MI E OF CONVERSE ROAD, Adams, CO

Built 1983 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 69

160TH AVENUE

Fair

Over: COMANCHE CREEK

1.3 MI E OF HEADLIGHT RD, Adams, CO

Built 1955 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 42

SH 7 ML

Fair

Over: BEAR CANYON CREEK

JCT 157 & ARAPAHOE, Boulder, CO

Built 1985 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 29,000

COUNTY ROAD O.90

Fair

Over: NORTH FORK GUNNISON RVR

W ENTRANCE TO PAONIA, Delta, CO

Built 1984 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 4,267

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: RR SALT CREEK

0.3 MI. W. JCT. SH 6 MACK, Mesa, CO

Built 1971 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 4,200

SH 149 ML

Fair

Over: CEBOLLA CREEK

17.1 MI S. OF SH 50, Gunnison, CO

Built 1958 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 560

County Road 104

Fair

Over: Little Red Wash

6.4 Mi West of US Hwy 40, Moffat, CO

Built 1948 Load: 22.4 t

County Road 5

Fair

Over: Highline Canal

0.6 Mi. No. of Co. Rd. 26, Sedgwick, CO

Built 1986 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 16

County Road 8

Fair

Over: Fulton Ditch

0.1 Mi E of Co Rd 29, Weld, CO

Built 1992 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 943

County Road 43

Fair

Over: Latham Ditch

100 Ft N of Co Rd 54, Weld, CO

Built 1995 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 20

County Road 1813

Fair

Over: Blue River

26 mi NW of Silverthorne, Summit, CO

Built 1938 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 10

HAMILTON CREEK RD

Fair

Over: BLUE RIVER

.4 MILE EAST OF HIGHWAY 9, Summit, CO

Built 1980 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 483

144TH AVENUE

Fair

Over: FULTON LATERAL

JUST E OF POTOMAC, Adams, CO

Built 1998 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 2,597

80TH AVENUE

Fair

Over: CROKE CANAL

.28 MI E OF KIPLING ST, Jefferson, CO

Built 1930 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 16,690

US 287 ML

Fair

Over: LARAMIE POUDRE CANAL

0.1 MI N OF JCT SH 14, Larimer, CO

Built 1965 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 6,500

US 6 ML

Fair

Over: SOUTH PLATTE RIVER

12.7 MI SW OF STERLING, Logan, CO

Built 1966 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 1,000

US 24 ML

Fair

Over: SAND CREEK

2 MI W OF SEIBERT, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1933 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 21

COUNTY ROAD 43

Fair

Over: I 70 ML

7.6 MI. E. OF JCT SH 57, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1966 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 98

23RD AVENUE

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK

JUST N OF COLORADO BLVD, Clear Creek, CO

Built 1989 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 566

BUFFALO ST

Fair

Over: LITTLES CREEK

AT WEST STERNE PKWY, Arapahoe, CO

Built 2000 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 1,819

COUNTY ROAD 23

Fair

Over: GRAND VALLEY CANAL

.9 MI N OF RD I, Mesa, CO

Built 1955 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 1,950

Showing 851-900 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.