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

SINTON ROAD

Fair

Over: S.DOUGLAS CREEK

0.6 MI N OF FILLMORE, El Paso, CO

Built 1989 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 2,475

AIRPORT ROAD

Fair

Over: SAND CREEK

0.8 MI E OF ACADEMY BLVD., El Paso, CO

Built 1975 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 16,988

HOOKER ST

Fair

Over: WEIR GULCH

AT 3RD AVENUE, Denver, CO

Built 1979 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 953

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: I 25 ML AND RAMPS

AT I 25 AND I 70, Denver, CO

Built 1991 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 60,500

THORNTON PKWY 94TH

Fair

Over: I 25 ML

IN THORNTON, Adams, CO

Built 1985 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 32,259

I 70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: STAFFORD GULCH

2.5 MI E OF EAGLE SUMMIT, Summit, CO

Built 1977 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 10,000

I 70 ML

Fair

Over: LENA GULCH

0.7 MI E OF W COLFAX, Jefferson, CO

Built 1968 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 87,000

ADAMS AVENUE

Fair

Over: OIL CREEK DITCH

0.1 MI W OF MACKENZIE, Fremont, CO

Built 1988 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 29

KEN CARYL AVE

Fair

Over: MASSEY DRAW

.1 MI E OF GARRISON, Jefferson, CO

Built 1996 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 12,694

SH 94 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

16.4 MI E OF JCT US 24, El Paso, CO

Built 1982 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 3,700

US 50 ML

Fair

Over: HOWARD CREEK

11 MI SE OF SALIDA, Fremont, CO

Built 1934 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 3,600

County Road 74E

Fair

Over: N Frk Cache La Poudre Rv

1.9 MIi E of Co Rd 37, Larimer, CO

Built 1953 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 2,655

County Road V

Fair

Over: Riverside Canal

0.6 Mi E of Co Rd 17, Morgan, CO

Built 1987 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 79

COUNTY RD-ROUSE RD

Fair

Over: I 25 ML

9.2 MI S OF SH10-WLSNBRG., Huerfano, CO

Built 1969 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 177

I 25 ML NBND

Fair

Over: APISHAPA RIVER

17.9 MI NO OF JCT SH 239, Las Animas, CO

Built 1969 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 6,000

COUNTY ROAD 8

Fair

Over: FT. LYON CANAL

JUST N OF CR VV, Prowers, CO

Built 1965 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 329

COUNTY ROAD D

Fair

Over: NORTH BEAR CREEK

1 MI E OF SH 89, Prowers, CO

Built 1965 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 42

COUNTY ROAD 9N

Fair

Over: FARMERS UNION LATERAL

AT CR 5E AND 9N, Rio Grande, CO

Built 1962 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 50

COUNTY ROAD 5W

Fair

Over: RIO GRANDE CANAL

JUST SOUTH OF CR 7N, Rio Grande, CO

Built 1962 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 40

County Road 55

Fair

Over: Sand Creek

0.9 Mi. No. of Co. Rd. 8, Sedgwick, CO

Built 1991 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 14

14TH STREET

Fair

Over: ANIMAS RIVER

IN TOWN OF SILVERTON, San Juan, CO

Built 1992 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 265

County Road 39

Fair

Over: Pierce Lateral Canal

0.5 Mi N of Co Rd 86, Weld, CO

Built 1960 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 107

County Road 78

Fair

Over: Larimer and Weld Canal

0.8 Mi E of Co Rd 27, Weld, CO

Built 1993 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 200

COUNTY ROAD 4A

Fair

Over: SAN MIGUEL RIVER

.2 MI N OF CR 90, Montrose, CO

Built 1985 Load: 23.1 t ADT: 586

US 40 ML

Fair

Over: LAY CREEK

13.2 MI EAST OF MAYBELL, Moffat, CO

Built 1960 Load: 23.1 t ADT: 940

SH 14 ML

Fair

Over: CROW CREEK

10.5 MI E OF JCT US 85, Weld, CO

Built 1956 Load: 23.1 t ADT: 2,300

55th Street

Fair

Over: Empson Ditch

250 Ft N of Penn. Ave., Boulder, CO

Built 1996 Load: 23.1 t ADT: 9,146

US 34 ML

Fair

Over: 23RD AVE

IN GREELEY, Weld, CO

Built 1974 Load: 23.1 t ADT: 38,000

COUNTY ROAD 194

Fair

Over: KIOWA CREEK

.6 MI E OF COUNTY RD 29, Elbert, CO

Built 1964 Load: 23.1 t ADT: 418

US 50 ML

Fair

Over: STOUT CREEK

13 MI SE OF SALIDA, Fremont, CO

Built 1934 Load: 23.1 t ADT: 3,600

US 50 ML EBND

Fair

Over: ARKANSAS RIVER

0.21 MI E OF JCT SH 194, Bent, CO

Built 1974 Load: 23.1 t ADT: 2,150

SH 101 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

7 MI SO OF JCT US 50, Bent, CO

Built 1937 Load: 23.1 t ADT: 250

I 25 ML NBND

Fair

Over: FRONTAGE ROAD

9.9 MI NO OF JCT SH 239, Las Animas, CO

Built 1969 Load: 23.1 t ADT: 6,000

COUNTY ROAD DD

Fair

Over: OTERO CANAL

.1 MI W OF SH 71, Otero, CO

Built 1965 Load: 23.1 t ADT: 192

US 160 ML

Fair

Over: ARCHULETA CREEK

21 miles West of Kim, Las Animas, CO

Built 1934 Load: 23.1 t ADT: 130

KINNIKINNICK ROAD

Fair

Over: GORE CREEK

0.1 MI SE OF FRONTAGE RD, Eagle, CO

Built 1983 Load: 23.1 t ADT: 876

COUNTY ROAD 112

Fair

Over: ROCK CREEK

4.9 MI SE OF ALAMOSA, Alamosa, CO

Built 1990 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 121

80TH AVENUE

Fair

Over: FARMERS HIGHLINE CANAL

.15 MI E OF KIPLING ST, Jefferson, CO

Built 1930 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 16,690

21ST STREET

Fair

Over: FOUNTAIN CREEK

JUST N OF US 24, El Paso, CO

Built 1958 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 10,578

US 36 ML

Fair

Over: FOUR MILE CANYON CREEK

28th ST in BOULDER, Boulder, CO

Built 1957 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 16,000

US 36 ML

Fair

Over: SUPPLY DITCH

IN LYONS, Boulder, CO

Built 1972 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 15,000

SH 9 ML

Fair

Over: I 70 ML

AT FRISCO, Summit, CO

Built 1971 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 24,000

RAMP TO US 36 EBND

Fair

Over: I 70 ML

1.4 MI E OF JCT SH 79, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1959 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 1,100

US 85 ML

Fair

Over: FOUNTAIN CREEK

S. EDGE OF COLO. SPRINGS, El Paso, CO

Built 1965 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 22,000

US 50 SERVICE RD

Fair

Over: GUNNISON RVR SR

W. SIDE OF GUNNISON, Gunnison, CO

Built 1926 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 1,082

US 50 SERVICE RD

Fair

Over: GUNNISON RIVER

W. SIDE OF GUNNISON, Gunnison, CO

Built 1926 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 845

US 50 ML

Fair

Over: HAYDEN CREEK

18 MI SE OF SALIDA, Fremont, CO

Built 1936 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 3,600

County Road U

Fair

Over: Kiowa Creek

0.7 Mi E of Co Rd 3, Morgan, CO

Built 1988 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 68

County Road 6

Fair

Over: Denver Hudson Canal

1.8 Mi E of Co Rd 55, Weld, CO

Built 1982 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 106

WINDING ROAD 611

Fair

Over: GURLEY DITCH

14.5 MI. SSE NORWOOD CO., San Miguel, CO

Built 1976 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 11

Showing 951-1,000 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.