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

PLATTE AVENUE

Fair

Over: SHOOKS RUN

JUST E OF N CORONA, El Paso, CO

Built 1902 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 18,034

UNION BLVD

Fair

Over: TEMPLETON GAP FLOODWAY

0.6 MI N OF FILLMORE ST, El Paso, CO

Built 1979 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 43,196

BIJOU STREET

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

0.4 MI W OF ACADEMY BLVD., El Paso, CO

Built 1975 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 5,271

ACADEMY BLVD

Fair

Over: PLATTE AVE

ACADEMY OVER PLATTE AVE, El Paso, CO

Built 1965 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 45,596

ACADEMY BLVD

Fair

Over: TEMPLETON GAP BASIN

300 FT S OF AUSTIN BLUFFS, El Paso, CO

Built 1972 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 55,556

PALMER PARK BLVD

Fair

Over: SAND CREEK

0.2 MI W OF POWERS BLVD., El Paso, CO

Built 1970 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 13,644

EB LINCOLN AVENUE

Fair

Over: HAPPY CANYON CREEK

2.5 MI EAST OF I25, Douglas, CO

Built 1994 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 19,541

WB LINCOLN AVENUE

Fair

Over: HAPPY CANYON CREEK

2.5 MI EAST OF I25, Douglas, CO

Built 1994 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 17,562

RED ROCK DRIVE

Fair

Over: WEST PLUM CREEK

.15 MI W OF PERRY PARK RD, Douglas, CO

Built 1985 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 3,339

US 6 ML

Fair

Over: MCINTYRE GULCH

IN LAKEWOOD, Jefferson, CO

Built 1942 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 101,000

US 40 ML

Fair

Over: STORM FLOW CULVERT

1.3 MI E OF JCT I 225, Adams, CO

Built 1988 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 21,000

Drake Road

Fair

Over: Larimer Co. Canal No. 2

0.1 Mi E of Meadowlark Av, Larimer, CO

Built 1935 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 24,414

MACKENZIE AVE.

Fair

Over: ARKANSAS RIVER

.6 MI N OF SH 115, Fremont, CO

Built 1966 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 3,980

US 24 ML

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

0.5 MI E OF VONA, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1928 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 350

SH 9 ML

Fair

Over: MIDDLE FK S.PLATTE RVR

9.8 MI SW OF FAIRPLAY, Park, CO

Built 1951 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 2,300

COUNTY ROAD 5

Fair

Over: CEBOLLA CREEK

15.9 MI NE OF LAKE CITY, Hinsdale, CO

Built 1959 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 55

US 24 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

1.8 MI SE OF LAKE GEORGE, Park, CO

Built 1936 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 3,900

US 50 ML

Fair

Over: GUNNISON/BLUE MESA RES

3 MI E/SAPINERO/MID BRIDG, Gunnison, CO

Built 1963 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 2,800

COUNTY ROAD 47

Fair

Over: SANTANTA CANAL

.6 MI S OF COUNTY ROAD C, Kiowa, CO

Built 1990 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 7

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: I 25 ML

9 MI NORTH OF JCT SH 165, Pueblo, CO

Built 1965 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 267

COUNTY RD 75.0

Fair

Over: APISHAPA RIVER

.1 MI NE OF CR 71, Las Animas, CO

Built 1930 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 17

Washington Avenue

Fair

Over: Greeley Loveland Canal

100 Ft N of 1st St, Larimer, CO

Built 1922 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,989

County Road 16

Fair

Over: Home Supply Ditch

0.2 Mi E of Co Rd 23, Larimer, CO

Built 1969 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 749

I 25 ML NBND

Fair

Over: SULL CREEK

1.7 MI NO OF SH10-WLSNBRG, Huerfano, CO

Built 1963 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 4,650

COUNTY RD. 27TH LN

Fair

Over: ST.CHARLES RIVER

5.8 MI SE OF PUEBLO, Pueblo, CO

Built 1923 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,251

BERKLEY + SMALL AV

Fair

Over: BESSEMER DITCH

Inter Berkley/Small, Pueblo, CO

Built 1927 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 2,493

LAKE AVE.

Fair

Over: BESSEMER DITCH

INTERSECTION LAKE/ADAMS, Pueblo, CO

Built 1933 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 403

Rock Creek Pkwy.

Fair

Over: Rock Creek

0.3 Mi N of Coalton D, Boulder, CO

Built 1999 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 11,360

88TH AVENUE

Fair

Over: SOUTH PLATTE RIVER

1.36 MI W OF I-76, Adams, CO

Built 1960 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 25,590

County Road 8

Fair

Over: Lupton Bottom Ditch

0.6 Mi N of Co Rd 23, Weld, CO

Built 1970 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 215

County Road 33

Fair

Over: Platte Valley Canal

0.4 Mi N of Co Rd 38, Weld, CO

Built 1968 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 518

County Road 52

Fair

Over: Loveland Greeley Canal

0.3 Mi E of St Hwy 257, Weld, CO

Built 1967 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 49

COUNTY ROAD 21

Fair

Over: JAROSA CREEK

1 MI S OF CR E.5, Costilla, CO

Built 2005 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 58

SH 72 ML

Fair

Over: SOUTH ST VRAIN CREEK

3.8 MI NORTH OF WARD, Boulder, CO

Built 1959 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 1,100

NB RAMP TO I70/I76

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK R

IN WHEATRIDGE, Jefferson, CO

Built 1980 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 59,000

HODGEN ROAD

Fair

Over: CHERRY CREEK

4 MI E OF SH 83, El Paso, CO

Built 1985 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 7,913

US 40 ML

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK

W. BASE OF FLOYD HILL, Clear Creek, CO

Built 1973 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 2,100

COUNTY ROAD 31

Fair

Over: GRAND VALLEY CANAL

.2 MI N OF RD E, Mesa, CO

Built 1949 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 19

County Road 17

Fair

Over: Lay Creek

5.3 Mi North of US Hwy 40, Moffat, CO

Built 1955 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 35

COUNTY ROAD KK

Fair

Over: ROCKY FORD HIGHLINE CANA

.2 MI E OF CR 1, Otero, CO

Built 1969 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 21

County Road 43

Fair

Over: New Cache La Poudre Cana

0.7 Mi N of St Hwy 392, Weld, CO

Built 1960 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 570

County Road 66

Fair

Over: Sand Creek

0.1 Mi E of Co Rd 43, Weld, CO

Built 1994 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 615

County Road 27

Fair

Over: S.P. RR

11.3 Mi N of St Hwy 131, Routt, CO

Built 1975 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 802

I 25 ML SBND

Fair

Over: CO.RD 82 BUCKEYE ROAD

11.3 MI SOUTH OF WYOMING, Larimer, CO

Built 1963 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 12,500

US 138 ML

Fair

Over: LOW LINE DITCH

1.8 MI NE OF JCT US 6 STE, Logan, CO

Built 1955 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 3,600

COUNTY ROAD 371

Fair

Over: ARKANSAS RIVER

.2 MI E OF US 24, Chaffee, CO

Built 1998 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 200

UNION AVE

Fair

Over: SOUTH PLATTE RIVER

0.3 MI W OF SANTA FE DR, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1965 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 977

I 70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: WEST TEN MILE CREEK

@ COPPER MOUNTAIN, Summit, CO

Built 1977 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 10,000

I 70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: US 40 WBND

2.5 MI E OF AIRPORT BLVD, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1957 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 17,000

US 36 ML

Fair

Over: E FORK OF W PLUM BUSH CR

IN LAST CHANCE, Washington, CO

Built 1938 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 560

Showing 1,151-1,200 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.