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

US 36 ML

Fair

Over: LITTLE COMANCHE CREEK

0.5 MI E OF STRASBURG, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1932 Load: 26.4 t ADT: 3,400

SH 133 ML

Fair

Over: MUDDY CREEK

9 MI SW OF MCCLURE PASS, Gunnison, CO

Built 1978 Load: 26.4 t ADT: 930

County Road 48.5

Fair

Over: Thompson and Platte Di

1.4 Mi E of Co Rd 17, Weld, CO

Built 1991 Load: 26.4 t ADT: 206

County Road CC

Fair

Over: N. Fork Arikaree River

0.4 Mi No. of Co Rd 0, Washington, CO

Built 1990 Load: 26.4 t ADT: 76

SH 63 ML

Fair

Over: SOUTH PLATTE RIVER

2.7MI N OF JCT I76, Logan, CO

Built 1982 Load: 26.5 t ADT: 2,000

SH 157 ML

Fair

Over: BNSF RR

IN BOULDER, Boulder, CO

Built 1988 Load: 26.5 t ADT: 34,000

I 25 ML

Fair

Over: 62ND AVE

0.6 MI SO OF JCT I-76, Adams, CO

Built 1993 Load: 26.5 t ADT: 196,000

I76 AR TO CO RD 2

Fair

Over: BNSF RR AR

E. SIDE LOCHBUIE INT., Adams, CO

Built 1981 Load: 26.5 t ADT: 23,000

LAS VEGAS ST

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

2.46 MI N OF HWY 85-87, El Paso, CO

Built 1981 Load: 26.5 t ADT: 1,574

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: HILLSIDE

GLENWOOD CANYON, Garfield, CO

Built 1988 Load: 26.5 t ADT: 8,500

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: WEST BIJOU CREEK

0.5 MI W OF JCT US 36 (BY, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1993 Load: 26.5 t ADT: 7,500

I 70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: WEST BIJOU CREEK

5.3 MI E OF STRASBURG SPU, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1993 Load: 26.5 t ADT: 7,500

I 70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: LITTLE SALT WASH

O.5 MI W OF JCT SH 340, Mesa, CO

Built 1970 Load: 26.5 t ADT: 5,500

7TH ST_OLD SH 196

Fair

Over: WILEY DRAINAGE DITCH

0.5 MI WEST OF CR 3, Prowers, CO

Built 1956 Load: 26.5 t ADT: 1,880

IRR# SH 140 ML

Fair

Over: LA PLATA RIVER

9 MI NORTH OF RED MESA, La Plata, CO

Built 1958 Load: 26.5 t ADT: 1,500

County Road 39

Fair

Over: Platte Valley Canal

0.7 Mi N of Co Rd 40, Weld, CO

Built 1988 Load: 26.5 t ADT: 2,244

County Road 70

Fair

Over: New Cache LaPoudre Canal

200 Ft E of Co Rd 47, Weld, CO

Built 1960 Load: 26.5 t ADT: 222

County Road 18

Fair

Over: Dove Creek Canal Reach 1

Yellow Jacket Colorado, Montezuma, CO

Built 1984 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 22

County Road X

Fair

Over: Dove Creek Canal Reach 1

Yellow Jacket Colorado, Montezuma, CO

Built 1985 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 25

WINDING ROAD 611

Fair

Over: BEAVER INTAKE DITCH

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

Built 1956 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 11

TAYLOR PARK ROAD

Fair

Over: TAYLOR RIVER

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

Built 1986 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 53

NFSR 123

Fair

Over: PASS CREEK

EAST OF HWY 125 NEAR MP17, Grand, CO

Built 1967 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 94

FDR 726

Fair

Over: FISH CREEK

12 MI WNW OF RICO, Dolores, CO

Built 1986 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 34

BIG CIMARRON RD

Fair

Over: CIMARRON RIVER

1.8 MI S OF SH 50, Montrose, CO

Built 1985 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 258

FOURTH STREET

Fair

Over: DRGWRR

Just S of U.S. 50, Fremont, CO

Built 1984 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 2,706

I 270 ML EBND

Fair

Over: SH 265 ML UP RR BNSF RR

IN COMMERCE CITY, Adams, CO

Built 1969 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 48,500

E-470 EB

Fair

Over: Peoria Street

1.71 MI FROM I-25, Douglas, CO

Built 1990 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 25,045

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: COLORADO RIVER

1.9 MI W OF JCT SH 13 (RI, Garfield, CO

Built 1975 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 8,500

SH 340 ML WBND

Fair

Over: UP RR AND RIVERSIDE PKWY

IN G.J. 0.35 MI W OF I70B, Mesa, CO

Built 1974 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 9,500

KASSLER ROAD

Fair

Over: SOUTH PLATTE RIVER

NEAR WATERTON/ROXBOROUGH, Jefferson, CO

Built 1977 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 11,220

IRR# SH 140 ML

Fair

Over: LA PLATA RIVER

5.5 MILES NORTH OF BREEN, La Plata, CO

Built 1956 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 1,500

I 25 ML SBND

Fair

Over: FRONTAGE ROAD

9.3 MI S. OF AGUILAR INT, Las Animas, CO

Built 1969 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 6,000

LUPINE ROAD

Fair

Over: GORE CREEK

.2 MI S BIGHORN ROAD, Eagle, CO

Built 1981 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 78

County Road 88

Fair

Over: Pierce Lateral Canal

0.1 Mi W of Co Rd 29, Weld, CO

Built 1994 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 157

BUCK CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: BUCK CREEK TRIBUTARY

1.0 MI N OF NOTTINGHAM RD, Eagle, CO

Built 1993 Load: 26.7 t ADT: 440

EASTMEADOW DR

Fair

Over: FISHERS CANYON CREEK

0.5 MI S CHEYENNE MEADOWS, El Paso, CO

Built 1986 Load: 26.7 t ADT: 2,315

PEYTON HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

JUST S OF SCOTT ROAD, El Paso, CO

Built 1988 Load: 26.7 t ADT: 401

I 25 ML SBND

Fair

Over: ROCK CREEK

5.6 MI SE OF JCT US 85, El Paso, CO

Built 1958 Load: 26.7 t ADT: 20,500

COUNTY ROAD 43

Fair

Over: HELL CREEK

0.2 MILE SOUTH OF ROAD 3T, Lincoln, CO

Built 1988 Load: 26.7 t ADT: 67

COUNTY ROAD 44

Fair

Over: I 25 ML

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

Built 1959 Load: 26.7 t ADT: 84

COUNTY ROAD 4E

Fair

Over: FARMERS UNION LATERAL

AT CR 4E AND 10N, Rio Grande, CO

Built 1980 Load: 26.7 t ADT: 84

County Road RR

Fair

Over: Jack Creek

1.4 Mi. N. of Co. Rd. 20, Washington, CO

Built 1992 Load: 26.7 t ADT: 300

County Road 34

Fair

Over: Buffalo Creek

0.8 Mi E of St Hwy 14, Jackson, CO

Built 1989 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 46

County Road 16

Fair

Over: Yampa River

100 Ft S of Co Rd 14, Routt, CO

Built 1987 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 1,791

County Road 213

Fair

Over: Elk River

40 Ft E of Co Rd 64, Routt, CO

Built 1984 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 110

FILLMORE STREET

Fair

Over: UP RR

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

Built 1961 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 34,925

WOLFF STREET

Fair

Over: WEIR GULCH

E OF SHERIDAN AT 600 BLOC, Denver, CO

Built 1976 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 754

US 6 ML

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK

6.9 MI E OF JCT SH 119, Jefferson, CO

Built 1950 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 7,500

I 70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: BIG SALT WASH

0.9 MI W OF JCT SH 340, Mesa, CO

Built 1970 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 5,500

US 24 ML

Fair

Over: GRAPE CREEK

0.5 MI W OF FLORISSANT, Teller, CO

Built 1936 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 5,200

Showing 1,451-1,500 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.