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

MESA STREET

Fair

Over: LITTLE SALT WASH

.1 MI N OF OTTLEY AVE, Mesa, CO

Built 1980 Load: 27.1 t ADT: 1,963

SH 133 ML

Fair

Over: N FK GUNNISON RIVER

1 MI NE OF SOMERSET, Gunnison, CO

Built 1981 Load: 27.1 t ADT: 1,400

SH 94 ML

Fair

Over: BIG SANDY CREEK

1.7 MI NE OF LINCOLN-CHYN, Cheyenne, CO

Built 1968 Load: 27.1 t ADT: 440

COUNTY RD 52.0

Fair

Over: OU CREEK

5 MI E OF CR 203, Las Animas, CO

Built 1935 Load: 27.1 t ADT: 4

County Road 42

Fair

Over: Fossil Creek Res. Inlet

Jct. with Co Rd 9, Larimer, CO

Built 1963 Load: 27.1 t ADT: 153

COUNTY ROAD 24

Fair

Over: GRAND VALLEY CANAL

.8 MI N OF RD H, Mesa, CO

Built 1959 Load: 27.1 t ADT: 2,048

COUNTY ROAD L

Fair

Over: GRAND VALLEY CANAL

.2 MI E OF RD 20, Mesa, CO

Built 1989 Load: 27.1 t ADT: 155

CR 442 (NYBERG RD)

Fair

Over: ARKANSAS RIVER

0.24 MI S OF SH 50, Pueblo, CO

Built 2006 Load: 27.1 t ADT: 127

County Road 46

Fair

Over: Gilmore Ditch

0.5 Mi E of Co Rd 47, Weld, CO

Built 1983 Load: 27.1 t ADT: 159

County Road 68

Fair

Over: Crow Creek

0.5 Mi E of Co Rd 61.5, Weld, CO

Built 1999 Load: 27.1 t ADT: 1,012

County Road 74

Fair

Over: Lone Tree Annex Overflow

0.3 Mi E of Co Rd 47, Weld, CO

Built 1982 Load: 27.1 t ADT: 588

County Road DD

Fair

Over: Arikaree River

0.45 Mi N of Co Rd 16, Yuma, CO

Built 1986 Load: 27.1 t ADT: 43

Route 11

Fair

Over: Turkey Creek

3.5 mi S of Gate 8, El Paso, CO

Built 1973 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 100

NFSR 211

Fair

Over: GOOSE CREEK

AT GOOSE CR CG, Jefferson, CO

Built 1962 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 122

COUNTY ROAD 663

Fair

Over: TONAHUTU CREEK

South from Kawuneeche Vis, Grand, CO

Built 1983 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 75

16th Street

Fair

Over: Rifle Creek

0.3 Mi E of RR Ave Rifle, Garfield, CO

Built 2000 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 2,790

US 287 ML

Fair

Over: CANAL CATTLE UNDERPASS

12 MILES NORTH OF TEDS PL, Larimer, CO

Built 1963 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 3,900

US 85 ML NBND

Fair

Over: SOUTH PLATTE RIVER

EVANS, Weld, CO

Built 1936 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 12,500

LAWRENCE STREET

Fair

Over: CHERRY CREEK

LAWRENCE AT SPEER BLVD, Denver, CO

Built 1958 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 1,312

SH 52 ML

Fair

Over: DENVER HUDSON CANAL

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

Built 1953 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 2,900

I 76 ML EBND

Fair

Over: I 76 BUSS RT

7.3 MI NE OF JCT SH 52, Weld, CO

Built 1961 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 8,000

SH 131 ML

Fair

Over: UP RR COLORADO RIVER

14.5 MI NO OF JCT I 70, Eagle, CO

Built 1966 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 1,600

US 287 ML

Fair

Over: I 70 ML

DENVER FEDERAL BLVD., Denver, CO

Built 1965 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 31,000

SH 224 ML WBND

Fair

Over: BURLINGTON CANAL

IN COMMERCE CITY, Adams, CO

Built 1964 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 13,500

SH 224 ML EBND

Fair

Over: BURLINGTON CANAL

IN COMMERCE CITY, Adams, CO

Built 1964 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 13,500

E-470 SB

Fair

Over: Pena Boulevard

27.86 MI FROM I25, Denver, CO

Built 1996 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 23,739

MURPHY ROAD

Fair

Over: BRANCH SPRING CREEK

0.7 MI E OF PEYTON HWY, El Paso, CO

Built 1989 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 777

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: US 6 ML

.75 MI E OF EISENHOWER TN, Clear Creek, CO

Built 1964 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 16,500

SB 225 RAMP TO 83

Fair

Over: SH 83 ML R

IN AURORA, Arapahoe, CO

Built 2002 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 62,500

I 70 SERVICE RD

Fair

Over: DRAW SR

7.8 MI E OF JCT DEERTRAIL, Elbert, CO

Built 1939 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 11,000

PARK ACCESS ROAD

Fair

Over: I 70 ML AR

CAMEO TRUCK STOP, Mesa, CO

Built 1965 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 664

I 70 BUSINESS EBND

Fair

Over: HIGHLINE CANAL

JUST S OF I70 CLIFTON INT, Mesa, CO

Built 1963 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 7,500

SH 330 ML

Fair

Over: BIG CREEK

3 MI W OF COLLBRAN, Mesa, CO

Built 1918 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 1,600

US 24 BYPASS

Fair

Over: I 25 ML FOUNTAIN CRK

JCT of I25 and US24G, El Paso, CO

Built 1990 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 47,000

US 50 ML

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

1.5 MI E OF JCT SH 120, Fremont, CO

Built 1949 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 9,800

US 50 ML EBND

Fair

Over: ROCKY FORD CANAL

IN ROCKY FORD, Otero, CO

Built 1934 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 2,300

County Road 4

Fair

Over: Denver Hudson Canal

0.5 Mi E of Co Rd 45, Weld, CO

Built 2003 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 54

County Road 13

Fair

Over: Little Thompson River

0.4 Mi N of Co Rd 44, Weld, CO

Built 1966 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 4,115

COUNTY ROAD F

Fair

Over: MANCOS RIVER

150 FT E OF CR 38, Montezuma, CO

Built 1993 Load: 27.3 t ADT: 15

County Road 76

Fair

Over: Yampa River

0.6 Mi N of US Hwy 40, Routt, CO

Built 1978 Load: 27.3 t ADT: 513

Rollingstone Lane

Fair

Over: Fish Creek

150 ft N of Pine Grove, Routt, CO

Built 1990 Load: 27.3 t ADT: 2,404

BOBTAIL ROAD

Fair

Over: BOBTAIL CREEK

S OF MARDI GRAS CASINO, Gilpin, CO

Built 1999 Load: 27.3 t ADT: 698

US 85 ML NBND

Fair

Over: CO.RD 39.5 UP RR

IN GREELEY, Weld, CO

Built 1962 Load: 27.3 t ADT: 4,750

SH 7 ML EBND

Fair

Over: BOULDER CREEK

ARAPAHOE AVENUE, Boulder, CO

Built 1966 Load: 27.3 t ADT: 15,000

COUNTY ROAD 132

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

10 MI NE OF CR 123, Fremont, CO

Built 1989 Load: 27.3 t ADT: 10

I 25 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

2.8 MI N OF JCT US 50 W S, Pueblo, CO

Built 1928 Load: 27.3 t ADT: 35,000

COUNTY ROAD 35

Fair

Over: N. FK. SMOKY HILL RIVER

0.8 MILES SOUTH OF ROAD B, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1981 Load: 27.3 t ADT: 40

SH 165 ML

Fair

Over: SOUTH HARDSCRABBLE CREEK

6 MI S. OF JCT SH 96, Custer, CO

Built 1959 Load: 27.3 t ADT: 200

County Road 3

Fair

Over: Big Thompson River

1.2 Mi N of Co Rd 18, Larimer, CO

Built 1983 Load: 27.3 t ADT: 1,943

COUNTY ROAD 35.5

Fair

Over: GRAND VALLEY CANAL

.6 MI S OF US 6, Mesa, CO

Built 1988 Load: 27.3 t ADT: 51

Showing 1,551-1,600 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.