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

160TH AVENUE

Fair

Over: NERES CANAL

0.2 MILE E OF HARVEST RD, Adams, CO

Built 1997 Load: 27.7 t ADT: 965

VIOLET LANE

Fair

Over: BRUSH CREEK

0.2 MI NW SH6 & SYLVA, Eagle, CO

Built 2008 Load: 27.7 t ADT: 177

US 50 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

17 MI SE OF SALIDA, Fremont, CO

Built 1936 Load: 27.7 t ADT: 3,600

County Road 2

Fair

Over: Jackson Lake Inlet Canal

1.5 Mi N of County Rd X, Morgan, CO

Built 1963 Load: 27.7 t ADT: 50

County Road 29

Fair

Over: Beaver Creek

0.6 Mi N of Co Rd P, Morgan, CO

Built 1994 Load: 27.7 t ADT: 24

County Road M.5

Fair

Over: Kiowa Creek

1.0 Mi W of Co Rd W, Morgan, CO

Built 1965 Load: 27.7 t ADT: 152

I 25 ML SBND

Fair

Over: PRIVATE ROAD

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

Built 1969 Load: 27.7 t ADT: 5,500

CR 214/CENTRAL AVE

Fair

Over: MIDDLE CREEK

0.1 MI N SHAKESPEARE AVE, Pueblo, CO

Built 1982 Load: 27.7 t ADT: 33

County Road 19

Fair

Over: Big Dry Creek

0.9 Mi N of Co Rd 4, Weld, CO

Built 1984 Load: 27.7 t ADT: 1,326

IRR#CO RD 557

Fair

Over: SAN JUAN RIVER

3.4 MI SW OF CAMADO, Archuleta, CO

Built 2010 Load: 27.8 t ADT: 142

MONACO PKWY

Fair

Over: GOLDSMITH GULCH

AT EVANS AVE, Denver, CO

Built 1966 Load: 27.8 t ADT: 26,351

SH 119 S/WBND

Fair

Over: ST VRAIN CREEK

1.1 MI W OF JCT I 25, Weld, CO

Built 1973 Load: 27.8 t ADT: 15,500

I 70 ACCESS RD

Fair

Over: UP RR AR

NEW CASTLE EXIT, Garfield, CO

Built 1971 Load: 27.8 t ADT: 10,836

US 24 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

1.8 MI E OF CALHAN, El Paso, CO

Built 1935 Load: 27.8 t ADT: 4,200

SH 67 ACCESS AR

Fair

Over: FOUR MILE CREEK

4.2 MI S OF JCT 24 - DIVI, Teller, CO

Built 1937 Load: 27.8 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD N.5

Fair

Over: PLATEAU CREEK

PLATEAU CREEK AT VEGA RES, Mesa, CO

Built 1950 Load: 27.8 t ADT: 81

SPRING STREET

Fair

Over: NORTH MONUMENT CREEK

0.4 MI S OF SH 105, El Paso, CO

Built 1988 Load: 27.8 t ADT: 1,903

County Road 70

Fair

Over: New Cache La Poudre Cana

0.5 Mi E of Co Rd 43, Weld, CO

Built 1994 Load: 27.8 t ADT: 333

County Road 86

Fair

Over: Collins Lateral Canal

0.6 Mi E of Co Rd 29, Weld, CO

Built 1990 Load: 27.8 t ADT: 100

G Road

Fair

Over: Franklin Eddy Canal

Road G off of Highway 17, Saguache, CO

Built 1985 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 15

OAK GROVE RD

Fair

Over: MONTROSE AND DELTA CANAL

.5 MI E OF CR 60.00, Montrose, CO

Built 1988 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 282

COUNTY ROAD 74

Fair

Over: UPPER BEAR CREEK

4.5 MI W EVRGN LAKE JCT, Jefferson, CO

Built 1954 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 1,046

SH 13 ML

Fair

Over: SAND GULCH

4.9 MI NORTH OF CRAIG, Moffat, CO

Built 1986 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 2,000

SH 14 ML

Fair

Over: CROW CREEK

0.3 MI W OF 392 BRIGSDAL, Weld, CO

Built 1967 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 2,300

County Road 84S

Fair

Over: South St. Vrain Creek

250 ft S of Hwy 7, Boulder, CO

Built 2019 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 67

COUNTY ROAD 153

Fair

Over: UTE CREEK

.5 MI N OF CR 175, Chaffee, CO

Built 1940 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 79

COUNTY ROAD 58

Fair

Over: LADDER CREEK

0.4 MI N of CR Q, Cheyenne, CO

Built 1988 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 32

EASTMAN AVENUE

Fair

Over: GOLDSMITH GULCH

JUST W OF TAMARAC DR, Denver, CO

Built 1978 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 3,301

S MARION ST

Fair

Over: EAST HARVARD GULCH

MARION ST AND HARVARD, Denver, CO

Built 1967 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 261

SH 9 ML

Fair

Over: BLUE RIVER

13.5 MI NO OF JCT I 70, Summit, CO

Built 1957 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 3,400

I 70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: WEST 44TH AVE

WHEATRIDGE, Jefferson, CO

Built 1968 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 56,000

SH 139 ML

Fair

Over: EAST SALT WASH

15.5 MI N of LOMA, Garfield, CO

Built 1968 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 620

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: SAND CREEK

16.5 MI W OF JCT S.H. 57, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1964 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 5,000

HORIZON DRIVE

Fair

Over: GOVT. HIGHLINE CANAL

1 BLK N OF HORIZON COURT, Mesa, CO

Built 1981 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 7,113

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: US 6 ML

5.8 MI W OF HORIZON DRIVE, Mesa, CO

Built 1969 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 9,000

SH 133 FRONTAGE RD

Fair

Over: FIRE MOUNTAIN CANAL

ORIG 133 NEAR BOWIE, Delta, CO

Built 1970 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 10

I 25 FRONTAGE RD

Fair

Over: CITY ROAD R

W. OF I25 S. OF LAKE AVE, El Paso, CO

Built 1965 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 77,000

SH 71 ML

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

6 MI S OF PUNKIN CENTER, Lincoln, CO

Built 1961 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 730

COUNTY ROAD 40

Fair

Over: DRY GULCH

.2 MI N OF CR FF, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1979 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 117

County Road 124

Fair

Over: Slater Creek

0.4 Mi West of Co Rd1, Moffat, CO

Built 1983 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 101

SH 145 ML

Fair

Over: DOLORES RIVER

0.4 MILE NORTH OF RICO, Dolores, CO

Built 1968 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 2,100

US 160 ML

Fair

Over: LOS PINOS RIVER

23.8 MI EAST OF JCT US 55, La Plata, CO

Built 1962 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 8,600

I 25 ML NBND

Fair

Over: COUNTY ROAD DRAW

7.2 MI SOUTH OF TRINIDAD, Las Animas, CO

Built 1967 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 6,000

County Road 45

Fair

Over: Lone Tree Creek

0.6 Mi N of St Hwy 392, Weld, CO

Built 1976 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 133

County Road 386

Fair

Over: Empire Intake Canal

1.4 Mi S of US Hwy 34, Weld, CO

Built 1984 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 148

County Road 360

Fair

Over: Yampa River

0.3 Mi W of US Hwy 40, Routt, CO

Built 1998 Load: 28.0 t ADT: 2,519

SH 52 ML

Fair

Over: DENVER HUDSON CANAL

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

Built 1953 Load: 28.0 t ADT: 2,900

Homestead Lane

Fair

Over: Fall River

200 Ft SW of US Hwy 34, Larimer, CO

Built 1983 Load: 28.0 t ADT: 112

US 24 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

8.6 MI E OF FALCON, El Paso, CO

Built 1935 Load: 28.0 t ADT: 7,400

US 24 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

8.0 MI E OF CALHAN, El Paso, CO

Built 1935 Load: 28.0 t ADT: 3,000

Showing 1,651-1,700 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.