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

SH 340 ML WBND

Fair

Over: US 6 ML UP RR

FRUITA, Mesa, CO

Built 1969 Load: 28.6 t ADT: 6,500

SH 71 ML

Fair

Over: SOUTH RUSH CREEK

2.9 MI N OF SH 94-PUNKIN, Lincoln, CO

Built 2008 Load: 28.6 t ADT: 700

3rd Ave. EB

Fair

Over: GW RR

.15 Mi W of Jct 119, Boulder, CO

Built 1969 Load: 28.6 t ADT: 7,667

County Road 70

Fair

Over: Box Elder Creek

100 Ft E of Co Rd 9, Larimer, CO

Built 1984 Load: 28.6 t ADT: 6,368

RAPP STREET

Fair

Over: LITTLES CREEK

2 BLKS S OF MAIN STREET, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1981 Load: 28.6 t ADT: 2,154

County Road 12

Fair

Over: Bijou Creek

0.4 Mi N of Interstate 76, Morgan, CO

Built 1986 Load: 28.6 t ADT: 858

County Road 29

Fair

Over: N Fork Frenchman Creek

0.7 Mi. No. of Co. Rd 26, Phillips, CO

Built 1987 Load: 28.6 t ADT: 4

County Road 22

Fair

Over: Sullivan Ditch

1.0 Mi E of Co Rd 19, Weld, CO

Built 1993 Load: 28.6 t ADT: 151

County Road 23

Fair

Over: Big Dry Creek

0.8 Mi N of Co Rd 6, Weld, CO

Built 1995 Load: 28.6 t ADT: 682

BEGONIA RD/CR 18

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

2.6 MI E OF PEA GREEN COR, Montrose, CO

Built 1976 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 160

US 287 ML

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

FORT COLLINS, Larimer, CO

Built 1948 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 33,000

US 40 ML

Fair

Over: FISH CREEK

IN STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Routt, CO

Built 1980 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 28,000

US 36 ML

Fair

Over: SH 224 ML/BRDWY.

0.6 MI W OF JCT I 25, Adams, CO

Built 1986 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 144,000

SH 340 ML

Fair

Over: I 70 ML

FRUITA INTERCHANGE, Mesa, CO

Built 1969 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 12,000

US 24 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

4.2 MI NE OF FALCON, El Paso, CO

Built 1932 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 11,000

I 25 ML NBND

Fair

Over: Drew Dicks Parkway

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

Built 1960 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 18,000

I 25 ML NBND

Fair

Over: CF+I WATER LINES

S. Edge of Pueblo, Pueblo, CO

Built 1963 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 7,500

I 25 ML SBND

Fair

Over: CF+I WATER LINES

S Edge of Pueblo, Pueblo, CO

Built 1963 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 7,500

I 25 ML NBND

Fair

Over: PRIVATE ROAD

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

Built 1969 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 5,500

I 25 ML SBND

Fair

Over: COUNTY ROAD DRAW

5.3 MI SO OF TRINIDAD, Las Animas, CO

Built 1967 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 6,000

County Road 22

Fair

Over: S Fork Frenchman Creek

0.9 Mi. Ea. of Co Rd 33, Phillips, CO

Built 1987 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 40

COUNTY ROAD LL

Fair

Over: MIDDLE HORSE CREEK

1.0 MI W OF CR 35, Prowers, CO

Built 1989 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 51

County Road 77

Fair

Over: Geary Creek

0.4 Mi N of Co Rd 106, Weld, CO

Built 1990 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 204

County Road 2.5

Fair

Over: North Sand Creek

0.85 Mi E of Co Rd BB, Yuma, CO

Built 1989 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 51

IMBODEN ROAD

Fair

Over: BEAR GULCH

1.4 MI SOUTH OF 88TH AVE, Adams, CO

Built 2002 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 1,895

SALVIA STREET

Fair

Over: BIG DRY CREEK

.15 MI N OF CANDELAS PWY, Jefferson, CO

Built 2012 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 716

I 25 SERVICE RD

Fair

Over: LARIMER COUNTY CANAL SR

5 MI N OF JCT SH 14, Larimer, CO

Built 1966 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 1,911

EVANS AVENUE

Fair

Over: SANTA FE DRIVE/RR

EVANS OVER SANTA FE, Denver, CO

Built 1972 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 31,961

52ND AVE

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK

0.35 MI WEST OF SHERIDAN, Denver, CO

Built 1969 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 8,099

SH 134 ML

Fair

Over: BIG ROCK CREEK

11.5 MI E OF TOPONAS, Grand, CO

Built 1955 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 320

LEV 6 SE TERM RAMP

Fair

Over: 84TH AVENUE

SE CORNER TERM BLDG, Denver, CO

Built 2014 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 11,984

I 25 ML

Fair

Over: FARMERS HIGHLINE CANAL

NORTHGLENN, Adams, CO

Built 1954 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 135,000

I 70 ACCESS RD

Fair

Over: COLORADO RIVER AR

NEW CASTLE EXIT, Garfield, CO

Built 1971 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 611

US 285 ML

Fair

Over: SOUTH PLATTE RVR RDWY

IN SHERIDAN, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1960 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 67,000

SH 88 ML/Belleview

Fair

Over: SOUTH PLATTE RIVER

IN LITTLETON, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1988 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 27,000

SH 133 ML

Fair

Over: CRYSTAL RIVER

1 MI S. OF CARBONDALE, Garfield, CO

Built 1959 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 3,300

WOLFENSBERGER RD

Fair

Over: EAST PLUM CREEK

W OF I25 IN CASTLE ROCK, Douglas, CO

Built 2003 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 82,000

SH 71 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

4 MI N OF LIMON, Lincoln, CO

Built 1975 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 1,300

I 70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: HUNTER WASH

4.5 MI E. OF FRUITA, Mesa, CO

Built 1969 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 9,000

US 385 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

3.4 MI N OF JCT US 40, Cheyenne, CO

Built 1974 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 730

SH 16 ML EBND

Fair

Over: US 85 ML BNSF RR UP RR

0.8 MI E OF JCT I 25, El Paso, CO

Built 1976 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 18,500

I 25 ML NBND

Fair

Over: MUDDY CREEK

4.7 Mi N of JCT SH 165, Pueblo, CO

Built 1954 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 7,500

NORTHERN AVE

Fair

Over: I 25 ML

IN PUEBLO, Pueblo, CO

Built 1957 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 14,741

County Road 103

Fair

Over: Laramie River

6.0 Mi North of St Hwy 14, Larimer, CO

Built 1940 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 95

County Road 25

Fair

Over: Louden Ditch

0.2 Mi N of Co Rd 24, Larimer, CO

Built 1962 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 1,824

IRR# SH 140 ML

Fair

Over: LONG HOLLOW CREEK

3 MI NORTH OF NEW MEXICO, La Plata, CO

Built 1964 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 1,800

COUNTY ROAD 27

Fair

Over: AMITY CANAL

.9 MI N OF CR MM, Prowers, CO

Built 1991 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 11

County Road 7

Fair

Over: Settlers Ditch

0.1 Mi. N. of Co. Rd. 26, Sedgwick, CO

Built 1994 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 9

County Road 23

Fair

Over: Little Dry Creek

0.5 Mi N of Co Rd 14, Weld, CO

Built 1997 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 287

County Road 41

Fair

Over: New Cache La Poudre Cana

0.2 Mi N of St Hwy 392, Weld, CO

Built 1993 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 161

Showing 1,801-1,850 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.