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

County Road 80

Fair

Over: N. Poudre Canal/Park Cr.

4.9 Mi E of US Hwy 287, Larimer, CO

Built 1970 Load: 29.1 t ADT: 59

SH 109 ML

Fair

Over: MCMAHON ARROYO

8.5 MILES NO OF BENT-OTER, Otero, CO

Built 1972 Load: 29.1 t ADT: 350

I 25 ML SBND

Fair

Over: RR SPUR

14.3 MI SO OF AGUILAR RD, Las Animas, CO

Built 1969 Load: 29.1 t ADT: 6,000

County Road 24.5

Fair

Over: Platte Valley Canal

50 Ft E of Co Rd 25.5, Weld, CO

Built 2010 Load: 29.1 t ADT: 93

OWL CREEK PASS RD

Fair

Over: EAST FORK CIMARRON RIV.

27 MI S OF MONTROSE, Gunnison, CO

Built 1987 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 45

SH 1 ML

Fair

Over: I 25 ML

I-25 WELLINGTON INTER., Larimer, CO

Built 1966 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 9,300

US 40 ML

Fair

Over: YAMPA RIVER

15 MI E OF JCT SH 13, Routt, CO

Built 1967 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 4,200

IRVING ST

Fair

Over: SANDERSON GULCH

BTWN IOWA AND MEXICO, Denver, CO

Built 1967 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 5,723

SH 52 ML

Fair

Over: I 25 ML

6.5 MI E OF JCT US 287, Weld, CO

Built 1999 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 18,000

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: HIGHLINE CANAL

0.2 Mi E OF TOWER ROAD, Adams, CO

Built 1964 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 17,000

I76 ML EBND

Fair

Over: THIRD CREEK

JUST N of 470 PKWAY, Adams, CO

Built 2002 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 21,000

I 70 SILT SPUR

Fair

Over: UP RR

IN SILT, Garfield, CO

Built 1972 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 9,800

I 70 EAGLE SPUR

Fair

Over: EAGLE RIVER

EAGLE EBY CRK RD, Eagle, CO

Built 1972 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 19,000

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: US 6 RR EAGLE RIVER

2.3 MI E JCT SH131-WOLCOT, Eagle, CO

Built 1970 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 13,000

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: US 6 ML

0.6 MI W OF JCT US 40, Jefferson, CO

Built 1969 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 53,000

COUNTY ROAD 9

Fair

Over: FOUR MILE CREEK

5.2 MI N OF HIGH STREET, Fremont, CO

Built 1989 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 308

I 25 ML NBND

Fair

Over: WOODMEN ROAD

1.0 MI N OF JCT I-25 BUS, El Paso, CO

Built 2002 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 62,000

I 25 ML SBND

Fair

Over: WOODMEN ROAD

1.5 MI S OF JCT SH 83, El Paso, CO

Built 2002 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 62,000

US 24 ML

Fair

Over: FOUNTAIN CREEK

IN COLORADO SPRINGS, El Paso, CO

Built 2020 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 36,000

SH 21B SBND ML

Fair

Over: PINE CREEK

S. BND. POWERS BLVD., El Paso, CO

Built 2014 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 18,500

SH 9 ML

Fair

Over: CURRANT CREEK

3.2 MI NW OF JCT US 50, Fremont, CO

Built 1967 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 2,200

SH 97 ML

Fair

Over: SAN MIGUEL RIVER

NATURITA, Montrose, CO

Built 1957 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 1,400

SH 96 ML

Fair

Over: KRAMER CREEK

9 Miiles E of Boone, Pueblo, CO

Built 2002 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 1,100

US 50 ML WBND

Fair

Over: TIMPAS CREEK

0.8 MI WEST OF SWINK, Otero, CO

Built 1947 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 4,700

I 25 ML SBND

Fair

Over: LINDEN AVE

IN TRINIDAD, Las Animas, CO

Built 1968 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 8,000

WILLOW PARK DR

Fair

Over: SULPHUR GULCH

.1 MI S OF MAIN ST, Douglas, CO

Built 1995 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 3,408

County Road 80

Fair

Over: Crow Creek

0.1 Mi E of Co Rd 392, Weld, CO

Built 1993 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 129

County Road 12W

Fair

Over: Hell Creek

8.2 Mi W of St Hwy 14, Jackson, CO

Built 1986 Load: 29.3 t ADT: 110

ACADEMY BLVD

Fair

Over: SAND CREEK

0.2 MI N OF ASTROZON, El Paso, CO

Built 1977 Load: 29.3 t ADT: 41,812

NB QUEBEC ST

Fair

Over: CHERRY CREEK

QUEBEC AT CHERRY CREEK DR, Denver, CO

Built 1983 Load: 29.3 t ADT: 21,471

SH 7 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

0.35 MI E OF 75th ST, Boulder, CO

Built 1928 Load: 29.3 t ADT: 19,000

I 25 ML

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK RD

1.7 MI N. OF JCT SH 470, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1987 Load: 29.3 t ADT: 212,000

County Road 74

Fair

Over: Lay Creek

0.28 Mi East of US Hwy 40, Moffat, CO

Built 1990 Load: 29.3 t ADT: 82

US 350 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

4.7 MILES NE OF BLOOM, Otero, CO

Built 1936 Load: 29.3 t ADT: 470

SH 172 ML

Fair

Over: FLORIDA RIVER

10 MI NO OF IGNACIO, La Plata, CO

Built 1971 Load: 29.3 t ADT: 5,800

County Road 50

Fair

Over: Empire Intake Canal

0.5 Mi E of Co Rd 65, Weld, CO

Built 1978 Load: 29.3 t ADT: 84

County Road 86

Fair

Over: Collins Lateral Canal

0.2 Mi E of Co Rd 33, Weld, CO

Built 2006 Load: 29.3 t ADT: 101

TOWER ROAD

Fair

Over: LOCAL DRAINAGE

0.1 MI N OF AMHERST AVENU, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1986 Load: 29.4 t ADT: 20,232

US 34 ML

Fair

Over: BIG THOMPSON RIVER

1.5 MI E OF ESTES PARK, Larimer, CO

Built 2010 Load: 29.4 t ADT: 5,800

SH 9 ML

Fair

Over: BLUE RIVER

16.8 MI NO OF JCT I 70, Summit, CO

Built 1961 Load: 29.4 t ADT: 3,200

SH 157 ML SBND

Fair

Over: S BLDR Rd-TBLE MSA Dr

0.9 MI N OF JCT US 36, Boulder, CO

Built 1973 Load: 29.4 t ADT: 19,000

I 270 ML EBND

Fair

Over: SERVICE RD BNSF RR

IN COMMERCE CITY, Adams, CO

Built 1970 Load: 29.4 t ADT: 48,500

COUNTY ROAD 214

Fair

Over: I 70 ML

5 MI E of SILT, Garfield, CO

Built 1972 Load: 29.4 t ADT: 640

COUNTY ROAD 262

Fair

Over: I 70 ML

4.5 mil. W. of New Castle, Garfield, CO

Built 1972 Load: 29.4 t ADT: 287

US 24 ML

Fair

Over: CHASE GULCH

9.2 MI S.E. OF JCT SH 9 M, Park, CO

Built 1937 Load: 29.4 t ADT: 3,300

SH 114 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

11.6 MI SE OF JCT US 50, Saguache, CO

Built 1941 Load: 29.4 t ADT: 470

SH 167 ML

Fair

Over: ARKANSAS RIVER

0.9 MI SO OF JCT SH 96 ML, Crowley, CO

Built 1958 Load: 29.4 t ADT: 760

COUNTY ROAD 21

Fair

Over: GOVT. HIGHLINE CANAL

1.1 MI N OF RD M, Mesa, CO

Built 1986 Load: 29.4 t ADT: 103

COUNTY ROAD 44

Fair

Over: ROAN CREEK

.2 MI W OF DENVER AVE., Mesa, CO

Built 1988 Load: 29.4 t ADT: 184

92ND AVENUE

Fair

Over: RAILROAD

0.5 MI E OF WADSWORTH, Jefferson, CO

Built 1985 Load: 29.4 t ADT: 10,995

Showing 1,901-1,950 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.