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

I 70 ML

Fair

Over: RAPID CREEK

0.4 MI E OF JCT US 6 ML, Mesa, CO

Built 1963 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 18,000

SH 141 ML

Fair

Over: WEST CREEK

4.8 MI NE OF GATEWAY, Mesa, CO

Built 1963 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 540

SH 71 ML

Fair

Over: BOB CREEK CANAL

3.3 MI N OF JCT SH 96 E, Crowley, CO

Built 1955 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 570

US 287 ML

Fair

Over: WILLOW CREEK

1.8 MI S OF LAMAR, Prowers, CO

Built 1947 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 3,300

COUNTY ROAD 31.5

Fair

Over: GRAND VALLEY CANAL

.2 MI N OF RD E, Mesa, CO

Built 2001 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 3,072

COUNTY ROAD 25

Fair

Over: FORT LYON STORAGE CANAL

.1 MI N OF SH 266, Otero, CO

Built 1992 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 222

COUNTY ROAD 805

Fair

Over: FT.LYON STG CANAL SLUICE

.3 MI W OF SH 71, Otero, CO

Built 1968 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 17

US 160 ML

Fair

Over: YELLOW JACKET CREEK

15 MI E. OF BAYFIELD, Archuleta, CO

Built 1958 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 4,300

US 285 ML

Fair

Over: RIO SAN ANTONIO

4.8 MI NORTH OF NEW MEXIC, Conejos, CO

Built 1938 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 1,200

COUNTY ROAD 32.4

Fair

Over: I 25 ML

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

Built 1969 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 1,474

COUNTY ROAD 5N

Fair

Over: RIO GRANDE RIVER

Near County Road 5W, Rio Grande, CO

Built 1974 Load: 30.7 t ADT: 425

GOSHAWK DETENTION

Fair

Over: Goshawk Dam Spillway

6.3 mi NE of Antonito CO, Conejos, CO

Built 1999 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 25

COUNTY ROAD 6530

Fair

Over: CEDAR CREEK

.2 MI N OF SAN JUAN, Montrose, CO

Built 1988 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 1,981

152ND AVENUE

Fair

Over: MUDDY CREEK

1.5 MI E OF PRICE ROAD, Adams, CO

Built 1960 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 24

STADIUM BLVD NB

Fair

Over: DEADMANS CREEK

2000 S. OF NORTH GATE DR, El Paso, CO

Built 1958 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 1,760

STADIUM BLVD SB

Fair

Over: DEADMANS CREEK

2000 S. OF NORTH GATE DR, El Paso, CO

Built 1958 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 1,760

SH 14 ML

Fair

Over: HILLS GULCH

41 MI EAST OF CHAMBERS LA, Larimer, CO

Built 1950 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 1,100

US 6 ML

Fair

Over: SOUTH PLATTE R OVFLW

1.1 MI EAST OF JCT SH 14, Logan, CO

Built 1957 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 9,900

US 6 ML

Fair

Over: N.FK.FRENCHMAN CREEK

1 MI W of Paoli, Phillips, CO

Built 2004 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 1,900

SH 60 ML

Fair

Over: HILLSBORO DITCH

IN JOHNSTOWN, Weld, CO

Built 1957 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 11,000

QUINCY AVE

Fair

Over: HIGHLINE CANAL

0.26 MI E OF COLO BLVD, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1935 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 5,061

30TH STREET

Fair

Over: PRIVATE SERVICE RD

0.1 MI N OF GATEWAY RD, El Paso, CO

Built 1993 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 8,455

COUNTY ROAD 3

Fair

Over: RUSH CREEK

4.1 MI N OF CR A, Cheyenne, CO

Built 1988 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 14

NB ACADEMY BLVD

Fair

Over: B ST US ARMY RR

1.2 MI W OF I25, El Paso, CO

Built 1978 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 21,353

I70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: SH 9 ML

AT SILVERTHORNE, Summit, CO

Built 1971 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 20,000

I 70 ML

Fair

Over: COUNTY ROAD

1 MI W OF SILVERPLUME, Clear Creek, CO

Built 1968 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 33,000

I 25 ML

Fair

Over: ORCHARD ROAD

1.1 MI NO OF JCT SH 88 EA, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1958 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 233,000

CROSSROAD

Fair

Over: UP RR AR

.05 MI EAST OF PARACHUTE, Garfield, CO

Built 1982 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 9,907

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: COUNTY ROAD 59

1.3 MI. W. OF COLO.-KANSA, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1969 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 4,950

I 70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: COUNTY ROAD 53

5.4 MI. E. OF HWY 385, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1969 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 4,950

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: COUNTY ROAD 53

7.4 MI. W. OF COLO.-KANSA, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1969 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 4,950

US 24 ML WBND

Fair

Over: CRYSTAL HILLS BLVD

0.3 MI NW OF JCT COLO AVE, El Paso, CO

Built 1967 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 21,500

US 24 EB PLATTE AV

Fair

Over: PETERSON FIELD ROAD

3/4 MI E OF POWERS BLVD, El Paso, CO

Built 1967 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 18,000

US 50 BUS. RTE

Fair

Over: ARKANSAS RIVER

IN PUEBLO, Pueblo, CO

Built 1978 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 18,000

COUNTY ROAD 11

Fair

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

1.5 MILES NORTH OF ROAD Y, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1960 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 1

SH 266 ML

Fair

Over: FT LYON STORAGE CANAL

4.9 MI NE OF ROCKY FORD, Otero, CO

Built 1954 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 330

Martin Street

Fair

Over: Saint Vrain River

0.1 Mi N of SH119, Boulder, CO

Built 2009 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 11,759

SH 165 ML

Fair

Over: I 25 ML

INT. TO COLORADO CITY, Pueblo, CO

Built 1965 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 3,800

US 350 ML

Fair

Over: IRON SPRINGS ARROYO

5.9 MI NE OF DELHI, Otero, CO

Built 1936 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 470

SH 145 ML

Fair

Over: DOLORES RIVER

S. EDGE OF DOLORES, Montezuma, CO

Built 1972 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 4,300

I 25 ML NBND

Fair

Over: BERWIND CANYON

10.8 ML NO OF JCT SH 239, Las Animas, CO

Built 1969 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 6,000

BOX CANYON ROAD

Fair

Over: RED MOUNTAIN CREEK

EXIT ROAD FROM BOX CANYON, Ouray, CO

Built 1990 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 220

County Road 21

Fair

Over: S Fork Frenchman Creek

0.4 Mi No of Co Rd 20, Phillips, CO

Built 1988 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 74

County Road S

Fair

Over: Sand Creek

0.1 Mi. N. of Co. Rd. 18, Washington, CO

Built 1993 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 54

FDR 504

Fair

Over: NARRAGUINNEP CANYON

11.6 MI ON FDR 504, Dolores, CO

Built 1937 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 20

FDR 648

Fair

Over: W FORK OF SAN JUAN RIVER

13.7 MI NNE OF PAGOSA SPG, Mineral, CO

Built 1954 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 32

County Road 14

Fair

Over: Yampa River

0.3 Mi W of US Hwy 40, Routt, CO

Built 1988 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 674

County Road 179

Fair

Over: Trout Creek

1.5 mi S of US Hwy 40, Routt, CO

Built 1985 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 308

COUNTY ROAD 52

Fair

Over: I 25 ML and FRONTAGE RD

3 MI N OF SH 14, Larimer, CO

Built 1966 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 1,176

COUNTY ROAD 58

Fair

Over: I 25 ML and FRONTAGE RD

2.5 MI S OF SH 1, Larimer, CO

Built 1966 Load: 30.9 t ADT: 2,144

Showing 2,201-2,250 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.