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

FDR 783

Fair

Over: CASCADE CREEK FLUME

13.0 MI SW OF SILVERTON, San Juan, CO

Built 1985 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 10

152ND AVENUE

Fair

Over: NERES CANAL

0.3 MI E. OF GUN CLUB RD, Adams, CO

Built 1989 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 6,361

30th Street

Fair

Over: North Goose Creek

At Mapleton & 30th St, Boulder, CO

Built 1994 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 21,233

I 25 ML NBND

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK

0.2 MILE NORTH OF I76 ML, Adams, CO

Built 1993 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 121,000

SQUIRREL CRK RD

Fair

Over: WILLIAMS CREEK

4.5 MI E OF LINK ROAD, El Paso, CO

Built 1974 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 563

ELLICOTT HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: BLACK SQUIRREL CK TRIB.

1.5 MI N OF JUDGE ORR RD, El Paso, CO

Built 1996 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 1,756

RMP TO FRONTAGE RD

Fair

Over: MAMM CREEK R

3.4 M E OF RIFLE CITY LIM, Garfield, CO

Built 1984 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 684

COUNTY ROAD 240

Fair

Over: I 70 ML

NEW CASTLE EXIT, Garfield, CO

Built 1971 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 13,753

I 70 FRONTAGE RD

Fair

Over: S FK REPUBLICAN RVR SR

9.2 MI E. OF BOVINA, Lincoln, CO

Built 1975 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 30

US 385 ML

Fair

Over: SMOKEY HILL RIVER

15 MI S OF BURLINGTON, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1954 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 720

COUNTY ROAD 20

Fair

Over: HENSON CREEK

1.4 MI to ENGINEERS PASS, Hinsdale, CO

Built 1986 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 142

US 50 ML

Fair

Over: VISTA DEL RIO CANAL

3.8 MI W of Lamar, Prowers, CO

Built 1979 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 7,800

County Road 35

Fair

Over: N. Sterling Inlet Canal

50 Ft. North of CO Rd 36, Logan, CO

Built 1999 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 79

County Road 30

Fair

Over: Beaver Creek

At Junct. with Co Rd C, Morgan, CO

Built 1990 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 2

County Road 9

Fair

Over: Fort Morgan Canal

1.0 Mi N of Co Rd W, Morgan, CO

Built 1987 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 136

COUNTY ROAD 19.5

Fair

Over: CATLIN CANAL

.5 MI N OF CR Z, Otero, CO

Built 1969 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 58

County Road 21

Fair

Over: N Fork Frenchman Creek

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

Built 1992 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 82

County Road 78

Fair

Over: Owl Creek

0.5 Mi E of Co Rd 43, Weld, CO

Built 1997 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 86

County Road 90

Fair

Over: Coalbank Creek

0.3 Mi E of Co Rd 23, Weld, CO

Built 1980 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 150

County Road CC

Fair

Over: Gordon Creek

0.5 Mi. N. of Co. Rd. 8, Washington, CO

Built 1992 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 136

US 40 ML

Fair

Over: UP RR

0.7 MI W OF TABERNASH, Grand, CO

Built 1975 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 8,900

SH 86 ML

Fair

Over: STATION CREEK

10.1 MI E OF KIOWA, Elbert, CO

Built 1959 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 840

SH 71 ML

Fair

Over: CATLIN CANAL

0.4 MI S OF ROCKY FORD, Otero, CO

Built 1941 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 650

County Road 19.5

Fair

Over: St. Vrain Creek

1.7 Mi N of Co Rd 34, Weld, CO

Built 1997 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 533

US 287 ML

Fair

Over: DALE CREEK

25.4 MILES NORTH OF TEDS, Larimer, CO

Built 1958 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 3,900

SH 61 ML

Fair

Over: ROCK CREEK

14.8 MI NO OF OTIS, Washington, CO

Built 1965 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 440

Doyan Avenue

Fair

Over: Pine Ridge Gulch

30 Ft S of First Street, Moffat, CO

Built 1983 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 1,331

SH 265 ML

Fair

Over: RR CROSSING & CHANNEL

COMMERCE CITY, Adams, CO

Built 1999 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 6,500

BROADWAY

Fair

Over: BIG DRY CREEK

0.1 MI SOUTH OF BELLEVIEW, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1931 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 40,486

I 25 ML

Fair

Over: 8TH AVE

IN DENVER, Denver, CO

Built 1958 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 228,000

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: COLORADO RIVER

9.3 MI E OF JCT SH 65, Mesa, CO

Built 1981 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 8,500

I 70 BUSINESS WBND

Fair

Over: HIGHLINE CANAL

JUST S. OF I70 CLIFTON IN, Mesa, CO

Built 1965 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 7,500

County Road 108

Fair

Over: Fortification Creek

300 Ft West of St Hwy 13, Moffat, CO

Built 1989 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 18

County Road 47

Fair

Over: Lone Tree Creek

0.2 Mi N of St Hwy 392, Weld, CO

Built 1990 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 801

Heeney Road

Fair

Over: Green Mtn Dam Spillway

26 mi N of Silverthorne, Summit, CO

Built 1942 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100

IRR BIA RTE 107

Fair

Over: LOS PINOS RIVER

1.3KM NORTH OF IGNACIO CO, La Plata, CO

Built 1974 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 200

WINDING ROAD 788

Fair

Over: CEBOLLA CREEK

45 MI. S.W. GUNNISON CO., Hinsdale, CO

Built 1965 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 47

SPRING CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

13 MI. N.E. ALMONT CO., Gunnison, CO

Built 1983 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 146

72ND AVENUE

Fair

Over: WETZEL CREEK

1.1 MI E OF WINVIEW ROAD, Adams, CO

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5

US 287 ML

Fair

Over: N. TAFT HILL RD_CR19

2.5 MI NW OF FT COLLINS, Larimer, CO

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 9,900

COUNTY ROAD 14

Fair

Over: FT. LYON CANAL

3.3 MI NW OF KREYBILL, Bent, CO

Built 1996 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 179

I 25 ML SBND

Fair

Over: COUNTY ROAD

2.9 MI SO OF JCT SH 56, Weld, CO

Built 1961 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 36,000

I 25 ML

Fair

Over: GW RR

0.6 MI SO OF JCT SH 60, Weld, CO

Built 2023 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 36,000

County Road 162

Fair

Over: Baldwin Creek

4.2 Mi E of St. Elmo, Chaffee, CO

Built 2019 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 371

COUNTY ROAD 344

Fair

Over: SOUTH COTTONWOOD CREEK

.6 MI S OF CR 306, Chaffee, CO

Built 1954 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 87

13TH AVE

Fair

Over: CHERRY CREEK

W 13TH AVE AT SPEER BLVD, Denver, CO

Built 1928 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,892

US 34 ML

Fair

Over: COLORADO RIVER OVFLW

3.4 MI NO OF GRANBY, Grand, CO

Built 1999 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,300

US 36 ML

Fair

Over: Promenade Dr.

0.2 MI NW CHURCH RANCH RD, Jefferson, CO

Built 2006 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 74,000

EB SH 44_104TH AVE

Fair

Over: I76 ML

NE of HWY 85 Junction, Adams, CO

Built 2015 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 9,000

SH 44 ML

Fair

Over: FULTON DITCH

0.7 MI W OF JCT US 85, Adams, CO

Built 1959 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 14,000

Showing 2,451-2,500 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.