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

N. 75th St (Cr 25)

Fair

Over: Boulder Creek

0.1 Mi S of Jay Road, Boulder, CO

Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 8,907

County Road 33

Fair

Over: Left Hand Creek

0.3 M N of Oxford Rd (26), Boulder, CO

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,344

Niwot Road (Cr 34)

Fair

Over: Dry Creek

0.7 Mi E of St Hwy 119, Boulder, CO

Built 1985 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,021

Kenosha Rd (CR 38)

Fair

Over: Coal Creek

0.2 Mi W of Co Rd 901, Boulder, CO

Built 1965 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,305

Cherryvale Road

Fair

Over: Davidson Ditch

0.5 Mi N of St Hwy 170, Boulder, CO

Built 1973 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,123

Woodland Rd (CR4)

Fair

Over: Highland Ditch

1.3 Mi E of 75th Street, Boulder, CO

Built 1976 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,163

Independence Ave.

Fair

Over: Boulder & Whiterock Dtch

0.4 Mi E of St Hwy 119, Boulder, CO

Built 1973 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 574

Niwot Meadow Farm

Fair

Over: Dry Creek No 2

0.2 Mi E of 83rd St, Boulder, CO

Built 2005 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 102

N 41st St (Cr 59)

Fair

Over: Left Hand Creek

325 Ft S of Co Rd 26, Boulder, CO

Built 1960 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 226

South Boulder Road

Fair

Over: Viele Channel (Ditch)

0.6 Mi E of US Hwy 36, Boulder, CO

Built 1975 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,270

S Boulder Road

Fair

Over: South Boulder Creek

0.4 Mi E of US Hwy 36, Boulder, CO

Built 1986 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,270

CR 62 (Empire Dr)

Fair

Over: Coal Creek

0.7 M E of St Hwy 42, Boulder, CO

Built 1935 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,080

County Road 9

Fair

Over: Boulder Creek

0.3 Mi N of Co Rd 42, Boulder, CO

Built 1960 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 59

County Road 901

Fair

Over: Boulder Creek

0.3 Mi N of St Hwy 52, Boulder, CO

Built 1976 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 6,549

Boulder Hills Dr

Fair

Over: Boulder Feeder Ditch

50 Ft E of Stirrup Lane, Boulder, CO

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 209

Strath Street

Fair

Over: Left Hand Creek

0.2 Mi N of Niwot Rd, Boulder, CO

Built 1970 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 92

Twin Lakes Road

Fair

Over: BLDR and Whiterock Ditch

0.2 Mi E of 63rd Street, Boulder, CO

Built 1975 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,018

Mc Sorley Lane

Fair

Over: South Boulder Creek

0.1 Mi W of Cherryvale Rd, Boulder, CO

Built 1970 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 272

Spring Drive

Fair

Over: Davidson Ditch

0.7 Mi S of S. Boulder Rd, Boulder, CO

Built 1970 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,022

Briarwood Drive

Fair

Over: Local Drainage

Just South of Trails Ave, Broomfield, CO

Built 1987 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 290

Midway Blvd

Fair

Over: Rock Creek Overflow

0.3 mi S of Via Varra, Broomfield, CO

Built 2006 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,495

West Sixth Avenue

Fair

Over: Graves and Dennison Dtch

At Int of Alter & 6th, Broomfield, CO

Built 1985 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,667

Folsom Street

Fair

Over: Boulder Whiterock Ditch

20 Ft N of Pearl Street, Boulder, CO

Built 1970 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 13,574

30th Street

Fair

Over: Empson Ditch

0.59 Mi N of Baseline Rd, Boulder, CO

Built 1963 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 16,733

30th Street

Fair

Over: Boulder Creek

0.79 Mi N. of Baseline Rd, Boulder, CO

Built 1963 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 33,663

Juniper Avenue

Fair

Over: Elmers Two Mile Ditch

200 Ft E of 26th Street, Boulder, CO

Built 1965 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 666

Kalmia Avenue

Fair

Over: Elmers Two Mile Ditch

0.1 Mi W of Folsom Street, Boulder, CO

Built 1973 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 551

Moorhead Avenue

Fair

Over: Skunk Creek

0.1 Mi E of 27th Way, Boulder, CO

Built 1970 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,313

Moorhead Avenue

Fair

Over: Bear Creek: Bike Path

0.4 Mi NW of Table Mesa D, Boulder, CO

Built 1995 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,461

Kingsridge Blvd.

Fair

Over: Wonderland Creek

0.2 Mi N of Valmont Drive, Boulder, CO

Built 1988 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 812

Pearl Parkway

Fair

Over: S. Goose Creek Drainage

At 49th Street, Boulder, CO

Built 1986 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 10,375

47th Street

Fair

Over: South Goose Creek

40 Ft N of Pearl Parkway, Boulder, CO

Built 1986 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,774

Martin Drive

Fair

Over: Bear Crk and Bike Path

300 Ft. E of 36th St., Boulder, CO

Built 1995 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 662

Sterling Drive

Fair

Over: Left Hand Ditch

100 Ft E of 47th Street, Boulder, CO

Built 1975 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 937

Pearl Parkway

Fair

Over: Left Hand Ditch

500 Ft W of Foothills Pky, Boulder, CO

Built 1981 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 24,744

SB Table Mesa Dr.

Fair

Over: Bear Creek

Harvard Ln & SB Table, Boulder, CO

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 508

Colorado Avenue

Fair

Over: Skunk Creek

At 38th Street, Boulder, CO

Built 1979 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,343

Glenwood Drive

Fair

Over: Two Mile Creek

400 Ft W of State Hwy 36, Boulder, CO

Built 1972 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,439

Junction Pl

Fair

Over: Goose Creek

0.1 mi N of Pearl Pkwy, Boulder, CO

Built 2017 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,484

Baseline Road

Fair

Over: Bear Canyon Creek

300 ft E of Meadow Dr, Boulder, CO

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 14,884

MONROE DRIVE

Fair

Over: EMPSON DITCH

0.1 Mi S of Colorado Ave., Boulder, CO

Built 2020 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,175

EISENHOWER DRIVE

Fair

Over: EMPSON DITCH

0.5 MI S OF ARAPAHOE AVE, Boulder, CO

Built 1972 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,860

ADAMS AVENUE

Fair

Over: BLUE RIVER

0.1 MI WEST OF MAIN ST, Summit, CO

Built 1992 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 606

BROMLEY LANE

Fair

Over: S OUTFALL DRAINAGE

.3 MI WEST OF SH 85, Adams, CO

Built 1999 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,844

FRONTAGE ROAD

Fair

Over: LOCAL DRAINAGE

0.2 MI EAST OF TOWER ROAD, Adams, CO

Built 2005 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,019

FULTON AVENUE

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN OUTFALL DRAINAG

.2 MI S OF BROMLEY LANE, Adams, CO

Built 2006 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 437

COUNTY ROAD 10

Fair

Over: TRIB. JOHNNY BRANCH CRK

11.5 MI S OF CR N, Bent, CO

Built 1960 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9

COUNTY ROAD 10

Fair

Over: MUDDY CREEK

JUST SOUTH OF CR 9.5, Bent, CO

Built 1960 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 14

COUNTY ROAD T

Fair

Over: RULE CREEK

2.7 MI E OF SH 101, Bent, CO

Built 1965 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5

US 40 ML

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

IN HAYDEN, Routt, CO

Built 1992 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,200

Showing 2,651-2,700 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.