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 RD 31.9

Fair

Over: PURGATOIRE RIVER

0.2 MI N OF SH 12, Las Animas, CO

Built 1996 Load: 16.1 t ADT: 194

SH 112 ML

Fair

Over: RIO GRANDE CANAL

1.7 MI NE OF JCT US 160, Rio Grande, CO

Built 1947 Load: 16.1 t ADT: 1,800

COUNTY RD 10.5

Fair

Over: FT. LYON CANAL

.1 MI S OF CR TT, Prowers, CO

Built 1987 Load: 16.1 t ADT: 29

COUNTY ROAD 6W

Fair

Over: RIO GRANDE CANAL

.3 MI N OF CR 7N, Rio Grande, CO

Built 1963 Load: 16.1 t ADT: 48

County Road 53

Fair

Over: Red Willow Creek

0.20 Mi E of Co Rd N, Yuma, CO

Built 1955 Load: 16.1 t ADT: 31

DEVILS CREEK ADMIN

Fair

Over: Lake Fork Gunnison River

48 mi SW of Gunnison CO, Hinsdale, CO

Built 2008 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 25

CAMPGROUND ENTRANC

Fair

Over: QUARTZ CREEK

1.0 MI. N. PITKIN CO., Gunnison, CO

Built 1960 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 26

SH 113 ML

Fair

Over: POINT-O-ROCKS CANAL

7.4 MI NORTH OF JCT SH 13, Logan, CO

Built 1937 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 1,100

COUNTY ROAD 339

Fair

Over: RIO BLANCO RIVER

9.1 MI SE OF PAGOSA SPGS, Archuleta, CO

Built 1988 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 128

GOLDEN WILLOW RD

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

5 MI W of EVERGREEN LAKE, Clear Creek, CO

Built 1985 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 239

GILPIN ST

Fair

Over: EAST HARVARD GULCH

GILPIN AT HARVARD AVE, Denver, CO

Built 1967 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 295

SH 72 ML

Fair

Over: FARMERS HIGHLINE CANAL

INDIANA ST ABOUT 7800 N, Jefferson, CO

Built 1954 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 16,000

I 70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: COLORADO RIVER

4 MI E OF GLENWOOD SPRING, Garfield, CO

Built 1985 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 8,500

QUEBEC STREET

Fair

Over: SH 470 ML

2.4 MI WEST OF JCT I 25, Douglas, CO

Built 1984 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 42,306

COUNTY ROAD 5

Fair

Over: I 70 ML

Flagler Interchange, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1975 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 1,244

COUNTY ROAD 12

Fair

Over: I 70 ML

7.2 MI E. OF FLAGLER, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1975 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 15

COUNTY ROAD 35

Fair

Over: LANDSMAN CREEK

0.7 MILES NORTH OF ROAD R, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1966 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 24

COUNTY ROAD HH

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

0.8 MILES WEST OF ROAD 55, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1957 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 37

COUNTY ROAD 22

Fair

Over: ROCKY FORD CANAL

.4 MI S OF CR CC, Otero, CO

Built 1968 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 133

US 6 ML

Fair

Over: LWR PLATTE BEAVER CANAL

3.2 MI NE OF JCTI76BRUSH, Morgan, CO

Built 1941 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 1,400

COUNTY ROAD 8

Fair

Over: LA JARA CREEK

0.4 MI S OF CAPULIN/SH 15, Conejos, CO

Built 1933 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 35

EL PASO BLVD

Fair

Over: N. FOUNTAIN CREEK

1 BLK W OF COLUMBIA ST., El Paso, CO

Built 1955 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 2,367

WESTMOOR DRIVE

Fair

Over: CAMP CREEK

AT 31ST STREET, El Paso, CO

Built 1970 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 603

CHESTNUT STREET

Fair

Over: NORTH DOUGLAS CREEK

0.1 MI S-GARDEN GODS RD, El Paso, CO

Built 1973 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 7,314

BROADMOOR VALLEY

Fair

Over: HIDDEN CREEK

JUST SOUTH OF HIDDEN CREE, El Paso, CO

Built 1975 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 3,060

SAN MIGUEL ST

Fair

Over: SHOOKS RUN

JUST E OF ARCADIA STREET, El Paso, CO

Built 1930 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 1,422

WESTWOOD BLVD

Fair

Over: TEMPLETON GAP BASIN

0.3 MI N OF AUSTIN BLUFFS, El Paso, CO

Built 1965 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 2,581

SPRINGNITE DRIVE

Fair

Over: MAIN STREAM

S. OF DAWNLITE, El Paso, CO

Built 1982 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 3,721

GALLEY ROAD

Fair

Over: WEST FORK SAND CREEK

0.35 MI W OF WOOTEN ROAD, El Paso, CO

Built 1965 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 15,957

SH 121 ML

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK

S. edge 70 76 ramp 121, Jefferson, CO

Built 1941 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 38,000

FAIRPLAY ROAD

Fair

Over: BIG SANDY CREEK TRIB.

0.1 MI N OF DZURIS ROAD, El Paso, CO

Built 1955 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 137

HARVARD STREET

Fair

Over: CREWS GULCH

JUST S OF WIDEFIELD BLVD, El Paso, CO

Built 1970 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 2,646

County Road 311

Fair

Over: Colorado River

0.2 Miles South of I-70, Garfield, CO

Built 1983 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 2,957

US 50 ML WBND

Fair

Over: CROOKED ARROYO

1.4 MI W OF JCT SH 10, Otero, CO

Built 1947 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 5,000

CANON AVE

Fair

Over: FOUNTAIN CREEK

.1 MI N OF MANITOU AVENUE, El Paso, CO

Built 1906 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 1,195

CANON STREET

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

AT INTER WITH SH 8, Jefferson, CO

Built 1945 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 102

County Road 3

Fair

Over: Sullivan Ditch

0.6 Mi N of Co Rd 12, Weld, CO

Built 2004 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 2,282

US 50 ML

Fair

Over: SMITH ARROYO

9.8 MI E OF LAMAR, Prowers, CO

Built 1987 Load: 16.4 t ADT: 1,900

County Road 56

Fair

Over: Larimer County Canal

0.9 Mi E of Co Rd 11, Larimer, CO

Built 1966 Load: 16.4 t ADT: 168

County Road 76H

Fair

Over: N Frk Cache La Poudre Rv

1.0 Mi E of Co Rd 37, Larimer, CO

Built 1970 Load: 16.4 t ADT: 47

County Road Q

Fair

Over: Bijou Creek

1.5 Mi East of St Hwy 52, Morgan, CO

Built 1977 Load: 16.4 t ADT: 1,539

COUNTY ROAD 30

Fair

Over: LOST CANYON CREEK

.5 MI S OF 4TH ST & CR 30, Montezuma, CO

Built 1973 Load: 16.5 t ADT: 743

COUNTY ROAD TT.5

Fair

Over: UNNAMED CREEK

.7 MI N OF CR SS, Baca, CO

Built 1960 Load: 16.5 t ADT: 45

US 287 ML

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

Ken Pratt Blvd-Longmont, Boulder, CO

Built 1947 Load: 16.5 t ADT: 22,000

GOODSON REC CTR RD

Fair

Over: HIGHLINE CANAL

AT INT. W/UNIVERSITY BLVD, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1999 Load: 16.5 t ADT: 2,042

County Road 64A

Fair

Over: Elk River

0.3 Mi S of Co Rd 64, Routt, CO

Built 1980 Load: 16.6 t ADT: 86

COUNTY ROAD 2

Fair

Over: TRIB N.FK SAND ARROYO

1.8 MI S OF CR AA, Baca, CO

Built 1960 Load: 16.6 t ADT: 6

County Road 63E

Fair

Over: Cache La Poudre River

75 Ft S of St Hwy 14, Larimer, CO

Built 1934 Load: 16.6 t ADT: 240

County Road 19

Fair

Over: Yampa River

1.4 Mi North of US Hwy 40, Moffat, CO

Built 1940 Load: 16.6 t ADT: 79

COUNTY ROAD 10

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

.1 MI S OF CR FF, Baca, CO

Built 1940 Load: 16.7 t ADT: 53

Showing 251-300 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.