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

US 6M ML

Fair

Over: I 70 ML

2 MI W OF PARACHUTE, Garfield, CO

Built 1983 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 680

SH 133 ML

Fair

Over: ROARING FK RIVER

AT S.H. 82 IN CARBONDALE, Garfield, CO

Built 1958 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 15,000

SH 91 ML

Fair

Over: CLIMAX MINE HAUL ROAD

.1 MI N LAKE/SUMMIT CO LI, Summit, CO

Built 1989 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,100

DEER CRK CANYON RD

Fair

Over: DOCKMAN GULCH

3.2 MI W OF SH 75, Jefferson, CO

Built 1975 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,081

COLE/DENVER W PKWY

Fair

Over: LENA GULCH

0.1 MI N OF COLFAX, Jefferson, CO

Built 1974 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,081

COLE BLVD

Fair

Over: LENA GULCH

IN DENVER W OFFICE PARK, Jefferson, CO

Built 1975 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 938

I 70 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

14.1 MI E OF FLAGLER, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1964 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,000

I 70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

13.4 MI. E. OF S.H. 57, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1966 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,600

I 70 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

12.0 MI. E. OF US 385, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1967 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,900

I 70 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

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

Built 1969 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,900

County Road 100

Fair

Over: Roaring Fork River

0.6 MI So of St Hwy 82, Garfield, CO

Built 1976 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,353

County Road 300

Fair

Over: Colorado River

0.5 Miles East of I-70, Garfield, CO

Built 1977 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 8,096

County Road 323

Fair

Over: Colorado River

0.5 Mi So of I-70 Exit 81, Garfield, CO

Built 1975 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 599

1ST STREET

Fair

Over: TUCKER GULCH

1 BLK EAST OF FORD STREET, Jefferson, CO

Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,169

10 MILE DRIVE

Fair

Over: TENMILE CREEK

.6 miles W of US 40, Grand, CO

Built 2000 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 751

4th Street

Fair

Over: Greeley No. 3 Ditch

2300 Blk-4th Street, Weld, CO

Built 1972 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 10,732

4th Street

Fair

Over: Greeley No. 3 Ditch

2400 Blk-4th Street, Weld, CO

Built 1970 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 10,732

4th Street

Fair

Over: Greeley No. 3 Ditch

2600 Blk-4th Street, Weld, CO

Built 1972 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 16,883

8th St (CR60.5)

Fair

Over: Sand Creek

2.3 Mi E of JCT 85 BYP, Weld, CO

Built 1967 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 6,476

12TH STREET

Fair

Over: GREELEY NO. 3 DITCH

200 FT E OF 16TH AVE, Weld, CO

Built 1952 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 385

ELM AVENUE

Fair

Over: INDIAN WASH

JUST W OF RD 28, Mesa, CO

Built 1957 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,289

COUNTY ROAD F.5

Fair

Over: LEACH CREEK

JUST EAST OF ROAD 24, Mesa, CO

Built 2008 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,819

11TH STREET

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK

JUST W OF ROSE ST, Clear Creek, CO

Built 1960 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 363

15TH STREET

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK

JUST E OF ALVARADO ROAD, Clear Creek, CO

Built 1965 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 372

22ND STREET

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK

0.1 MI W of ARGENTINE, Clear Creek, CO

Built 1970 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 395

CO RD 12

Fair

Over: MUDDY CREEK

6.1 MI E OF SOMERSET, Gunnison, CO

Built 1981 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 527

CO RD 317

Fair

Over: EAST RIVER

5.7 MI N OF CRESTED BUTTE, Gunnison, CO

Built 1994 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 447

CO RD 742

Fair

Over: LOTTIS CREEK

14.1 MI NE OF ALMONT, Gunnison, CO

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 933

GREEN OAKS DR

Fair

Over: HIGHLINE CANAL

.4 MI W OF UNIVERSITY, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1975 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 316

ORCHARD ROAD

Fair

Over: GREENWOOD GULCH

0.70 MI W OF QUEBEC ST, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1983 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,057

YOSEMITE STREET

Fair

Over: ACCESS ROAD

JUST E OF I-25, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1983 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 10,915

COTTON RANCH DR

Fair

Over: GYPSUM CREEK

0.35 MI W OF GYPSUM CK RD, Eagle, CO

Built 2000 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 808

US 6 ML

Fair

Over: HUNTER WASH

3.7 MI E. OF JCT. SH 340, Mesa, CO

Built 2001 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 11,000

US 6 ML

Fair

Over: PERSIGO WASH

4.5 mi E of Fruita, Mesa, CO

Built 1969 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 13,000

US 24 ML

Fair

Over: PINE CREEK

5.7 MI S.E. OF GRANITE, Chaffee, CO

Built 1937 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,700

CARR STREET

Fair

Over: MASSEY DRAW

JUST NORTH OF UTE AVENUE, Jefferson, CO

Built 2000 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,062

CARR STREET

Fair

Over: MASSEY DRAW

.2 MI S OF KEN CARYL ROAD, Jefferson, CO

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,990

LAKEHURST WAY

Fair

Over: HARRIMAN CANAL

.1 MI W OF KIPLING, Jefferson, CO

Built 1963 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,162

SURREY DRIVE

Fair

Over: HARRIMAN CANAL

.1 MI W OF KIPLING, Jefferson, CO

Built 1964 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 447

US 24 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

4.1 MI E OF MATHESON, Elbert, CO

Built 1934 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,000

SH 71 ML

Fair

Over: NORTH RUSH CREEK

13.2 MI S OF LIMON, Lincoln, CO

Built 1957 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 700

COUNTY ROAD 104

Fair

Over: HUERFANO RIVER

10.1 MI N OF WALSENBURG, Huerfano, CO

Built 1910 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 13

COUNTY ROAD 616

Fair

Over: HUERFANO RIVER

0.1 MI N OF SH 69, Huerfano, CO

Built 1930 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 55

SH 9 ML

Fair

Over: CURRANT CREEK

5.4 MI N. OF PARK-FREMONT, Park, CO

Built 1975 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 430

US 24 ML EBND

Fair

Over: CRYSTAL HILLS BLVD

IN MANITOU SPRINGS, El Paso, CO

Built 1967 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 21,500

CORPORATE DR.

Fair

Over: MONUMENT CREEK

W. Of I-17-NQ and NR, El Paso, CO

Built 2012 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,000

US 24 ML EBND

Fair

Over: FOUNTAIN CREEK

0.6 MI SE OF PIKES PEAK T, El Paso, CO

Built 1965 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 11,500

SH 71 ML

Fair

Over: MUSTANG CREEK

2.6 MI N OF SH 94-PUNKIN, Lincoln, CO

Built 1960 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 700

GILSON AVENUE

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK

JUST N OF COLORADO BLVD, Clear Creek, CO

Built 1973 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 502

SH 9 ML

Fair

Over: LOUIS GULCH

1.9 MI NW OF FREMONT-PARK, Park, CO

Built 1934 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,200

Showing 2,951-3,000 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.