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

168TH AVENUE

Fair

Over: SOUTH PLATTE RIVER

.3 MI W OF HWY 85, Adams, CO

Built 1989 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 5,537

HAREBELL DR

Fair

Over: SAN JUAN RIVER

6 MI NE OF PAGOSA SPRING, Archuleta, CO

Built 2012 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 150

BROKEN LANCE DR

Fair

Over: BLUE RIVER

0.5 MI SW OF HIGHWAY 9, Summit, CO

Built 1979 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 925

TEJON STREET

Fair

Over: FOUNTAIN CREEK

JUST N OF I25, El Paso, CO

Built 1989 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 3,049

US 34 ML

Fair

Over: SH 39 ML

4.6 MI E OF JCT SH 144, Morgan, CO

Built 1982 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 4,500

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: BAIR RANCH RD DRAW

GLENWOOD CANYON, Garfield, CO

Built 1985 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 8,500

I 70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: RAMP/GRIZZLY CREEK DRAW

GRIZZLY CREEK INTERCHANGE, Garfield, CO

Built 1988 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 8,500

SH 83 ML

Fair

Over: HIGHLINE CANAL

PARKER RD & MISSISSIPPI, Denver, CO

Built 1976 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 29,000

COUNTY ROAD Z

Fair

Over: CATLIN CANAL

.2 MI E OF CR 19, Otero, CO

Built 1969 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 28

County Road 78

Fair

Over: Larimer and Weld Canal

0.7 Mi E of Co Rd 13, Weld, CO

Built 1991 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 48

Co Rd 4 Mile Lane

Fair

Over: Hooper Lateral

.6 Mi E of CR 102, Alamosa, CO

Built 2021 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 41

132ND AVENUE

Fair

Over: FULTON DITCH

0.3 MI EAST OF HIGHWAY 85, Adams, CO

Built 1992 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 5

COUNTY ROAD U

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK SAND ARROYO

1.8 MI D OF CR U, Baca, CO

Built 1960 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 3

WYKAGYL RD

Fair

Over: LAPIN CREEK

Just N OF AIRPORT ROAD, Custer, CO

Built 1980 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 127

SH 13 ML

Fair

Over: CURTIS CREEK

3.5 mil. N. of Meeker, Rio Blanco, CO

Built 1959 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 1,300

US 36 WBND ML

Fair

Over: I 25 ML RAMPS HOV LANES

INT. 36 and I 25, Adams, CO

Built 1998 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 9,600

US 36 ML

Fair

Over: BOX ELDER CREEK

0.8 MI E OF WATKINS, Adams, CO

Built 2005 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 2,400

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: TRIBUTARY AGATE CK

0.7 MI W ROAD TO AGATE, Elbert, CO

Built 1968 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 5,500

ESTES STREET

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

.7 MILES NORTH OF US 285, Jefferson, CO

Built 1974 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 10,318

County Road 9

Fair

Over: Reymer Creek

3.0 Mi N of St Hwy 14, Logan, CO

Built 1993 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 59

County Road 24H

Fair

Over: Buckhorn Creek

0.6 Mi E of Co Rd 27, Larimer, CO

Built 1985 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 329

I 25 ML NBND

Fair

Over: BNSF RR

0.5 MI N OF JCT SH 14, Larimer, CO

Built 1966 Load: 34.4 t ADT: 19,000

WEST CARR AVE

Fair

Over: STORM DRAINAGE

0.1 MI W OF NORTH B ST, Teller, CO

Built 1994 Load: 34.4 t ADT: 2,408

COUNTY LINE RD

Fair

Over: NEFFS GULCH

2 MI WEST OF MERIDIAN RD, El Paso, CO

Built 1999 Load: 34.4 t ADT: 56

I 70 ACCESS RD

Fair

Over: I 70 ML

1.5 MI E. OF NEW CASTLE, Garfield, CO

Built 1971 Load: 34.4 t ADT: 5

HOLLY STREET

Fair

Over: GREENWOOD GULCH

.1 MI N OF ORCHARD RD, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1991 Load: 34.4 t ADT: 6,528

County Road 103

Fair

Over: Laramie River

0.3 Mi E of Co Rd 190, Larimer, CO

Built 1991 Load: 34.4 t ADT: 53

COUNTY ROAD 18

Fair

Over: GOVT. HIGHLINE CANAL

8.9 MI NE OF JCT US 6, Mesa, CO

Built 1983 Load: 34.4 t ADT: 106

EB LINCOLN AVENUE

Fair

Over: NEWLIN GULCH

0.3 MI E OF JORDAN, Douglas, CO

Built 1998 Load: 34.4 t ADT: 13,263

REDSTONE RANCH RD

Fair

Over: CRYSTAL RIVER

JUST E OF SH133 AT MP50, Pitkin, CO

Built 1992 Load: 34.4 t ADT: 161

County Road DD

Fair

Over: Hell Creek

1.3 Mi. N. of Co. Rd. 26, Washington, CO

Built 1997 Load: 34.4 t ADT: 8

FDR 504

Fair

Over: SALTER CANYON

4.0 MI ON FDR 504, Montezuma, CO

Built 1937 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 63

County Road 80

Fair

Over: North St. Vrain Creek

20 Ft S of US Hwy 36, Boulder, CO

Built 1988 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 268

RAMP TO I 25 SBND

Fair

Over: RAMP TO PARK AVE R

IN DENVER, Denver, CO

Built 1996 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 125,500

RAMP TO PARK AV R

Fair

Over: RAMP TO 38TH STREET R

IN DENVER, Denver, CO

Built 1996 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 22,388

I 70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: CO RD CLEAR CREEK

4.7 MI E OF JCT SH 103, Clear Creek, CO

Built 1974 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 23,500

US 85ML

Fair

Over: HAMPDEN AVENUE

SHERIDAN/ENGLEWOOD, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1961 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 61,000

RAMP TO US 85 SBND

Fair

Over: RAMP TO US 85 SBND[SW] R

2.07 MI N OF JCT US 285, Denver, CO

Built 1986 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 38,000

25 SB RAMP TO E470

Fair

Over: I 25 SH 470 ML RAMPS R

TOP FLYOVER JCT I-25 & 4, Douglas, CO

Built 1991 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 47,000

LeMay Avenue

Fair

Over: Cache La Poudre River

0.1 Mi N of Riverside Ave, Larimer, CO

Built 1980 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 22,461

County Road 134

Fair

Over: Colorado River

Exit 111 of I-70, Garfield, CO

Built 1980 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 743

US 24 BUS RT-OFFRA

Fair

Over: FOUNTAIN CREEK

1.5 MI E OF MANITOU SPRIN, El Paso, CO

Built 1969 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 7,334

SH 69 ML

Fair

Over: TEXAS CREEK

12 MI NORTH OF WESTCLIFFE, Custer, CO

Built 1906 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 1,800

County Road 27

Fair

Over: Buckhorn Creek

2.1 Mi NW of Mason St, Larimer, CO

Built 1967 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 770

US 160 ML

Fair

Over: MONTE VISTA CANAL

11.4 MI E OF JCT SH 112, Rio Grande, CO

Built 1970 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 4,600

COUNTY ROAD 20

Fair

Over: ROCKY FORD HIGHLINE CANA

1.5 MI N OF SH 10, Otero, CO

Built 1967 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 44

COUNTY ROAD 8.5

Fair

Over: AMITY CANAL

1.7 MI SE OF KORNMAN, Prowers, CO

Built 1992 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 38

County Road 20

Fair

Over: Roaring Fork River

5.3 Mi W of Co Rd, Jackson, CO

Built 1983 Load: 34.6 t ADT: 25

YALE AVENUE

Fair

Over: HIGHLINE CANAL

.1 MI EAST OF SYRACUSE, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1988 Load: 34.6 t ADT: 2,373

MILLER STREET

Fair

Over: RALSTON CREEK

0.2 MI NORTH OF 64TH AVE, Jefferson, CO

Built 1960 Load: 34.6 t ADT: 2,787

Showing 3,401-3,450 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.