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

SH 96 ML

Fair

Over: ARROYO

2.7 MI E OF JCT SH 229 S, Pueblo, CO

Built 1939 Load: 36.4 t ADT: 1,600

SH 149 ML

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK

19 MILES WEST OF CREEDE, Mineral, CO

Built 1982 Load: 36.4 t ADT: 1,100

I 25 BUS RT

Fair

Over: I 25 ML

2.2 MI NO OF JCT US 160, Huerfano, CO

Built 1963 Load: 36.4 t ADT: 6,000

County Road 44

Fair

Over: Platte Valley Canal

0.8 Mi E of Co Rd 41, Weld, CO

Built 2001 Load: 36.4 t ADT: 601

IRR#CO RD 551

Fair

Over: SAN JUAN RIVER

2.9 MI E OF CAMADO, Archuleta, CO

Built 2010 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 36

WB BRONCOS PARKWAY

Fair

Over: CHERRY CREEK

.6 MI EAST OF JORDAN ROAD, Arapahoe, CO

Built 2004 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 7,923

WOODBURN STREET

Fair

Over: CHEYENNE RUN

0.1 MI N OF CHEYENNE BLVD, El Paso, CO

Built 1970 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 433

SH 157 ML

Fair

Over: SH 119 ML

IN BOULDER, Boulder, CO

Built 1988 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 34,000

US 85 ML

Fair

Over: BIG DRY CREEK

IN ENGLEWOOD, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1939 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 62,000

I 70 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

10 MI E OF JCT US 36, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1960 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 26,000

I 70 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

1 MI W OF BENNETT INTRC, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1960 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 26,000

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: PERSIGO WASH

0.8 MI W OF JCT US 6 ML, Mesa, CO

Built 1969 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 9,000

US 24 ML

Fair

Over: EAST FORK SAND CREEK

PLATTE AVE IN CO SPRINGS, El Paso, CO

Built 2000 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 36,000

SH 96 ML

Fair

Over: ROCK CREEK

7 MI W OF PUEBLO, Pueblo, CO

Built 1970 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 4,000

COUNTY ROAD J

Fair

Over: GRAND VALLEY CANAL

.3 MI W OF RD 24, Mesa, CO

Built 1969 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 477

County Road 29

Fair

Over: Beaver Creek

0.2 Mi North of US Hwy 34, Morgan, CO

Built 1985 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 1,480

US 491 ML

Fair

Over: CROSS CANYON

5.3 MI NW OF CAHONE, Dolores, CO

Built 1937 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 3,400

CANTERBERRY PKWY

Fair

Over: TALLMAN GULCH

.2 MI N. OF HILLTOP ROAD, Douglas, CO

Built 2003 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 6,121

SLOPESIDE LN

Fair

Over: OWL CREEK

JUST W OF PINE CREST DR, Pitkin, CO

Built 1998 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 48

McCaslin Blvd

Fair

Over: Coal Creek

0.3 Mi S of US Hwy 36, Boulder, CO

Built 1995 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 17,606

3310T: POWDERHORN

Fair

Over: Cebolla Creek

14 mi E of Lake City CO, Hinsdale, CO

Built 2011 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 50

SH 105 ML

Fair

Over: DIRTY WOMAN CREEK

E OF I25/MONUMNT.INT., El Paso, CO

Built 2004 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 19,000

SH 71 ML

Fair

Over: APACHE CREEK

12.2 MI N OF PUNKIN CENTE, Lincoln, CO

Built 1958 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 700

US 24 ML EBND

Fair

Over: HANCOCK EXP SPRING CRK

.25 MI E OF JCT I-25, El Paso, CO

Built 1989 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 21,000

SH 94 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

0.4 MI E OF YODER, El Paso, CO

Built 1983 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 1,300

SH 71 ML

Fair

Over: ROCKY FORD CANAL

0.8 MI NO OF JCT US 50 ML, Otero, CO

Built 1981 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 1,700

QUARRY ROAD

Fair

Over: CRYSTAL RIVER

IN TOWN OF MARBLE, Gunnison, CO

Built 1989 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 256

COUNTY ROAD 20

Fair

Over: ROCKY FORD HIGHLINE CANA

1.3 MI N OF SH 10, Otero, CO

Built 1967 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 52

Flatiron Parkwy

Fair

Over: Dry Creek

0.1 Mi E of N 55th Street, Boulder, CO

Built 1985 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 2,240

EB BRONCOS PARKWAY

Fair

Over: CHERRY CREEK

.6 MI EAST OF JORDAN ROAD, Arapahoe, CO

Built 2004 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 7,923

COUNTY ROAD 220

Fair

Over: N. FORK S. ARKANSAS RVR

.5 MI SE of US 50, Chaffee, CO

Built 1988 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 72

ALSACE WAY

Fair

Over: CHEYENNE CREEK

0.1 MI S OF CHEYENNE RD, El Paso, CO

Built 1995 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 8,300

I 70 ML

Fair

Over: I 70 BUSS RT

7.4 MI E OF JCT US 40, Clear Creek, CO

Built 1958 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 36,000

6THAVERMP TOI25 NB

Fair

Over: RAMP TO 8TH AVE R

IN DENVER, Denver, CO

Built 1988 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 114,000

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: BOX ELDER CREEK

1 MI E OF WATKINS INTERCH, Adams, CO

Built 1960 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 13,000

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: PARACHUTE CREEK

1/2 MI W OF PARACHUTE INT, Garfield, CO

Built 1982 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 9,000

SH 82 ML

Fair

Over: SNOWMASS CREEK

N edge of Snowmass, Pitkin, CO

Built 2000 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 19,000

SH 86 ML

Fair

Over: I 70 ML

8 MI W OF LIMON, Elbert, CO

Built 1972 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 880

29 Road

Fair

Over: GRAND VALLEY CANAL

.6 MI N OF US 6, Mesa, CO

Built 1976 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 11,960

SH 141 ML

Fair

Over: GIBBLE GULCH

33.6 MI NE OF GATEWAY, Mesa, CO

Built 1953 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 540

I25 ML SBND

Fair

Over: ELLSTON ROAD

IN COLORADO SPRINGS, El Paso, CO

Built 1959 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 59,000

COUNTY ROAD 16

Fair

Over: CATLIN CANAL

.2 MI N OF CR GG, Otero, CO

Built 1998 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 79

PIKES PEAK DR

Fair

Over: SULPHUR GULCH

0.2 MI S OF E MAINSTREET, Douglas, CO

Built 1989 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 448

COUNTY ROAD 4/105

Fair

Over: FRYING PAN RIVER

3 MI E OF RUEDI RESERVOIR, Pitkin, CO

Built 1988 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 197

County Road 5

Fair

Over: Roaring Fork River

0.2 Mi So of Co Rd, Jackson, CO

Built 1980 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 62

US 287 ML

Fair

Over: DEADMAN CREEK

23 MILES NORTH OF TEDS PL, Larimer, CO

Built 1960 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 3,900

US 36 ML

Fair

Over: NORTH ST VRAIN CREEK

IN LYONS, Boulder, CO

Built 2007 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 9,000

BROMLEY LANE

Fair

Over: I 76 ML

4.98 MI NE OF JCT SH 51 -, Adams, CO

Built 1986 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 16,631

MISSISSIPPI AVE

Fair

Over: I 225 ML

IN AURORA, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1997 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 56,675

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: LAKE CREEK

0.7 MI W OF JCT US 40, Lincoln, CO

Built 1975 Load: 36.8 t ADT: 6,000

Showing 3,701-3,750 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.