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

I 70 ML

Fair

Over: LITTLE HORSE THIEF CRK

0.5 mi W. of Debeque Int., Mesa, CO

Built 1980 Load: 37.7 t ADT: 17,000

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: US 24 ML

1.3 MI. E. OF LIMON, Lincoln, CO

Built 1975 Load: 37.7 t ADT: 6,000

US 24 ML WBND

Fair

Over: US 24 BUSS RT

1.0 MI NW OF JCT COLO AVE, El Paso, CO

Built 1969 Load: 37.7 t ADT: 13,500

COUNTY ROAD 22

Fair

Over: TIMPAS CREEK

.1 MI S OF CR BB, Otero, CO

Built 1971 Load: 37.7 t ADT: 109

County Road 43

Fair

Over: Larimer and Weld Canal

At Jct with Co Rd 84, Weld, CO

Built 1979 Load: 37.7 t ADT: 348

County Road 49

Fair

Over: New Cache La Poudre Cana

0.8 Mi N of Co Rd 70, Weld, CO

Built 1997 Load: 37.7 t ADT: 169

COUNTY ROAD 14.5

Fair

Over: TRIB. OF RULE CREEK

.2 MI S OF CR K, Bent, CO

Built 1990 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 41

PLUM CREEK PKWY

Fair

Over: RAILROAD

0.3 MI EAST OF WILCOX ST, Douglas, CO

Built 1983 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 22,093

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: DEER PARK DEPRESSION

JUST W OF GRIZZLY CRK INT, Garfield, CO

Built 1984 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 8,500

SH 133 ML

Fair

Over: THOMPSON CREEK

4 MI. S. OF CARBONDALE, Pitkin, CO

Built 1961 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 3,300

I 25 ML NBND

Fair

Over: MONUMENT CREEK

IN COLORADO SPRINGS, El Paso, CO

Built 2008 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 62,000

US 50 ML WBND

Fair

Over: OTERO CANAL

1 MI East OF LA JUNTA, Otero, CO

Built 2002 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 1,600

US 160 ML

Fair

Over: MANCOS RIVER

0.7 EAST OF JCT SH 184, Montezuma, CO

Built 1958 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 6,000

County Road 17

Fair

Over: Sullivan Ditch

0.4 Mi North of Co Rd 22, Weld, CO

Built 2000 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 88

LEV 5 NE TERM RAMP

Fair

Over: TERRAIN

NE CORNER TERM BLDG, Denver, CO

Built 1993 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 8,065

SH 71 ML

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

9.6 MI NO OF JCT US 36, Washington, CO

Built 1956 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 880

PEYTON HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: BLACK SQUIRREL CREEK

.8 MI N OF JUDGE ORR ROAD, El Paso, CO

Built 1989 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 472

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: HILLSIDE

E. APP OF REVRS CRV TUNNL, Garfield, CO

Built 1989 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 8,500

COUNTY ROAD 67

Fair

Over: EIGHT MILE CREEK

13.2 MI N OF CR 123, Fremont, CO

Built 1989 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 23

I 70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: US 40 ML

2.8 MI E OF JCT SH 71, Lincoln, CO

Built 1975 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 6,000

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: COLORADO RIVER

1 MI E OF JCT SH 65, Mesa, CO

Built 1985 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 8,500

I 25 ML SBND

Fair

Over: NEVADA AVE.

IN COLORADO SPRINGS, El Paso, CO

Built 2008 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 62,000

US 50 ML

Fair

Over: OAK CREEK

IN COTOPAXI, Fremont, CO

Built 1936 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 3,300

County Road 48

Fair

Over: N. Sterling Outlet Canal

0.6 Mi. E of Co. Rd. 41, Logan, CO

Built 1999 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 67

County Road 38

Fair

Over: Platte Valley Canal

0.8 Mi E of Co Rd 31, Weld, CO

Built 2005 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 212

Arapahoe Avenue

Fair

Over: Boulder Creek

50 Ft S of Canyon Blvd, Boulder, CO

Built 1990 Load: 38.0 t ADT: 7,200

US 34 ML

Fair

Over: BIJOU CANAL

15 MI W OF WIGGINS, Weld, CO

Built 2000 Load: 38.0 t ADT: 5,000

WB 6TH AVE

Fair

Over: SEMINOLE ROAD

0.3 MI E OF I-25, Denver, CO

Built 1958 Load: 38.0 t ADT: 31,795

ACADEMY BLVD SB

Fair

Over: FOUNTAIN CREEK

0.5 MI S OF JCT SH 85, El Paso, CO

Built 1972 Load: 38.0 t ADT: 18,073

ACADEMY BLVD NB

Fair

Over: FOUNTAIN CREEK

.4 MI E. OF I25, El Paso, CO

Built 1972 Load: 38.0 t ADT: 21,351

US 6 ML

Fair

Over: INDIANA AVE

1.1 MI E OF JCT US 40, Jefferson, CO

Built 1971 Load: 38.0 t ADT: 60,000

COUNTY ROAD 132

Fair

Over: EIGHT MILE CREEK

1.6 MI NE OF CR 123, Fremont, CO

Built 1995 Load: 38.0 t ADT: 243

RAMP TO I 70 EBND

Fair

Over: KYLE RR R

0.8 MI E OF JCT SH 71, Lincoln, CO

Built 1975 Load: 38.0 t ADT: 6,000

SH 141 ML

Fair

Over: SALT CANYON

10 MI SW OF GATEWAY, Mesa, CO

Built 1959 Load: 38.0 t ADT: 260

County Road 2

Fair

Over: Box Elder Creek

0.7 Mi E of Co Rd 47, Weld, CO

Built 2004 Load: 38.0 t ADT: 796

County Road 76

Fair

Over: Larimer and Weld Canal

1.2 Mi E of Co Rd 23, Weld, CO

Built 1989 Load: 38.0 t ADT: 279

FDR 436

Fair

Over: DOLORES RIVER

0.1 MI ON FDR 436, Montezuma, CO

Built 1964 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 42

I 76 ML WBND

Fair

Over: COUNTY ROAD 55

31.5 MI NE OF JCT US 34, Logan, CO

Built 1966 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 4,150

I 76 ML EBND

Fair

Over: COUNTY ROAD 55

8 MI E. OF STERLING, Logan, CO

Built 1966 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 4,150

SH 257 ML

Fair

Over: CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER

2.9 MI NO OF JCT US 34, Weld, CO

Built 1964 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 12,000

120TH AVENUE

Fair

Over: SECOND CREEK

.4 MI WEST OF I-76, Adams, CO

Built 2001 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 14,212

COUNTY ROAD BB

Fair

Over: EMPIRE CANAL

1.4 MI W OF SH 285, Conejos, CO

Built 1992 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 57

EASTBOUND 56TH AVE

Fair

Over: MONTBELLO DITCH

JUST W OF HAVANA ST, Denver, CO

Built 1995 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 15,700

LEV 5 NW TERM RAMP

Fair

Over: TERRAIN

NW CORNER TERM BLDG, Denver, CO

Built 1993 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 6,265

SH 224 ML

Fair

Over: I76 RAMP UP RR

2.6 MI E OF JCT US 36, Adams, CO

Built 1963 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 12,000

SH 74 ML

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

S.E. EDGE OF EVERGREEN, Jefferson, CO

Built 1959 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 6,000

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: UP RR

3.5 MI W OF JCT 36-BYERS, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1962 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 7,500

RAYNOLDS AVE

Fair

Over: ARKANSAS RIVER

0.7 MI S OF US50, Fremont, CO

Built 1975 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 6,572

SH 71 ML

Fair

Over: BIG SANDY CREEK

IN LIMON, Lincoln, CO

Built 1999 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 2,500

County Road 19.5

Fair

Over: Riverside Canal

1.3 Mi No of Co Rd T.5, Morgan, CO

Built 1965 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 56

Showing 3,851-3,900 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.