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

CIMARRON RIVER RD.

Fair

Over: CIMARRON DITCH CANAL

32 MI SE OF MONTROSE, Gunnison, CO

Built 1986 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 156

FDR 112

Fair

Over: SOUTH ST VRAIN CREEK

5.75 MI WEST OF CO HWY 72, Boulder, CO

Built 1989 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 177

AVON ROAD

Fair

Over: EAGLE RIVER

.3 MI S OF JCT I 70 ML, Eagle, CO

Built 1991 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 13,283

104TH AVENUE

Fair

Over: SECOND CREEK

0.3 MI EAST OF CHAMBERS, Adams, CO

Built 2008 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 11,535

SH 115 ML + US 85

Fair

Over: US 85 ML

3.5 MI N OF FORT CARSON, El Paso, CO

Built 1971 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 34,000

I 25 ML SBND

Fair

Over: MONUMENT CREEK

IN COLORADO SPRINGS, El Paso, CO

Built 2008 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 62,000

County Road R

Fair

Over: Fort Morgan Canal

0.1 Mi E of CR 17.7 INT., Morgan, CO

Built 1995 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 1,075

County Road 19

Fair

Over: New Cache LaPoudre Canal

0.7 Mi N of St Hwy 392, Weld, CO

Built 1991 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 8,393

PALMER DIVIDE ROAD

Fair

Over: WEST CHERRY CREEK

0.5 MI W OF HIGHWAY 83, Douglas, CO

Built 1995 Load: 38.3 t ADT: 2,643

I 76 ML

Fair

Over: BURLINGTON CANAL

0.9 MI NE OF JCT SH 51, Adams, CO

Built 1957 Load: 38.3 t ADT: 32,000

I76 ONRMP FROM 270

Fair

Over: I270B RAMP TO I76 WB

NE OF JCT I25, Adams, CO

Built 2003 Load: 38.3 t ADT: 84,000

I 70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: REPUBLICAN RIVER

3.1 MI E. OF FLAGLER, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1975 Load: 38.3 t ADT: 5,000

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: REPUBLICAN RIVER

3.1 MI E OF FLAGLER, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1975 Load: 38.3 t ADT: 5,000

US 385 ML

Fair

Over: SAND CREEK

2 MI S. OF BURLINGTON, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1952 Load: 38.3 t ADT: 1,000

SH 14 ML

Fair

Over: LARIMER CO CANAL

4.8 MI E OF JCT SH 257, Weld, CO

Built 1957 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 8,900

SH 14 ML

Fair

Over: COAL CREEK

14 MI E OF US 85 / AULT, Weld, CO

Built 1956 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 2,300

COUNTY ROAD 10

Fair

Over: MONTE VISTA CANAL

JUST W OF SH 368, Conejos, CO

Built 1991 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 96

RAMP TO I 70 WBND

Fair

Over: RAMP TO I 70 WBND R

MOUSETRAP IN DENVER, Denver, CO

Built 1993 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 4,200

I76 ML WBND

Fair

Over: THIRD CREEK

Just N of 470 Parkway, Adams, CO

Built 2002 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 21,000

COLORADO BLVD

Fair

Over: SH 470 ML

5.1 M E OF JCT US 85, Douglas, CO

Built 1984 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 16,739

US 385 ML

Fair

Over: S FK REPUBLICAN RIVER

21.9 MI N OF JCT US 24, Yuma, CO

Built 1956 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 740

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: COLORADO RIVER

17 MI W OF PARACHUTE, Mesa, CO

Built 1982 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 8,500

WOLFENSBERGER RD.

Fair

Over: I 25 ML

N. OF CASTLE ROCK BUS. RT, Douglas, CO

Built 2002 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 21,632

8th Street

Fair

Over: Cache La Poudre River

.1 Mi W of SH 85, Weld, CO

Built 1988 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 5,645

SH 94 ML

Fair

Over: BLACK SQUIRREL CREEK

1.4 MI E OF ELLICOTT, El Paso, CO

Built 1966 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 2,800

US 385 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

10.MI S OF US 40, Cheyenne, CO

Built 1956 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 320

IRR# MESA VERDE RD

Fair

Over: US 160 ML

8.3 MI E OF JCT SH 145, Montezuma, CO

Built 1972 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 1,168

IRR# US 491 ML

Fair

Over: INDIAN CREEK

0.6 MI N OF NEW MEXICO, Montezuma, CO

Built 1959 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 4,000

LAKEMOOR DRIVE

Fair

Over: FOURMILE CREEK

3.0 MI SE OF CR 11, Teller, CO

Built 1985 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 10

VAIL ROAD

Fair

Over: GORE CREEK

JUST N OF BEAVER DAM ROAD, Eagle, CO

Built 1995 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 1,695

County Road 29

Fair

Over: Western Mutual Ditch

0.5 Mi N of Co Rd 42, Weld, CO

Built 2005 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 60

SOUTHERN ST

Fair

Over: FULTON DITCH

1.5 MI E SH85/N BROMLEY L, Adams, CO

Built 1996 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 2,845

COUNTY ROAD SS

Fair

Over: FT. LYON CANAL

.4 MI W OF CR 34, Bent, CO

Built 2012 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 78

COUNTY ROAD 23.5

Fair

Over: CULEBRA CREEK

JUST N OF CR M.5, Costilla, CO

Built 1988 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 7

COUNTY ROAD K.5

Fair

Over: SANCHEZ CANAL

1.3 MI SE OF SAN PEDRO, Costilla, CO

Built 1993 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 62

COUNTY ROAD 54

Fair

Over: LADDER CREEK

.9 MI N OF CR N, Cheyenne, CO

Built 1998 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 44

I 70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: FARM ACCESS ROAD

1.6 MI E OF JCT US 6 + SH, Summit, CO

Built 1964 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 16,000

I 25 ML

Fair

Over: YALE AVE

IN DENVER, Denver, CO

Built 1998 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 213,000

I 70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: UP RR

2.3 MI E OF STRASBURG SPU, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1962 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 7,500

COUNTY ROAD 11

Fair

Over: SNOWMASS DIVIDE CREEK

1.5 MI S OF HWY 82, Pitkin, CO

Built 1985 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 1,675

8510: BLUE LAKE RO

Fair

Over: MILK CREEK

5.0 mi from Hwy 131, Eagle, CO

Built 1995 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 25

COUNTY ROAD 38

Fair

Over: I 25 ML

4 MI NO OF JCT SH 66, Weld, CO

Built 1960 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 1,428

ZEPPELIN ROAD

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE CANAL

0.1 MI S OF AVIATION WAY, El Paso, CO

Built 1986 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 2,018

WB PENA BLVD

Fair

Over: GUN CLUB ROAD

2.0 MI EAST OF E-470, Denver, CO

Built 1992 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 53,666

EB PENA BLVD

Fair

Over: GUN CLUB ROAD

2.0 MI EAST OF E-470, Denver, CO

Built 1992 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 53,666

SB PENA BLVD

Fair

Over: JACKSON GAP ST

3.0 MI EAST OF E-470, Denver, CO

Built 1992 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 52,330

NB PENA BLVD

Fair

Over: JACKSON GAP RD

3.0 MI EAST OF E-470, Denver, CO

Built 1992 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 52,330

LEV 4 NE TERM RAMP

Fair

Over: TERRAIN

NE CORNER TERM BLDG, Denver, CO

Built 1993 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 9,793

LEV 6 NE TERM RAMP

Fair

Over: TERRAIN

NE CORNER TERM BLDG, Denver, CO

Built 1993 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 11,889

LEV 6 NW TERM RAMP

Fair

Over: TERRAIN

NW CORNER TERM BLDG, Denver, CO

Built 1993 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 8,004

Showing 3,901-3,950 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.