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

CASTLE PINES PKWY

Fair

Over: I 25 ML

6.7 MI N CASTLE ROCK BUS., Douglas, CO

Built 2005 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 18,692

US 50 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

11.5 MI SE OF SALIDA, Fremont, CO

Built 1934 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 3,600

I 25 ML

Fair

Over: EAGLE RIDGE BLVD.

14.1 S OF EL PASO-PUEBLO, Pueblo, CO

Built 2005 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 36,000

SH 209 ML

Fair

Over: BOB CREEK CANAL

1.3 MI NORTH OF JCT US 50, Pueblo, CO

Built 1970 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 230

ACADEMY DRIVE

Fair

Over: LEHMAN RUN

500 N. OF INTERIOR DR. O, El Paso, CO

Built 1958 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 1,685

County Road 96

Fair

Over: South St. Vrain Creek

100 Ft. W of St Hwy 72, Boulder, CO

Built 2000 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 64

SH 34 ACCESS ROAD

Fair

Over: BIG THOMPSON RIVER AR

IN DRAKE, Larimer, CO

Built 1977 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 48

I 76 ML WBND

Fair

Over: CR 20-BARLOW RD.

EAST FT. MORGAN EXIT, Morgan, CO

Built 1959 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 7,500

HAVANA STREET

Fair

Over: OBRIAN CANAL

0.6 MI N OF 96TH AVE, Adams, CO

Built 1984 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 1,788

US 287 ML

Fair

Over: LOWER BOULDER DITCH

3.4 MI N OF LAFAYETTE, Boulder, CO

Built 1997 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 26,000

US 40 ML

Fair

Over: FRASER RIVER

1 MI SE OF WINTER PARK, Grand, CO

Built 1942 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 11,000

NB 225 RAMP

Fair

Over: I25 ML

I25 TO I225 RAMP, Arapahoe, CO

Built 2005 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 69,000

I 70 BUS SPUR

Fair

Over: I 70 ML

WATKINS INTERCHANGE, Adams, CO

Built 1960 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 3,300

I 70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: COLORADO RIVER

W SIDE OF DEBEQUE TUNNEL, Mesa, CO

Built 1985 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 8,500

County Road 69B

Fair

Over: Big Thompson River

0.1 Mi S of End of SH S66, Larimer, CO

Built 1940 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 3,417

COUNTY RD BANNER

Fair

Over: F N LATERAL CANAL

0.6 MI E OF PEA GREEN COR, Montrose, CO

Built 1960 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 137

SH 14 ML

Fair

Over: MICHIGAN RIVER

19 MI E. OF WALDEN, Jackson, CO

Built 1978 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 490

COUNTY ROAD 73

Fair

Over: I 76 ML

16.4 MI NE OF JCT SH 52, Weld, CO

Built 1959 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 731

SH 72 ML

Fair

Over: CROKE CANAL

INDIANA ST .1 MI N OF 72N, Jefferson, CO

Built 1991 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 16,000

SH 121 ML NBND

Fair

Over: US 287 ML RR SPUR

IN BROOMFIELD, Broomfield, CO

Built 1972 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 25,000

SH 53 ML

Fair

Over: I 25 ML

58TH AVE OVER I25, Adams, CO

Built 1992 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 20,000

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: DEER PARK DEPRESSION

GLNWD CNYN W OF GRZLY CRE, Garfield, CO

Built 1984 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 8,500

I 70 ML I 70 Serv

Fair

Over: DRAW

6.0 MI E ARAPAHOE-ELBERT, Elbert, CO

Built 1958 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 11,000

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: DRAW

3 MI. W. LIMON, Elbert, CO

Built 1972 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 5,500

ALKIRE STREET

Fair

Over: FARMERS HIGHLINE CANAL

.9 MI N OF 72ND AVE, Jefferson, CO

Built 1959 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 4,326

5th Street

Fair

Over: Cache La Poudre River

0.4 Mi E of 8th Ave, Weld, CO

Built 1986 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 8,737

I 25 ML NBND

Fair

Over: ELLSTON ROAD

IN COLORADO SPRINGS, El Paso, CO

Built 1959 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 59,000

OWL CREEK PASS RD.

Fair

Over: WEST FORK CIMARRON RIV.

27 MI S.E. MONTROSE, Gunnison, CO

Built 1987 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 107

BUZZARD DIVIDE ROA

Fair

Over: WEST MUDDY CREEK

17 MI. NNE PAONIA, Delta, CO

Built 1951 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 96

PICADILLY ROAD

Fair

Over: THIRD CREEK

1.3 MI NORTH OF 96TH AVE, Adams, CO

Built 1995 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 1,984

RIDGE ROAD

Fair

Over: KIPLING STREET

.6 MI N OF I-70, Jefferson, CO

Built 1987 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 2,719

WB ALAMEDA AVE

Fair

Over: WEST TOLLGATE CREEK

0.2 MI E OF CHAMBERS RD, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1978 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 14,929

COUNTY ROAD 13

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK SAND ARROYO

.1 MI N OF CR R, Baca, CO

Built 1950 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 13

Valmont Rd (CR 52)

Fair

Over: South Boulder Creek

0.4 Mi E of 55th St., Boulder, CO

Built 2006 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 15,236

US 85 ML SBND

Fair

Over: GREELEY CANAL NO 2

AT LUCERNE, Weld, CO

Built 1964 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 6,000

COUNTY ROAD 21

Fair

Over: SANCHEZ CANAL

JUST N OF CR H.2, Costilla, CO

Built 1994 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 83

JUDGE ORR ROAD

Fair

Over: BRACKETT CREEK

0.2 MI E OF ELLICOTT HWY, El Paso, CO

Built 2000 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 1,804

SH 88 ML(ARAP. RD)

Fair

Over: WINDMILL CREEK

JUST WEST OF JORDAN ROAD, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1981 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 54,000

I 70 FRONTAGE RD

Fair

Over: REPUBLICAN RIVER SR

3.1 MI E. OF FLAGLER, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1972 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 33

County Road 40

Fair

Over: N. Sterling Inlet Canal

50 ft E of Co Rd 37, Logan, CO

Built 1986 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 93

Idlewild Lane

Fair

Over: Big Thompson River

15 Ft S of US Hwy 34, Larimer, CO

Built 2019 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 90

RIVERDALE ROAD

Fair

Over: TODD CREEK

0.8 MI S OF 160TH AVE, Adams, CO

Built 1960 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 2,323

SH 257 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

2.2 MI NO OF JCT US 34, Weld, CO

Built 1963 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 12,000

US 6 ML

Fair

Over: I 76 ML

AT JCT OF I-76, Morgan, CO

Built 1959 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 1,300

CARDER CT

Fair

Over: HIGHLINE CANAL

.25 MI WEST OF US 85, Douglas, CO

Built 1995 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 1,414

County Road 10

Fair

Over: N. Sterling Inlet Canal

1.3 Mi. E. of Co. Rd. 19, Logan, CO

Built 1991 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 81

STATE ST (CR 650)

Fair

Over: RIO GRANDE RIVER

.1 MI N OF 1ST ST, Alamosa, CO

Built 1982 Load: 39.4 t ADT: 1,994

COUNTY ROAD GG

Fair

Over: MUD CREEK

.5 MI E CR 30, Bent, CO

Built 1989 Load: 39.4 t ADT: 91

COUNTY ROAD M.5

Fair

Over: SANCHEZ CANAL

2.0 MI NE OF CHAMA, Costilla, CO

Built 1988 Load: 39.4 t ADT: 14

MOTOR WAY

Fair

Over: CHEYENNE CREEK

SW OF I-25 and NEVADA S, El Paso, CO

Built 2004 Load: 39.4 t ADT: 8,874

Showing 4,001-4,050 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.