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 368 ML

Fair

Over: ALAMOSA FARM LATERL CANA

2.9 MI E OF JCT SH 371, Alamosa, CO

Built 1955 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 230

COUNTY ROAD 321

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

2.3 MI N OF CR 325, La Plata, CO

Built 1995 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 165

I 70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: VAIL ROAD

IN VAIL, Eagle, CO

Built 1969 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 14,500

CO RD CHIEF HOSA

Fair

Over: I 70 ML

0.6 MI E OF JCT SH 74, Jefferson, CO

Built 1972 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 913

SH 391 ML SBND

Fair

Over: ILIFF GULCH

Kipling 1.5 MI N of US285, Jefferson, CO

Built 1981 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 18,500

County Road 26

Fair

Over: Last Chance Ditch

0.8 Mi E of Co Rd 13, Weld, CO

Built 2003 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 1,052

HARLAN ST

Fair

Over: SLOANS LAKE DRAINAGE

.1 MI S OF 20TH AVE, Jefferson, CO

Built 1982 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 2,949

COUNTY ROAD 35.3

Fair

Over: GOVT. HIGHLINE CANAL

.5 MI N OF RD G, Mesa, CO

Built 1988 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 78

COUNTY ROAD SS

Fair

Over: AMITY CANAL

JUST E OF CR 15.5, Prowers, CO

Built 1990 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 36

COUNTY ROAD 321

Fair

Over: HUERFANO RIVER

12.8 MI SSW OF AVONDALE, Pueblo, CO

Built 1985 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 38

COUNTY ROAD 17

Fair

Over: N. BRANCH CONEJOS RIVER

1.6 MI N OF ESPINOZA, Conejos, CO

Built 1994 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 328

COUNTY ROAD H.5

Fair

Over: COLORADO CANAL

.8 MI WEST OF ROAD 11, Crowley, CO

Built 1995 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 51

8TH AVENUE

Fair

Over: UTE CREEK

IN FORT GARLAND, Costilla, CO

Built 2004 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 10

COUNTY ROAD D.2

Fair

Over: RIO COSTILLA

JUST E OF CR 12.8, Costilla, CO

Built 1993 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 5

LOWER COLFAX AVE

Fair

Over: SOUTH PLATTE RIVER

JUST WEST OF ZUNI STREET, Denver, CO

Built 2002 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 2,828

COUNTY ROAD 4

Fair

Over: I 76 ML

NEAR WIGGINS, Morgan, CO

Built 1959 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 459

I 70 EB RAMP

Fair

Over: US 6 ML

1 MI E OF EISENHOWER TUNN, Clear Creek, CO

Built 1979 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 16,500

County Road 54

Fair

Over: Latham Ditch

0.5 Mi E of Co Rd 43, Weld, CO

Built 1998 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 2,042

4TH STREET

Fair

Over: DOLORES RIVER

IN TOWN OF DOLORES, Montezuma, CO

Built 1998 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 1,478

STRASBURG ROAD

Fair

Over: WOLF CREEK

1.5 MI NORTH OF 88TH AVE, Adams, CO

Built 1988 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 503

CR 16.5/SH 101

Fair

Over: HACKBERRY CREEK

5.3 MI SE OF CR K, Bent, CO

Built 1987 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 50

NB SPEER BLVD

Fair

Over: RAILROAD/RTD

0.3 MILE E OF I-25, Denver, CO

Built 1990 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 20,687

SB SPEER BLVD

Fair

Over: RAILROAD/RTD

0.3 MILE E OF I-25, Denver, CO

Built 1990 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 20,504

SH 119 ML

Fair

Over: NORTH BEAVER CREEK

IN NEDERLAND, Boulder, CO

Built 1948 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 4,000

SH 53 ML

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK

6700 N. BROADWAY, Adams, CO

Built 1971 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 11,000

W 62nd Ave

Fair

Over: I 76 ML

1 MI W OF JCT I25 & I-70, Adams, CO

Built 1992 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 3,191

OTERO AVENUE

Fair

Over: KETTLE CREEK

0.25 MI S OF OLD RANCH RD, El Paso, CO

Built 1997 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 730

US 6 ML

Fair

Over: Lena Gulch

3.2 MI E OF JCT SH 58, Jefferson, CO

Built 1951 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 31,000

I 70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: COUNTY ROAD 185

1.8 MI E OF JCT US 36 (BY, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1963 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 6,000

I 70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: MIDDLE BIJOU CREEK

7.3 MI E OF JCT US 36, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1965 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 6,000

County Road 109

Fair

Over: Roaring Fork River

0.5 Mi So of St Hwy 82, Garfield, CO

Built 1986 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 3,436

COUNTY RD 44.0

Fair

Over: CANYON DEL AGUA CRK TRIB

2 MI NW OF LUDLOW, Las Animas, CO

Built 2000 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 37

COUNTY ROAD R

Fair

Over: EAST SALT CREEK

.4 MI E OF RD 9, Mesa, CO

Built 1990 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 304

COUNTY ROAD 18

Fair

Over: CATLIN CANAL

.2 MI W OF CR 18, Otero, CO

Built 1989 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 792

COUNTY ROAD 21

Fair

Over: ROCKY FORD CANAL

.1 MI N OF CR DD.5, Otero, CO

Built 1964 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 243

COUNTY RD 26 (361)

Fair

Over: RED MOUNTAIN CREEK

0.5 MI. S. OF OURAY, Ouray, CO

Built 1988 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 417

COUNTY ROAD 323

Fair

Over: BESSEMER DITCH

1.9 MI S OF OLSON RD, Pueblo, CO

Built 1993 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 1,174

HODGEN ROAD

Fair

Over: WEST KIOWA CREEK

7 MI E OF SH83, El Paso, CO

Built 1996 Load: 40.7 t ADT: 4,787

HANOVER ROAD

Fair

Over: CHICO CREEK

2.1 MI W OF MILNE ROAD, El Paso, CO

Built 1997 Load: 40.7 t ADT: 485

SH 71 ML

Fair

Over: LITTLE HORSE CREEK

28 MI N OF ORDWAY, Lincoln, CO

Built 1963 Load: 40.7 t ADT: 650

SH 96 ML

Fair

Over: KIOWA CREEK

21.2 MI E OF HASWELL, Kiowa, CO

Built 1987 Load: 40.7 t ADT: 790

US 50 ML EBND

Fair

Over: VANDIVER ARROYO

5.3 MI EAST OF LA JUNTA, Otero, CO

Built 1957 Load: 40.7 t ADT: 1,700

COUNTY RD 113.0

Fair

Over: SALT CREEK

5 MI S OF SH 160, Las Animas, CO

Built 1940 Load: 40.7 t ADT: 24

COUNTY ROAD 17

Fair

Over: OTERO CANAL

.2 MI N OF SH 202, Otero, CO

Built 2014 Load: 40.7 t ADT: 88

GREELEY BLVD

Fair

Over: MONUMENT CREEK

AT INT OF WALNUT/GREELEY, El Paso, CO

Built 2000 Load: 40.7 t ADT: 1,383

County Road 12W

Fair

Over: North Platte River

6.7 Mi W of St Hwy 14, Jackson, CO

Built 1993 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 180

IRR# CO RD 359

Fair

Over: NAVAJO RIVER

4.2 MI SW OF CHROMO, Archuleta, CO

Built 1994 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 327

I 25 ML SBND

Fair

Over: WINDSOR RES CANAL DITCH

6.9 MI S OF JCT SH 1, Larimer, CO

Built 1966 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 19,000

VIRGINIA CANYON RD

Fair

Over: CENTRAL CITY PKWY

0.7 MI S OF CENTRAL CITY, Gilpin, CO

Built 2004 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 539

JORDAN ROAD

Fair

Over: WINDMILL CREEK

.1 MI N OF ARAPAHOE RD, Arapahoe, CO

Built 2004 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 2,661

Showing 4,151-4,200 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.