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

US 24 ML

Fair

Over: LAKE CREEK

.6 MI E. OF JCT SH 71, Lincoln, CO

Built 1975 Load: 41.2 t ADT: 1,700

US 24 ML

Fair

Over: KYLE RR

1.7 MI E JCT S.H. 71 N., Lincoln, CO

Built 1934 Load: 41.2 t ADT: 1,600

COUNTY ROAD 37

Fair

Over: AMITY CANAL

.5 MI N OF CR LL, Prowers, CO

Built 1962 Load: 41.2 t ADT: 16

COUNTY ROAD 9N

Fair

Over: FARMERS UNION CANAL

.5 MI W OF CR 3W, Rio Grande, CO

Built 1994 Load: 41.2 t ADT: 48

WASHINGTON ST

Fair

Over: BIG DRY CREEK

0.3 MI N OF 136TH AVE, Adams, CO

Built 1993 Load: 41.2 t ADT: 5,795

COUNTY ROAD 37

Fair

Over: HORSE CREEK

2.2 MI N OF KK, Baca, CO

Built 1994 Load: 41.3 t ADT: 87

COUNTY ROAD 45

Fair

Over: HORSE CREEK

1 MI N OF CR KK, Baca, CO

Built 1992 Load: 41.3 t ADT: 91

Prospect Road CR24

Fair

Over: Boulder Feeder Ditch

0.3 Mi E of Co Rd 57, Boulder, CO

Built 1988 Load: 41.3 t ADT: 180

RAILROAD ST.

Fair

Over: GARLAND DITCH

IN BLANCA, Costilla, CO

Built 1992 Load: 41.3 t ADT: 26

US 85 ML SBND

Fair

Over: CO.RD 39.5 UP RR

N END OF GREELEY, Weld, CO

Built 1962 Load: 41.3 t ADT: 4,750

I 76 ML WBND

Fair

Over: LOST CREEK

JUST E OF ROGGEN, Weld, CO

Built 1959 Load: 41.3 t ADT: 6,000

I 76 ML EBND

Fair

Over: LOST CREEK

JUST NE OF ROGGEN, Weld, CO

Built 1959 Load: 41.3 t ADT: 6,000

JUDGE ORR ROAD

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

2.4 MI E OF ELLICOTT HWY, El Paso, CO

Built 1950 Load: 41.3 t ADT: 1,658

I 70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: BLM ACCESS ROAD

0.7 MI E. OF MESA/GARFIEL, Garfield, CO

Built 1982 Load: 41.3 t ADT: 9,000

US 40 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

9.4 MI SE OF LINCOLN-CHYN, Cheyenne, CO

Built 1933 Load: 41.3 t ADT: 3,300

US 350 ML

Fair

Over: BENTEN ARROYO

5.4 MI E OF JCT SH 71, Otero, CO

Built 2002 Load: 41.3 t ADT: 320

3RD AVENUE

Fair

Over: ADONEA TRIBUTARY

EAST OF N NEWBERN WAY, Arapahoe, CO

Built 2005 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 966

NB PENA BLVD

Fair

Over: FIRST CREEK

2.75 MI NORTH OF I-70, Denver, CO

Built 1993 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 49,885

US 24 ML EBND

Fair

Over: US 24 BUSS RT

IN MANITOU SPRINGS, El Paso, CO

Built 1969 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 13,500

TWENTY MILE ROAD

Fair

Over: BALDWIN GULCH

0.2 MI S OF PINE DRIVE, Douglas, CO

Built 2005 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 11,352

I 76 ML WBND

Fair

Over: SONNENBERG CROSSING

7.9 MI SW OF JCT SH 59, Logan, CO

Built 1968 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 4,000

I 76 ML EBND

Fair

Over: SONNENBERG CROSSING

8.1 MI NE OF JCT SH 55, Logan, CO

Built 1968 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 4,000

17th Street

Fair

Over: Boulder Creek

0.4 Mi So of Canyon Blvd., Boulder, CO

Built 1985 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 7,658

US 34 ML

Fair

Over: LOVELAND-GREELEY CANAL

3.8 MI W OF JCT US 85-C, Weld, CO

Built 1967 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 32,000

I 70 ML WBND

Fair

Over: UP RR

BTWN NEW CASTLE & GLENWOO, Garfield, CO

Built 1971 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 15,500

RAMP TO I 70 WBND

Fair

Over: BAIR RANCH RD DRAW R

Bair Ranch N. Ramp, Garfield, CO

Built 1985 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 208

ALAMEDA PKWY

Fair

Over: SH 470 ML

1.8 MI S OF I-70/C470 INT, Jefferson, CO

Built 1988 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 8,113

I 70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: AGATE CRK or (BIJOU CRK)

0.7 MI E OF RD TO AGATE, Elbert, CO

Built 1958 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 5,500

Academy Blvd

Fair

Over: SH 115 ML

2 MI W OF JCT I-25, El Paso, CO

Built 1977 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 16,612

SH 94 ML

Fair

Over: LITTLE HORSE CREEK

14 MI W OF PUNKIN CENTER, Lincoln, CO

Built 1962 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 630

US 50 ML EBND

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

IN PUEBLO 2 Mi E of I-25, Pueblo, CO

Built 1958 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 3,850

I 25 ML NBND

Fair

Over: DRAW

10.5 MI N OF JCT US 50 W, Pueblo, CO

Built 1958 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 17,500

COUNTY RD 74.2

Fair

Over: APISHAPA RIVER

8.3 MI W OF US 350, Las Animas, CO

Built 1995 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 19

County Road 6.5

Fair

Over: Bijou Canal

0.2 Mi N of Co Rd V, Morgan, CO

Built 1995 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 35

I 25 ML SBND

Fair

Over: CUCHARAS RIVER

0.3 MI S OF SH10-WLSNBRG., Huerfano, CO

Built 1963 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 5,000

US 550 SBND ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

2 MI. NORTH OF NEW MEXICO, La Plata, CO

Built 2008 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 4,050

COUNTY ROAD 79

Fair

Over: SAN MIGUEL RIVER

AT URAVAN/S OF SH 141, Montrose, CO

Built 1988 Load: 41.6 t ADT: 36

20TH HOV/DUT RAMP

Fair

Over: RR/PARKING LOT

RAMP SO OF 20TH HOV @ E E, Denver, CO

Built 1994 Load: 41.6 t ADT: 2,200

I70 ML EBND

Fair

Over: BNSF|CITY STREET|LTRAIL

46TH AVE & HUMBOLDT ST., Denver, CO

Built 2003 Load: 41.6 t ADT: 73,000

COUNTY ROAD 24

Fair

Over: DALLAS CREEK

4 MI W OF US 550, Ouray, CO

Built 2000 Load: 41.6 t ADT: 282

COUNTY ROAD 24

Fair

Over: PLEASANT VALLEY CREEK

4.2 MI W OF US 550, Ouray, CO

Built 2000 Load: 41.6 t ADT: 281

COUNTY ROAD 201

Fair

Over: DRY WASH

7.5 MI N OF SH 78, Pueblo, CO

Built 1992 Load: 41.6 t ADT: 153

County Road 6

Fair

Over: Lake Grandby Buchanan C

East End of Lake Granby, Grand, CO

Built 1993 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 478

FACULTY DRIVE

Fair

Over: LEHMAN RUN

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

Built 1958 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 285

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: LIME CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Eagle, CO

Built 2011 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 50

NB I-25 Onramp

Fair

Over: I-25 Offramp to Broadway

I-25/Washington St., Denver, CO

Built 2005 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 94,000

C470 EB RAMP TO 25

Fair

Over: LRT

EB470/SB25 Ramp, Douglas, CO

Built 2005 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 85,500

US 40 ML

Fair

Over: FORK OF SAND CREEK

1 MI E OF HUGO, Lincoln, CO

Built 1976 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 5,000

Grand Avenue

Fair

Over: NORTH FORK GUNNISON RVR

0.4 MI S OF JCT SH 133, Delta, CO

Built 1955 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 2,165

I 25 ML SBND

Fair

Over: DRAW

9.4 MI S OF JCT SH 29, El Paso, CO

Built 1956 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 23,500

Showing 4,251-4,300 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.