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 50 ML

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

2 MI E OF JCT SH 291, Chaffee, CO

Built 1977 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 5,600

SH 90 ML

Fair

Over: UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER

0.5 MI WEST OF MONTROSE, Montrose, CO

Built 1969 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 12,000

PARFET STREET

Fair

Over: LENA GULCH

.7 MI N OF 32ND AVENUE, Jefferson, CO

Built 1986 Load: 48.8 t ADT: 746

COUNTY ROAD 4W

Fair

Over: RIO GRANDE CANAL

.7 MI N OF CR 8N, Rio Grande, CO

Built 1966 Load: 48.9 t ADT: 184

US 40 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

0.3 MI E JCT I-70, Lincoln, CO

Built 1972 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 3,700

CO RD 42

Fair

Over: TOMICHI CREEK

5.8 MI NW OF PARLIN, Gunnison, CO

Built 1994 Load: 49.1 t ADT: 253

SH 71 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

4.2 MI NORTH OF LIMON, Lincoln, CO

Built 1975 Load: 49.2 t ADT: 1,300

ALKIRE STREET

Fair

Over: CROKE CANAL

0.8 MI N OF 72ND AVE, Jefferson, CO

Built 1992 Load: 49.2 t ADT: 4,326

I 76 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

2.5 MI NE OF JCT US 385, Sedgwick, CO

Built 1969 Load: 49.3 t ADT: 9,200

NB PENA BLVD

Fair

Over: GREEN VALLEY RANCH BLVD

1.0 MI NORTH OF I-70, Denver, CO

Built 1993 Load: 49.3 t ADT: 61,445

I 70 ML

Fair

Over: SH 121 ML

ARVADA, Jefferson, CO

Built 1996 Load: 49.3 t ADT: 118,000

COUNTY RD 36.0

Fair

Over: PURGATOIRE RIVER

.4 MI S OF CR 75.1, Las Animas, CO

Built 1994 Load: 49.3 t ADT: 59

County Road F

Fair

Over: Bijou Creek

1.1 Mi E of Co Rd 6, Morgan, CO

Built 1990 Load: 49.3 t ADT: 73

County Road 60

Fair

Over: Boxelder Creek

0.1 Mi East of I-25, Larimer, CO

Built 1988 Load: 49.3 t ADT: 1,942

SIMMS STREET

Fair

Over: LEYDEN CREEK

0.15 MI S. OF 72ND AVE, Jefferson, CO

Built 2007 Load: 49.4 t ADT: 10,304

MISSION PKWY

Fair

Over: MEADOWOOD CREEK

AT N END OF ALICIA PARK, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1974 Load: 49.4 t ADT: 1,640

COUNTY ROAD 30

Fair

Over: ARKANSAS RIVER

1 MI S OF CR JJ, Bent, CO

Built 1970 Load: 49.4 t ADT: 73

SH 52 ML

Fair

Over: WHITE ROCK BOULDER DITCH

NIWOT AT 79th ST INT, Boulder, CO

Built 1965 Load: 49.4 t ADT: 8,900

CO RD 32

Fair

Over: GUNNISON RIVER

.1 mile south of SH 50, Gunnison, CO

Built 1985 Load: 49.4 t ADT: 367

LONG ROAD

Fair

Over: HIGHLINE CANAL

.3 MI E UNIVERSITY BLVD, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1990 Load: 49.4 t ADT: 4,020

COUNTY RD 69.0

Fair

Over: RATON CREEK

.1 MI SW CR 69.1 CR 18.3, Las Animas, CO

Built 2000 Load: 49.4 t ADT: 122

NB BUCKLEY ROAD

Fair

Over: WEST TOLLGATE CREEK

0.2 MI N OF ILIFF AVE, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1981 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 12,425

CNTY ROAD 33 LN

Fair

Over: BESSEMER DITCH

.4 MI S OF SOUTH RD, Pueblo, CO

Built 2001 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 114

Pahwintah Street

Fair

Over: Soda Creek

200 ft So of Merrit St, Routt, CO

Built 1979 Load: 49.7 t ADT: 463

COUNTY ROAD 42

Fair

Over: WOLF CREEK

2.4 MILES E OF CR 137, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1950 Load: 49.7 t ADT: 87

Barlow Road

Fair

Over: Upper Platte Beaver Cana

0.1 Mi N of E. 8th Ave, Morgan, CO

Built 2000 Load: 49.7 t ADT: 10,679

SH 69 ML

Fair

Over: WILMER GULCH

4.3 MI S. OF WESTCLIFFE, Custer, CO

Built 2006 Load: 49.7 t ADT: 850

COUNTY RD 41.7

Fair

Over: SARCILLO CANYON CREEK

5.2 MI NW OF SAN JUAN, Las Animas, CO

Built 1991 Load: 49.7 t ADT: 134

US 85 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

4.5 MI N.W. OF JCT S.H. 6, Douglas, CO

Built 2013 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 20,000

SH 145 ML

Fair

Over: SAN MIGUEL RIVER

4.8 MI E. OR NORWOOD, San Miguel, CO

Built 1942 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 1,800

County Road 54

Fair

Over: Latham Ditch

1.8 Mi E of Co Rd 41, Weld, CO

Built 1986 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 2,613

US 138 ML

Fair

Over: SPRING CANYON CREEK

5.6 MI N OF PROCTOR, Logan, CO

Built 1979 Load: 50.0 t ADT: 450

SH 88-FEDERAL BLVD

Fair

Over: SANDERSON GULCH

Federal N of Evans Ave, Denver, CO

Built 1957 Load: 50.0 t ADT: 33,000

County Road 6W

Fair

Over: South Fork Big Creek

18.3 Mi W St Hwy 125, Jackson, CO

Built 1977 Load: 50.1 t ADT: 130

US 85 ML

Fair

Over: SECOND CREEK

5.2 MI NO OF JCT I-76, Adams, CO

Built 1953 Load: 50.1 t ADT: 34,000

SH 9 ML

Fair

Over: TENMILE CREEK

IN FRISCO, Summit, CO

Built 1980 Load: 50.1 t ADT: 24,000

LINK ROAD

Fair

Over: JIMMY CAMP CREEK

.5 MI S OF MARKSHEFFEL RD, El Paso, CO

Built 1997 Load: 50.1 t ADT: 5,582

COUNTY RD 75.0

Fair

Over: CHICOSA CANYON CREEK

.7 MI N OF HOEHNE RD, Las Animas, CO

Built 1993 Load: 50.1 t ADT: 20

I 70 ML

Fair

Over: SAND CREEK

DENVER, Denver, CO

Built 2011 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 147,000

US 36 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

9.7 MI E OF JCT I-70, Adams, CO

Built 1983 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 1,900

US 24 ML WBND

Fair

Over: FOUNTAIN CREEK

0.4 MI SE OF PIKES PEAK T, El Paso, CO

Built 1965 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 11,500

SH 109 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

25.6 MI S OF LA JUNTA, Otero, CO

Built 1973 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 350

VRAIN STREET

Fair

Over: LOCAL DRAINAGE

.3 MI E SHERIDAN S 120TH, Adams, CO

Built 1997 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 7,063

WHITEROCK AVE

Fair

Over: COAL CREEK

IN CITY OF CRESTED BUTTE, Gunnison, CO

Built 1992 Load: 50.3 t ADT: 1,167

Commerce Street

Fair

Over: Pine Ridge Gulch

60 Ft S of First Street, Moffat, CO

Built 1980 Load: 50.3 t ADT: 360

DEPEW ST

Fair

Over: SLOANS LAKE DRAINAGE

JUST S OF 18TH AVENUE, Jefferson, CO

Built 1982 Load: 50.3 t ADT: 2,639

CR 344/THACKER RD

Fair

Over: GRANEROS CREEK

5.8 MI ESE OF RYE, Pueblo, CO

Built 1999 Load: 50.3 t ADT: 280

COUNTY ROAD 162

Fair

Over: CHALK CREEK

NEAR MT. PRINCETON HOT SP, Chaffee, CO

Built 1990 Load: 50.4 t ADT: 1,459

20TH STREET

Fair

Over: PLATTE STREET

20TH ST OVER PLATTE ST, Denver, CO

Built 1994 Load: 50.4 t ADT: 18,893

COUNTY ROAD 25

Fair

Over: WEST KIOWA CREEK

SOUTH OF TOWN OF ELBERT, Elbert, CO

Built 1987 Load: 50.4 t ADT: 1,858

Showing 4,701-4,750 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.