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

County Road 40

Fair

Over: South Platte River

0.7 Mi E of US Hwy 138, Logan, CO

Built 1988 Load: 54.2 t ADT: 127

Airport Road

Fair

Over: St. Vrain River Overflow

0.2 Mi N of St Vrain Rd, Boulder, CO

Built 2006 Load: 54.2 t ADT: 13,131

92ND AVENUE

Fair

Over: FARMERS HIGHLINE CANAL

0.2 MI W OF PIERCE ST, Jefferson, CO

Built 1985 Load: 54.3 t ADT: 10,995

County Road QQ

Fair

Over: Rock Creek

0.95 Mi. N. of Co. Rd. 54, Washington, CO

Built 1986 Load: 54.3 t ADT: 21

DRY CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: TRIB TO BIG DRY CREEK

2 BLOCKS E OF UNIVERSITY, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1995 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 16,534

SH 119 ML SBND

Fair

Over: BEASLEY DITCH

@ 55TH ST NE OF BOULDER, Boulder, CO

Built 1971 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 22,000

GRAND AVENUE

Fair

Over: INDIAN WASH

JUST W OF COUNTY ROAD 28, Mesa, CO

Built 1998 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 3,323

Common Street

Fair

Over: Trib to Dry Creek

30 Ft. S of Welch Ave., Larimer, CO

Built 1999 Load: 54.6 t ADT: 522

I 70 ML

Fair

Over: DRAIN DITCH

1.0 MI. E. OF US 385, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1968 Load: 54.6 t ADT: 8,000

W PACIFIC AVE

Fair

Over: CORNET CREEK

_, San Miguel, CO

Built 1979 Load: 54.6 t ADT: 200

County Road 29.8

Fair

Over: South Platte River

0.2 Mi. NW of Co Rd 12, Logan, CO

Built 1988 Load: 54.7 t ADT: 66

COUNTY ROAD 13

Fair

Over: NORTH FK LONE ROCK CREEK

.2 MI N OF CR BB, Baca, CO

Built 1965 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 52

I 76 ML EBND

Fair

Over: COUNTY ROADS 386 24.4

1.3 MI NE OF ROGGEN, Weld, CO

Built 1959 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 6,000

COUNTY ROAD 44

Fair

Over: LANDSMAN CREEK

1.1 MILES NORTH OF ROAD D, Kit Carson, CO

Built 1981 Load: 54.9 t ADT: 80

SH 10 ML

Fair

Over: SAUNDERS ARROYO

1/2 BTWN WLSNBRG-LA JUNTA, Pueblo, CO

Built 2010 Load: 54.9 t ADT: 390

58TH AVENUE

Fair

Over: VAN BIBBER CREEK

AT INTERSECTION OF NELSON, Jefferson, CO

Built 1979 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 14,687

US 385 ML

Fair

Over: DRAW

11.5 MI S OF JCT US 40, Cheyenne, CO

Built 2004 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 320

58TH AVENUE

Fair

Over: VAN BIBBER CREEK

JUST WEST OF KIPLING PKWY, Jefferson, CO

Built 1979 Load: 55.2 t ADT: 14,429

US 285 ML

Fair

Over: RALEIGH STREET

0.65 MI E OF SH 95, Denver, CO

Built 1995 Load: 55.2 t ADT: 62,000

County Road 3

Fair

Over: Larimer and Weld Canal

0.5 Mi N of Co Rd 44, Larimer, CO

Built 1960 Load: 55.2 t ADT: 412

US 160 ML

Fair

Over: LIGHTNER CREEK

S.W. EDGE OF DURANGO, La Plata, CO

Built 1970 Load: 55.2 t ADT: 19,000

BUS ENTRANCE

Fair

Over: LOCAL DRAINAGE

JUST SOUTH OF SCOTT BLVD, Douglas, CO

Built 2002 Load: 55.3 t ADT: 531

SIMMS STREET

Fair

Over: FARMERS HIGHLINE CANAL

1.56 MI N OF 64TH AVE, Jefferson, CO

Built 1987 Load: 55.4 t ADT: 12,247

US 287 ML

Fair

Over: LARIMER COUNTY CANAL

0.8 MI S OF JCT SH 14, Larimer, CO

Built 1991 Load: 55.6 t ADT: 8,900

ELBERT ROAD

Fair

Over: BLACK SQUIRREL CREEK

1.5 MI N JUDGE ORR ROAD, El Paso, CO

Built 1934 Load: 55.6 t ADT: 1,273

County Road PP

Fair

Over: Jack Creek

0.3 Mi. N. of Co. Rd. 20, Washington, CO

Built 1995 Load: 55.9 t ADT: 25

TOWER ROAD

Fair

Over: LOCAL DRAINAGE

JUST S OF 22ND PL, Adams, CO

Built 1981 Load: 56.1 t ADT: 14,612

SH83 ML

Fair

Over: UNNAMED DRAINAGE

6.3 MI N OF JCT SH86, Douglas, CO

Built 1962 Load: 56.1 t ADT: 36,000

SH 165 ML

Fair

Over: MIDDLE FK ST.CHARLES RVR

11.7 MI SE OF JCT SH 96 M, Custer, CO

Built 1956 Load: 56.1 t ADT: 200

COUNTY ROAD L

Fair

Over: LITTLE SALT WASH

.1 MI E OF RD 18.5, Mesa, CO

Built 1988 Load: 56.1 t ADT: 350

COUNTY ROAD 15

Fair

Over: ALAMOSA RIVER

1.0 MI N OF SH 15, Conejos, CO

Built 2000 Load: 56.2 t ADT: 62

I 76 ML EBND

Fair

Over: COUNTY ROAD 49

2.8 MI NE OF JCT SH 52, Weld, CO

Built 2000 Load: 56.2 t ADT: 10,500

SH 391 ML

Fair

Over: LENA GULCH

N SIDE OF 39TH AVE, Jefferson, CO

Built 1981 Load: 56.2 t ADT: 37,000

COUNTY ROAD 502

Fair

Over: WEST WILLOW CREEK

1.2 MI N OF CREEDE, Mineral, CO

Built 1998 Load: 56.2 t ADT: 158

County Road 29.6

Fair

Over: S. Platte River Overflow

0.5 Mi. NW of Co. Rd. 18, Logan, CO

Built 1988 Load: 56.3 t ADT: 66

COUNTY ROAD 118

Fair

Over: HIEROGLYPHIC CANYON

1.5 MI SE OF URAVAN, Montrose, CO

Built 1991 Load: 56.4 t ADT: 10

COUNTY ROAD Y11

Fair

Over: EAST PARADOX CREEK

.5 MI N OF SH 90, Montrose, CO

Built 1992 Load: 56.5 t ADT: 10

ENGLEWOOD PK/FLOYD

Fair

Over: LITTLE DRY CREEK

HAMPDEN/ENG PK TO CUSHING, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1968 Load: 56.6 t ADT: 2,961

MARK DABLING BLVD

Fair

Over: DOUGLAS CREEK

0.5 MI S GARDEN OF GOD RD, El Paso, CO

Built 1984 Load: 56.8 t ADT: 2,216

SH 86 ML

Fair

Over: RUNNING CREEK

ELIZABETH, Elbert, CO

Built 1977 Load: 56.9 t ADT: 11,000

County Road W

Fair

Over: Beaver Creek

0.9 Mi E of Co Rd 31, Morgan, CO

Built 1982 Load: 56.9 t ADT: 167

US 85

Fair

Over: SH 88-BELLEVIEW AVE

BELLEVIEW & SANTA FE, Arapahoe, CO

Built 1998 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 54,000

SH 131 ML

Fair

Over: YAMPA RIVER

2 MI N OF YAMPA, Routt, CO

Built 1992 Load: 57.1 t ADT: 1,700

COUNTY ROAD V19

Fair

Over: TABEGUACHE CREEK

.35 MI E OF SH 141, Montrose, CO

Built 1998 Load: 57.2 t ADT: 4

EB STETSON HILLS

Fair

Over: SAND CREEK

.5 MI E CHARLOTTE PKWY, El Paso, CO

Built 2002 Load: 57.2 t ADT: 7,566

Airport Road

Fair

Over: Lykins Gulch

500 ft N of Rogers Road, Boulder, CO

Built 2006 Load: 57.2 t ADT: 13,906

SH 10 ML

Fair

Over: CATLIN CANAL

0.3 MI E OF JCT SH 71, Otero, CO

Built 1969 Load: 57.2 t ADT: 610

County Road 3

Fair

Over: Poudre Valley Canal

0.2 Mi N of Co Rd 62, Larimer, CO

Built 1962 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 187

County Road 132

Fair

Over: Boulder Creek

75 Ft S of St Hwy 119, Boulder, CO

Built 1935 Load: 57.4 t ADT: 846

US 285 ML

Fair

Over: TROUT CREEK

6 MI N OF FAIRPLAY, Park, CO

Built 1937 Load: 57.6 t ADT: 7,200

Showing 4,851-4,900 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.