State profile · Near median Poor share

Illinois 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 Illinois.

26,928
Public bridges
45.6%
Good condition
9.3%
Poor condition

Illinois holds 26,928 public highway bridges (#2 of 52 by inventory) with a 9.35% Poor share (#12 of 52 by Poor share).

That is 9.3% 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 41 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

26,928

Public highway bridges in Illinois

Good Condition

45.6%

12,289 bridges rated 7-9

-4.4pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

9.3%

2,517 bridges whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

1.8pp vs national avg 7.5%

Illinois vs national bridge condition

Illinois - Good condition share 45.6%
National avg

Share of bridges rated 7-9 on the FHWA 0-9 scale (deck, superstructure, substructure all good).

Illinois - Poor-condition share 31.2%
National avg

Lower is better. Bar maxes at 30% (worst-state ceiling). National average sits at 7.5%.

Illinois 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: Illinois has 26,928 bridges and a 9.3% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #41 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 (%) IL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 26.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 9.35%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%CO, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 9k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.82%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%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: Illinois has 26,928 bridges and a 9.3% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #41 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.

Illinois 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

26,928 2nd of 54 higher than 52 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 Illinois

The highlighted point is Illinois: 26,928 bridges and 9.35% in Poor condition, rank #41 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The five jurisdictions immediately above and below Illinois on that same Poor-share ordering:

  • Massachusetts: 5,295 bridges · 8.88% Poor
  • Missouri: 24,618 bridges · 8.95% Poor
  • Illinois: 26,928 bridges · 9.35% Poor
  • New York: 17,642 bridges · 9.43% Poor
  • North Dakota: 4,255 bridges · 10.98% Poor

The full national sortable table lives on the rankings page.

Material families in Illinois

Exclusive FHWA material families across all 26,928 bridges in this state; continuous variants fold into the parent family. Orthogonal to the Poor-share scatter above.

Who maintains Illinois’s inventory

State agency holds 31.3% of the 26,928 public highway bridges filed under Illinois in the 2024 NBI, the agency-of-record split for this state, not a condition verdict.

When Illinois’s bridges were built

Pre-1950 construction accounts for 11.2% of the 26,928 bridges with a recorded original year in Illinois. Era bands are orthogonal to the Poor-share ranking above.

Condition Distribution

Illinois45.6%45%9.3%GoodFairPoor
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix - Illinois (FHWA NBI)

Illinois 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 Illinois on the same metric.

MA

Massachusetts

8.88% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$5,295

MO

Missouri

8.95% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$24,618
Selected

IL

Illinois

9.35% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$26,928

NY

New York

9.43% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$17,642

ND

North Dakota

10.98% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$4,255

Bridges Needing Most Attention in Illinois

Six lowest-condition bridges in Illinois, ranked by the portal's composite display score. Inspection intervals are risk-based under current NBIS rules.

All Bridges in Illinois

I-80 EB

Fair

Over: ABBOTT DITCH

3.44 E/HENRY CO LN, Bureau, IL

Built 1963 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 8,950

ARGO FAY ROAD

Fair

Over: JOHNSON CREEK

1.9 MI E OF ILL 84, Carroll, IL

Built 1987 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 2,350

CH 16(FAS 527)

Fair

Over: HACKETT BRANCH

.5 MI E OF PESOTUM, Champaign, IL

Built 1984 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 100

TR 273

Fair

Over: COTTONWOOD BRANCH

4 SW OF OWANECO, Christian, IL

Built 1920 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 50

FOSTER AVE

Fair

Over: N BR CHI RIV WEST

0.1 M W PULASKI RD, Cook, IL

Built 1933 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 23,800

CONGRESS PARKWAY

Fair

Over: FRANKLIN ST&WACKER

EAST OF CHICAGO RIV, Cook, IL

Built 1954 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 80,900

CENTRAL RD

Fair

Over: DES PLAINES RIVER

.5 M W I-294, Cook, IL

Built 1929 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 12,400

MCHENRY RD

Fair

Over: WHEELING DRN DTCH

0.2 M NW IL 68, Cook, IL

Built 1931 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 10,000

112TH (MONTEREY AV

Fair

Over: I- 57

2.3 M SW IL 1, Cook, IL

Built 1965 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 19,800

MADISON ST

Fair

Over: ADDISON CREEK

0.7 M E US 45, Cook, IL

Built 1920 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 4,100

ROOT ST

Fair

Over: I- 90 94 RYAN & CTA

2 M S I-55, Cook, IL

Built 1961 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 3,300

OAKLEY BLVD

Fair

Over: I-290 - IL 110 & CTA

0.5 M W US 34, Cook, IL

Built 1953 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 2,650

I-88

Fair

Over: I294WB & IL38WB RMPS

.3M SO OF IL56, Cook, IL

Built 1960 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 102,400

FAU-1635 (STEGER R

Fair

Over: PLUM CREEK

0.35 E BURNHAM P2, Cook, IL

Built 1954 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 8,300

I-90 SKYWAY

Fair

Over: 92ND ST

0.2 M W COMM AV P8C, Cook, IL

Built 1958 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 28,700

ST. CLAIR ST

Fair

Over: LOWER ST. CLAIR ST

200E.-400N. TO 500N., Cook, IL

Built 1992 Load: 36.9 t

I-294 80 WB

Fair

Over: THORN CR

0.6 M W I94 P24, Cook, IL

Built 1958 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 73,500

I90 WB (NW TOLL)

Fair

Over: US 12 45 (MANNHEIM)

1 M W I294 P11, Cook, IL

Built 1958 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 86,100

US 30 FAP 573

Fair

Over: LITTLE ROCK CREEK

.5 MI W HINCKLEY, DeKalb, IL

Built 1987 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 3,150

IL 83 NB & SB

Fair

Over: I- 88 EW TOLL-IL 110 CKC

2 M W OF YORK RD, DuPage, IL

Built 1958 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 61,300

HIGHLAND AVE

Fair

Over: IL 56 (BUTTERFIELD)

0.48 M N OF I-88, DuPage, IL

Built 1987 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 11,700

BAYBROOK LANE

Fair

Over: GINGER CREEK

0.25 MI E MEYERS RD, DuPage, IL

Built 1960 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 225

WESLEY ST

Fair

Over: UPRR / WEST

100 N MANCHESTER, DuPage, IL

Built 2010 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 1,000

I-355 NB & SB

Fair

Over: US-34

1.1 M.E. OF IL-53, DuPage, IL

Built 1989 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 145,100

CH-26

Fair

Over: FULFER CREEK

1 MI SE GILMORE, Effingham, IL

Built 1989 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 150

Hillview Eldred Ro

Fair

Over: Bushnell Hollow

1.08 S OF ELDRED, Greene, IL

Built 1940 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 625

TR-83

Fair

Over: STREAM

7.1 MI NE WHITE HALL, Greene, IL

Built 1982 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 50

FAS-292 Gardner Rd

Fair

Over: Murray Sluice

.28 MI W WARD TR84, Grundy, IL

Built 2002 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 850

TR 56

Fair

Over: THUNDER CREEK

300 S PRAIRIE RD, Grundy, IL

Built 2008 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 25

FAP-849 (ILL-142)

Fair

Over: BLUE CREEK

5.3 MI S JEFFERSN CL, Hamilton, IL

Built 1990 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 2,350

ILL 34

Fair

Over: HOBBS CREEK

3 MI N OF ILL 146, Hardin, IL

Built 1923 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 1,200

FAS 227 - OSCO ROA

Fair

Over: W. MINERAL CREEK

5 MI. SE OF COLONA, Henry, IL

Built 1991 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 275

FAI-57 NB

Fair

Over: FAS 317 & ICG RR

0.78 MI S CLIFTON IN, Iroquois, IL

Built 1966 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 9,200

FAI-57 SB

Fair

Over: FAS 317 & ICG RR

0.78 M S CLIFTON INT, Iroquois, IL

Built 1966 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 9,200

FAS 321 CH4 SA 4

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

3.08 MI W OF I-57, Iroquois, IL

Built 1986 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 325

TR 117

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

1.0E 2.75N WATSEKA, Iroquois, IL

Built 1983 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 175

TR-271

Fair

Over: BIG MUDDY CREEK

2.25 MI.S.LATONA, Jasper, IL

Built 1978 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 100

NORTH ST. (CH 42)

Fair

Over: I-57

INA INTERCHANGE, Jefferson, IL

Built 2020 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 3,200

FAS-789 (CH-3)

Fair

Over: COAL BANK CREEK

2 MI N HARMONY, Jefferson, IL

Built 1987 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 550

CANYON PARK RD

Fair

Over: S. FORK APPLE RIVER

4 MI. SW. OF WARREN, Jo Daviess, IL

Built 1995 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 225

ILL 37

Fair

Over: CACHE RIVER

.5 MI S. OF W VIENNA, Johnson, IL

Built 1931 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 1,350

IL 72

Fair

Over: COON CREEK

5.3 M W OF IL 47, Kane, IL

Built 1928 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 6,650

IL 1

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

2.6 MI. S. OF IL 17, Kankakee, IL

Built 1994 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 4,450

IL 115

Fair

Over: GAR CREEK

7.8 MILE W OF KKK, Kankakee, IL

Built 1994 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 1,300

WB I-74

Fair

Over: E. MAIN ST

GALESBURG INTERCH, Knox, IL

Built 1963 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 9,500

ILL 41

Fair

Over: CEDAR CREEK TRIB

0.4 MI S JCT IL 116, Knox, IL

Built 2002 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 2,050

IL 176

Fair

Over: N BR CHICAGO RIVER

0.7 M E OF I-94, Lake, IL

Built 1990 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 15,800

ILL 71 FAP 619

Fair

Over: I-39/US 51

0.46 MI W OF IL 251, LaSalle, IL

Built 1988 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 875

TR-187

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

N 37TH E 160, LaSalle, IL

Built 1970 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 200

TR-13

Fair

Over: ALLISON DR DT #1

1.5 M NW RUSSELVILLE, Lawrence, IL

Built 1909 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 50

Showing 8,201-8,250 of 26,928 bridges

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.

What to do with this

Use Illinois's inventory picture to drill to a county or a specific span.

  • Browse counties in Illinois 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. Illinois 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.