State profile · Above national median SD

Iowa bridge safety

Condition ratings, load ratings, and structural-deficiency data for every public highway bridge in Iowa — drawn straight from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory.

20,753
Public bridges
36.5%
Good condition
20.0%
Poor condition
20.0%
Structurally deficient

Total Bridges

20,753

Public highway bridges in Iowa

Good Condition

36.5%

7,582 bridges rated 7-9

-13.5pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

20.0%

4,153 bridges rated 0-4

Structurally Deficient

20.0%

4,153 bridges flagged for repair priority

13.0pp vs national avg 7.0%

Iowa vs national bridge condition

Iowa — Good condition share 36.5%
National avg

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

Iowa — Structurally deficient share 66.7%
National avg

Lower is better. Bar maxes at 30% (worst-state ceiling). National average sits at 7.0%.

Iowa vs nearby ranks

Adjacent states on the structurally deficient leaderboard (lower share = better)

States are ranked by share of bridges flagged structurally deficient — the FHWA classification for any span where deck, superstructure, or substructure carries a condition rating of 4 or below. Lower percentages indicate stronger maintenance funding and inspection follow-through. States here sit immediately above and below Iowa on the same metric.

54

West Virginia

16.02% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$7,679

46

South Dakota

16.24% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$5,905
Selected

19

Iowa

20.01% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$20,753

78

Virgin Islands

29.17% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$24

Bridges Needing Most Attention in Iowa

Six lowest-condition bridges in Iowa, ranked by composite NBI rating. Each is inspected at least every 24 months.

All Bridges in Iowa

WB I-235

Unknown

Over: NE 46TH AVE

0.5 MI S OF E JCT I-35/80, Polk, IA

Built 1967 ADT: 4,200

IA 415

Unknown

Over: IA 141

AT JUNCTION WITH IA 141, Polk, IA

Built 2003 ADT: 18,500

WESTOWN PARKWAY

Unknown

Over: I-80/I-35

0.2 mi. E of I-235, Polk, IA

Built 1997 ADT: 14,400

US 6

Unknown

Over: I-235

At Jct. I-235, Polk, IA

Built 2003 ADT: 3,580

19TH ST RAMP

Unknown

Over: KEO WAY

3.6 MILES E OF JCT IA 28, Polk, IA

Built 2004 ADT: 4,460

GRAND AVENUE

Unknown

Over: MLK PKWY

078240800, Polk, IA

Built 2004 ADT: 18,400

MLK JR PKWY N

Unknown

Over: RACOON RIVER, FLEUR, RR

000000000, Polk, IA

Built 2004 ADT: 1,550

MLK JR PKWY S

Unknown

Over: RACOON RIVER, FLEUR, RR

078240800, Polk, IA

Built 2004 ADT: 1,550

MLK JR PKWY E/W

Unknown

Over: NB FLEUR RAMP

078240800, Polk, IA

Built 2004 ADT: 3,000

NW BEAVERBROOK BLV

Unknown

Over: LITTLE BEAVER CREEK TRIB

080253200, Polk, IA

Built 2018 ADT: 589

NB US 65

Unknown

Over: I-80

AT WEST JUNCTION I-80, Polk, IA

Built 1992 ADT: 30,200

SB US 65

Unknown

Over: I-80

AT WEST JUNCTION OF I-80, Polk, IA

Built 1992 ADT: 30,200

SB US 65

Unknown

Over: US 6

1.0 MILE S OF JCT. I-80, Polk, IA

Built 1993 ADT: 3,850

NB US 65

Unknown

Over: US 6

1.0 MILE S OF JCT I-80, Polk, IA

Built 1993 ADT: 3,850

SB US 65

Unknown

Over: IA 163

AT JUNCTION OF IA 163, Polk, IA

Built 1993 ADT: 11,850

NB US 65

Unknown

Over: IA 163

AT JUNCTION OF IOWA 163, Polk, IA

Built 1993 ADT: 11,850

WB I-235

Unknown

Over: 15TH STREET

AT JUNCTION WITH US 69, Polk, IA

Built 2005 ADT: 8,250

NE 56TH ST

Unknown

Over: US 65

2.1 MI. S OF JCT. I-80, Polk, IA

Built 1994 ADT: 28,500

US 65 NB

Unknown

Over: NE 27TH AVE & BIKE PATH

3.3 MILES S OF JCT I-80, Polk, IA

Built 1994 ADT: 1,285

US 65 SB

Unknown

Over: NE 27TH AVE & BIKE PATH

3.3 MILES S OF JCT I-80, Polk, IA

Built 1994 ADT: 1,285

US 65 NB

Unknown

Over: NE 46TH AVE

1.2 MILES S OF JCT I-80, Polk, IA

Built 1994 ADT: 4,200

SB US 65

Unknown

Over: NE 46TH AVE

1.2 MILES S OF JCT I-80, Polk, IA

Built 1994 ADT: 4,200

SB US 65

Unknown

Over: SE 38TH ST

0.8 MILE S OF N JCT IA 5, Polk, IA

Built 1997 ADT: 105

NB US 65

Unknown

Over: SE 38TH ST

0.8 MILE S OF N JCT IA 5, Polk, IA

Built 1997 ADT: 105

EB/SB IA 141

Unknown

Over: IA 44

AT JUNCTION IOWA 44, Polk, IA

Built 1974 ADT: 7,000

WB/NB IA 141

Unknown

Over: IA 44

AT JUNCTION IOWA 44, Polk, IA

Built 1974 ADT: 7,000

EB IA 141

Unknown

Over: IA 17

AT JUNCTION IOWA 17, Polk, IA

Built 1974 ADT: 140

WB IA 141

Unknown

Over: IA 17

AT JUNCTION IOWA 17, Polk, IA

Built 1974 ADT: 140

NB RAMP TO UNIV

Unknown

Over: RAMP H

1.0 MILE E OF W JCT I-35, Polk, IA

Built 1984 ADT: 24,100

US 65 NB

Unknown

Over: IA 5

AT N JCT. OF IA 5, Polk, IA

Built 1997 ADT: 4,200

SB US 65

Unknown

Over: IA 5

AT N JCT. OF IA 5, Polk, IA

Built 1997 ADT: 2,020

NB US 65

Unknown

Over: SE 64TH AVE

1.0 MILE N OF N JCT IA 5, Polk, IA

Built 1997 ADT: 2,710

SB US 65

Unknown

Over: SE 64TH AVE

1.0 MI. N OF JCT. IA 5, Polk, IA

Built 1997 ADT: 2,710

US 65 NB

Unknown

Over: VANDALIA ROAD & BNSF RR

2.4 MILES S OF JCT IA 163, Polk, IA

Built 1997 ADT: 1,270

US 65 SB

Unknown

Over: VANDALIA ROAD & BNSF RR

2.4 MILES S OF JCT IA 163, Polk, IA

Built 1997 ADT: 1,270

NB US 65

Unknown

Over: VANDALIA RD (BP)

2.1 MILES S OF JCT IA 163, Polk, IA

Built 1997 ADT: 1,530

SB US 65

Unknown

Over: VANDALIA RD (BP)

2.1 MILES S OF JCT IA 163, Polk, IA

Built 1997 ADT: 1,530

US 65 NB

Unknown

Over: SE 6TH AVE

1.3 MI. S OF JCT. IA 163, Polk, IA

Built 1997 ADT: 825

US 65 SB

Unknown

Over: SE 6TH AVE

1.3 MILES S OF JCT IA 163, Polk, IA

Built 1997 ADT: 825

NB US 65

Unknown

Over: EAST OAKWOOD DRIVE

0.4 MILE S OF JCT IA 163, Polk, IA

Built 1997 ADT: 1,010

SB US 65

Unknown

Over: EAST OAKWOOD DRIVE

0.4 MILES S OF JCT IA 163, Polk, IA

Built 1997 ADT: 1,010

S 35TH STREET

Unknown

Over: IA 5

1.6 mi. E of Jct. I-35, Polk, IA

Built 2002 ADT: 30,100

IA 5 NB

Unknown

Over: IA 28

At Jct. IA 28, Polk, IA

Built 2000 ADT: 8,750

IA 5 SB

Unknown

Over: IA 28

At Jct. IA 28, Polk, IA

Built 2000 ADT: 7,300

I-80 EB ON RAMP

Unknown

Over: NE 3RD ST

0.2 MILE E OF JCT IA 415, Polk, IA

Built 2000 ADT: 2,540

MAFFITT LAKE RD

Unknown

Over: I-35

0.2 mi. S of Jct. IA 5, Polk, IA

Built 2000 ADT: 26,200

I 80 WB OFF RAMP

Unknown

Over: NE 3RD ST

0.2 MILE E OF JCT IA 415, Polk, IA

Built 2000 ADT: 2,540

IA5 W TO I35 S

Unknown

Over: I-35 & IA #5 RAMP C

Jct. of IA 5, Polk, IA

Built 2000 ADT: 24,400

IA 5 - RAMP C

Unknown

Over: I-35

At Jct. I-35, Polk, IA

Built 2002 ADT: 24,400

SW CONNECTOR

Unknown

Over: IA 5

2.3 MILES N OF JCT IA 28, Polk, IA

Built 2002 ADT: 29,600

Showing 701-750 of 20,753 bridges

Data sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI), latest released cycle. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges Editorial.

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). A "structurally deficient" rating is a repair-priority signal, not a closure or unsafe-to-cross designation. Consult a qualified civil engineer before making decisions based on this data.