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

LOCAL

Fair

Over: SOUTH WHITE BREAST CREEK

071240804, Clarke, IA

Built 1982 Load: 7.6 t ADT: 34

LCL-APPLEWOOD

Fair

Over: FARM CR

073400101, Mills, IA

Built 1968 Load: 7.6 t ADT: 15

LOCAL

Fair

Over: MIDDLE RIVER

077312703, Adair, IA

Built 1959 Load: 7.7 t ADT: 11

Ag and DNR Traffic

Fair

Over: Red Rock Pool

Marion Co.; S30, T76, R19, Marion, IA

Built 1920 Load: 7.8 t ADT: 10

LOCAL

Fair

Over: TRIB COATES CR

069083103, Van Buren, IA

Built 1975 Load: 7.8 t ADT: 51

LOCAL

Fair

Over: STREAM

089440102, Woodbury, IA

Built 1950 Load: 7.8 t ADT: 11

LOCAL

Fair

Over: SMALL STREAM

071303501, Union, IA

Built 1940 Load: 7.9 t ADT: 11

HOME ENT (SDB)

Fair

Over: PANTHER CREEK

091012903, Clayton, IA

Built 1920 Load: 8.1 t ADT: 10

LOCAL

Fair

Over: N FORK BUFFALO CREEK

098260202, Winnebago, IA

Built 2001 Load: 8.1 t ADT: 30

FM

Fair

Over: N FORK BUFFALO CREEK

098260701, Winnebago, IA

Built 2006 Load: 8.1 t ADT: 26

460TH ST

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

099240201, Winnebago, IA

Built 2005 Load: 8.1 t ADT: 62

LOCAL

Fair

Over: SOLDIER RIVER

085410903, Crawford, IA

Built 1951 Load: 8.2 t ADT: 21

FIELD ENTRANCE

Fair

Over: ROAD DITCH

082232703, Story, IA

Built 1957 Load: 8.2 t ADT: 10

LOCAL

Fair

Over: CREEK

096101401, Winneshiek, IA

Built 1968 Load: 8.2 t ADT: 39

ECHO VALLEY RD.

Fair

Over: OTTER CR

094073003, Fayette, IA

Built 1974 Load: 8.3 t ADT: 78

FM DALE AVE

Fair

Over: STREAM

100142202, Howard, IA

Built 1987 Load: 8.4 t ADT: 707

SW 360TH ST

Fair

Over: N BR OLD MANS CR

079080801, Johnson, IA

Built 1915 Load: 8.5 t ADT: 35

LOCAL

Fair

Over: CREEK

096101303, Winneshiek, IA

Built 1965 Load: 8.5 t ADT: 59

OSAGE TRAIL

Fair

Over: WILLOW RIVER

081422907, Harrison, IA

Built 1977 Load: 8.6 t ADT: 5

LOCAL

Fair

Over: MOFFAT BRANCH

071182104, Monroe, IA

Built 1948 Load: 8.7 t ADT: 40

LOCAL

Fair

Over: WALNUT CREEK

069292901, Ringgold, IA

Built 1946 Load: 8.7 t ADT: 11

LOCAL

Fair

Over: STREAM

096322101, Palo Alto, IA

Built 1914 Load: 8.8 t ADT: 30

LOCAL

Fair

Over: STREAM

074323601, Adair, IA

Built 1961 Load: 9.0 t ADT: 15

LOCAL - CR CRK

Fair

Over: CROOKED CREEK

077351204, Cass, IA

Built 1977 Load: 9.0 t ADT: 11

Ag and DNR Traffic

Fair

Over: Red Rock Pool Channel

Marion Co., S22,T77N,R21, Marion, IA

Built 1955 Load: 9.0 t ADT: 30

LOCAL - 640TH

Fair

Over: CREEK

075363502, Cass, IA

Built 1900 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 30

LOCAL

Fair

Over: SOUTH OTTER CREEK

072240206, Clarke, IA

Built 1982 Load: 9.2 t ADT: 11

PLANT ROAD K

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

APPROX. 10,000' E. RD. H, Des Moines, IA

Built 1910 Load: 9.2 t ADT: 5

1250 160TH ST

Fair

Over: WEST IOWA RIVER

094240601, Hancock, IA

Built 1977 Load: 9.2 t ADT: 30

LOCAL

Fair

Over: LOCAL CREEK

073261005, Clarke, IA

Built 1900 Load: 9.3 t ADT: 20

FM

Fair

Over: S FORK ENGLISH RIVER

077101704, Keokuk, IA

Built 1954 Load: 9.3 t ADT: 15

FM

Fair

Over: SMALL UN-NAMED CREEK

097391101, O'Brien, IA

Built 1996 Load: 9.3 t ADT: 30

LOCAL

Fair

Over: STREAM

068090108, Van Buren, IA

Built 1968 Load: 9.3 t ADT: 35

FM

Fair

Over: CHARITON RIVER

070223404, Wayne, IA

Built 1959 Load: 9.3 t ADT: 70

LOCAL ROAD

Fair

Over: CREEK

099091902, Winneshiek, IA

Built 1939 Load: 9.3 t ADT: 59

LOCAL

Fair

Over: STREAM

089430201, Woodbury, IA

Built 2005 Load: 9.3 t ADT: 26

LOCAL

Fair

Over: SMALL STREAM

082373602, Crawford, IA

Built 1965 Load: 9.4 t ADT: 11

LOCAL

Fair

Over: SMALL STREAM

089372202, Sac, IA

Built 1917 Load: 9.4 t ADT: 26

SWALLOW

Fair

Over: SHELLROCK RIVER TRIB

098191803, Worth, IA

Built 1917 Load: 9.4 t ADT: 35

LOCAL

Fair

Over: TROUBLESOME CREEK

078340404, Audubon, IA

Built 1925 Load: 9.5 t ADT: 46

LOCAL

Fair

Over: W FK W NISHNABOTNA RIVER

083373201, Crawford, IA

Built 1942 Load: 9.5 t ADT: 15

MANTI PARK

Fair

Over: UNNAMED CREEK

69403601, Fremont, IA

Built 1940 Load: 9.5 t

MALDEN TRAIL

Fair

Over: ALLEN CREEK

080430404, Harrison, IA

Built 1940 Load: 9.5 t ADT: 40

FM

Fair

Over: STREAM

086363501, Sac, IA

Built 1923 Load: 9.6 t ADT: 15

LOCAL ROAD

Fair

Over: CREEK

100101603, Winneshiek, IA

Built 1964 Load: 9.8 t ADT: 20

LOCAL

Fair

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

084392101, Crawford, IA

Built 1962 Load: 9.9 t ADT: 15

LOCAL ROAD

Fair

Over: LOCAL STREAM

073052704, Henry, IA

Built 1917 Load: 9.9 t ADT: 21

LOCAL

Fair

Over: YELLOW RIVER

096061702, Allamakee, IA

Built 1953 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 108

LOCAL DUGAN AVE

Fair

Over: LIME CR

087103404, Buchanan, IA

Built 1952 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 196

160TH ST

Fair

Over: STREAM

082013410, Cedar, IA

Built 1955 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 120

Showing 1,101-1,150 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.