State profile · Above median Poor share

Iowa bridge safety

Condition ratings, load ratings, and Poor-condition data for every public highway bridge in Iowa, based on the FHWA National Bridge Inventory.

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

Data updated May 2026

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 whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

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 - Poor-condition share 66.7%
National avg

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

Condition Distribution

Iowa38.5%40.4%21.1%GoodFairPoor
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix - Iowa (FHWA NBI)

Counties (99)

Adair 208 Adams 147 Allamakee 170 Appanoose 159 Audubon 161 Benton 327 Black Hawk 411 Boone 119 Bremer 220 Buchanan 281 Buena Vista 140 Butler 261 Calhoun 171 Carroll 223 Cass 237 Cedar 265 Cerro Gordo 210 Cherokee 223 Chickasaw 268 Clarke 150 Clay 138 Clayton 214 Clinton 325 Crawford 242 Dallas 154 Davis 156 Decatur 178 Delaware 254 Des Moines 156 Dickinson 73 Dubuque 304 Emmet 70 Fayette 288 Floyd 195 Franklin 214 Fremont 133 Greene 150 Grundy 270 Guthrie 236 Hamilton 134 Hancock 128 Hardin 211 Harrison 162 Henry 144 Howard 193 Humboldt 70 Ida 164 Iowa 189 Jackson 209 Jasper 321 Jefferson 142 Johnson 317 Jones 215 Keokuk 152 Kossuth 256 Lee 185 Linn 428 Louisa 134 Lucas 186 Lyon 241 Madison 221 Mahaska 219 Marion 204 Marshall 283 Mills 170 Mitchell 160 Monona 125 Monroe 126 Montgomery 184 Muscatine 127 O'Brien 229 Osceola 176 Page 185 Palo Alto 114 Plymouth 407 Pocahontas 186 Polk 415 Pottawattamie 469 Poweshiek 221 Ringgold 206 Sac 188 Scott 212 Shelby 194 Sioux 429 Story 262 Tama 307 Taylor 220 Union 153 Van Buren 142 Wapello 160 Warren 231 Washington 203 Wayne 163 Webster 179 Winnebago 48 Winneshiek 317 Woodbury 379 Worth 89 Wright 168

Iowa 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 Iowa on the same metric.

WV

West Virginia

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

SD

South Dakota

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

IA

Iowa

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

VI

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 the portal's composite display score. Inspection intervals are risk-based under current NBIS rules.

270TH STREET

Poor

Over: ROSE BRANCH

071343401, Adams, IA

Built 1976 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 79

LOCAL

Poor

Over: CREEK

078342601, Audubon, IA

Built 1935 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 21

KLINE RD

Poor

Over: MUD CREEK

87-12-15-02-10, Black Hawk, IA

Built 1948 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 11

LOCAL - 700TH

Poor

Over: TRIB TROUBLESOME CREEK

077351402, Cass, IA

Built 1983 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 11

LOCAL - DAYTONA

Poor

Over: BUCK CREEK

077361903, Cass, IA

Built 1980 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 35

100TH ST.

Poor

Over: UNION CREEK

083E20101, Clinton, IA

Built 1900 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 78

All Bridges in Iowa

LOCAL

Poor

Over: E FORK DES MOINES RIVER

0100321105, Emmet, IA

Built 1914 Load: 4.6 t ADT: 26

327TH AVE

Poor

Over: CEDAR CREEK

071200208, Lucas, IA

Built 1954 Load: 4.6 t ADT: 26

LOCAL

Poor

Over: MUD CREEK

078021108, Muscatine, IA

Built 1954 Load: 4.6 t ADT: 47

LOCAL

Poor

Over: FARMERS DITCH

087460601, Woodbury, IA

Built 1900 Load: 4.6 t ADT: 30

265TH ST

Poor

Over: CREEK

080E23303, Scott, IA

Built 1996 Load: 4.7 t ADT: 35

LOCAL

Poor

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

090381801, Buena Vista, IA

Built 1971 Load: 4.8 t ADT: 30

FM

Poor

Over: LITTLE MAPLE RIVER

090382101, Buena Vista, IA

Built 1974 Load: 4.8 t ADT: 569

LOCAL

Poor

Over: SMALL STREAM

090161901, Butler, IA

Built 1956 Load: 4.8 t ADT: 74

LOCAL

Poor

Over: EAST BRANCH LICK CREEK

071103004, Jefferson, IA

Built 1950 Load: 4.8 t ADT: 30

FM

Poor

Over: DRAINAGE

076152401, Mahaska, IA

Built 1951 Load: 4.8 t ADT: 35

LOCAL

Poor

Over: LITTLE EAGLE CREEK

092252601, Wright, IA

Built 1973 Load: 4.8 t ADT: 21

FM E-66

Poor

Over: OSCAR CREEK

000000000, Linn, IA

Built 1917 Load: 4.9 t ADT: 640

LOCAL

Poor

Over: EAST SOLDIER RIVER

084413102, Crawford, IA

Built 1957 Load: 5.0 t ADT: 34

LOCAL

Poor

Over: LYNN CREEK

072070103, Henry, IA

Built 1974 Load: 5.0 t ADT: 30

LOCAL

Poor

Over: TRIB DES MOINES RIVER

070112203, Van Buren, IA

Built 1977 Load: 5.0 t ADT: 16

LOCAL

Poor

Over: STREAM

086452503, Woodbury, IA

Built 1952 Load: 5.1 t ADT: 45

LOCAL ROAD

Poor

Over: BRANCH BEAVER CREEK

089150801, Grundy, IA

Built 1975 Load: 5.2 t ADT: 100

LOCAL

Poor

Over: STREAM

079312103, Guthrie, IA

Built 1957 Load: 5.2 t ADT: 29

FM

Poor

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH 36

092253502, Wright, IA

Built 1968 Load: 5.2 t ADT: 80

LOCAL

Poor

Over: PRAIRIE CREEK

084113202, Benton, IA

Built 1947 Load: 5.3 t ADT: 50

LOCAL/KEYSTONE

Poor

Over: CREEK

076342801, Cass, IA

Built 1900 Load: 5.3 t ADT: 26

FM

Poor

Over: SMALL

082011403, Cedar, IA

Built 1980 Load: 5.3 t ADT: 110

LOCAL

Poor

Over: STREAM

078323604, Guthrie, IA

Built 1970 Load: 5.3 t ADT: 11

LOCAL

Poor

Over: DRAINAGE

077172807, Mahaska, IA

Built 1957 Load: 5.3 t ADT: 71

LOCAL

Poor

Over: DRAINAGE

073390301, Montgomery, IA

Built 1945 Load: 5.3 t ADT: 5

LOCAL

Poor

Over: TURKEY CR

068232704, Wayne, IA

Built 1967 Load: 5.3 t ADT: 15

LOCAL ROAD

Poor

Over: CREEK

098103409, Winneshiek, IA

Built 1900 Load: 5.3 t ADT: 39

LOCAL

Poor

Over: DAVIDS CREEK

079341901, Audubon, IA

Built 1964 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 30

LOCAL

Poor

Over: RACCOON RIVER

090360101, Buena Vista, IA

Built 1914 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 26

LOCAL

Poor

Over: SMALL STREAM

091153203, Butler, IA

Built 1966 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 70

LOCAL

Poor

Over: W FK W NISHNABOTNA RIVER

082381401, Crawford, IA

Built 1987 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 21

FIELD ENTRANCE

Poor

Over: SIDE DITCH

070263205, Decatur, IA

Built 1963 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 10

LOCAL

Poor

Over: SHORT CREEK

070271308, Decatur, IA

Built 1967 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 30

1870 CRANE AVE

Poor

Over: BOONE RIVER

095262106, Hancock, IA

Built 1925 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 36

155TH ST

Poor

Over: WILLOW RIVER

081423203, Harrison, IA

Built 1930 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 11

FM-175TH ST

Poor

Over: CRANE CREEK

098123103, Howard, IA

Built 1955 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 59

NE 340TH ST

Poor

Over: SMALL

079050107, Johnson, IA

Built 1900 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 11

LOCAL

Poor

Over: CREEK

071192406, Monroe, IA

Built 1939 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 34

FM

Poor

Over: BRANCH COAL CREEK

075220801, Warren, IA

Built 1955 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 50

FM

Poor

Over: UPPER IOWA RIVER

100102105, Winneshiek, IA

Built 1913 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 39

LOCAL

Poor

Over: SMALL STREAM

091160501, Butler, IA

Built 1963 Load: 5.5 t ADT: 25

FM

Poor

Over: SMALL CREEK

079302906, Guthrie, IA

Built 1957 Load: 5.5 t ADT: 79

S 54TH AVE W

Poor

Over: SEWER CREEK

079192105, Jasper, IA

Built 1931 Load: 5.5 t ADT: 11

FM

Poor

Over: MONK CREEK

066070205, Lee, IA

Built 1934 Load: 5.5 t ADT: 90

ELMTREE ROAD

Poor

Over: SILVER CREEK

075412604, Pottawattamie, IA

Built 1961 Load: 5.5 t ADT: 29

LOCAL

Poor

Over: SMALL

078162703, Poweshiek, IA

Built 1983 Load: 5.5 t ADT: 26

LOCAL

Poor

Over: E FK GRAND RIVER

069292401, Ringgold, IA

Built 1970 Load: 5.5 t ADT: 15

LOCAL

Poor

Over: CREEK

069330502, Taylor, IA

Built 1960 Load: 5.5 t ADT: 45

LOCAL

Poor

Over: SMALL

093233106, Wright, IA

Built 1973 Load: 5.5 t ADT: 275

LOCAL

Poor

Over: BEAVER CREEK

090182802, Butler, IA

Built 1950 Load: 5.6 t ADT: 39

Showing 17,251-17,300 of 20,753 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.

Every figure on PlainBridge is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.