State profile · Near median Poor share

Nebraska 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 Nebraska.

15,398
Public bridges
52.9%
Good condition
7.9%
Poor condition

Nebraska holds 15,398 public highway bridges (#16 of 52 by inventory) with a 7.9% Poor share (#15 of 52 by Poor share).

That is 7.9% 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 38 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

15,398

Public highway bridges in Nebraska

Good Condition

52.9%

8,149 bridges rated 7-9

2.9pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

7.9%

1,217 bridges whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

0.4pp vs national avg 7.5%

Nebraska vs national bridge condition

Nebraska - Good condition share 52.9%
National avg

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

Nebraska - Poor-condition share 26.3%
National avg

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

Nebraska 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: Nebraska has 15,398 bridges and a 7.9% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #38 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 (%) NE, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 15.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.9%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%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%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: Nebraska has 15,398 bridges and a 7.9% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #38 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.

Nebraska 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

15,398 16th of 54 higher than 38 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 Nebraska

The highlighted point is Nebraska: 15,398 bridges and 7.90% in Poor condition, rank #38 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The five jurisdictions immediately above and below Nebraska on that same Poor-share ordering:

  • Oklahoma: 22,917 bridges · 7.70% Poor
  • Alaska: 1,685 bridges · 7.89% Poor
  • Nebraska: 15,398 bridges · 7.90% Poor
  • Massachusetts: 5,295 bridges · 8.88% Poor
  • Missouri: 24,618 bridges · 8.95% Poor

The full national sortable table lives on the rankings page.

Material families in Nebraska

Exclusive FHWA material families across all 15,398 bridges in this state; continuous variants fold into the parent family. Orthogonal to the Poor-share scatter above.

Who maintains Nebraska’s inventory

State agency holds 23.1% of the 15,398 public highway bridges filed under Nebraska in the 2024 NBI, the agency-of-record split for this state, not a condition verdict.

When Nebraska’s bridges were built

Pre-1950 construction accounts for 20.7% of the 15,398 bridges with a recorded original year in Nebraska. Era bands are orthogonal to the Poor-share ranking above.

Condition Distribution

Nebraska52.9%39.2%GoodFairPoor
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix - Nebraska (FHWA NBI)

Nebraska 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 Nebraska on the same metric.

OK

Oklahoma

7.70% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$22,917

AK

Alaska

7.89% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$1,685
Selected

NE

Nebraska

7.90% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$15,398

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

Bridges Needing Most Attention in Nebraska

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

All Bridges in Nebraska

US136

Good

Over: REPUBLICAN RIVER TRIB

IN REPUBLICAN CITY, Harlan, NE

Built 1949 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 735

US136

Good

Over: TURKEY CREEK TRIBUTARY

9W FRANKLIN, Franklin, NE

Built 1951 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 710

US136

Good

Over: ASH CREEK TRIBUTARY

10W FRANKLIN, Franklin, NE

Built 1951 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 710

US136

Good

Over: ASH CREEK TRIBUTARY

8W FRANKLIN, Franklin, NE

Built 1951 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 710

US136

Good

Over: VINNING CREEK

3W FRANKLIN, Franklin, NE

Built 1951 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 1,100

US136

Good

Over: FARMERS CREEK TRIBUTARY

3E RIVERTON, Webster, NE

Built 1940 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 620

US136

Good

Over: STREAM

4E RIVERTON, Webster, NE

Built 1940 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 620

US136

Good

Over: STREAM

4E RIVERTON, Webster, NE

Built 1940 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 620

US136

Good

Over: STREAM

4W RED CLOUD, Webster, NE

Built 1940 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 620

US136

Good

Over: STREAM

4W RED CLOUD, Webster, NE

Built 1940 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 620

US136

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

3E RED CLOUD, Webster, NE

Built 1953 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 665

US136

Good

Over: ELM CREEK

4E RED CLOUD, Webster, NE

Built 1953 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 665

US136

Good

Over: SOAP CREEK

1E GUIDE ROCK, Webster, NE

Built 1956 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 480

US136

Good

Over: STREAM

1E GUIDE ROCK, Webster, NE

Built 1928 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 480

US136

Good

Over: LOST CREEK

12E GUIDE ROCK, Nuckolls, NE

Built 1956 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 485

US136

Good

Over: STREAM

1W DESHLER, Thayer, NE

Built 1941 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 1,460

US136

Good

Over: STREAM

1E DESHLER, Thayer, NE

Built 1941 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 1,725

US136

Good

Over: STREAM

2E DESHLER, Thayer, NE

Built 1941 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 1,725

US136

Good

Over: STREAM

10N CHESTER, Thayer, NE

Built 1936 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 1,365

US136

Good

Over: STREAM

1E AUBURN, Nemaha, NE

Built 1965 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 2,905

US136

Good

Over: LITTLE NEMAHA RIVER TRIB

2E AUBURN, Nemaha, NE

Built 1975 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 2,905

US138

Good

Over: STREAM

IN BIG SPRINGS, Deuel, NE

Built 1935 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 590

US183

Good

Over: STREAM

3N HUNTLEY SPUR, Harlan, NE

Built 1962 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 3,505

COLL 7346

Good

Over: ROPE CREEK

NJCT US136/US183 10N, Harlan, NE

Built 1971 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 45

US183

Good

Over: WHISKEY SLOUGH

8N HOLDREGE, Phelps, NE

Built 1940 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 3,670

US183

Good

Over: ELM CREEK TRIB/OVERFLOW

1S ELM CREEK, Buffalo, NE

Built 1940 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 5,160

US183

Good

Over: ELM CREEK OVERFLOW

1S ELM CREEK, Buffalo, NE

Built 1940 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 5,160

US183

Good

Over: STREAM

4N MILLER, Buffalo, NE

Built 1969 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 800

US183

Good

Over: STREAM

3S ANSLEY, Custer, NE

Built 1963 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 830

US183

Good

Over: STREAM

3S ANSLEY, Custer, NE

Built 1963 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 830

US183

Good

Over: COMER CANYON

3N ANSLEY, Custer, NE

Built 1961 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 775

US183

Good

Over: STREAM

6N ANSLEY, Custer, NE

Built 1961 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 775

US183

Good

Over: WAGNER CREEK

8S SARGENT, Custer, NE

Built 1959 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 1,205

US183

Good

Over: MIDDLE LOUP RIVER TRIB

1N SARGENT, Custer, NE

Built 1952 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 1,125

US183

Good

Over: CALAMUS RIVER TRIBUTARY

21N TAYLOR, Loup, NE

Built 1961 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 520

US183

Good

Over: STREAM

12W BASSETT, Brown, NE

Built 1954 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 510

US275

Good

Over: STREAM

3NW EWING, Holt, NE

Built 1937 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 1,840

US275

Good

Over: STREAM

4W CLEARWATER, Antelope, NE

Built 1936 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 2,125

US275

Good

Over: ELKHORN RIVER TRIB

4E CLEARWATER, Antelope, NE

Built 1938 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 2,815

US275

Good

Over: ELKHORN RIVER TRIBUTARY

4E CLEARWATER, Antelope, NE

Built 1938 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 2,815

US275

Good

Over: ELKHORN RIVER TRIBUTARY

5E CLEARWATER, Antelope, NE

Built 1938 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 2,815

US275

Good

Over: ELKHORN RIVER TRIBUTARY

6E CLEARWATER, Antelope, NE

Built 1938 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 2,815

US275

Good

Over: ELKHORN RIVER TRIBUTARY

7E CLEARWATER, Antelope, NE

Built 1938 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 2,815

US275

Good

Over: CORPORATION GULCH

0W NORFOLK, Madison, NE

Built 1957 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 15,985

US275

Good

Over: PLEASANT RUN CREEK TRIB

5E NORFOLK, Stanton, NE

Built 1936 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 5,570

US275

Good

Over: PAYNE CREEK

12E NORFOLK, Stanton, NE

Built 1936 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 5,480

US275/N15

Good

Over: ELKHORN RIVER TRIB

7NW WISNER, Stanton, NE

Built 1957 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 6,630

US275/N32

Good

Over: STREAM

0S WEST POINT, Cuming, NE

Built 1932 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 11,455

US275

Good

Over: RAWHIDE CREEK

FREMONT BYPASS, Dodge, NE

Built 1981 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 12,205

CNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: STREAM

4N 4W VALLEY, Douglas, NE

Built 2000 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 18,540

Showing 8,251-8,300 of 15,398 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 Nebraska's inventory picture to drill to a county or a specific span.

  • Browse counties in Nebraska 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. Nebraska 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.