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

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: I80

3W SUTHERLAND INTRCHG, Lincoln, NE

Built 1967 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 55

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: I80

5W MAXWELL INTRCHG, Lincoln, NE

Built 1966 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 15

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: I80

2W GRAND ISLAND INTRCHG, Hall, NE

Built 1965 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 55

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: I80

2W AURORA INTRCHG, Hamilton, NE

Built 1966 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 95

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: I80

2E WACO INTRCHG, York, NE

Built 1966 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 45

US83

Good

Over: BNSF RR 077-581-P

0S MCCOOK, Red Willow, NE

Built 1983 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 6,425

US136

Good

Over: CROOKED CREEK

0E RED CLOUD, Webster, NE

Built 1953 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 665

US136

Good

Over: WILLOW CREEK

6E RED CLOUD, Webster, NE

Built 1953 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 600

US281

Good

Over: NIOBRARA RIVER

6SE SPENCER, Holt, NE

Built 2003 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 1,295

L51A BRULE CNLK

Good

Over: SOUTH PLATTE RIVER

1S BRULE, Keith, NE

Built 1934 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 1,235

AVE M

Good

Over: PLATTE RIVER N CHANNEL

.7S 11TH & AVE M, Buffalo, NE

Built 1994 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 100

W. PRAIRIE LAKE RD

Good

Over: THIRTY-TWO MILE CREEK

5205 W. PRAIRIE LAKE RD, Adams, NE

Built 2015 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 80

OSAGE AVE

Good

Over: PAWNEE CREEK

_, Adams, NE

Built 2022 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 30

S. ANTIOCH AVE.

Good

Over: PAWNEE CREEK

11785 S. ANTIOCH AVE, Adams, NE

Built 1989 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 100

COLL 7112

Good

Over: ROCKY HOLLOW

9S OF HARRISBURG, Banner, NE

Built 1965 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 90

NORTH LOUP RD

Good

Over: NORTH LOUP RIVER

JCT N2/N91 12.2N 1.5E, Blaine, NE

Built 1995 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 120

NORTH LOUP RD

Good

Over: NORTH LOUP RIVER

.5S 2.4E BREWSTER, Blaine, NE

Built 2002 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 40

PRIVATE RD

Good

Over: NORTH LOUP RIVER

5.5W 2.3N BREWSTER, Blaine, NE

Built 2009 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 10

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: STREAM

3N ALBION, Boone, NE

Built 1985 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 65

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: GOOSE CREEK

2E 2N BLAINE/CHERRY CO LN, Brown, NE

Built 1980 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 5

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: AINSWORTH IRRIG CANAL

1N OF AINSWORTH, Brown, NE

Built 1980 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 80

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: AINSWORTH IRRIG CANAL

4E .2S OF JOHNSTOWN, Brown, NE

Built 1963 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 20

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: SAND DRAW CREEK (KELLY)

1W 5.2N OF AINSWORTH, Brown, NE

Built 1992 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 10

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: STREAM

1S 3W OF AMHERST, Buffalo, NE

Built 2011 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 70

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: SOUTH LOUP RIVER

6W .5N OF PLEASANTON, Buffalo, NE

Built 1978 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 15

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: CEDAR CREEK

1S .5W OF POOLE, Buffalo, NE

Built 1986 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 40

FAS 1975

Good

Over: MID CH PLATTE RIVER

JCT I80/L-10C 1.9S, Buffalo, NE

Built 1979 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 1,300

FAS 2025

Good

Over: SOUTH LOUP RIVER

JCT N2/N68 9.1E 1N, Buffalo, NE

Built 1980 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 105

TOWNSHIP ROAD

Good

Over: STREAM

6.75S 3W OF GRAIG, Burt, NE

Built 1979 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 10

COLL 7952

Good

Over: BELL CREEK

3.5N 3.6E OF OAKLAND, Burt, NE

Built 1977 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 90

262ND RD

Good

Over: CALLAHAN CREEK

4.5E .2S OF GREENWOOD, Cass, NE

Built 2015 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 100

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: N BR WEEPING WATER CREEK

.7E .5S OF WABASH, Cass, NE

Built 2004 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 30

FAS 3340

Good

Over: NORTH BRANCH WEEPING WAT

JCT I80/N63 7S 2.1E, Cass, NE

Built 1987 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 130

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: FOUNTAIN CREEK

1.5S OF SOUTH BEND, Cass, NE

Built 1987 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 150

FAS 3225

Good

Over: BAKER CREEK

SJCT US20/N15 2.6S, Cedar, NE

Built 1964 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 190

567TH AVE

Good

Over: BOW CREEK TRIB

JCT N12/N15 4E 3.8S, Cedar, NE

Built 2007 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 45

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: GORDON CREEK

18S 5E OF CROOKSTON, Cherry, NE

Built 2002 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 20

CO RD 135 MI 13514

Good

Over: COW CREEK

JCT I80/L-17E .5S, Cheyenne, NE

Built 1972 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 60

CO RD 139 MI 13914

Good

Over: COW CREEK

2E 3S SUNOL, Cheyenne, NE

Built 1964 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 45

RD 139

Good

Over: LODGEPOLE CREEK

2E .1S OF SUNOL, Cheyenne, NE

Built 2018 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 40

CO RD 93 MI 9316

Good

Over: NORTH SIDNEY DRAW

8.8W 1S SIDNEY, Cheyenne, NE

Built 1971 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 50

ROAD 311

Good

Over: LITTLE SANDY CREEK

6.3N 2.7W ONG, Clay, NE

Built 2022 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 25

ROAD 309

Good

Over: STREAM

2.5S 1E GLENVIL, Clay, NE

Built 2011 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 40

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: STREAM

8W N15 STANTON CL, Colfax, NE

Built 2023 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 35

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: STREAM

2E .1S OF LEIGH, Colfax, NE

Built 1935 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 30

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: STREAM

2E 3N OF LEIGH, Colfax, NE

Built 2023 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 55

ROAD 14

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

11.9S OF HOWELLS, Colfax, NE

Built 1935 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 65

RD 17

Good

Over: MAPLE CREEK EAST FK TRIB

3E 4.2S OF HOWELLS, Colfax, NE

Built 1935 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 35

FAS 1660

Good

Over: SOUTH LOUP RIVER

JCT N21/N40 2.8N 6.8E, Custer, NE

Built 1983 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 80

COUNTY ROAD 442

Good

Over: SPRING CREEK

1.5S 2W OF OVERTON, Dawson, NE

Built 1981 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 10

Showing 8,551-8,600 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.