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

US6

Poor

Over: STREAM

1E EMERALD, Lancaster, NE

Built 1942 Load: 17.0 t ADT: 4,215

US6

Poor

Over: STREAM

1E EMERALD, Lancaster, NE

Built 1942 Load: 17.0 t ADT: 4,215

N11

Poor

Over: WOOD RIVER

1N WOOD RIVER, Hall, NE

Built 1938 Load: 17.0 t ADT: 1,715

IRR/US77

Poor

Over: STREAM

5S WINNEBAGO, Thurston, NE

Built 1939 Load: 17.0 t ADT: 6,565

US275

Poor

Over: STREAM

5SE WISNER, Cuming, NE

Built 1931 Load: 17.0 t ADT: 5,025

BURCHARD LAKE ROAD

Poor

Over: STREAM

WEST END BURCHARD LAKE, Pawnee, NE

Built 1935 Load: 17.0 t ADT: 20

345TH ST

Poor

Over: CEDAR RIVER

2.7E 1N ALBION, Boone, NE

Built 1935 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 40

COUNTY HIGHWAY 199

Poor

Over: WESTERN CANAL

4.5W 3.2S OF BIG SPRINGS, Deuel, NE

Built 1971 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 35

13TH ST

Poor

Over: PRAIRIE CREEK

4.5S .2E CAIRO, Hall, NE

Built 1935 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 30

W AGNEW RD/FAS3380

Poor

Over: STREAM (D 80)

JCT N79/S-55J 4N 3.6W, Lancaster, NE

Built 1936 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 102

W WAVERLY RD

Poor

Over: OAK CREEK (F 181)

2S OF RAYMOND, Lancaster, NE

Built 1972 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 169

COLL 7627

Poor

Over: SILVER CREEK

1.5N OF HAVENS, Merrick, NE

Built 1935 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 30

FAS 2200

Poor

Over: PRAIRIE CREEK

JCT US30/N14 .1S 10W, Merrick, NE

Built 1936 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 195

709 ROAD

Poor

Over: TIPPS CREEK

3S .5W OF BURCHARD, Pawnee, NE

Built 1935 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 25

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: STREAM

.5N 7.2E OF PIERCE, Pierce, NE

Built 1934 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 165

ROAD 26

Poor

Over: WAHOO CREEK

1S 2.5W OF WESTON, Saunders, NE

Built 1950 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 40

FAS 3195

Poor

Over: S BR HUMBUG CREEK

JCT US275/N57 2.7N, Stanton, NE

Built 1978 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 155

FAS 1480

Poor

Over: THIRTY MILE CANAL

5.2S 4E OF BRADY, Lincoln, NE

Built 1927 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 125

2ND STREET

Poor

Over: MILL CREEK

LOUISVILLE 2ND @ MAIN, Cass, NE

Built 1935 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 1,500

N5

Poor

Over: LITTLE BLUE RIVER

5N DESHLER, Thayer, NE

Built 1976 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 450

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: BOGUS CREEK

3W .9N ST EDWARD, Boone, NE

Built 1935 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 35

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: STOVE CREEK

.7S 2W OF ELMWOOD, Cass, NE

Built 1935 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 10

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: SMITH CANYON

4W 1N OF HOLBROOK, Furnas, NE

Built 1935 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 15

COLL 7361

Poor

Over: BNSF RR 076-579-K

5.5E 6.5N OF OXFORD, Harlan, NE

Built 1935 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 127

SALEM RD

Poor

Over: OAK CREEK

3.5S .5W FARWELL, Howard, NE

Built 1935 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 40

611 AVE

Poor

Over: LOST BRANCH

2.5E 2.5S OF CRAB ORCHARD, Johnson, NE

Built 1935 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 40

S 27TH ST/FAS 3345

Poor

Over: STREAM (P 27)

JCT N2/N43 .3S 9.3W, Lancaster, NE

Built 1936 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 6,050

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: LOST CREEK

3N .8W SUPERIOR, Nuckolls, NE

Built 1935 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 10

415TH AVE

Poor

Over: LOUP RIVER CANAL

3W .25N OF MONROE, Platte, NE

Built 1935 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 50

14TH STREET

Poor

Over: STREAM

STANTON 14TH @ FIR, Stanton, NE

Built 1960 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 100

IRR/N94

Poor

Over: BIG SLOUGH CREEK

5E PENDER, Thurston, NE

Built 1958 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 750

US136

Poor

Over: DRY CREEK

6W GILEAD, Thayer, NE

Built 1940 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 1,310

S55J RAYMOND SPUR

Poor

Over: NORTH OAK CREEK

JCT N79/S55J .4E, Lancaster, NE

Built 1974 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 1,400

6TH AVE

Poor

Over: WEEPING WATER CREEK

1E 1S UNION, Cass, NE

Built 1979 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 20

33 1600 CNTY RD

Poor

Over: DRY CREEK

.5E 5.7N OF MINDEN, Kearney, NE

Built 1966 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 15

W BRANCHED OAK RD

Poor

Over: LITTLE SALT CR (C 253)

1.5E 1N OF RAYMOND, Lancaster, NE

Built 1940 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 76

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: STREAM

1.5W SUPERIOR, Nuckolls, NE

Built 1935 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 50

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: STREAM

4.5S 1W OF PLAINVIEW, Pierce, NE

Built 1935 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 30

220TH ST

Poor

Over: LOUP RIVER CANAL TRIB

1.5S 5.1W OF MONROE, Platte, NE

Built 1935 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 40

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: CLEAR CREEK

EJCT US81/N92 2W 10.8N, Polk, NE

Built 1935 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 65

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: SWAN CREEK

1.5E .6N OF SWANTON, Saline, NE

Built 1915 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 10

7100 RD

Poor

Over: BIG SANDY CREEK

.7W ALEXANDRIA, Thayer, NE

Built 1935 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 35

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: FARMERS CREEK

1N 2.5W INAVALE, Webster, NE

Built 1935 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 15

462ND RD

Poor

Over: MIDDLE LOU RIVER

6N N70 VALLEY CL, Custer, NE

Built 1953 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 115

N8

Poor

Over: S FK BIG NEMAHA RIVER

SCL SALEM, Richardson, NE

Built 1963 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 765

US20

Poor

Over: BRESLAU CREEK

4W OSMOND, Pierce, NE

Built 1934 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 2,570

S56A MAXWELL SPUR

Poor

Over: N CH PLATTE RIVER

1S MAXWELL, Lincoln, NE

Built 1931 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 955

S76D SWANTON SPUR

Poor

Over: WALNUT GROVE CREEK

2N SWANTON, Saline, NE

Built 1964 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 220

COUNTY ROAD VW

Poor

Over: MIDDLE OAK CREEK

1.8E .4SE BRAINARD, Butler, NE

Built 1935 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 20

COLL 7803

Poor

Over: STREAM

JCT N12/N15 4S 5E, Cedar, NE

Built 1973 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 65

Showing 15,101-15,150 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.