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

W PIONEERS BLVD

Poor

Over: STREAM (N 225)

1E OF CONESTOGA LAKE, Lancaster, NE

Built 1954 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 125

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: BATTLE CREEK

7.5S 1W OF BATTLE CREEK, Madison, NE

Built 1935 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 20

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: SPRING CREEK

2S .1E NORA, Nuckolls, NE

Built 1935 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 30

710 RD-652 / 653 A

Poor

Over: SILVER BRANCH

3N OF FC (710-652/653), Richardson, NE

Built 1950 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 45

COUNTY ROAD W

Poor

Over: SAND CREEK

3.5S 2.3E OF MORSE BLUFF, Saunders, NE

Built 1924 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 10

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: BIG BLUE RIVER

2S 1.5E OF SEWARD, Seward, NE

Built 1973 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 60

COUNTY ROAD P30

Poor

Over: MOORES CREEK

1N FORT CALHOUN, Washington, NE

Built 1935 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 50

FAS 1990

Poor

Over: ASH CREEK

JCT US136/N78 2.6S .6E, Webster, NE

Built 1935 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 50

US6

Poor

Over: UP/BNSF RR 815-574-T

IN LINCOLN, Lancaster, NE

Built 1936 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 11,505

14TH ST

Poor

Over: US6

14TH & CORNHUSKER LINCOLN, Lancaster, NE

Built 1961 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 19,190

OLD US34

Poor

Over: MISSOURI RIVER

2E PLATTSMOUTH, Cass, NE

Built 1929 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 1,385

US81

Poor

Over: NORWEGIAN BOW CREEK

JCT US81/N84, Cedar, NE

Built 1953 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 3,410

S48A

Poor

Over: STREAM

STEELE CITY, Jefferson, NE

Built 1956 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 310

FAS 2250

Poor

Over: PLUM CREEK

JCT N52/N91 3N 2.3E, Boone, NE

Built 1984 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 55

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: MUD CREEK

3E 1.5N MURRAY, Cass, NE

Built 1979 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 90

871ST ST

Poor

Over: MIDDLE LOGAN CREEK TRIB

2.7N 1E OF BELDEN, Cedar, NE

Built 1945 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 25

3 MILE CROSSING

Poor

Over: DRY CREEK

2.5W OF MERRIMAN, Cherry, NE

Built 1935 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 10

FAS 2415

Poor

Over: TURKEY CREEK

JCT N74/S-18F 1W 5.8N, Clay, NE

Built 1915 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 180

ROAD 429

Poor

Over: FARMERS/MERCHANTS CANAL

8E OF COZAD, Dawson, NE

Built 1935 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 30

COUNTY ROAD 209

Poor

Over: NPPID CANAL

.5N OF GOTHENBURG, Dawson, NE

Built 1935 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 60

TOWNSHIP ROAD

Poor

Over: DITCH #7

LUTHER RD. BET. S & T, Dodge, NE

Built 1968 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 190

FAS 2920

Poor

Over: INDIAN CREEK

JCT US77/S-34D 1.2E, Gage, NE

Built 1990 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 600

TOWNSHIP ROAD

Poor

Over: INDIAN CREEK

4.5S .3W OF CORTLAND, Gage, NE

Built 1960 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 25

FAS 3265

Poor

Over: STREAM

JCT US77/US136 4E 1.8S, Gage, NE

Built 1977 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 525

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: WALLACE CREEK

.5NE OF SCOTIA, Greeley, NE

Built 1975 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 95

FAS 1455

Poor

Over: STREAM

JCT N25/N25A 7.5W 9N, Hayes, NE

Built 1938 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 150

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: STREAM

5S 2.7E OF DAYKIN, Jefferson, NE

Built 1934 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 20

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: STREAM

2.5E .5N OF POWELL, Jefferson, NE

Built 1938 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 25

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: ELM CREEK

1N .2E OF ENDICOTT, Jefferson, NE

Built 1935 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 30

TOWNSHIP ROAD

Poor

Over: BAZILE CREEK TRIBUTARY

.2N OF CREIGHTON, Knox, NE

Built 1935 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 120

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: NORTH TABLE CREEK

.6W NEBRASKA CITY, Otoe, NE

Built 1935 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 30

CO HIWAY (OLD N2)

Poor

Over: BROWNELL CREEK

1E SYRACUSE, Otoe, NE

Built 1965 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 10

620 AVENUE

Poor

Over: W BR TURKEY CREEK

2W 1S OF PAWNEE CITY, Pawnee, NE

Built 1935 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 30

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: N BR BIG BLUE RIVER

1.7S 2W OF STROMSBURG, Polk, NE

Built 1950 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 50

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: STREAM

JCT US81/N69 2E 6.6S, Polk, NE

Built 1983 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 50

707 LANE

Poor

Over: STREAM

1.2E OF SALEM (707 LANE), Richardson, NE

Built 1935 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 20

ROAD 22

Poor

Over: GERING VALLEY DRAIN

2S OF GERING, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1960 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 40

COOK OIL

Poor

Over: TRI-STATE CANAL

1.7SE OF MITCHELL, Scotts Bluff, NE

Built 1975 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 150

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: PLUM CREEK

4.7E OF STAPLEHURST, Seward, NE

Built 1958 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 125

COLL 7544

Poor

Over: WILLOW CREEK

2E OF COWLES, Webster, NE

Built 1911 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 55

CEDAR STREET

Poor

Over: MIDDLE LOGAN CRK TRIB

LAUREL CEDAR @ 4TH, Cedar, NE

Built 1935 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 400

N4

Poor

Over: N FK BIG NEMAHA RIVER

1E TABLE ROCK, Pawnee, NE

Built 1950 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 1,385

IRR/N12

Poor

Over: BAZILE CREEK

4E NIOBRARA, Knox, NE

Built 1946 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 1,275

N18

Poor

Over: MEDICINE CREEK

0S CURTIS, Frontier, NE

Built 1945 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 490

US30

Poor

Over: STREAM

5E FREMONT, Dodge, NE

Built 1950 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 5,365

N32/N45

Poor

Over: STREAM

6N NEWMAN GROVE, Madison, NE

Built 1951 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 365

N32

Poor

Over: TEKAMAH CREEK

IN TEKAMAH, Burt, NE

Built 1973 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 2,740

N62

Poor

Over: LONG BRANCH CREEK

5E ELK CREEK, Nemaha, NE

Built 1957 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 150

US75

Poor

Over: BETZ CREEK

JCT US75/N370, Sarpy, NE

Built 1989 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 38,095

US81

Poor

Over: NORWEGIAN BOW CREEK TRIB

17S YANKTON, Cedar, NE

Built 1945 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 3,475

Showing 15,151-15,200 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.