State profile · Above median Poor share

North Dakota 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 North Dakota.

4,255
Public bridges
42.3%
Good condition
11.0%
Poor condition

North Dakota holds 4,255 public highway bridges (#39 of 52 by inventory) with a 10.98% Poor share (#10 of 52 by Poor share).

That is 11.0% 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 43 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

4,255

Public highway bridges in North Dakota

Good Condition

42.3%

1,800 bridges rated 7-9

-7.7pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

11.0%

467 bridges whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

3.5pp vs national avg 7.5%

North Dakota vs national bridge condition

North Dakota - Good condition share 42.3%
National avg

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

North Dakota - Poor-condition share 36.6%
National avg

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

North Dakota 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: North Dakota has 4,255 bridges and a 11.0% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #43 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 (%) ND, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 10.98%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%NE, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 15.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.9%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%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: North Dakota has 4,255 bridges and a 11.0% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #43 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.

North Dakota 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

4,255 39th of 54 higher than 15 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 North Dakota

The highlighted point is North Dakota: 4,255 bridges and 10.98% in Poor condition, rank #43 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The five jurisdictions immediately above and below North Dakota on that same Poor-share ordering:

  • Illinois: 26,928 bridges · 9.35% Poor
  • New York: 17,642 bridges · 9.43% Poor
  • North Dakota: 4,255 bridges · 10.98% Poor
  • Michigan: 11,371 bridges · 11.27% Poor
  • Louisiana: 12,698 bridges · 11.48% Poor

The full national sortable table lives on the rankings page.

Material families in North Dakota

Exclusive FHWA material families across all 4,255 bridges in this state; continuous variants fold into the parent family. Orthogonal to the Poor-share scatter above.

Who maintains North Dakota’s inventory

State agency holds 27.1% of the 4,255 public highway bridges filed under North Dakota in the 2024 NBI, the agency-of-record split for this state, not a condition verdict.

When North Dakota’s bridges were built

Pre-1950 construction accounts for 14.8% of the 4,255 bridges with a recorded original year in North Dakota. Era bands are orthogonal to the Poor-share ranking above.

Condition Distribution

North Dakota42.3%46.7%11%GoodFairPoor
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix - North Dakota (FHWA NBI)

Counties (53)

Adams 45 Barnes 79 Benson 40 Billings 60 Bottineau 124 Bowman 69 Burke 29 Burleigh 113 Cass 369 Cavalier 66 Dickey 43 Divide 13 Dunn 74 Eddy 27 Emmons 67 Foster 19 Golden Valley 34 Grand Forks 335 Grant 60 Griggs 22 Hettinger 64 Kidder 10 LaMoure 60 Logan 13 McHenry 112 McIntosh 11 McKenzie 129 McLean 57 Mercer 72 Morton 272 Mountrail 27 Nelson 23 Oliver 24 Pembina 204 Pierce 5 Ramsey 48 Ransom 35 Renville 24 Richland 197 Rolette 18 Sargent 30 Sheridan 8 Sioux 22 Slope 43 Stark 157 Steele 94 Stutsman 78 Towner 58 Traill 151 Walsh 257 Ward 123 Wells 41 Williams 100

North Dakota 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 North Dakota on the same metric.

IL

Illinois

9.35% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$26,928

NY

New York

9.43% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$17,642
Selected

ND

North Dakota

10.98% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$4,255

MI

Michigan

11.27% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$11,371

LA

Louisiana

11.48% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$12,698

Bridges Needing Most Attention in North Dakota

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

14TH ST SW

Poor

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

7 SOUTH 2 EAST REEDER, Adams, ND

Built 1919 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 10

17TH AVE NW

Poor

Over: CEDAR CREEK

4 WEST 15 NORTH HETTINGER, Adams, ND

Built 1925 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 1

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Poor

Over: SHEYENNE RIVER

8 WEST 3 SOUTH OBERON, Benson, ND

Built 1907 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 5

COUNTY TRAIL

Poor

Over: COULEE

6 E 1 N MINNEWAUKAN, Benson, ND

Built 1942 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 1

COUNTY TRAIL

Poor

Over: CREEK

2 EAST 5 SOUTH OF LOMA, Cavalier, ND

Built 1949 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 2

COUNTY TRAIL

Poor

Over: CREEK

9 EAST 2 SOUTH OF HANNAH, Cavalier, ND

Built 1959 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 10

All Bridges in North Dakota

1 LANE GRAVEL RD

Fair

Over: WHITETAIL CREEK

35 MI NW BELFIELD ND, Billings, ND

Built 1983 ADT: 50

1 LANE SCORIA RD

Fair

Over: MAGPIE CREEK

40 MI NW BELFIELD ND, McKenzie, ND

Built 1975 ADT: 50

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: KINEMAN CREEK

5 EAST 1 SOUTH OF HAZEN, Mercer, ND

Built 1950 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 25

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: NORTH BRANCH PARK RIVER

4 SOUTH OF CRYSTAL, Pembina, ND

Built 1948 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 2

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: ANTELOPE CREEK

4 NORTH 2 WEST MOORETON, Richland, ND

Built 1936 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 10

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: CREEK

11 EAST 3 NORTH OF SHARON, Steele, ND

Built 1938 Load: 1.7 t ADT: 24

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: TONGUE RIVER

4 EAST 1 SOUTH BATHGATE, Pembina, ND

Built 1946 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 10

COUNTY TRAIL

Fair

Over: CREEK

2 EAST 2 NORTH EDINBURG, Walsh, ND

Built 1935 Load: 2.3 t ADT: 2

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: CREEK

4 SOUTH OF MILTON, Cavalier, ND

Built 1975 Load: 2.4 t ADT: 35

74TH ST N

Fair

Over: LITTLE DEEP CREEK

7 WEST 6 SOUTH OF UPHAM, McHenry, ND

Built 1954 Load: 2.4 t ADT: 30

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: CREEK

6 EAST OF BANTRY, McHenry, ND

Built 1950 Load: 2.4 t ADT: 35

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: WILD RICE RIVER

3 NORTH 1 EAST HANKINSON, Richland, ND

Built 1914 Load: 2.4 t ADT: 20

SECTION LINE ROAD

Fair

Over: STONE CREEK

1 SOUTH 3 WEST BOTTINEAU, Bottineau, ND

Built 1950 Load: 2.5 t ADT: 10

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: CREEK

5 NORTH OF LARSON, Burke, ND

Built 1969 Load: 2.6 t ADT: 50

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: CREEK

6 N 6 W OF GOLDEN VALLEY, Mercer, ND

Built 1950 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 10

GRAVEL ROAD

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

2 NORTH 2 WEST OF SYDNEY, Stutsman, ND

Built 1927 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 10

5TH ST SW

Fair

Over: KNIFE RIVER

4 WEST 1 NORTH STANTON, Mercer, ND

Built 1917 Load: 2.9 t ADT: 5

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: DEEP CREEK

9 WEST 4 SOUTH MARSHALL, Dunn, ND

Built 1957 Load: 3.1 t ADT: 3

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: EGG CREEK

11 EAST 3 SOUTH DEERING, McHenry, ND

Built 1935 Load: 3.4 t ADT: 25

COUNTY

Fair

Over: DRAIN DITCH

1 WEST OF BOWESMONT, Pembina, ND

Built 1976 Load: 3.4 t ADT: 24

38TH ST

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE AREA

3 NORTH OF GLEN ULLIN, Morton, ND

Built 1967 Load: 3.5 t ADT: 20

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: CREEK

1 EAST 6 NORTH OF ADAMS, Walsh, ND

Built 1950 Load: 3.5 t ADT: 10

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: MID. BRANCH GOOSE RIVER

10 EAST OF FINLEY, Steele, ND

Built 1940 Load: 3.6 t ADT: 10

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: MIDDLE BRANCH PARK RIVER

6 WEST 3 NORTH OF GRAFTON, Walsh, ND

Built 1956 Load: 3.7 t ADT: 10

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: WILD RICE RIVER

1 WEST 1 SOUTH GREAT BEND, Richland, ND

Built 1920 Load: 3.8 t ADT: 20

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

4 E 1 S OF WILLOW CITY, Bottineau, ND

Built 1947 Load: 3.9 t ADT: 35

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: CREEK

2 NORTH 4 EAST THOMPSON, Grand Forks, ND

Built 1968 Load: 3.9 t ADT: 45

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: DEEP RIVER

5 WEST 1 NORTH OF UPHAM, McHenry, ND

Built 1965 Load: 3.9 t ADT: 5

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: DRAIN DITCH

2 EAST 1 NORTH MOUNTAIN, Pembina, ND

Built 1960 Load: 4.1 t ADT: 24

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: MID. BRANCH GOOSE RIVER

3 NORTH 5 EAST OF FINLEY, Steele, ND

Built 1972 Load: 4.1 t ADT: 40

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: CREEK

7 EAST 2 SOUTH PARK RIVER, Walsh, ND

Built 1935 Load: 4.1 t ADT: 26

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: CREEK

4 WEST 2 NORTH OF GRAFTON, Walsh, ND

Built 1925 Load: 4.1 t ADT: 19

SECTION LINE ROAD

Fair

Over: CUT BANK CREEK

6 WEST OF ECKMAN, Bottineau, ND

Built 1948 Load: 4.2 t ADT: 5

SECTION LINE TRAIL

Fair

Over: MID. BR. DOUGLAS CREEK

6.3 WEST 1 SOUTH GARRISON, McLean, ND

Built 1940 Load: 4.2 t ADT: 5

31ST ST

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE AREA

10 WEST 8 NORTH NEW SALEM, Morton, ND

Built 1972 Load: 4.2 t ADT: 10

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: CREEK

4 NORTH 12 WEST NORTHWOOD, Grand Forks, ND

Built 1982 Load: 4.4 t ADT: 10

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: SO BRANCH FOREST RIVER

8 WEST 1 NORTH INKSTER, Grand Forks, ND

Built 1954 Load: 4.4 t ADT: 15

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: CREEK

9 SOUTH 3 EAST OF LEITH, Grant, ND

Built 1938 Load: 4.4 t ADT: 5

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: LITTLE SO. PEMBINA RIVER

2 SOUTH OF MT. CARMEL, Cavalier, ND

Built 1975 Load: 4.5 t ADT: 20

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: CREEK

8 SOUTH 3 WEST DUNSEITH, Rolette, ND

Built 1940 Load: 4.5 t ADT: 10

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: CREEK

6 EAST 2 NORTH PARK RIVER, Walsh, ND

Built 1975 Load: 4.5 t ADT: 30

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: CUT BANK CREEK

3 EAST 14 NORTH DEERING, McHenry, ND

Built 1935 Load: 4.6 t ADT: 5

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: WINTERING RIVER

4 EAST 4 NORTH KARLSRUHE, McHenry, ND

Built 1951 Load: 4.7 t ADT: 5

SECTION LINE TRAIL

Fair

Over: MID. BR. DOUGLAS CREEK

6 WEST 2 NORTH GARRISON, McLean, ND

Built 1938 Load: 4.8 t ADT: 10

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: WEST SNOWFLAKE CREEK

HANNAH, Cavalier, ND

Built 1963 Load: 4.9 t ADT: 59

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: WINTERING RIVER

3 EAST 2 SOUTH OF BALFOUR, McHenry, ND

Built 1955 Load: 4.9 t ADT: 25

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: CREEK

7 EAST 2 NORTH OF BLABON, Steele, ND

Built 1938 Load: 4.9 t ADT: 10

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: DRAIN DITCH

3 WEST 6 SOUTH OF GRAFTON, Walsh, ND

Built 1979 Load: 4.9 t ADT: 5

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: SLOUGH

1 WEST 1 NORTH OF TOWNER, McHenry, ND

Built 1934 Load: 5.2 t ADT: 5

COUNTY HIGHWAY 83

Fair

Over: HEART RIVER

4 SOUTH 7 EAST OF JUDSON, Morton, ND

Built 1945 Load: 5.2 t ADT: 30

Showing 1-50 of 4,255 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.

What to do with this

Use North Dakota's inventory picture to drill to a county or a specific span.

  • Browse counties in North Dakota 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. North Dakota 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.