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

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: HAY COULEE

4 EAST 4 NORTH SURREY, Ward, ND

Built 1965 Load: 28.4 t ADT: 25

17TH AVENUE SW

Fair

Over: PIPESTEM CREEK

S. OF 2ND ST SW-JAMESTOWN, Stutsman, ND

Built 1992 Load: 28.4 t ADT: 300

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: NORTH MARAIS RIVER

11 EAST 8 SOUTH GRAFTON, Walsh, ND

Built 1985 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 65

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: MAPLE RIVER

3 WEST 3 NORTH OF ALICE, Cass, ND

Built 1979 Load: 28.6 t ADT: 20

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: COUNTY DRAIN 14

1 EAST 2 SOUTH MAPLETON, Cass, ND

Built 1991 Load: 28.6 t ADT: 20

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: TURTLE RIVER

2 EAST MEKINOCK, Grand Forks, ND

Built 1960 Load: 28.6 t ADT: 90

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: DRAIN DITCH

5 SOUTH 3 EAST CAVALIER, Pembina, ND

Built 1980 Load: 28.6 t ADT: 25

ND HIGHWAY 8

Fair

Over: DUCK CREEK

6 NORTH JCT. US 12, Adams, ND

Built 1960 Load: 28.6 t ADT: 520

ND HIGHWAY 13

Fair

Over: SMALL CREEK

2 WEST OF WAHPETON, Richland, ND

Built 1973 Load: 28.6 t ADT: 5,530

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF MAPLE RIVER

9 NORTH OF TOWER CITY, Cass, ND

Built 1965 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 80

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: SHEYENNE RIVER

2 WEST 3 SOUTH OF HARWOOD, Cass, ND

Built 1957 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 180

82nd AVE SW

Fair

Over: KNIFE RIVER

1 SOUTH 5 EAST MARSHALL, Dunn, ND

Built 1980 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 65

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: COULEE

2 SOUTH 7 EAST MEKINOCK, Grand Forks, ND

Built 1996 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 25

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: DRAIN

3 WEST 3 SOUTH MERRIFIELD, Grand Forks, ND

Built 1995 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 120

CR90

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE AREA

1 EAST 3 NORTH OF HEBRON, Morton, ND

Built 1967 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 150

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: SOUTH BRANCH GOOSE RIVER

14 EAST OF PICKERT, Steele, ND

Built 1979 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 110

TOWNSHIP ROAD

Fair

Over: PIPESTEM CREEK

2 WEST 1 SOUTH EDMUNDS, Stutsman, ND

Built 1978 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 25

ND HIGHWAY 16

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

14 SOUTH OF ND 68, McKenzie, ND

Built 1983 Load: 28.7 t ADT: 210

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: CUT BANK CREEK

1 EAST 2 SOUTH OF ECKMAN, Bottineau, ND

Built 1970 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 50

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: STONY CREEK

1 WEST 2 SOUTH BOWBELLS, Burke, ND

Built 1978 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 50

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: CREEK

1 WEST OF UNION, Cavalier, ND

Built 1975 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 15

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

3 WEST 3 NORTH OF MANVEL, Grand Forks, ND

Built 1978 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 40

COUNTY TRAIL

Fair

Over: DRAIN DITCH

1 WEST 4 SOUTH OF NECHE, Pembina, ND

Built 1948 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 24

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: CREEK

2 SOUTH OF GRAFTON, Walsh, ND

Built 1960 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 26

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: LONG CREEK

12 SOUTH OF WHEELOCK, Williams, ND

Built 1968 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 130

6TH AVE.N

Fair

Over: ENGLISH COULEE

6TH AVE.N GRAND FORKS, Grand Forks, ND

Built 1980 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 11,625

US HIGHWAY 10

Fair

Over: LEGAL DRAIN 40

45TH ST. & MAIN AVE., Cass, ND

Built 1931 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 21,900

ND HIGHWAY 23

Fair

Over: CREEK

5 WEST OF ND 73, McKenzie, ND

Built 1987 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 950

US HIGHWAY 85

Fair

Over: LITTLE MUDDY RIVER

1 SOUTH OF ND 50, Williams, ND

Built 2016 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 3,075

US HIGHWAY 5

Fair

Over: WILLOW CREEK

1 WEST OF U.S. HWY 281, Rolette, ND

Built 1947 Load: 28.9 t ADT: 1,350

ND HIGHWAY 8

Fair

Over: FLAT CREEK

SOUTH JCT. US 12, Adams, ND

Built 1959 Load: 28.9 t ADT: 1,730

ND HIGHWAY 18

Fair

Over: ELM RIVER

SOUTH OF BLANCHARD, Traill, ND

Built 1959 Load: 28.9 t ADT: 370

INTERSTATE 29

Fair

Over: COLE CREEK

2 SOUTH ND 15, Grand Forks, ND

Built 1969 Load: 28.9 t ADT: 9,800

US HIGHWAY 52

Fair

Over: WINTERING RIVER

WEST OF ND 14 NORTH, McHenry, ND

Built 1947 Load: 28.9 t ADT: 1,100

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: I 94-TAPPEN INTERCHANGE

5 EAST OF ND 3 SOUTH, Kidder, ND

Built 1958 Load: 28.9 t ADT: 250

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: LAKE METIGOSHE

10 NORTH 5 EAST BOTTINEAU, Bottineau, ND

Built 1998 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 250

136TH AVE. NE

Fair

Over: BURNT CREEK

8 NORTH OF BISMARCK, Burleigh, ND

Built 1970 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 35

136TH AVE NE

Fair

Over: APPLE CREEK

8 NORTH 2 WEST STERLING, Burleigh, ND

Built 1978 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 35

US HIGHWAY 85

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

5 SOUTH OF ND 23, McKenzie, ND

Built 1959 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 1,080

8TH AVE NORTHEAST

Fair

Over: CEDAR CREEK

7 NORTH 14 EAST HETTINGER, Adams, ND

Built 1979 Load: 29.1 t ADT: 45

184th St NE

Fair

Over: WEST BRANCH APPLE CREEK

2 EAST 10 NORTH MENOKEN, Burleigh, ND

Built 1980 Load: 29.1 t ADT: 25

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK MAPLE RIVER

2 WEST 1 SOUTH MONANGO, Dickey, ND

Built 2007 Load: 29.1 t ADT: 55

69th St SW

Fair

Over: HORSE HEAD CREEK

5 SOUTH 9 WEST HAZELTON, Emmons, ND

Built 1980 Load: 29.1 t ADT: 20

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: TURTLE RIVER

2 SOUTH OF MANVEL, Grand Forks, ND

Built 1965 Load: 29.1 t ADT: 215

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: CREEK

6 EAST 8 SOUTH OF GRAFTON, Walsh, ND

Built 1972 Load: 29.1 t ADT: 93

SECTION LINE TRAIL

Fair

Over: DES LACS RIVER

2 WEST 3 NORTH DONNYBROOK, Ward, ND

Built 1947 Load: 29.1 t ADT: 5

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: EGG CREEK

3 EAST 2 NORTH RUTHVILLE, Ward, ND

Built 1968 Load: 29.1 t ADT: 25

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF MAPLE RIVER

9 NORTH 2 EAST TOWER CITY, Cass, ND

Built 1967 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 70

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: CREEK

2 SOUTH 1 WEST KEMPTON, Grand Forks, ND

Built 1964 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 30

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: COLE CREEK

5 EAST 4 NORTH THOMPSON, Grand Forks, ND

Built 2018 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 60

Showing 1,001-1,050 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.