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 HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

14 EAST 4 NORTH FINLEY, Steele, ND

Built 1982 Load: 7.3 t ADT: 25

Elk Creek Rd

Fair

Over: CREEK

15 NORTH 8 EAST OF BEACH, Golden Valley, ND

Built 1950 Load: 7.4 t ADT: 10

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: ANTELOPE CREEK

3 WEST 1 NORTH OF HAZEN, Mercer, ND

Built 1948 Load: 7.4 t ADT: 10

116TH AVE SW

Fair

Over: CREEK

2 WEST 1 SOUTH SCHEFIELD, Stark, ND

Built 1970 Load: 7.4 t ADT: 20

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: CREEK

1 SOUTH OF HOPE, Steele, ND

Built 1937 Load: 7.4 t ADT: 34

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: PARK RIVER

4 NORTH 4 EAST OF ADAMS, Walsh, ND

Built 1914 Load: 7.5 t ADT: 15

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: ANTELOPE CREEK

2 NORTH OF DWIGHT, Richland, ND

Built 1924 Load: 7.7 t ADT: 20

SECTION LINE TRAIL

Fair

Over: EGG CREEK

6 EAST 5 SOUTH OF DEERING, McHenry, ND

Built 1932 Load: 7.8 t ADT: 5

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: CREEK

3 EAST 2 SOUTH OF NECHE, Pembina, ND

Built 1948 Load: 7.8 t ADT: 27

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: NORTH BRANCH GOOSE RIVER

5 NORTH OF PORTLAND, Traill, ND

Built 1930 Load: 7.8 t ADT: 30

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: ELM RIVER

2 EAST 1 SOUTH BLANCHARD, Traill, ND

Built 1967 Load: 7.8 t ADT: 20

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: WINTERING RIVER

3 EAST 6 NORTH KONGSBERG, McHenry, ND

Built 1936 Load: 7.9 t ADT: 25

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: CREEK

6 WEST 1 NORTH OF GRAFTON, Walsh, ND

Built 1970 Load: 7.9 t ADT: 26

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: RUSH RIVER

1 WEST OF AMENIA, Cass, ND

Built 1955 Load: 8.2 t ADT: 65

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: BIG MUDDY CREEK

5 EAST 1 NORTH GLEN ULLIN, Morton, ND

Built 1916 Load: 8.2 t ADT: 20

98th Ave. SW

Fair

Over: CREEK

3 EAST 7 NORTH GLADSTONE, Stark, ND

Built 1900 Load: 8.2 t ADT: 20

IRRSR COUNTY HIWAY

Fair

Over: CEDER CREEK

16 S 6 W ST GERTRUDES, Grant, ND

Built 1940 Load: 8.3 t ADT: 20

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: WILLOW CREEK

5 EAST 1 NORTH MOUNTAIN, Pembina, ND

Built 1946 Load: 8.3 t ADT: 5

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: COULEE/DRAINAGE AREA

2 EAST 1 SOUTH NEWBURG, Bottineau, ND

Built 1935 Load: 8.4 t ADT: 25

236TH ST SE

Fair

Over: LONG LAKE CREEK

3 SOUTH OF MCKENZIE, Burleigh, ND

Built 1950 Load: 8.4 t ADT: 60

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: WINTERING RIVER

1 EAST 2 SOUTH BALFOUR, McHenry, ND

Built 1942 Load: 8.4 t ADT: 25

COUNTY HIGHWAY 138

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE AREA

4 WEST 5 SOUTH GLEN ULLIN, Morton, ND

Built 1973 Load: 8.4 t ADT: 75

49th St (CR 137)

Fair

Over: HEART RIVER

9 SOUTH 3 EAST OF JUDSON, Morton, ND

Built 1945 Load: 8.4 t ADT: 78

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: BRANCH ELM RIVER

1 EAST 1 SOUTH CLIFFORD, Traill, ND

Built 1936 Load: 8.4 t ADT: 20

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: LITTLE SO. PEMBINA RIVER

3 WEST 1 SOUTH OF VANG, Cavalier, ND

Built 1958 Load: 8.6 t ADT: 24

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: SOUTH BRANCH GOOSE RIVER

16 EAST 2 NORTH PICKERT, Steele, ND

Built 1939 Load: 8.6 t ADT: 2

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: SHEYENNE RIVER

8 NORTH OF FORT RANSOM, Ransom, ND

Built 1930 Load: 8.7 t ADT: 24

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: ANTELOPE CREEK

2 WEST 3 NORTH MOORETON, Richland, ND

Built 1981 Load: 8.7 t ADT: 20

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: CREEK

5 WEST 6 SOUTH OF SHIELDS, Grant, ND

Built 1938 Load: 8.8 t ADT: 10

131ST AVE SW

Fair

Over: HEART RIVER

1 WEST 2 NORTH BELFIELD, Stark, ND

Built 1951 Load: 8.8 t ADT: 25

127th Avenue SW

Fair

Over: BULL CREEK

3 EAST 9 SOUTH BELFIELD, Stark, ND

Built 1958 Load: 8.8 t ADT: 26

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: MURRAY DRAIN NO. 17

4 EAST 5 SOUTH MAYVILLE, Traill, ND

Built 1963 Load: 8.8 t ADT: 20

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: CP RAILWAY

2 EAST 1 NORTH MAX, McLean, ND

Built 1928 Load: 9.0 t ADT: 25

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: INTERMITTENT STREAM

5 EAST 1 SOUTH MAYVILLE, Traill, ND

Built 1961 Load: 9.0 t ADT: 10

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: WILLOW CREEK

5W 2N OF WILLOW CITY, Bottineau, ND

Built 1935 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 25

63rd St SE

Fair

Over: Long Lake Creek

12 EAST 1 NORTH HAZELTON, Emmons, ND

Built 1952 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 24

89th Ave SW

Fair

Over: CREEK

9 SOUTH 3 EAST OF MOTT, Hettinger, ND

Built 1946 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 20

55th Avenue SW

Fair

Over: ANTELOPE CREEK

2 WEST OF HAZEN, Mercer, ND

Built 1979 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 10

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: DRAIN DITCH

2 NORTH 1 WEST WALHALLA, Pembina, ND

Built 1979 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 10

131st Ave SW

Fair

Over: NORWEGIAN CREEK

3 SOUTH 1 WEST BELFIELD, Stark, ND

Built 1971 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 24

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: BUFFALO COULEE

4 EAST 1 SOUTH BUXTON, Traill, ND

Built 1920 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 20

COUNTY TRAIL

Fair

Over: CUT BANK CREEK

7 SOUTH 2 WEST OF UPHAM, McHenry, ND

Built 1963 Load: 9.2 t ADT: 5

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: GOOSE RIVER

1 WEST 1 NORTH PORTLAND, Traill, ND

Built 1885 Load: 9.2 t ADT: 20

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: CREEK

9 SOUTH OF GRAFTON, Walsh, ND

Built 1933 Load: 9.2 t ADT: 2

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: CREEK

1 WEST 2 NORTH KATHRYN, Barnes, ND

Built 1920 Load: 9.3 t ADT: 5

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: CREEK

2 WEST 2 NORTH EDINBURG, Walsh, ND

Built 1955 Load: 9.3 t ADT: 10

13TH ST NW

Fair

Over: CEDAR CREEK

2 EAST 11 NORTH REEDER, Adams, ND

Built 1936 Load: 9.4 t ADT: 10

75th ST SW

Fair

Over: CREEK

3 SOUTH OF NEW LEIPZIG, Grant, ND

Built 1965 Load: 9.4 t ADT: 5

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: HAY COULEE CREEK

5 NORTH OF GRANVILLE, McHenry, ND

Built 1955 Load: 9.4 t ADT: 25

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: CREEK

2 WEST 1 SOUTH OF GRAFTON, Walsh, ND

Built 1915 Load: 9.4 t ADT: 24

Showing 101-150 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.