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

Good

Over: I-29/WALLE SEPARATION

3 NORTH ND 15, Grand Forks, ND

Built 1967 Load: 33.1 t ADT: 100

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: SHEYENNE RIVER

1 NORTH 1 WEST HORACE, Cass, ND

Built 1992 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 175

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: DRAIN DITCH

2 WEST 4 NORTH MERRIFIELD, Grand Forks, ND

Built 1990 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 110

12TH AVENUE NORTH

Good

Over: RED RIVER OF THE NORTH

12TH AVENUE NORTH-FARGO, Cass, ND

Built 1988 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 2,400

5th Street NW

Good

Over: CHANTA PETA CREEK

18 NORTH 5 WEST HETTINGER, Adams, ND

Built 1980 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 70

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: BURLINGTON NORTHERN RR

BEREA, Barnes, ND

Built 1986 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 720

74TH ST SW

Good

Over: CHANTA PETA CREEK

13 S. 1 E. NEW ENGLAND, Hettinger, ND

Built 1979 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 50

COUNTY ROAD

Good

Over: JAMES RIVER

IN CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS, LaMoure, ND

Built 1985 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 60

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: CREEK

2 NORTH 4 EAST OF FLASHER, Morton, ND

Built 2006 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 25

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: PIPESTEM CREEK

WEST SIDE OF JAMESTOWN, Stutsman, ND

Built 1969 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 525

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: FOREST RIVER

1 NORTH OF FOREST RIVER, Walsh, ND

Built 2016 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 420

COUNTY ROAD 13

Good

Over: CREEK

2 N 1 W OF CHARBONNEAU, McKenzie, ND

Built 2022 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 435

30TH ST SW

Good

Over: RUSSIAN SPRING CREEK

4 EAST 6 NORTH DICKINSON, Stark, ND

Built 2021 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 80

ND HIGHWAY 18

Good

Over: CART CREEK

2 SOUTH OF ND 66, Pembina, ND

Built 1973 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 1,020

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: I-29/MERRIFIELD SEP

5 NORTH ND 15, Grand Forks, ND

Built 1968 Load: 33.5 t ADT: 675

U.S. HWY 83 BYPASS

Good

Over: CP RAILWAY

1 NORTH OF JCT 2 & 52, Ward, ND

Built 2017 Load: 33.5 t ADT: 5,600

SECTION LINE ROAD

Good

Over: CREEK BED

1 SOUTH 2 WEST BOTTINEAU, Bottineau, ND

Built 2016 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 10

26TH ST. NE

Good

Over: BURNT CREEK

2 NORTH OF BALDWIN, Burleigh, ND

Built 1979 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 35

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: BRANCH OF MAPLE RIVER

1 NORTH OF ENDERLIN, Cass, ND

Built 2014 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 20

130TH AVE SW

Good

Over: NORTH FORK CEDAR CREEK

11 SOUTH 12 EAST AMIDON, Slope, ND

Built 1993 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 50

109TH AVE SW

Good

Over: GREEN RIVER

5 NORTH 2 EAST DICKINSON, Stark, ND

Built 2018 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 20

DIVIDE AVENUE

Good

Over: HAY CREEK

NE BISMARCK, Burleigh, ND

Built 2014 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 2,225

STATE AVENUE

Good

Over: BROADWAY ST AND RAILROAD

STATE AVENUE, Stark, ND

Built 2016 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 4,000

42ND STREET

Good

Over: ENGLISH COULEE-LEGAL DR9

42ND ST-17TH AVE SO.-GF, Grand Forks, ND

Built 1995 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 4,750

COLUMBIA ROAD

Good

Over: ENGLISH COULEE DIVERSION

NORTH GRAND FORKS, Grand Forks, ND

Built 2003 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 220

INTERSTATE 29

Good

Over: COUNTY DRAIN 2

10 SOUTH OF ND 46, Richland, ND

Built 1973 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 5,600

SERVICE ROAD

Good

Over: PARK RIVER

3 NORTH OF ND 17, Walsh, ND

Built 1973 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 260

IRRFT COUNTY HIWAY

Good

Over: SHEYENNE RIVER

1 WEST 9 SO. FORT TOTTEN, Benson, ND

Built 2018 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 20

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: NORTH BRANCH GOOSE RIVER

14 EAST 2 SOUTH FINLEY, Steele, ND

Built 2004 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 10

COUNTY ROAD

Good

Over: GASSMAN COULEE

2 EAST 4 SOUTH BURLINGTON, Ward, ND

Built 1979 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 60

ND HIGHWAY 1

Good

Over: CREEK

2 NORTH OF ND 17, Ramsey, ND

Built 1993 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 450

ND HIGHWAY 18

Good

Over: TONGUE RIVER

3 NORTH OF ND 5, Pembina, ND

Built 1972 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 590

ND HIGHWAY 13

Good

Over: I-29/MOORETON INT

JUNCTION OF ND 13, Richland, ND

Built 1973 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 3,200

ND HIGHWAY 13

Good

Over: I-29/MOORETON INT

JUNCTION OF ND 13, Richland, ND

Built 1973 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 3,200

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: I-29/ST BENEDICT INT

6 NORTH OF ND 46, Cass, ND

Built 1972 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 640

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: I-29/HORACE INTERCHANGE

7 SOUTH OF I-94, Cass, ND

Built 1972 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 240

ND HIGHWAY 17

Good

Over: SOUTH BRANCH PARK RIVER

1 NORTH ND 17, Walsh, ND

Built 1976 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 800

U.S. 83 BYPASS W

Good

Over: COUNTRY CLUB ROAD

MINOT WEST BYPASS, Ward, ND

Built 2019 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 4,665

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: JAMES RIVER

15 E 2 N OF CARRINGTON, Foster, ND

Built 2004 Load: 33.8 t ADT: 20

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: CHARBONNEAU CREEK

7 S.1 E.OF CHARBONNEAU, McKenzie, ND

Built 2006 Load: 33.8 t ADT: 60

ND HIGHWAY 23

Good

Over: CHERRY CREEK

1 EAST OF WATFORD CITY, McKenzie, ND

Built 2015 Load: 33.8 t ADT: 4,775

COUNTY ROAD

Good

Over: GOVERNMENT CREEK

2 EAST 6 NORTH OF MEDORA, Billings, ND

Built 1986 Load: 33.9 t ADT: 300

99th St SW

Good

Over: Lightning Creek

11 SOUTH 6 EAST SCRANTON, Bowman, ND

Built 1987 Load: 33.9 t ADT: 25

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: RAYMOND COULEE

1 EAST 1 SOUTH PROSPER, Cass, ND

Built 1987 Load: 33.9 t ADT: 20

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: N ROCKFORD CANAL NR2-5

2 N 4 W NEW ROCKFORD, Eddy, ND

Built 1989 Load: 33.9 t ADT: 20

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: BONE HILL CREEK

3 WEST OF DICKEY, LaMoure, ND

Built 1997 Load: 33.9 t ADT: 135

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: WILD RICE RIVER

5 EAST 6 NORTH CAYUGA, Sargent, ND

Built 1991 Load: 33.9 t ADT: 80

3RD ST NE

Good

Over: RED RIVER OF THE NORTH

1 EAST OF CALEDONIA, Traill, ND

Built 2009 Load: 33.9 t ADT: 223

COUNTY ROAD

Good

Over: CREEK BED

1 EAST 3 SOUTH OF OMEMEE, Bottineau, ND

Built 2007 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 45

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: DRY FORK CREEK

9 EAST 10 SOUTH RAY, Williams, ND

Built 2013 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 335

Showing 2,751-2,800 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.