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-94/EMBDEN INTERCHANGE

6 EAST OF ND 38, Cass, ND

Built 2006 Load: 56.1 t ADT: 150

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: BIG COULEE

4 S 1 W CHURCHS FERRY, Benson, ND

Built 1995 Load: 56.2 t ADT: 25

ND HIGHWAY 18

Good

Over: FOREST RIVER

2 NORTH OF INKSTER, Grand Forks, ND

Built 2003 Load: 56.2 t ADT: 690

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: I-94/MAPLETON INTERCHNGE

8 EAST OF ND 18, Cass, ND

Built 2003 Load: 56.2 t ADT: 760

ND HIGHWAY 1806

Good

Over: HEART RIVER

1 SOUTH OF I-94, Morton, ND

Built 1976 Load: 56.2 t ADT: 7,360

COUNTY GRAVEL ROAD

Good

Over: MAPLE CREEK

2 EAST 1 NORTH OF EDGELEY, LaMoure, ND

Built 2014 Load: 56.4 t ADT: 50

ND HIGHWAY 60

Good

Over: WILLOW CREEK

14 SOUTH OF ND HWY 5, Bottineau, ND

Built 2002 Load: 56.6 t ADT: 500

81ST STREET

Good

Over: CREEK

6 NORTH 2 EAST SCRANTON, Bowman, ND

Built 2015 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 25

US HIGHWAY 2

Good

Over: BN RAILROAD

5 EAST OF TAGUS, Ward, ND

Built 2007 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 1,600

INTERSTATE 94

Good

Over: WEST VALLEY CITY INT

2 EAST OF ND 1 SOUTH-VC, Barnes, ND

Built 2000 Load: 57.1 t ADT: 4,150

87th St. SW

Good

Over: LITTLE MISSOURI RIVER

10 SOUTH OF MARMATH, Bowman, ND

Built 1997 Load: 57.2 t ADT: 25

ND HIGHWAY 32

Good

Over: CREEK

1 SOUTH OF ND 46, Ransom, ND

Built 1980 Load: 57.2 t ADT: 1,170

ND HIGHWAY 14

Good

Over: CREEK

2 NW OF TOWNER, McHenry, ND

Built 2003 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 510

ND HIGHWAY 16

Good

Over: LITTLE BEAVER CREEK

6 NORTH OF BEACH, Golden Valley, ND

Built 1976 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 310

25TH AVE.

Good

Over: CREEK

6 NORTH 14 EAST OF JUDSON, Morton, ND

Built 1993 Load: 57.4 t ADT: 10

US HIGHWAY 2

Good

Over: N. BRANCH TURTLE RIVER

2 EAST OF ND 18, Grand Forks, ND

Built 1979 Load: 57.6 t ADT: 2,035

US HIGHWAY 12

Good

Over: BNSF RR

NW OF GASCOYNE, Bowman, ND

Built 2001 Load: 57.7 t ADT: 750

ND HIGHWAY 19

Good

Over: SIX MILE BAY

7 WEST OF US 2, Ramsey, ND

Built 2001 Load: 57.7 t ADT: 1,320

INTERSTATE 29

Good

Over: TEXAS TURN

.9 NORTH OF I-94 - FARGO, Cass, ND

Built 2001 Load: 57.7 t ADT: 21,065

US HIGHWAY 85

Good

Over: Wildlife Crossing

16.5 SOUTH OF ND 23, McKenzie, ND

Built 2020 Load: 57.7 t ADT: 4,680

9th St. SW

Good

Over: CREEK

3 WEST OF GOLDEN VALLEY, Mercer, ND

Built 1940 Load: 57.8 t ADT: 5

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: CREEK

1 NORTH 6 WEST FT RICE, Morton, ND

Built 2001 Load: 57.8 t ADT: 75

COUNTY ROAD

Good

Over: CREEK

3 N 1 W OF TOWER CITY, Barnes, ND

Built 1983 Load: 57.9 t ADT: 45

ND HIGHWAY 44

Good

Over: I-29/HERRICK INTERCHANGE

3 SOUTH ND 66, Walsh, ND

Built 2004 Load: 57.9 t ADT: 700

ND HIGHWAY 46

Good

Over: CASS CREEK

2 WEST OF I-29, Cass, ND

Built 1986 Load: 57.9 t ADT: 1,480

ND HIGHWAY 5

Good

Over: BOUNDARY CREEK

7 EAST OF US HWY 83 NORTH, Bottineau, ND

Built 2002 Load: 58.1 t ADT: 730

ND HIGHWAY 21

Good

Over: CANNONBALL RIVER

3 EAST JCT US 85, Slope, ND

Built 1983 Load: 58.2 t ADT: 350

ND HIGHWAY 46

Good

Over: SHEYENNE RIVER

1 SOUTH OF KINDRED, Cass, ND

Built 1986 Load: 58.2 t ADT: 1,690

US 81/52ND AVE.STH

Good

Over: COOK COULEE

1 EAST OF I-29, Cass, ND

Built 2008 Load: 58.2 t ADT: 6,230

US 81/52ND AVE.STH

Good

Over: COOK COULEE

1 EAST OF I-29, Cass, ND

Built 2008 Load: 58.2 t ADT: 6,230

COUNTY ROAD

Good

Over: CREEK

1 S 1 W OF WATORD CITY, McKenzie, ND

Built 2021 Load: 58.3 t ADT: 92

US HIGHWAY 52

Good

Over: FULLER COULEE

5 NORTHWEST OF U.S. 2 W, Ward, ND

Built 1985 Load: 58.3 t ADT: 1,930

Bucyrus Road

Good

Over: CREEK

BUCYRUS, Adams, ND

Built 2007 Load: 58.4 t ADT: 50

INTERSTATE 29

Good

Over: 9TH AVE SOUTH SEPARATION

1.4 NORTH OF I-94 - FARGO, Cass, ND

Built 2002 Load: 58.4 t ADT: 21,065

INTERSTATE 29

Good

Over: BUFFALO COULEE

9 NORTH ND 200, Traill, ND

Built 1969 Load: 58.4 t ADT: 9,400

US HIGHWAY 2

Good

Over: TURTLE RIVER

5 EAST OF ND 18, Grand Forks, ND

Built 1979 Load: 58.5 t ADT: 2,155

ND HIGHWAY 22

Good

Over: ANTELOPE CREEK

11 SOUTH OF DICKINSON, Stark, ND

Built 1979 Load: 58.5 t ADT: 1,460

42ND ST SW

Good

Over: COUNTY DRAIN 27

0.5 MILE WEST OF I-29, Cass, ND

Built 2001 Load: 58.6 t ADT: 1,000

CMC 2615

Good

Over: CREEK

1.5 SOUTH OF RAUB, McLean, ND

Built 2015 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 35

127TH AVE SW

Good

Over: BULL CREEK

3 EAST 8 SOUTH BELFIELD, Stark, ND

Built 2021 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 20

ND HIGHWAY 5

Good

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

3 EAST OF I-29, Pembina, ND

Built 1967 Load: 59.1 t ADT: 290

ND HIGHWAY 6

Good

Over: SE BR-LITTLE HEART RIVER

1 EAST ST ANTHONY, Morton, ND

Built 1994 Load: 59.1 t ADT: 1,550

US HIGHWAY 81

Good

Over: ENGLISH COULEE

1 NORTH OF US 2, Grand Forks, ND

Built 2003 Load: 59.3 t ADT: 4,570

US HIGHWAY 281

Good

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK

7 NORTH OF ND 13, LaMoure, ND

Built 2006 Load: 59.4 t ADT: 1,625

ND HIGHWAY 200

Good

Over: FALKIRK HAUL ROAD

1 EAST OF US 83, McLean, ND

Built 2007 Load: 59.5 t ADT: 400

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: COUNTY DRAIN 14

2 EAST 2 NORTH DAVENPORT, Cass, ND

Built 2018 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 10

64 1/2 AVE SW

Good

Over: COYOTE CREEK

3 EAST 12 SOUTH OF ZAP, Mercer, ND

Built 2011 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 45

ND HIGHWAY 200

Good

Over: GOOSE RIVER

1 NORTH OF HILLSBORO, Traill, ND

Built 2006 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 1,135

BISMARCK EXPWY.

Good

Over: BN & CP RAILWAY

2 S 1 W OF I-94 EXIT 161, Burleigh, ND

Built 1985 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 8,000

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Good

Over: CREEK

1 EAST 2 NORTH EMBDEN, Cass, ND

Built 2015 Load: 59.7 t ADT: 10

Showing 3,551-3,600 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.