State profile · Near median Poor share

Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin.

14,446
Public bridges
51.0%
Good condition
6.5%
Poor condition

Wisconsin holds 14,446 public highway bridges (#19 of 52 by inventory) with a 6.52% Poor share (#23 of 52 by Poor share).

That is 6.5% 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 30 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

14,446

Public highway bridges in Wisconsin

Good Condition

51.0%

7,368 bridges rated 7-9

1.0pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

6.5%

942 bridges whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

-1.0pp vs national avg 7.5%

Wisconsin vs national bridge condition

Wisconsin - Good condition share 51.0%
National avg

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

Wisconsin - Poor-condition share 21.7%
National avg

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

Wisconsin 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: Wisconsin has 14,446 bridges and a 6.5% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #30 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 (%) WI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.52%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%ND, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 10.98%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%WY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 3.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.51%
Inventory size and Poor-condition share are different measures: Wisconsin has 14,446 bridges and a 6.5% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #30 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.

Wisconsin 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

14,446 19th of 54 higher than 35 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 Wisconsin

The highlighted point is Wisconsin: 14,446 bridges and 6.52% in Poor condition, rank #30 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The five jurisdictions immediately above and below Wisconsin on that same Poor-share ordering:

  • South Carolina: 9,490 bridges · 6.17% Poor
  • Wyoming: 3,136 bridges · 6.51% Poor
  • Wisconsin: 14,446 bridges · 6.52% Poor
  • Hawaii: 1,195 bridges · 6.53% Poor
  • North Carolina: 19,210 bridges · 6.76% Poor

The full national sortable table lives on the rankings page.

Material families in Wisconsin

Exclusive FHWA material families across all 14,446 bridges in this state; continuous variants fold into the parent family. Orthogonal to the Poor-share scatter above.

Who maintains Wisconsin’s inventory

State agency holds 37.0% of the 14,446 public highway bridges filed under Wisconsin in the 2024 NBI, the agency-of-record split for this state, not a condition verdict.

When Wisconsin’s bridges were built

Pre-1950 construction accounts for 8.5% of the 14,446 bridges with a recorded original year in Wisconsin. Era bands are orthogonal to the Poor-share ranking above.

Condition Distribution

Wisconsin51%42.5%GoodFairPoor
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix - Wisconsin (FHWA NBI)

Counties (72)

Adams 41 Ashland 84 Barron 319 Bayfield 103 Brown 466 Buffalo 238 Burnett 67 Calumet 62 Chippewa 359 Clark 296 Columbia 183 Crawford 211 Dane 590 Dodge 212 Door 32 Douglas 135 Dunn 245 Eau Claire 236 Florence 20 Fond du Lac 251 Forest 53 Grant 383 Green 244 Green Lake 48 Iowa 209 Iron 48 Jackson 218 Jefferson 182 Juneau 172 Kenosha 109 Kewaunee 93 La Crosse 249 Lafayette 217 Langlade 78 Lincoln 157 Manitowoc 269 Marathon 530 Marinette 135 Marquette 81 Menominee 25 Milwaukee 893 Monroe 374 Oconto 149 Oneida 61 Outagamie 290 Ozaukee 105 Pepin 57 Pierce 248 Polk 73 Portage 182 Price 104 Racine 133 Richland 298 Rock 304 Rusk 151 Sauk 271 Sawyer 97 Shawano 160 Sheboygan 240 St. Croix 298 Taylor 176 Trempealeau 260 Vernon 333 Vilas 29 Walworth 206 Washburn 49 Washington 162 Waukesha 369 Waupaca 169 Waushara 53 Winnebago 263 Wood 239

Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin on the same metric.

SC

South Carolina

6.17% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$9,490

WY

Wyoming

6.51% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$3,136
Selected

WI

Wisconsin

6.52% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$14,446

HI

Hawaii

6.53% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$1,195

NC

North Carolina

6.76% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$19,210

Bridges Needing Most Attention in Wisconsin

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

LRD CASBERG COULEE

Poor

Over: LONG COULEE CREEK

0.2M E JCT CTH V, La Crosse, WI

Built 1984 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 265

LRD IRR (ENSINGER

Poor

Over: BRUNSWEILER RIVER

0.7M E JCT STH 13, Ashland, WI

Built 1920 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 20

LRD N 50TH ST (DEA

Poor

Over: MENOMONEE RIVER

0.2M S JCT STATE ST, Milwaukee, WI

Built 1976 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 1

LRD PEDESTRIAN (WO

Poor

Over: MILWAUKEE RIVER

0.5M E JCT USH 45, Washington, WI

Built 1891 Load: 0.0 t

LRD ACCESS RD

Poor

Over: MENASHA CHANNEL

ACCESS TO PARKING LOT BY, Winnebago, WI

Built 1960 Load: 1.6 t ADT: 20

LRD MARKET RD

Poor

Over: BEAR CREEK

1.2M N JCT STH 76, Outagamie, WI

Built 1958 Load: 1.6 t ADT: 1,175

All Bridges in Wisconsin

IH 43 NB

Fair

Over: CTH KK

2.6 MI N JCT STH 33, Ozaukee, WI

Built 1974 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 15,400

LRD CENTRAL AVE

Fair

Over: APPLE RIVER

0.1M E JCT STH 46, Polk, WI

Built 1983 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 2,386

LRD CAMERON DRIVE

Fair

Over: APPLE RIVER

0.8M E JCT STH 46, Polk, WI

Built 1990 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 260

CTH C

Fair

Over: APPLE RIVER

0.1M W JCT CTH P, Polk, WI

Built 1993 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 900

CTH M

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

1.7M W JCT CTY HH, Portage, WI

Built 2007 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 636

STH 49

Fair

Over: HOLT CREEK

3.6M N JCT STH 66 TO W, Portage, WI

Built 1947 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 1,700

LRD DIVINE RAPIDS

Fair

Over: S FK FLAMBEAU RIVER

0.1M N JCT STH 70, Price, WI

Built 1988 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 220

LRD BALSAM ST

Fair

Over: S FK FLAMBEAU RIVER

0.2M E JCT STH 13, Price, WI

Built 1998 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 290

CTH G

Fair

Over: ROOT RIVER

0.4M E JCT STH 38, Racine, WI

Built 1996 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 5,900

STH 36 EB/STH 83 N

Fair

Over: FOX RIVER

0.4 MI N CTH A, Racine, WI

Built 2007 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 2,800

STH 58

Fair

Over: WILLOW CREEK

1.8M N JCT USH 14, Richland, WI

Built 1976 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 2,000

LRD WINDING WAY DR

Fair

Over: KNAPP CREEK

0.7M N JCT CTH W, Richland, WI

Built 1983 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 46

STH 171

Fair

Over: E BR MILL CREEK

0.9M E JCT CTH E, Richland, WI

Built 1990 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 460

CTH F

Fair

Over: BEEBE HOLLOW CREEK

2.3M S JCT CTH X, Richland, WI

Built 1992 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 136

CTH E

Fair

Over: BR MILL CREEK

0.1M S JCT STH 171, Richland, WI

Built 1994 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 440

STH EB STH 11

Fair

Over: LRD READ RD

1.0M E JCT CTH G, Rock, WI

Built 1989 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 9,550

STH 11

Fair

Over: STEVENS CREEK

2.1M E JCT CTH B, Rock, WI

Built 1992 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 4,800

USH 51

Fair

Over: SOO LINE RR

11.4M N JCT STH 81, Rock, WI

Built 1990 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 17,700

CTH I

Fair

Over: MAIN CREEK

1.3M N JCT CTH V-4, Rusk, WI

Built 2000 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 580

STH 65

Fair

Over: CNW RR

1.9M N JCT IH 94 TO E, St. Croix, WI

Built 1990 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 7,900

USH 12

Fair

Over: WILSON CREEK

2.4M E JCT STH 128, St. Croix, WI

Built 1996 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 1,600

IH 90 EB-IH 94 EB

Fair

Over: LRD SCHEPP RD

7.6M E JCT USH 12 TO E, Sauk, WI

Built 1961 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 19,750

IH 90 WB-IH 94 WB

Fair

Over: LRD SCHEPPS RD

6.1M W JCT STH 33 TO E, Sauk, WI

Built 1961 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 19,750

LRD STONEY HILL RD

Fair

Over: EMBARRASS RIVER

0.2M S JCT CTH D, Shawano, WI

Built 1995 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 303

STH 42-MADISON AVE

Fair

Over: PIGEON RIVER

2.6M N JCT CTH Y, Sheboygan, WI

Built 1983 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 6,300

CTH M

Fair

Over: SHEBOYGAN RIVER

0.9M N JCT CTH O, Sheboygan, WI

Built 1989 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 292

LRD PLAYBIRD RD

Fair

Over: PIGEON RIVER

0.3M E JCT STH 32, Sheboygan, WI

Built 1988 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 387

CTH A

Fair

Over: ONION RIVER

0.4M E JCT CTH KW, Sheboygan, WI

Built 1990 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 1,600

LRD ORIOLE LANE

Fair

Over: PIGEON RIVER

0.1M E JCT STH 32, Sheboygan, WI

Built 1995 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 5,375

CTH H

Fair

Over: JUMP RIVER

0.3M S JCT STH 194, Taylor, WI

Built 1999 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 656

USH 53

Fair

Over: ELK CREEK

0.5M N JCT CTH EE, Trempealeau, WI

Built 1987 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 2,400

STH 95

Fair

Over: TREMPEALEAU RIVER

0.3M E JCT CTH A, Trempealeau, WI

Built 1994 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 4,800

STH 93

Fair

Over: HOLCOMB COULEE CREEK

6.5M N JCT STH 35, Trempealeau, WI

Built 1998 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 4,100

CTH D

Fair

Over: BR S FK BEAVER CREEK

0.1M W JCT CTH DD, Trempealeau, WI

Built 1996 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 1,085

CTH X

Fair

Over: TRAVERSE VALLEY CREEK

3.1M W JCT CTH XX, Trempealeau, WI

Built 1999 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 446

CTH KK

Fair

Over: HASLEY CREEK

1.5M S JCT STH 162, Vernon, WI

Built 1988 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 217

CTH P

Fair

Over: SPRING COULEE CREEK

1.2M N JCT USH 14, Vernon, WI

Built 1991 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 510

USH 12

Fair

Over: WIS. SOUTHERN RR

0.3 MILES WEST OF STH59/8, Walworth, WI

Built 2005 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 6,200

LRD BONNIWELL RD/S

Fair

Over: CEDAR CREEK

1.5M W JCT CTH Y, Washington, WI

Built 1953 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 212

LRD CEDAR CREEK RD

Fair

Over: IH 41

0.6 MI E JCT STH 144, Washington, WI

Built 1995 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 720

CTH I

Fair

Over: BR MILWAUKEE RIVER

0.6M E JCT CTH G, Washington, WI

Built 2000 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 3,300

STH 59 EB

Fair

Over: FOX RIVER

0.5M E JCT CTH X, Waukesha, WI

Built 1974 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 9,800

STH 164

Fair

Over: BUGLINE TRAIL

0.2 MI N CTH VV (SILVER S, Waukesha, WI

Built 2006 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 18,000

STH 164 NB

Fair

Over: SUSSEX CR

0.5 MI N CTH VV (SILVER S, Waukesha, WI

Built 2006 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 9,000

USH 10 EB

Fair

Over: STH CTH F

1.0M E JCT CTH X, Waupaca, WI

Built 2001 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 10,600

STH 21

Fair

Over: IH USH 51-IH 39

AT JCT STH 21-USH 51, Waushara, WI

Built 1985 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 4,400

IH 41 SB

Fair

Over: LRD CECIL ST

0.6M S JCT STH 114 TO E, Winnebago, WI

Built 1969 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 39,350

IH 41 NB

Fair

Over: LRD CECIL ST

6.2M N JCT USH 45 TO N, Winnebago, WI

Built 1969 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 39,350

IH 41 SB

Fair

Over: MENASHA CREEK

2.7M S JCT STH 125 TO E, Winnebago, WI

Built 1992 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 52,000

LRD JACOBSON ROAD

Fair

Over: IH 41

TOWN OF MENASHA, Winnebago, WI

Built 2001 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 2,500

Showing 5,651-5,700 of 14,446 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 Wisconsin's inventory picture to drill to a county or a specific span.

  • Browse counties in Wisconsin 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. Wisconsin 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.