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 94 WB-IH 43 NB

Fair

Over: LAND

5.6M N JCT IH 894 TO W, Milwaukee, WI

Built 1968 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 78,000

IH 41 NB/894 WB-HA

Fair

Over: ROOT RIVER MARSH

1.1M W JCT STH 24 TO W, Milwaukee, WI

Built 1966 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 47,700

IH 794 WB-LAKE INT

Fair

Over: IH RAMP LINCOLN MEMORIA

2.3 MI W JCT CARFERRY DR, Milwaukee, WI

Built 1975 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 39,850

IH 794 WB-LAKE INT

Fair

Over: LRD CHICAGO ST

2.2 MI W JCT CARFERRY DR, Milwaukee, WI

Built 1975 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 39,850

IH RAMP BROADWAY S

Fair

Over: STH 32-MILWAUKEE ST

0.9 MI E JCT IH 43, Milwaukee, WI

Built 1974 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 4,910

IH RAMP IH 794 EB

Fair

Over: LAND

3.2 MI E JCT IH 94, Milwaukee, WI

Built 1977 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 5,500

IH RAMP IH 794 EB

Fair

Over: LRD E LINCOLN AVE

0.2 MI N JCT CARFERRY DR, Milwaukee, WI

Built 1977 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 5,500

IH 794 EB-LAKE FRE

Fair

Over: DOCK RR

2.5 MI E JCT IH 94, Milwaukee, WI

Built 1974 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 25,200

LRD WHITNALL AVE

Fair

Over: STH 794

0.3 M N JCT CTH Y, Milwaukee, WI

Built 1984 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 7,200

LRD S 92ND ST

Fair

Over: BR ROOT RIVER

1.0M N JCT CTH BB, Milwaukee, WI

Built 1990 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 2,100

IH 94 WB

Fair

Over: LRD ASPEN AVENUE

1.5M W JCT CTH EW, Monroe, WI

Built 1968 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 11,350

LRD LITTLE RICE DA

Fair

Over: LITTLE RICE RIVER

0.7M W JCT CTH Y, Oneida, WI

Built 2003 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 79

USH 10

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

0.1M E JCT CTH B TO S, Pepin, WI

Built 1994 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 2,800

LRD WINTER STREET

Fair

Over: KINNICKINNIC RIVER

0.2M W JCT STH 29, Pierce, WI

Built 1992 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 3,811

CTH CTY HH

Fair

Over: ROCKY RUN CREEK

1.1M E JCT CTH E TO S, Portage, WI

Built 2006 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 2,706

CTH D

Fair

Over: LITTLE ELK RIVER

1.5M E JCT STH 13, Price, WI

Built 1951 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 569

STH 4TH ST

Fair

Over: N FK FLAMBEAU RIVER

2.6M N JCT STH 70, Price, WI

Built 1973 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 7,300

STH 80

Fair

Over: HOOSIER CREEK

1.6M N JCT STH 193, Richland, WI

Built 1990 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 2,800

LRD FOOTVILLE-HANO

Fair

Over: STEVENS CREEK

0.1M W JCT CTH H, Rock, WI

Built 1990 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 235

CTH O

Fair

Over: DEVILS CREEK

1.3M W JCT STH 40--29, Rusk, WI

Built 1995 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 449

CTH O

Fair

Over: DEVILS CREEK

7.3M W JCT STH 40-33, Rusk, WI

Built 2001 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 449

CTH W

Fair

Over: SEELEY CREEK

2.0M E JCT CTH D, Sauk, WI

Built 1992 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 293

LRD POLISH ROAD

Fair

Over: MAPLE CREEK

0.5M N OF JCT W/STH 48, Sawyer, WI

Built 1996 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 480

LRD HAASE RD

Fair

Over: S BR EMBARRASS RIVER

1.2M S JCT CTH M, Shawano, WI

Built 1981 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 131

STH 32

Fair

Over: ONION RIVER

0.6M N JCT CTH A, Sheboygan, WI

Built 1990 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 2,200

CTH TA TAYLOR DRI

Fair

Over: SHEBOYGAN RIVER

0.1M N JCT CTH PP, Sheboygan, WI

Built 1985 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 7,250

USH 53-STH 121

Fair

Over: PIGEON CREEK

1.5M N JCT STH 121 TO W, Trempealeau, WI

Built 1994 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 4,150

CTH NN

Fair

Over: BR S FK BAD AXE RIVER

1.8M E JCT CTH N, Vernon, WI

Built 2007 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 104

STH 70

Fair

Over: LINK CREEK

2.6M E JCT USH 51, Vilas, WI

Built 1988 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 4,500

STH 36

Fair

Over: STH 11 & WHITE RIVER

5.7 M EAST OF STH 120, Walworth, WI

Built 2009 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 5,000

CTH A

Fair

Over: SOO LINE

0.5M W JCT STH 70, Washburn, WI

Built 1992 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 229

STH 59

Fair

Over: SAYLESVILLE CREEK

1.4 MI E JCT STH 83, Waukesha, WI

Built 1991 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 8,800

CTH JJ

Fair

Over: IH 94

0.7 MI W JCT CTH J, Waukesha, WI

Built 1994 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 6,200

IH 94 WB

Fair

Over: LRD CALHOUN RD

1.0 M W JCT CTH O/MOORLAN, Waukesha, WI

Built 2008 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 66,500

CTH C (MAIN ST)

Fair

Over: EMBARRASS RIVER

0.1M E JCT STH 22, Waupaca, WI

Built 1990 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 2,136

STH 161

Fair

Over: NACE CREEK

5.8M E JCT CTH T, Waupaca, WI

Built 1996 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 1,400

USH 10 WB

Fair

Over: WAUPACA RIVER

WAUPACA R., Waupaca, WI

Built 2002 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 7,950

LRD FISK AVE

Fair

Over: WEYHURST CREEK

0.2M E JCT CTH I, Winnebago, WI

Built 1977 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 221

IH 41 SB

Fair

Over: LRD GREEN BAY ROAD

4.6M S JCT STH 125 TO E, Winnebago, WI

Built 1994 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 46,550

IH 41 NB

Fair

Over: LRD GREEN BAY ROAD

0.4M N JCT STH 150 TO W, Winnebago, WI

Built 1994 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 46,550

STH 73

Fair

Over: LITTLE HEMLOCK CREEK

5.1M N JCT STH 186, Wood, WI

Built 1951 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 2,100

STH 186

Fair

Over: HEMLOCK CREEK

3.3M N JCT CTH C TO W, Wood, WI

Built 1967 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 2,000

LRD 8TH AVE

Fair

Over: DORITS CREEK

3.0M E JCT CTH F, Barron, WI

Built 1975 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 47

CTH JJ

Fair

Over: BEAR GRASS CREEK

0.3M W CTH V, Eau Claire, WI

Built 1956 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 256

LRD DIVISION ST

Fair

Over: E BR FOND DU LAC RIVER

0.1M W JCT USH 45. 0.3 MI, Fond du Lac, WI

Built 1981 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 2,500

LRD GARVIS COULEE

Fair

Over: BURNS CREEK

0.1M E JCT STH 162, La Crosse, WI

Built 1975 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 47

LRD TOM HILL RD

Fair

Over: SCOTCH CREEK

0.8M E JCT CTH H, Marathon, WI

Built 1967 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 90

CTH M

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

0.4M W JCT USH 12, Monroe, WI

Built 1980 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 316

CTH F

Fair

Over: BR LA CROSSE RIVER

2.2M W JCT CTH U, Monroe, WI

Built 1991 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 119

LRD POMMERENING RD

Fair

Over: NOISY CREEK

0.2M E JCT STH 17, Oneida, WI

Built 2001 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 194

Showing 5,801-5,850 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.