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

LRD W RAILWAY ST

Fair

Over: BR SOFT MAPLE CREEK

0.1M W JCT CTH F-117, Rusk, WI

Built 1978 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 1,100

LRD STONEY HILL RD

Fair

Over: EMBARRASS RIVER

0.1M S JCT CTH D, Shawano, WI

Built 1914 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 120

UPPER BASS LAKE RD

Fair

Over: SQUAW CREEK

21 KM NW OF NEOPIT, Menominee, WI

Built 2007 Load: 44.1 t ADT: 50

CTH GG

Fair

Over: TORCH RIVER

3.5M S JCT STH 77, Ashland, WI

Built 1949 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 279

LRD BAIRD STREET

Fair

Over: EAST RIVER

0.1M S JCT STH 29, Brown, WI

Built 1984 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 13,268

CTH N

Fair

Over: TROUT CREEK

0.2 M W CTH HH, Chippewa, WI

Built 1991 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 1,035

STH 29 WB

Fair

Over: USH 53

AT USH 53, Chippewa, WI

Built 2005 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 14,150

LRD 195TH STREET

Fair

Over: PAINT CREEK

0.6 M S CTH X, Chippewa, WI

Built 2019 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 880

STH 29 E

Fair

Over: CTH D

1.0M E JCT CTH DD, Clark, WI

Built 1962 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 5,950

STH 29

Fair

Over: ROGER CREEK

1.3M E JCT CTH NN, Clark, WI

Built 1962 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 13,900

USH 10

Fair

Over: BLACK RIVER

2.5M E JCT CTH G, Clark, WI

Built 1993 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 3,200

LRD OLD SAUK RD

Fair

Over: TRIB TO LAKE WISCONSIN

0.1M E JCT STH 113, Columbia, WI

Built 1998 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 45

LRD FOX RIVER RD

Fair

Over: FRENCH CREEK

0.2M S JCT CTH CM, Columbia, WI

Built 1999 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 72

STH 16-STH 60-MANN

Fair

Over: CRAWFISH RIVER

0.3M E JCT STH 73 TO S, Columbia, WI

Built 2005 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 3,800

USH STH 73-USH B15

Fair

Over: CRAWFISH RIVER

0.3M N JCT STH 16, Columbia, WI

Built 2007 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 3,600

USH 61

Fair

Over: RICHLAND CREEK

4.0M N JCT STH 60 TO E, Crawford, WI

Built 1958 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 2,700

LRD SPENCER HILL R

Fair

Over: RICHLAND CREEK

0.2M W JCT USH 61, Crawford, WI

Built 2000 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 80

IH 94 EB

Fair

Over: LRD MISSOURI RD

1.2M E JCT STH 73 TO N, Dane, WI

Built 1963 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 19,150

LRD OLIN TURVILLE

Fair

Over: WINGRA CREEK

0.7M N JCT CTH MC, Dane, WI

Built 1988 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 3,451

USH 51 NB

Fair

Over: LRD TAYLOR ST

0.5M N JCT CTH MN, Dane, WI

Built 1992 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 9,250

LRD 6TH STREET

Fair

Over: LRD MILITARY RIDGE BIKET

0.1M N JCT GARFIELD ST, Dane, WI

Built 2001 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 177

LRD OLD MIDDLETON

Fair

Over: WISCONSIN & SOUTHERN RR

.1M N JCT OF OLD SAUK RD, Dane, WI

Built 2001 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 6,050

STH 73

Fair

Over: KOSHKONONG CREEK

3.2M N JCT USH 12 TO W, Dane, WI

Built 1934 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 4,200

LRD MICHIGAN STREE

Fair

Over: STURGEON BAY

1.0M N JCT STH 42, Door, WI

Built 1930 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 8,300

LRD MICHIGAN STREE

Fair

Over: STURGEON BAY

1.0M N JCT STH 42, Door, WI

Built 1930 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 8,300

CTH D

Fair

Over: E BR FOND DU LAC RIVER

0.2M S JCT USH 151, Fond du Lac, WI

Built 1989 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 3,200

LRD WAGGONER RD

Fair

Over: W BR PESHTIGO RIVER

0.6M S JCT CTH G, Forest, WI

Built 1989 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 91

IH 94 WB

Fair

Over: CRAWFISH RIVER

4.5M W JCT STH 26 TO N, Jefferson, WI

Built 1938 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 18,850

LRD 20TH ST WEST

Fair

Over: RYNEARS FLOWAGE

1.2M N JCT STH 21, Juneau, WI

Built 1991 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 112

CTH J

Fair

Over: FISH CREEK

0.1M N JCT CTH B, La Crosse, WI

Built 1989 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 789

USH 53 SB

Fair

Over: STH 35 NB/S. HOLMEN DRIV

2.6M S JCT CTH MH, La Crosse, WI

Built 1990 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 13,700

CTH DE

Fair

Over: BELL COULEE CREEK

1.9M E JCT CTH C, La Crosse, WI

Built 1990 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 316

CTH X

Fair

Over: BERGE COULEE CREEK

0.1M N JCT CTH P, La Crosse, WI

Built 1995 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 295

USH 10/WALDO BLVD

Fair

Over: LITTLE MANITOWOC RIVER

0.2M W JCT USH 10 TO N, Manitowoc, WI

Built 1934 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 13,800

STH 29 WB

Fair

Over: CTH J

2.6M W JCT CTH Q, Marathon, WI

Built 1990 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 7,900

LRD WUERTZBURG RD

Fair

Over: BIG EAU PLEINE RIVER

1.1M W JCT CTH F, Marathon, WI

Built 1984 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 267

CTH E

Fair

Over: PESHTIGO RIVER

2.6M N JCT STH 64, Marinette, WI

Built 1996 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 770

LRD W VLIET ST

Fair

Over: STH 175-STADIUM FREEWAY

1.7 MI W JCT STH 57, Milwaukee, WI

Built 1959 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 7,500

STH 57-GREEN BAY A

Fair

Over: BR MILWAUKEE RIVER

2.0M N JCT CTH PP, Milwaukee, WI

Built 1963 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 7,100

IH 41 NB/43 SB/IH

Fair

Over: LRD PARKING LOT BUS RAMP

0.9M S JCT STH 241 TO N, Milwaukee, WI

Built 1966 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 67,000

IH 794 EB

Fair

Over: STH 32/MILWAUKEE ST

0.9 MI E JCT IH 43, Milwaukee, WI

Built 1974 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 39,850

IH 794 WB-LAKE INT

Fair

Over: LAND

2.2 MI W JCT CARFERRY DR, Milwaukee, WI

Built 1974 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 17,900

IH RAMP IH 794 EB

Fair

Over: LRD S LINCOLN MEMORIAL D

3.2M E JCT IH 94, Milwaukee, WI

Built 1977 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 5,500

STH 794

Fair

Over: LRD E PRYOR AVE

0.2 MI N JCT STH 32, Milwaukee, WI

Built 1996 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 40,500

STH 794

Fair

Over: LRD E RUSSELL AVE

0.3 MI N JCT STH 32, Milwaukee, WI

Built 1996 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 40,500

STH 794 SB

Fair

Over: LRD CARFERRY DRIVE

3.4 MI E JCT IH 94, Milwaukee, WI

Built 1998 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 21,250

IH S-W RAMP IH 43

Fair

Over: IH E-S RAMP IH 794 WB -

1.8 MI N JCT STH 59, Milwaukee, WI

Built 2008 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 21,600

USH RAMP USH 141 S

Fair

Over: USH 41 SB

0.6M S JCT CTH E TO W, Oconto, WI

Built 1993 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 330

IH 41 NB

Fair

Over: FOX VALLEY RAILROAD

0.6M N JCT USH 10 TO E, Outagamie, WI

Built 1992 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 29,050

IH 41 SB

Fair

Over: FOX VALLEY RAILROAD

3.9M S JCT STH 47 TO N, Outagamie, WI

Built 1992 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 29,050

Showing 5,851-5,900 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.