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

CTH B

Fair

Over: BR EAU GALLE RIVER

2.4M N JCT STH 128, Pierce, WI

Built 1952 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 560

STH 29

Fair

Over: CAVE CREEK

1.2M E JCT CTH BB, Pierce, WI

Built 1937 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 2,000

LRD BRIDGE ST

Fair

Over: APPLE RIVER

0.2M E JCT STH 46, Polk, WI

Built 2010 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 520

LRD MURPHY LAKE LA

Fair

Over: LITTLE ELK RIVER

0.2M S JCT CTH D, Price, WI

Built 1994 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 40

STH 80

Fair

Over: MELANCTHON CREEK

1.3M N JCT CTH C, Richland, WI

Built 1988 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 1,400

USH 51-CENTER AVE

Fair

Over: ROCK RIVER

11.5M N JCT STH 81, Rock, WI

Built 1990 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 17,700

CTH N

Fair

Over: RUSH RIVER

0.1M W JCT USH 63, St. Croix, WI

Built 1990 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 812

STH 23

Fair

Over: WIS RIVER OVERFLOW

0.8M E JCT CTH C TO E, Sauk, WI

Built 2005 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 2,900

LRD HEMLOCK RD

Fair

Over: M BR EMBARRASS RIVER

0.6M N JCT USH 45, Shawano, WI

Built 1985 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 158

LRD SEBRANEK LN (D

Fair

Over: WEST BR BARABOO RIVER

0.3M W JCT STH 33, Vernon, WI

Built 1993 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 10

LRD N RIDGE RD

Fair

Over: N FK BAD AXE RIVER

1.2M N JCT STH 56, Vernon, WI

Built 1999 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 84

CTH P

Fair

Over: RULLAND COULEE CREEK

5.5M N JCT STH 27, Vernon, WI

Built 2002 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 353

USH 12

Fair

Over: WHITEWATER CREEK

0.5 MILES WEST OF STH 59/, Walworth, WI

Built 2003 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 7,500

IH 41

Fair

Over: BR CEDAR CREEK

0.3 MI N JCT USH 45 NB, Washington, WI

Built 1975 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 36,800

STH 144-BARTON AVE

Fair

Over: MILWAUKEE RIVER

0.2M N JCT USH 45 TO N, Washington, WI

Built 1979 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 6,200

LRD WESTERN AVE

Fair

Over: IH 41

0.5M E JCT STH 175, Washington, WI

Built 1995 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 920

LRD SHERMAN ROAD

Fair

Over: IH 41

1.4 MI E JCT STH 175, Washington, WI

Built 1995 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 3,300

IH 41 NB

Fair

Over: LRD CTH K

1.8M N JCT STH 144 TO N, Washington, WI

Built 1994 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 16,500

STH 16 WB

Fair

Over: CTH E - NORTH AVE

4.1 MI W JCT CTH KF, Waukesha, WI

Built 1976 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 15,250

STH 16 EB

Fair

Over: CTH E - NORTH AVE

1.3 MI E JCT STH 83, Waukesha, WI

Built 1976 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 15,250

LRD WESTHAVEN DRIV

Fair

Over: SAWYER CREEK

0.1M S OF JCT WITZEL AVE, Winnebago, WI

Built 2002 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 5,200

USH 10 WB OFF RAMP

Fair

Over: USH 10 EB

AT USH 10E, Winnebago, WI

Built 2003 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 1,500

CTH H

Fair

Over: LITTLE BEAR CREEK

2.9M W JCT CTH S, Wood, WI

Built 1999 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 2,127

CTH U

Fair

Over: BR WAUMANDEE CREEK

0.3M N JCT CTH C, Buffalo, WI

Built 1961 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 390

LRD LEYKOM RD (DEA

Fair

Over: BR WAUMANDEE CREEK

4.3M E JCT STH 88, Buffalo, WI

Built 1978 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 10

CTH U

Fair

Over: YELLOW RIVER

0.8M E JCT CTH FF, Burnett, WI

Built 1970 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 759

LRD LAKE SHORE RD

Fair

Over: LAKE WINNEBAGO TRIB

0.2M W JCT USH 151, Calumet, WI

Built 1925 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 307

LRD LOWES CREEK RD

Fair

Over: LOWES CREEK

0.3M S CTH S, Eau Claire, WI

Built 1975 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 512

LRD SPORE RD

Fair

Over: APPLE BRANCH

1.2M W JCT STH 78, Lafayette, WI

Built 1967 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 88

CTH LS

Fair

Over: FISCHER CREEK

0.9M S JCT CTH X, Manitowoc, WI

Built 1949 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 580

LRD GOODRICH LANE

Fair

Over: FOX POINT CREEK

0.1M E JCT STH 32, Milwaukee, WI

Built 1962 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 470

LRD GOODRICH LANE

Fair

Over: FOX POINT CREEK

0.3M E JCT STH 32, Milwaukee, WI

Built 1962 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 587

CTH P - GLENDALE R

Fair

Over: BARABOO RIVER

0.1M E JCT CTH W, Monroe, WI

Built 1991 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 1,417

LRD 410TH AVE

Fair

Over: ISABELLE CREEK

0.6M E JCT CTH C, Pierce, WI

Built 1930 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 87

CTH C

Fair

Over: BR ISABELLE CRK

2.0M S JCT USH 10, Pierce, WI

Built 1990 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 1,648

LRD LARS HILL RD

Fair

Over: TIMBER COULEE CREEK

0.1M N JCT CTH P, Vernon, WI

Built 1981 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 11

LRD PLEASANT VIEW

Fair

Over: LITTLE SANDY CREEK

0.1M S JCT CTH Z, Marathon, WI

Built 1927 Load: 45.7 t ADT: 66

LRD WILSON-LIMA RD

Fair

Over: BLACK RIVER

1.0M E JCT CTH KK, Sheboygan, WI

Built 1934 Load: 45.7 t ADT: 40

LRD 250TH STREET

Fair

Over: BIG DRYWOOD CREEK

1.0 M N 117TH AVENUE, Chippewa, WI

Built 2011 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 215

USH 63

Fair

Over: MISSISSIPPI RIVER 10

AT MINNESOTA STATE LINE, Pierce, WI

Built 2019 Load: 46.7 t ADT: 11,000

WEST N STREET

Fair

Over: SUUKJAK SEP CREEK

W. N St. over Squaw Creek, Monroe, WI

Built 1994 Load: 46.7 t ADT: 200

LRD NORTHSIDE DRIV

Fair

Over: OCONOMOWOC RIVER

0.4M E JCT CTH E, Jefferson, WI

Built 1961 Load: 46.8 t ADT: 39

FR172

Fair

Over: FISHTRAP CREEK

4.8 M. W. JCT CTH GG, Sawyer, WI

Built 1985 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 20

USH 8

Fair

Over: RED CEDAR RIVER

0.1M E JCT CTH O, Barron, WI

Built 1973 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 7,700

STH 57 SB

Fair

Over: WEQUIOCK CREEK

1.0M S JCT CTH K TO E, Brown, WI

Built 1957 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 9,050

CTH M MAIN ST

Fair

Over: USH 53

0.6M W JCT CTH SS, Chippewa, WI

Built 1972 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 750

STH 40

Fair

Over: COMO CREEK

0.1M N JCT CTH A, Chippewa, WI

Built 1991 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 810

STH 29 EB

Fair

Over: USH 53

AT USH 53, Chippewa, WI

Built 2004 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 14,150

STH 178 NB

Fair

Over: CHIPPEWA RIVER

2.0 M N CTH J, Chippewa, WI

Built 2000 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 6,250

CTH D

Fair

Over: DU CHARME CREEK

0.1M E JCT STH 35, Crawford, WI

Built 1986 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 219

Showing 5,901-5,950 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.