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

STH 35

Fair

Over: KETTLE CREEK

2.2M N JCT CTH E, Crawford, WI

Built 1992 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 2,300

USH 18 EB-USH 151

Fair

Over: SUGAR RIVER

0.1M E JCT CTH G TO S, Dane, WI

Built 1991 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 12,350

CTH M

Fair

Over: USH 151

TOWN OF CHESTER, Dodge, WI

Built 1997 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 1,700

CTH T

Fair

Over: SHIVERING SANDS CREEK

5.8M N JCT STH 42, Door, WI

Built 1985 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 433

USH 12 WB-STH 25 N

Fair

Over: RED CEDAR RIVER

0.6M W JCT STH 25 (H), Dunn, WI

Built 1992 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 16,600

IH 94EB

Fair

Over: LRD 490TH AVE.

AT 490TH AVE, Dunn, WI

Built 2009 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 15,250

STH312 EB(OLD STH1

Fair

Over: CHIPPEWA RIVER

1.2M N JCT CTH F, Eau Claire, WI

Built 1992 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 12,450

USH 41 NB

Fair

Over: CTH F

3.0M N JCT STH 49, Fond du Lac, WI

Built 1953 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 15,500

CTH VV/ N PIONEER

Fair

Over: UNNAMED TRIBUTARY

0.1M S JCT CTH OOO, Fond du Lac, WI

Built 1974 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 4,200

STH 49

Fair

Over: BR FOX RIVER

2.7M N JCT CTH J, Green Lake, WI

Built 1957 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 3,400

USH 12

Fair

Over: ZAHRTE CREEK

0.8M E JCT CTH O TO E, Jackson, WI

Built 1931 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 840

CTH A

Fair

Over: IH 94

0.1M N JCT CTH B, Jefferson, WI

Built 1965 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 2,300

LRD ROCK RIVER RD

Fair

Over: BARK RIVER

0.3M S JCT STH 106, Jefferson, WI

Built 1977 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 1,500

LRD CHRISTBERG RD

Fair

Over: JOHNSON CREEK

3.8M S JCT CTH B, Jefferson, WI

Built 1985 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 103

USH 18

Fair

Over: KOSHKONONG CREEK

0.5M E JCT STH 134, Jefferson, WI

Built 2000 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 4,700

STH 106

Fair

Over: BR LAKE KOSHKONONG

1.0M E JCT CTH A, Jefferson, WI

Built 2001 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 1,300

CTH HH

Fair

Over: HOLTZLANDER CR

TOWN OF KILDARE, Juneau, WI

Built 2002 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 1,554

CTH W

Fair

Over: BR GALENA RIVER

0.3M W JCT CTH I TO S, Lafayette, WI

Built 1978 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 599

CTH B

Fair

Over: LITTLE MANITOWOC RIVER

0.9M N JCT STH 42, Manitowoc, WI

Built 1975 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 5,000

CTH LS

Fair

Over: POINT CREEK

0.8M N JCT CTH X, Manitowoc, WI

Built 2006 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 790

CTH N

Fair

Over: BR HAMAN CREEK

0.5M W JCT STH 97, Marathon, WI

Built 1998 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 754

CTH P

Fair

Over: HAMANN CREEK

1.5M W JCT STH 97, Marathon, WI

Built 2003 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 326

IH 794 EB (LAKE IN

Fair

Over: LRD N HARBOR DR

1.3 MI E JCT IH 94, Milwaukee, WI

Built 1974 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 20,000

IH RAMP IH 794 EB

Fair

Over: LAND

3.3 MI E JCT IH 94, Milwaukee, WI

Built 1977 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 5,500

IH S-E RAMP IH 43

Fair

Over: IH N-E RAMP IH 43 SB -

1.2 MI N OF JCT STH 59, Milwaukee, WI

Built 2008 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 7,600

LRD DOGWOOD AVE

Fair

Over: BRANDY CREEK

0.2M S JCT CTH N, Monroe, WI

Built 1980 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 293

STH 16

Fair

Over: SILVER CREEK

0.2M E JCT CTH A (E), Monroe, WI

Built 1936 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 2,400

STH 29-SPRING ST

Fair

Over: EAU GALLE RIVER

0.1M E JCT CTH B TO W, Pierce, WI

Built 1951 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 2,700

STH 11

Fair

Over: N BR PIKE RIVER

4.0M E JCT IH 94, Racine, WI

Built 1971 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 25,200

STH 36 WB/STH 83 S

Fair

Over: FOX RIVER

0.4 MI N CTH A, Racine, WI

Built 2007 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 2,800

STH 80

Fair

Over: HOOSIER CREEK

1.5M N JCT STH 193, Richland, WI

Built 1990 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 2,800

CTH C

Fair

Over: PINE RIVER

1.5M N JCT STH 80, Richland, WI

Built 1995 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 348

CTH C

Fair

Over: PINE RIVER

3.9M N JCT STH 80, Richland, WI

Built 1995 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 348

CTH B

Fair

Over: NORWEGIAN CREEK

1.8M E JCT STH 104, Rock, WI

Built 1974 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 525

CTH J

Fair

Over: S BR KINNICKINNIC RIVER

2.2M W JCT CTH T, St. Croix, WI

Built 1963 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 328

CTH X

Fair

Over: TRAVERSE VALLEY CREEK

1.8M W JCT CTH XX, Trempealeau, WI

Built 1998 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 446

USH 10-USH 53

Fair

Over: BUFFALO RIVER

0.2M E JCT CTH K, Trempealeau, WI

Built 1937 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 3,400

USH 45 SB

Fair

Over: LRD BEAVER DAM ROAD

0.9 MI S JCT CTH D, Washington, WI

Built 1989 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 9,250

CTH VV EB (SILVER

Fair

Over: MENOMONEE RIVER

1.5M E JCT CTH YY, Waukesha, WI

Built 1964 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 9,600

IH 43 NB

Fair

Over: LRD CALHOUN RD

1.6M N JCT CTH Y, Waukesha, WI

Built 1969 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 26,000

STH 175-APPLETON A

Fair

Over: BR MENOMONEE RIVER

2.3 MI N JCT USH 45, Waukesha, WI

Built 1971 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 10,500

STH 44-STH 91 E

Fair

Over: IH 41

1.0M N JCT CTH X, Winnebago, WI

Built 1993 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 16,100

LRD SPRINGBROOK RD

Fair

Over: SPRING BROOK

1.4M N JCT STH 21, Winnebago, WI

Built 1994 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 275

LRD 18TH AVE

Fair

Over: POKEGAMA CREEK

0.5M E JCT CTH M, Barron, WI

Built 1969 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 23

CTH Q (5TH ST)

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

0.1M E JCT CTH W, Dunn, WI

Built 1951 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 213

CTH I

Fair

Over: PINE CREEK

0.1M S CTH V, Eau Claire, WI

Built 1966 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 871

LRD KNUDSON RD (DE

Fair

Over: HALFWAY CREEK

0.3M N JCT CTH D, La Crosse, WI

Built 1972 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 20

LRD ZIMMERMAN RD

Fair

Over: BR OTTER CREEK

2.0M N JCT STH 81, Lafayette, WI

Built 1936 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 23

LRD CHERRY RD

Fair

Over: BR MILL CREEK

0.1M N JCT CTH G, Monroe, WI

Built 1925 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 94

CTH D

Fair

Over: RICE CREEK

2.1M E JCT STH 40-37, Rusk, WI

Built 1969 Load: 47.0 t ADT: 325

Showing 5,951-6,000 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.