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

FR199

Good

Over: MORGAN CREEK

5.3 M. S. JCT CTH E, Ashland, WI

Built 1954 Load: 14.6 t ADT: 80

LRD WILLARD RD

Good

Over: YELLOW RIVER

0.3M E JCT CTH Y, Clark, WI

Built 1931 Load: 14.6 t ADT: 92

STH 54-STH 93

Good

Over: LITTLE TAMARACK CREEK

1.5M E JCT STH 35 TO S, Trempealeau, WI

Built 1951 Load: 14.6 t ADT: 7,900

CTH F

Good

Over: BIG BEAVER CREEK

0.3M S JCT CTH FF, Dunn, WI

Built 1976 Load: 14.6 t ADT: 238

LRD ROCK RD

Good

Over: BR SNOWDEN BRANCH

2.7M W JCT CTH D, Grant, WI

Built 1960 Load: 14.6 t ADT: 53

CTH B

Good

Over: BR SAUK CREEK

0.7M S JCT CTH D, Ozaukee, WI

Built 1950 Load: 14.6 t ADT: 194

FR131

Good

Over: ELK RIVER

13 M. NE PHILLIPS WI, Price, WI

Built 1961 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 60

CTH PB

Good

Over: W BR SUGAR RIVER

1.2M N JCT STH 69, Dane, WI

Built 1955 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 4,700

LRD OLD STAGE RD

Good

Over: BADFISH CREEK

0.7M W JCT STH 138, Dane, WI

Built 1966 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 188

LRD IBERIA AVE

Good

Over: LITTLE LA CROSSE RIVER

1.9M W JCT STH 27 TO S, Monroe, WI

Built 1968 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 94

STH 93

Good

Over: CHIMNEY ROCK CREEK

1.5M N JCT CTH VV, Trempealeau, WI

Built 1971 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 3,700

STH 56

Good

Over: W FK KICKAPOO RIVER

4.5M E JCT STH 82 TO E, Vernon, WI

Built 1965 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 1,200

STH 28-STH 144

Good

Over: STONY CREEK

1.5 MI N JCT STH 28, Washington, WI

Built 1940 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 5,200

CTH YY

Good

Over: WHITE RIVER

2.9M E JCT STH 22, Waushara, WI

Built 1983 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 606

LRD 29TH ST

Good

Over: TEN MILE CREEK

1.4M S JCT CTH D, Barron, WI

Built 1981 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 58

LRD GRANTON RD

Good

Over: N BR ONEILL CREEK

2.5M E JCT STH 73, Clark, WI

Built 1963 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 58

LRD HEINEMAN RD

Good

Over: BIG HAY MEADOW CREEK

1.0M E JCT STH 17, Lincoln, WI

Built 1971 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 119

LRD FOREST ROAD 21

Good

Over: N BR OCONTO RIVER

1.2M S JCT TAR DAM RD, Oconto, WI

Built 1973 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 155

LRD QUARRY RD

Good

Over: KINNICKINNIC RIVER

0.5M S JCT STH 65, St. Croix, WI

Built 1976 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 270

LRD CLEARVIEW RD

Good

Over: ONION RIVER

0.8M E JCT STH 57, Sheboygan, WI

Built 1966 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 47

IH 43 NB

Good

Over: LRD EVERGREEN RD

6.0M N JCT STH 83, Waukesha, WI

Built 1968 Load: 16.5 t ADT: 17,400

CTH H

Good

Over: SCHOOLHOUSE CREEK

2.8M N USH 10, Eau Claire, WI

Built 1955 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 358

CTH X

Good

Over: IH 94

0.6M N JCT CTH B, Jefferson, WI

Built 1964 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 1,150

CTH C

Good

Over: LITTLE EAU CLAIRE RIVER

2.3M E JCT CTH X, Marathon, WI

Built 1969 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 493

LRD MCCABE RD

Good

Over: APPLE CREEK

1.7M S JCT CTH UU, Outagamie, WI

Built 1966 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 47

STH 29-STH 35

Good

Over: GREENWOOD VALLEY CREEK

1.9M E JCT CTH MM, Pierce, WI

Built 1956 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 3,600

IH 43 SB

Good

Over: LRD EVERGREEN RD

1.2 MI S JCT STH 164, Waukesha, WI

Built 1968 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 17,400

CTH I

Good

Over: EMBARRASS RIVER

0.9M W JCT CTH Y, Waupaca, WI

Built 1950 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 306

CTH C

Good

Over: FLUME CREEK

1.2M W JCT CTH J, Waupaca, WI

Built 1952 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 555

LRD 21ST ST

Good

Over: BR RED CEDAR RIVER

1.6M S JCT CTH V, Barron, WI

Built 1960 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 88

LRD BACHELORS AVE

Good

Over: BR S FK EAU CLAIRE RIVER

2.1M S JCT CTH N, Clark, WI

Built 1961 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 58

LRD FRIESLAND RD

Good

Over: BR GRAND RIVER

0.3M S JCT CTH X, Green Lake, WI

Built 1928 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 47

LRD SIX MILE RD

Good

Over: SAUK CREEK

0.3M S JCT CTH D, Ozaukee, WI

Built 1962 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 105

LRD 220TH ST

Good

Over: DRY RUN CREEK

0.5M S JCT CTH G, St. Croix, WI

Built 1929 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 93

LRD THOMPSON VALLE

Good

Over: TURTON CREEK

0.1M S JCT STH 95, Trempealeau, WI

Built 1981 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 205

LRD NESS RD

Good

Over: LITTLE WOLF RIVER

1.3M N JCT CTH C, Waupaca, WI

Built 1960 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 55

LRD EAGLE RD

Good

Over: S BR YELLOW RIVER

1.8M N JCT USH 10, Wood, WI

Built 1976 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 175

LRD PARK RD (DEAD

Good

Over: AMNICON RIVER

0.1M W JCT CTH U, Douglas, WI

Built 1966 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 180

CTH H

Good

Over: N EAU CLAIRE RIVER

0.4M S CTH MM, Eau Claire, WI

Built 1954 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 350

LRD OLD LANCASTER

Good

Over: LITTLE PLATTE RIVER

0.8M W JCT CTH 81, Grant, WI

Built 1982 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 225

LRD HICKLIN HOLLOW

Good

Over: LANE CREEK

0.2M E JCT USH 18, Grant, WI

Built 2000 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 102

CTH X

Good

Over: PECATONICA RIVER

0.9M W JCT CTH J, Iowa, WI

Built 1969 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 330

LRD MEYER RD

Good

Over: IH 90-IH 94

2.5M W JCT CTH Q, Juneau, WI

Built 1964 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 120

LRD WOLF RD (DEAD

Good

Over: IH 90

0.2M S JCT CTH B, La Crosse, WI

Built 1968 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 40

STH 16 EB

Good

Over: LRD 12TH AVE

AT 12TH AVENUE, La Crosse, WI

Built 2006 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 18,000

STH 16 WB

Good

Over: LRD 12TH AVE

0.2 MI W JCT STH 157, La Crosse, WI

Built 2006 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 18,000

CTH X

Good

Over: HAY MEADOW CREEK

0.3M S JCT CTH J, Lincoln, WI

Built 1964 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 450

LRD CORTLAND AVE

Good

Over: IH 94

0.4M E JCT USH 12, Monroe, WI

Built 1968 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 430

LRD NELSON RD

Good

Over: BR SUGAR RIVER

3.8M S JCT STH 81, Rock, WI

Built 1958 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 117

LRD NELSON RD

Good

Over: BR SUGAR RIVER

2.1M S JCT STH 81, Rock, WI

Built 1957 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 117

Showing 6,151-6,200 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.