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 10TH AVE

Good

Over: FOUR MILE CREEK

1.4M W JCT STH 25, Barron, WI

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 108

CTH P

Good

Over: JOHNSON CREEK

1.2M S JCT CTH T, Barron, WI

Built 1994 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,616

LRD 17 TH AVENUE

Good

Over: BARKER CREEK

1.5M E JCT STH 25, Barron, WI

Built 1994 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 129

LRD 6 1/2 ST

Good

Over: VANCE CR

2 MI. W. CTY F, Barron, WI

Built 2004 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 79

LRD 26TH ST

Good

Over: POKEGAMA CR

AT POKEGAMA CREEK, Barron, WI

Built 2004 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5

LRD 18TH STREET

Good

Over: LOCAL DRAIN

1400 FT. S. OF 6TH AVE., Barron, WI

Built 2006 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 105

STH 25

Good

Over: BRANCH OF YELLOW RIVER

0.4 MI N JCT 18TH AVE., Barron, WI

Built 2013 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,200

LRD 23 RD ST

Good

Over: TILLER CREEK

0.1M S JCT CTH A, Barron, WI

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 70

STH 25

Good

Over: FOUR MILE CREEK

0.05 MI N N JCT CTH D, Barron, WI

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,200

LRD 19TH AVE

Good

Over: BARKER CREEK

0.4M E 20TH STREET, Barron, WI

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 99

CTH A

Good

Over: TOWNSEND CREEK

1.3M N JCT CTH B, Bayfield, WI

Built 1978 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 874

LRD LENAWEE RD

Good

Over: E FK CRANBERRY RIVER

6.3M E JCT CTH A, Bayfield, WI

Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 117

USH 63

Good

Over: BIBON CREEK

4.2M N JCT CTH D, Bayfield, WI

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,900

CTH "E"

Good

Over: NORTH FISH CREEK

1 M NORTH OF CTH H JCT., Bayfield, WI

Built 2005 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 301

STH 29-STH 32

Good

Over: LANCASTER BROOK

0.9M E JCT CTH FF, Brown, WI

Built 1955 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 33,800

USH STH 32 NB-USH

Good

Over: DUTCHMANS CREEK

0.15 MI N OF CTH YY (PILG, Brown, WI

Built 1956 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,500

USH 41 NB-USH 141

Good

Over: LRD RIVERSIDE DR. & SUAM

5.6M N JCT USH 141 TO S, Brown, WI

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 22,250

IH 41 SB

Good

Over: APPLE CREEK

2.4M S JCT CTH S, Brown, WI

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 26,700

LRD OLD STH 29

Good

Over: BR SUAMICO RIVER

0.5M W JCT CTH U, Brown, WI

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 113

STH 172 EB

Good

Over: DUTCHMANS CREEK

0.9M E JCT USH 41, Brown, WI

Built 1973 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 29,450

STH 172 EB OFF RAM

Good

Over: DUTCHMANS CREEK

AT JCT STH 32-172-B41, Brown, WI

Built 1973 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,800

STH 172

Good

Over: BIG CREEK

0.1M E JCT CTH V, Brown, WI

Built 1979 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 50,900

IH RAMP IH 43 SB-S

Good

Over: BOWER CREEK

0.8M E JCT CTH V, Brown, WI

Built 1979 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 19,100

CTH Z

Good

Over: EAST RIVER

0.6M W JCT STH 57, Brown, WI

Built 1976 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,100

STH 96

Good

Over: EAST RIVER

1.7M E JCT CTH D TO S, Brown, WI

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,700

LRD VAN LANNEN RD

Good

Over: BR KEWAUNEE RIVER

0.8M E JCT CTH P, Brown, WI

Built 1998 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 112

LRD HANSEN RD

Good

Over: DUTCHMANS CREEK

0.8M W JCT CTH AAA, Brown, WI

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,300

LRD BIG APPLE RD

Good

Over: BOWER CREEK

0.6M N JCT CTH X, Brown, WI

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 58

LRD BIG CREEK RD

Good

Over: SORENSONS CREEK

0.6M E JCT STH 29, Brown, WI

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 16

LRD EAST FRONTAGE

Good

Over: ASHWAUBENON CREEK

2.2M N JCT CTH F, Brown, WI

Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,200

LRD MALONEY RD

Good

Over: WEQUIOCK CREEK

0.1 MI SOUTH OF STH 54, Brown, WI

Built 1999 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 238

STH 57

Good

Over: WEQUOICK CREEK

1.0M N JCT STH 54 TO E, Brown, WI

Built 1999 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 18,100

LRD FAIR ROAD

Good

Over: EAST RIVER

1.7M W JCT STH 57, Brown, WI

Built 1995 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 94

CTH G

Good

Over: EAST RIVER

0.4M W JCT CTH GV, Brown, WI

Built 2001 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 9,700

CTH O (ALLOUEZ AVE

Good

Over: WILLOW CREEK

0.2M EAST OF CTH XX, Brown, WI

Built 2005 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,500

LRD BUNKER HILL RO

Good

Over: BRANCH OF EAST RIVER

0.3M SOUTH OF STH 96, Brown, WI

Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 112

CTH V

Good

Over: WILLOW CREEK

0.3M N JCT CTH O, Brown, WI

Built 2003 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,200

CTH V - LIMEKILN R

Good

Over: TRIB-WILLOW CREEK

0.2M NORTH OF CTH JJ, Brown, WI

Built 2004 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 11,000

LRD S. HURON ROAD

Good

Over: TRIB. TO SPRING CREEK

0.3M NOF CTH - JJ, Brown, WI

Built 2005 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,000

CTH H - BROADWAY S

Good

Over: ASHWAUBENON CR

1.3M N JCT STH 32, Brown, WI

Built 2011 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,100

CTH GV/MONROE RD.

Good

Over: EAST RIVER TRIBUTARY

1.4 MI S JCT STH 172, Brown, WI

Built 2012 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 14,900

CTH GV/MONROE RD.

Good

Over: EAST RIVER TRIBUTARY

1.1 MI S JCT STH 172, Brown, WI

Built 2012 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 14,900

CTH GV/MONROE RD.

Good

Over: BOWER CREEK TRIBUTARY

0.8 MI S JCT STH 172, Brown, WI

Built 2012 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 14,900

CTH JJ

Good

Over: BAIRDS CREEK TRIBUTARY

1.4M E JCT CTH QQ, Brown, WI

Built 2013 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 750

CTH G

Good

Over: BOWER CREEK TRIBUTARY

100 N OF PINE GROVE ROAD, Brown, WI

Built 2012 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,300

CTH T

Good

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

3.8 MI S JCT STH 29, Brown, WI

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1

STH OLD STH 29/ ST

Good

Over: WEST BRANCH OF SUAMICO R

0.2M SE STH 156/CTH W, Brown, WI

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,700

LRD PINE GROVE ROA

Good

Over: BOWERS CREEK

0.8 MI E JCT CTH G, Brown, WI

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 500

LRD CREAMERY ROAD

Good

Over: BRANCH EAST RIVER

0.3 MILES NE OF CTH X, Brown, WI

Built 2018 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 500

LRD MANITOWOC ROAD

Good

Over: SPRING CREEK

0.5M SOUTH OF JCT CTH JJ, Brown, WI

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,100

Showing 7,101-7,150 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.