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 250TH ST

Fair

Over: HUTTON CREEK

1.7M N JCT CTH G, St. Croix, WI

Built 1967 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 60

LRD 80TH AVE

Fair

Over: BR CARR CREEK

1.0M W JCT CTH D, St. Croix, WI

Built 1962 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 225

CTH P

Fair

Over: DELL CREEK

0.5M E JCT CTH H, Sauk, WI

Built 1970 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 4,700

LRD BLAISDELL RD

Fair

Over: BRUNET RIVER

1.4M W JCT CTH GG, Sawyer, WI

Built 1940 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 195

LRD SUMAC RD

Fair

Over: MULLET RIVER

0.2M W JCT CTH PP, Sheboygan, WI

Built 1972 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 205

CTH LS

Fair

Over: PIGEON RIVER

4.5M S JCT CTH FF, Sheboygan, WI

Built 1974 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 1,400

LRD PIERZINA LANE

Fair

Over: NORTH CREEK

2.3M N JCT STH 95, Trempealeau, WI

Built 1975 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 20

CTH K

Fair

Over: BR BUFFALO RIVER

0.1M N JCT USH 10, Trempealeau, WI

Built 1926 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 336

LRD HERMANSON RD (

Fair

Over: WELCH COULEE CREEK

0.1M N JCT CTH N, Trempealeau, WI

Built 1963 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 20

LRD HAY VALLEY RD

Fair

Over: KICKAPOO RIVER

0.6M W JCT STH 131, Vernon, WI

Built 1966 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 47

LRD TRISTATE RD

Fair

Over: N FK BAD AXE RIVER

1.4M W JCT USH 14, Vernon, WI

Built 1976 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 205

LRD ANDERSON RIDGE

Fair

Over: S FK BAD AXE RIVER

1.6M W JCT CTH N, Vernon, WI

Built 1982 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 94

LRD PRAIRIE ROAD

Fair

Over: RUSH CREEK

2.3M E JCT CTH N, Vernon, WI

Built 1980 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 94

CTH K

Fair

Over: S CHIPMUNK COULEE CREEK

2.6M E JCT STH 35, Vernon, WI

Built 1973 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 2,278

CTH NN

Fair

Over: HORNBY CREEK

1.4M S JCT USH 14, Vernon, WI

Built 1968 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 618

LRD INDIANA ST

Fair

Over: MILWAUKEE RIVER

0.3M E JCT USH 45, Washington, WI

Built 1955 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 5,100

LRD SCHOOL SECTION

Fair

Over: SCHOOL SECTION CREEK

0.3M N JCT CTH D, Waukesha, WI

Built 1969 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 76

LRD CTH OO

Fair

Over: WHITCOMB CREEK

TOWN OF UNION, Waupaca, WI

Built 1964 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 119

CTH K

Fair

Over: BLAKE CREEK

0.4M N JCT CTH N, Waupaca, WI

Built 1965 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 244

CTH T

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

0.1M N JCT USH 10, Wood, WI

Built 1963 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 860

LRD SMOKY HILL RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE BEAR CREEK

0.1M S JCT CTH H, Wood, WI

Built 1966 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 80

CTH V

Fair

Over: ROCKY RUN CREEK

0.7M W JCT CTH E, Wood, WI

Built 1973 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 190

FR183

Fair

Over: IRON RIVER

4.0 M. S. JCT CTH GG, Ashland, WI

Built 1988 Load: 21.4 t ADT: 20

FR 2134

Fair

Over: RAT RIVER

7.8 MI N OF JCT CTH C, Forest, WI

Built 1962 Load: 21.4 t ADT: 50

CTH GG

Fair

Over: E FK CHIPPEWA RIVER

8.0M N JCT STH 70, Ashland, WI

Built 1948 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 289

USH 53 NB

Fair

Over: CHETEK RIVER

8.1M N JCT CTH M TO E, Barron, WI

Built 1972 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 6,000

STH 54-MASON ST

Fair

Over: STH 32 - ASHLAND AVE.

2.9M E JCT USH 41 TO S, Brown, WI

Built 1973 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 34,200

STH 54-MASON ST

Fair

Over: LRD CHESTNUT AVE

3.0M E JCT USH 41 TO S, Brown, WI

Built 1973 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 34,200

STH RAMP STH 54WB-

Fair

Over: LRD CHESTNUT AVE

3.0M E JCT USH 41 TO S, Brown, WI

Built 1973 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 5,500

STH RAMP ASHLAND-S

Fair

Over: LRD CHESTNUT AVE

3.0M E JCT USH 41 TO S, Brown, WI

Built 1973 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 6,200

STH 54-MASON ST

Fair

Over: RAMP STH 54WB-BROADWAY

3.0M E JCT USH 41 TO S, Brown, WI

Built 1973 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 38,800

STH 54-MASON ST

Fair

Over: LRD BROADWAY ST

3.2M E JCT USH 41 TO S, Brown, WI

Built 1973 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 38,800

STH 54-MASON ST

Fair

Over: CNW RR

3.2M E JCT USH 41 TO S, Brown, WI

Built 1973 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 34,200

STH RAMP STH 54WB-

Fair

Over: LRD BROADWAY ST

3.2M E JCT USH 41 TO S, Brown, WI

Built 1973 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 1,600

STH RAMP BROADWAY-

Fair

Over: LAND

3.2M E JCT USH 41 TO S, Brown, WI

Built 1973 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 1,600

STH RAMP BROADWAY-

Fair

Over: LRD BROADWAY ST

3.2M E JCT USH 41 TO S, Brown, WI

Built 1973 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 1,900

STH 54-MASON ST

Fair

Over: LAND

3.2M E JCT USH 41 TO S, Brown, WI

Built 1973 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 34,200

STH 54 WB & EB (MA

Fair

Over: FOX RIVER & PED. TRAIL &

3.4M E JCT USH 41 TO S, Brown, WI

Built 1973 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 38,800

STH 54 WB & EB (MA

Fair

Over: LRD ADAMS AVE

3.4M E JCT USH 41 TO S, Brown, WI

Built 1973 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 38,800

STH RAMP JEFFERSON

Fair

Over: LRD ADAMS AVE

3.4M E JCT USH 41 TO S, Brown, WI

Built 1973 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 2,600

STH RAMP JEFFERSON

Fair

Over: LAND

3.4M E JCT USH 41 TO S, Brown, WI

Built 1973 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 2,600

STH 54 WB & EB (MA

Fair

Over: PARKING LOT

0.7M W JCT STH 29 TO W, Brown, WI

Built 1973 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 34,200

STH 54 EB & WB (MA

Fair

Over: STH MADISON ST

0.6M W JCT STH 29 TO W, Brown, WI

Built 1973 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 38,800

STH 54 EB OFF RAMP

Fair

Over: PARKING LOT

3.5M E JCT USH 41 TO S, Brown, WI

Built 1973 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 2,200

STH 54 EB OFF RAMP

Fair

Over: LAND

3.5M E JCT USH 41 TO S, Brown, WI

Built 1973 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 2,200

STH 54 EB & WB (MA

Fair

Over: LRD MADISON ST

0.6M W JCT STH 29 TO W, Brown, WI

Built 1973 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 38,800

STH 54 EB OFF RAMP

Fair

Over: LRD MADISON ST

AT JCT STH 54-STH 57, Brown, WI

Built 1973 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 3,600

STH 54 EB & WB (MA

Fair

Over: STH MONROE ST

AT JCT STH 54-STH 57, Brown, WI

Built 1973 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 38,800

STH 54 WB ON RAMP

Fair

Over: STH 57-MONROE ST

0.5M W JCT STH 29 TO W, Brown, WI

Built 1973 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 2,300

STH 25

Fair

Over: MISSISSIPPI RIVER SLOUGH

1.5M N MINN STATE LINE, Buffalo, WI

Built 1955 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 4,500

Showing 701-750 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.