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 SWEDEN RD

Good

Over: TWENTY MILE CREEK

0.7M W JCT USH 63, Bayfield, WI

Built 1990 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 102

IH I41 NB OFF RAMP

Good

Over: IH I41 NB ON RAMP FROM C

0.1M N JCT USH 41, Brown, WI

Built 1975 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 8,300

STH 172 WB

Good

Over: EAST RIVER

0.2M W JCT CTH XX, Brown, WI

Built 1982 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 42,350

LRD DALY DRIVE

Good

Over: SORENSON CREEK

0.1M E JCT CTH V, Brown, WI

Built 1979 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 1,527

IH 43 NB

Good

Over: LRD TOWN HALL RD

2.2M N JCT STH 96 TO E, Brown, WI

Built 1980 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 11,200

STH 29 - WALNUT ST

Good

Over: FOX RIVER

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

Built 1986 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 11,100

STH 29 - WALNUT ST

Good

Over: FOX RIVER

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

Built 1986 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 11,100

CTH EB

Good

Over: DUCK CREEK

0.3M N OF JCT STH 29, Brown, WI

Built 1998 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 8,500

CTH EB

Good

Over: DUCK CREEK

0.3M N OF JCT STH 29, Brown, WI

Built 1998 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 8,800

LRD CENTENNIAL CEN

Good

Over: THORNBERRY CREEK

AT THORNBERRY CREEK, Brown, WI

Built 2014 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 1,809

IH I41 SB OFF RAMP

Good

Over: ASHWAUBENON CREEK

USH 41 TO CTH F, Brown, WI

Built 2011 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 3,700

IH 41 NB TO STH 32

Good

Over: IH 41 & STH 32

IH 41/STH 32 INTERCHANGE, Brown, WI

Built 2014 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 8,500

IH 43 NB OFF RAMP

Good

Over: IH I41 NB

AT 41 NB, Brown, WI

Built 2015 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 13,000

CTH G

Good

Over: EAGLE CREEK

3.1M W JCT STH 95, Buffalo, WI

Built 1985 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 303

CTH J

Good

Over: TAMARACK CREEK

0.6M S JCT CTH D TO E, Buffalo, WI

Built 1994 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 217

LRD ACCOLA RD (DEA

Good

Over: PINE CREEK

0.1M W JCT CTH F, Buffalo, WI

Built 1993 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 10

STH 25

Good

Over: SPRING CREEK

3.5M N JCT CTH V, Buffalo, WI

Built 2002 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 2,700

LRD BAUER RD

Good

Over: HOLMES CR

0.2M N JCT STH 10 TO W, Buffalo, WI

Built 2003 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 117

LRD CHICKEN VALLEY

Good

Over: CHICKEN VALLEY CREEK

0.1M N JCT FRONTAGE RD, Buffalo, WI

Built 2005 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 766

CTH E

Good

Over: BR WAUMANDEE CREEK

1.9M E JCT CTH U, Buffalo, WI

Built 2005 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 439

CTH AA

Good

Over: WEISENBERG VALLEY CREEK

1.9M N JCT CTH K, Buffalo, WI

Built 2004 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 157

LRD PRONSCHINSKE D

Good

Over: SWINNS VALLEY CREEK

0.1M E JCT CTH C, Buffalo, WI

Built 2022 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 20

LRD LAKE WOOD DR

Good

Over: TRADE LAKE

0.3M N JCT CTH Z, Burnett, WI

Built 1989 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 113

LRD BAKKER RD

Good

Over: N FK CLAM RIVER

2.0M E JCT CTH H, Burnett, WI

Built 2019 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 100

USH 53 SB

Good

Over: DUNCAN CREEK

6.8M S JCT STH 40 TO N, Chippewa, WI

Built 1971 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 17,600

USH 53 N

Good

Over: DUNCAN CREEK

1.4M N JCT CTH B TO E, Chippewa, WI

Built 1971 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 17,600

STH 124

Good

Over: ONEIL CREEK

0.7M N JCT CTH V, Chippewa, WI

Built 1987 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 2,900

LRD 270TH STREET

Good

Over: CHAP CREEK

0.2 M N 120TH AVENUE, Chippewa, WI

Built 1992 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 175

LRD 220TH STREET

Good

Over: BIG DRYWOOD CREEK

0.2 M N CTH O, Chippewa, WI

Built 1997 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 80

STH 29 EB

Good

Over: PAINT CREEK

3.9M E JCT CTH J, Chippewa, WI

Built 1993 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 9,350

LRD 30TH STREET

Good

Over: BRANCH SAND CREEK

0.5 MILES NORTH OF CTH M, Chippewa, WI

Built 1994 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 140

STH 29WB

Good

Over: UP RAILROAD

1.7M W XING CTH P, Chippewa, WI

Built 2004 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 7,200

LRD 130TH ST (AEBL

Good

Over: STH 29

AT STH 29, Chippewa, WI

Built 2004 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 880

CTH P

Good

Over: STH 29

TOWN OF HALLIE, Chippewa, WI

Built 2001 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 2,800

CTH J

Good

Over: FREDERICK CREEK

2305" EAST OF 172ND STREE, Chippewa, WI

Built 2003 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 860

LRD CHILL ROAD

Good

Over: WEDGES CREEK

3.4M W JCT CTH G, Clark, WI

Built 1987 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 34

LRD ROBIN AVE

Good

Over: JACK CREEK

0.1M S JCT USH 10, Clark, WI

Built 1987 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 57

LRD PELSDORF AVE

Good

Over: S. FK. POPPLE RIVER

0.6M N JCT CTH N, Clark, WI

Built 1988 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 57

LRD BOBWHITE RD

Good

Over: E BR WEDGES CREEK

0.8M E JCT CTH G, Clark, WI

Built 1988 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 29

LRD RIVER AVE

Good

Over: BR BLACK RIVER

2.5M S JCT CTH N, Clark, WI

Built 1989 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 36

CTH X

Good

Over: N FK EAU CLAIRE RIVER

2.9M W JCT STH 73, Clark, WI

Built 1990 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 1,615

LRD OWEN AVE

Good

Over: JACK CREEK

1.2M S JCT USH 10, Clark, WI

Built 1989 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 107

LRD MILLER ROAD

Good

Over: JACK CREEK

1.8M S JCT USH 10, Clark, WI

Built 1992 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 58

LRD BACHELORS RD

Good

Over: S FK EAU CLAIRE RIVER

0.7M S JCT CTH MM, Clark, WI

Built 1994 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 222

LRD BALLARD RD

Good

Over: HAY CR

1.7M W JCT CTH Z, Clark, WI

Built 2009 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 103

CTH A

Good

Over: N FORK POPPLE RIVER

TOWN OF MAYVILLE, Clark, WI

Built 2000 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 978

CTH K

Good

Over: N BR ONEIL CREEK

0.6M S JCT CTH C, Clark, WI

Built 2001 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 569

CTH K

Good

Over: CUNNINGHAM CREEK

2.5M N JCT STH 73, Clark, WI

Built 2002 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 319

LRD SCHOFIELD RD

Good

Over: CAWLEY CREEK

0.5M W JCT STH 73, Clark, WI

Built 2003 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 79

STH 22-WASHINGTON

Good

Over: STH 16

3.4M N JCT CTH B, Columbia, WI

Built 1969 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 5,900

Showing 8,251-8,300 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.