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

CTH T

Good

Over: WOLF RIVER

0.9 MI SOUTH OF JUNCTION, Langlade, WI

Built 2022 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 341

LRD PHALZGRAFF RD

Good

Over: SQUAW CREEK

0.6M N JCT STH 86, Lincoln, WI

Built 2009 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 109

LRD PLEASANT RD

Good

Over: DEVILS RIVER

1.7M N JCT CTH Z, Manitowoc, WI

Built 2018 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 70

CTH R/RAPIDS RD

Good

Over: MANITOWOC RIVER

0.8M N JCT CTH CS, Manitowoc, WI

Built 2019 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 12,100

LRD LINDEN ST

Good

Over: SOUTH BRANCH CENTERVILLE

0.2 MI S JCT CTH XX, Manitowoc, WI

Built 2020 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 400

LRD HUCKLEBERRY RD

Good

Over: SCOTCH CREEK

1.7M E JCT CTH M, Marathon, WI

Built 2009 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 103

LRD HUCKLEBERRY RD

Good

Over: FENWOOD CREEK

0.9M W JCT CTH M, Marathon, WI

Built 2009 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 103

LRD PINE VIEW RD

Good

Over: PLOVER RIVER

0.9M E JCT CTH Y, Marathon, WI

Built 2012 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 111

CTH A

Good

Over: LITTLE RIB RIVER

2.6M E JCT STH 107, Marathon, WI

Built 2022 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 1,130

USH 141-MAIN ST

Good

Over: WAUSAUKEE RIVER

0.9M N JCT STH 180, Marinette, WI

Built 2014 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 6,100

LRD N 1ST RD

Good

Over: LITTLE PESHTIGO RIVER

0.5M N JCT CTH B, Marinette, WI

Built 2020 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 60

IH RAMP WN IH 94

Good

Over: IH 41/USH 45

0.5 MI E JCT STH 100, Milwaukee, WI

Built 2017 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 12,100

IH RAMP IH 41/USH

Good

Over: LRD UNDERWOOD PKWY

2.3M N JCT IH 894 (F), Milwaukee, WI

Built 2022 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 7,700

IH RAMP HAMPTON AV

Good

Over: MILWAUKEE RIVER

0.1M W JCT IH 43, Milwaukee, WI

Built 2023 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 6,400

LRD W LISBON AVE

Good

Over: CANADIAN PACIFIC RR

0.7M W JCT STH 57, Milwaukee, WI

Built 2014 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 13,100

LRD N 51ST BLVD

Good

Over: LINCOLN CREEK

0.6M N JCT STH 145, Milwaukee, WI

Built 2017 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 14,300

IH 43-NB PORT WASH

Good

Over: LRD GLENDALE AVE

0.9 MI N JCT STH 190, Milwaukee, WI

Built 2022 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 48,850

LRD NEBRASKA AVE

Good

Over: BR LITTLE LA CROSSE RIVE

0.3M W JCT STH 27, Monroe, WI

Built 2017 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 200

LRD DESOTO AVE

Good

Over: MILL CREEK

0.6M E JCT CTH M, Monroe, WI

Built 2019 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 15

STH 15 EB

Good

Over: BLACK OTTER CREEK

4.5M EAST US-45, Outagamie, WI

Built 2023 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 12,500

STH 15 WB

Good

Over: BLACK OTTER CREEK

6.4M WEST STH76, Outagamie, WI

Built 2023 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 12,500

CTH B / 295TH AVEN

Good

Over: TRADE RIVER

0.1M W JCT CTH Z, Polk, WI

Built 2023 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 411

LRD 100TH ST

Good

Over: BUENA VISTA CREEK

0.3M S JCT CTH FF, Portage, WI

Built 2022 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 100

LRD HALSTRAND RD

Good

Over: HOLMES CREEK

0.5M N JCT STH 86, Price, WI

Built 2009 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 106

STH 20

Good

Over: BR W BR ROOT RIVER CANAL

1.9 MI E JCT USH 45, Racine, WI

Built 2020 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 9,600

LRD MCAVOY HILL RO

Good

Over: LITTLE WILLOW CREEK

0.2M W JCT CTH NN, Richland, WI

Built 2021 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 25

CTH H

Good

Over: GAULT HOLLOW CREEK

0.1 M S JCT CTH I, Richland, WI

Built 2022 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 330

STH 26 NB

Good

Over: OTTER CREEK

3.5 MI. N STH 59, Rock, WI

Built 2013 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 13,900

STH 26SB

Good

Over: OTTER CREEK

0.2 MI. S OF CTH N, Rock, WI

Built 2013 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 13,900

IH 39 SB / IH 90 E

Good

Over: LRD KENNEDY RD & BIKE PA

7.6M E JCT STH 59 TO E, Rock, WI

Built 2021 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 29,625

LRD CASEY ST

Good

Over: UNNAMED DRY RUN TRIBUTAR

.1 MILE SOUTH OF CHAPMAN, St. Croix, WI

Built 2015 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 200

IH 94 WB

Good

Over: LRD 130TH STREET

5.3M W JCT CTH T TO N, St. Croix, WI

Built 2019 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 17,461

LRD 220TH AVE

Good

Over: WILLOW RIVER

0.5M E JCT USH 63, St. Croix, WI

Built 2017 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 100

LRD 130TH AVE

Good

Over: BR DRY RUN CREEK

2.1M E JCT USH 63, St. Croix, WI

Built 2017 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 160

LRD WILSON CREEK R

Good

Over: WILSON CREEK

AT WILSON CREEK, Sauk, WI

Built 2015 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 150

LRD BLUEBERRY AVE

Good

Over: CHIPPEWA FLOWAGE

0.4M W OF CTH H, Sawyer, WI

Built 2017 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 200

USH 45

Good

Over: GOEDE CREEK

500 FT W OF CTH J, Shawano, WI

Built 2018 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 3,200

CTH W

Good

Over: TRIBUTARY OF ONION RIVER

0.4 MI EAST OF JUNCTION W, Sheboygan, WI

Built 2022 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 1,060

LRD STATE ST

Good

Over: BLACK RIVER

0.3M S JCT STH 64, Taylor, WI

Built 2019 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 350

STH 97

Good

Over: BALDWIN CREEK

3.5M N JCT CTH F TO W, Taylor, WI

Built 2019 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 920

STH 102

Good

Over: SPIRIT RIVER

4.5M N JCT CTH C, Taylor, WI

Built 2020 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 390

CTH M

Good

Over: YELLOW RIVER

1.1M E JCT CTH G, Taylor, WI

Built 2019 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 350

CTH A

Good

Over: MCKENZIE CREEK

0.2M W JCT CTH T, Taylor, WI

Built 2019 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 235

LRD ELM AVE

Good

Over: TRAPPERS CREEK

1.2M E JCT CTH A, Taylor, WI

Built 2019 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 92

LRD QUARTER LANE

Good

Over: MONDEAUX RIVER

2.2 MI W JCT 4TH ST, Taylor, WI

Built 2019 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 80

CTH M

Good

Over: BR LITTLE BLACK RIVER

2.3 M E JCT STH 13, Taylor, WI

Built 2019 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 471

LRD HETLAND AVE

Good

Over: LEMKE CREEK

1.2M S. JUNCTION OF CTH M, Taylor, WI

Built 2022 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 58

LRD NORWEGIAN HOLL

Good

Over: NORWEGIAN HOLLOW CREEK

1.9M S JCT STH 56, Vernon, WI

Built 2009 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 82

LRD SOUTH AVE (DEA

Good

Over: HAY VALLEY CREEK

1.6M W JCT STH 131, Vernon, WI

Built 2011 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 20

LRD RUMMEL RD

Good

Over: WISCONSIN RIVER 57

1.2M W JCT USH 45, Vilas, WI

Built 2020 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 238

Showing 9,701-9,750 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.