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 CEDAR CREEK RO

Good

Over: BRANCH CEDAR CREEK

0.1 M E OF JACKSON DR., Washington, WI

Built 2022 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 30

USH 18 WB

Good

Over: WETLANDS

0.3 MI N JCT STH 59, Waukesha, WI

Built 2019 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 6,100

USH 18 EB

Good

Over: WETLANDS

2.9 MI S JCT USH 318, Waukesha, WI

Built 2019 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 7,800

CTH Q / COUNTY LIN

Good

Over: OCONOMOWOC RIVER

0.4M E JCT CTH E, Waukesha, WI

Built 2018 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 3,100

CTH C

Good

Over: LITTLE WOLF RIVER

0.2M E JCT CTH E, Waupaca, WI

Built 2014 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 537

LRD N. OAKWOOD RD

Good

Over: HONEY CREEK

.3 M S OF OMRO RD., Winnebago, WI

Built 2014 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 1,500

LRD WASHINGTON AVE

Good

Over: USH 10

1.0 MI EAST JCT STH 13, Wood, WI

Built 2010 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 1,800

STH 13S - CTH A

Good

Over: USH 10

AT CTH A, Wood, WI

Built 2011 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 10,700

LRD LYNN LINE RD

Good

Over: BR E FK BLACK RIVER

1.9M W JCT CTH V, Wood, WI

Built 2023 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 100

LRD FENCE RD

Good

Over: E BR BIG EAU PLEINE RIVE

0.8M W JCT CTH F, Marathon, WI

Built 2021 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 85

LRD CHESAK RD.

Good

Over: FENWOOD CREEK

1.4M W JCT CTH M, Marathon, WI

Built 1965 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 30

COAVER ROAD

Good

Over: LITTLE YELLOW RIVER

SEC 31 T19N R3E, Juneau, WI

Built 1993 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 1

LRD PIEPER RD (DEA

Good

Over: CHIPPEWA RIVER 32

2.4M S JCT CTH D, Ashland, WI

Built 2020 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 60

LRD SAWYER ST

Good

Over: UPPER RICE LAKE

0.6M E JCT MAIN AVE, Barron, WI

Built 2012 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 4,488

LRD 5TH STREET (DE

Good

Over: VANCE CREEK

2.6M S JCT CTH A, Barron, WI

Built 2022 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 45

STH 13

Good

Over: BOYD CREEK

2.1M N JCT USH 2 TO W, Bayfield, WI

Built 2020 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 7,417

USH 63

Good

Over: S FISH CREEK

2.4M N JCT STH 118, Bayfield, WI

Built 2020 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 1,700

CTH E

Good

Over: BRANCH OF MARENGO RIVER

5.2 M EAST OF STH 63, Bayfield, WI

Built 2017 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 541

LRD OLD HWY 63

Good

Over: EIGHTEEN MILE CREEK

OLD HWY 63, Bayfield, WI

Built 2019 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 100

CTH X S. WEBSTER

Good

Over: WISCONSIN CENTRAL LTD RR

1.6 M N JCT STH 172, Brown, WI

Built 2016 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 12,500

LRD WANEK RD

Good

Over: BR DEVILS RIVER

1.6M S JCT STH 96, Brown, WI

Built 2018 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 70

LRD CHANTEL ST

Good

Over: BEAVER DAM CREEK

0.4M S JCT STH 54, Brown, WI

Built 2023 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 800

CTH F (SCHEURING R

Good

Over: IH 41

1.3 MI W OF CTH D, Brown, WI

Built 2011 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 10,700

IH 41

Good

Over: ASHWAUBENON CR

AT ASHWAUBENON CREEK, Brown, WI

Built 2012 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 74,600

IH 41 SB

Good

Over: LRD 9TH ST

OVER 9TH STREET, Brown, WI

Built 2012 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 41,950

IH 41 NB OFF RAMP

Good

Over: LRD VELP AVE / USH 141

AT VELP, Brown, WI

Built 2015 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 11,700

IH 41 SB

Good

Over: WISCONSIN CENTRAL LTD

.4 MILES N OF JCT USH 141, Brown, WI

Built 2016 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 26,450

IH 41 NB

Good

Over: WISCONSIN CENTRAL LTD RR

.4 MILES N OF JCT USH 141, Brown, WI

Built 2015 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 26,450

USH 41 SB-USH 141

Good

Over: DUCK CREEK

10.9M S JCT CTH S, Brown, WI

Built 2016 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 34,800

CTH AA

Good

Over: SPRING CREEK

0.3M S JCT CTH F, Buffalo, WI

Built 2012 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 152

CTH U

Good

Over: HESCH VALLEY CREEK

0.2M S JCT CTH EE, Buffalo, WI

Built 2017 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 540

CTH M

Good

Over: BRANCH FISHER RIVER

2380 FT EAST OF CTH VV, Chippewa, WI

Built 2010 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 170

CTH XX

Good

Over: BR PAINT CREEK

0.6 M N 30TH AVENUE, Chippewa, WI

Built 2019 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 685

CTH T

Good

Over: BR ELK CREEK

0.2 M N JCT CTH S, Chippewa, WI

Built 2023 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 402

LRD MILL RD

Good

Over: BR NELSON CREEK

2.7M E JCT STH 73, Clark, WI

Built 2020 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 100

CTH K

Good

Over: LITTLE EAU PLEINE RIVER

0.6M W JCT STH 13, Clark, WI

Built 2020 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 672

CTH SS

Good

Over: MIDDLE BRANCH DUCK CREEK

2.9M N JCT CTH B, Columbia, WI

Built 2014 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 291

CTH U

Good

Over: PLUM RUN CREEK

2.0M N JCT CTH KK, Crawford, WI

Built 2018 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 56

IH 39 SB

Good

Over: LRD LIEN RD

1.1 MI. S OF USH 151, Dane, WI

Built 2010 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 54,500

LRD S. HIGH POINT

Good

Over: USH 12 / USH 14

AT USH 12 USH 14, Dane, WI

Built 2017 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 18,800

USH 51 SB (STOUGHT

Good

Over: CTH BB (COTTAGE GROVE RD

2.3 MILES NORTH OF USH 12, Dane, WI

Built 2016 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 23,100

LRD MILWAUKEE ST E

Good

Over: E BR STARKWEATHER CREEK

0.8M S JCT USH 151, Dane, WI

Built 2015 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 14,500

CTH PB

Good

Over: BRANCH OF SUGAR RIVER

AT SUGAR RIVER BRANCH, Dane, WI

Built 2014 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 8,400

LRD LAKE MENDOTA D

Good

Over: SHOREWOOD BOATHOUSE ACCE

0.8M N JCT CTH MS, Dane, WI

Built 2023 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 1,650

CTH A

Good

Over: FLYNN CREEK

2.8M W JCT CTH PB, Dane, WI

Built 2018 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 850

LRD VALLEY RD

Good

Over: SUGAR RIVER

1.0M W JCT STH 69, Dane, WI

Built 2023 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 100

LRD WINDSOR RD

Good

Over: YAHARA RIVER

0.5M W JCT CTH CV, Dane, WI

Built 2023 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 1,875

CTH D

Good

Over: USH 151

3.2 MI. S OF JUNC STH 33, Dodge, WI

Built 2012 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 2,300

LRD BOBOLINK ROAD

Good

Over: CPRS RAILROAD

1.0 M E JCT CTH G, Dodge, WI

Built 2021 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 100

LRD E COPPER MINE

Good

Over: OUNCE RIVER

4.3M E JCT CTH G, Douglas, WI

Built 2010 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 102

Showing 9,751-9,800 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.