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 CAMPUS DR

Fair

Over: LRD WALNUT ST

1.9M W JCT USH 151, Dane, WI

Built 1968 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 34,900

LRD BIRD ST

Fair

Over: USH 151

0.3M N JCT STH 19, Dane, WI

Built 1969 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 9,700

STH 138

Fair

Over: BADFISH CREEK

3.4M N JCT USH 51 TO N, Dane, WI

Built 1975 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 9,200

LRD SOUTH TOWNE DR

Fair

Over: USH 12/18-S BELTLINE

0.1M S JCT BROADWAY ST, Dane, WI

Built 1988 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 19,800

LRD BRIDGE ST

Fair

Over: BLACK EARTH CRK

0.3M N JCT CTH Y, Dane, WI

Built 1984 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 431

LRD FRENCHTOWN ROA

Fair

Over: SUGAR RIVER

0.5M W JCT STH 69, Dane, WI

Built 1989 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 343

USH 18 EB-USH 151

Fair

Over: SW MADISON COMMUTER BIKE

1.3M E JCT CTH PD, Dane, WI

Built 1994 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 25,400

IH 39 NB / IH 90 W

Fair

Over: LRD FEMRITE RD

0.6M W JCT USH 12 (A), Dane, WI

Built 1997 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 41,700

STH 19

Fair

Over: HALFWAY PRAIRIE CREEK

0.6M E JCT CTH KP TO S, Dane, WI

Built 1939 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 2,400

LRD BRIDGE ST

Fair

Over: E BR ROCK RIVER

0.1M E JCT STH 28, Dodge, WI

Built 1983 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 3,000

STH 42 - STH 57

Fair

Over: STURGEON BAY

1.9M N JCT CTH S, Door, WI

Built 1978 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 12,500

STH 42 - STH 57

Fair

Over: LRD MEMORIAL DR

1.9M N JCT CTH S, Door, WI

Built 1978 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 12,500

USH 53-E 2ND ST

Fair

Over: LRD HILL AVE

0.5M N JCT USH 2 TO W, Douglas, WI

Built 1962 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 17,000

USH 53 SB

Fair

Over: AMNICON RIVER

1.4M S JCT USH 2, Douglas, WI

Built 1980 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 3,850

STH 170-WHEELER ST

Fair

Over: RED CEDAR RIVER

0.6M E JCT CTH W, Dunn, WI

Built 1950 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 1,600

STH 79

Fair

Over: S FK HAY RIVER

0.7M N JCT CTH N, Dunn, WI

Built 1955 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 1,200

CTH E

Fair

Over: IH 94

1.3M N JCT USH 12, Dunn, WI

Built 1958 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 680

LRD 860TH ST

Fair

Over: UPPER PINE CREEK

0.2M N JCT CTH U, Dunn, WI

Built 1983 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 126

CTH Y

Fair

Over: LITTLE ELK CREEK

2.5M N JCT CTH C, Dunn, WI

Built 1985 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 537

USH 53 N

Fair

Over: LRD KEYSTONE CROSSING

0.6M N JCT IH 94 TO E, Eau Claire, WI

Built 1966 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 8,150

IH 94 EB

Fair

Over: CHIPPEWA RIVER OVERFLOW

5.0M E JCT CTH EE TO N, Eau Claire, WI

Built 1965 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 13,850

CTH D

Fair

Over: HAY CREEK

0.7M E CTH X, Eau Claire, WI

Built 1974 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 666

CTH AA

Fair

Over: USH 53

AT JCT USH 53-CTH AA, Eau Claire, WI

Built 1986 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 23,700

CTH B

Fair

Over: WEST CREEK

1.7M N CTH HH, Eau Claire, WI

Built 1987 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 461

CTH G

Fair

Over: PESHTIGO RIVER

0.3M S JCT USH 8, Forest, WI

Built 1979 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 629

CTH C

Fair

Over: LITTLE SUGAR RIVER

1.7M E JCT STH 69, Green, WI

Built 1978 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 1,600

CTH J

Fair

Over: BUCKSKIN SCHOOL CREEK

2.6M N JCT STH 81, Green, WI

Built 1965 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 809

STH 69 SB-STH 81 E

Fair

Over: STH 11

3.1M S JCT CTH FF, Green, WI

Built 1969 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 10,000

STH 59

Fair

Over: STH 11-STH 81

AT JCT STH 11, Green, WI

Built 1978 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 3,300

LRD FIVE CORNER RD

Fair

Over: RICHLAND CREEK

1.5M N JCT CTH P, Green, WI

Built 1984 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 144

STH 11

Fair

Over: SKINNER CREEK

0.1M E JCT CTH M TO S, Green, WI

Built 1998 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 5,500

STH 23

Fair

Over: PUCHYAN RIVER

1.1M E JCT CTH A, Green Lake, WI

Built 1966 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 7,400

LRD VALLEY RD

Fair

Over: GRAND RIVER

1.2M N JCT CTH X, Green Lake, WI

Built 1982 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 47

CTH X

Fair

Over: BR GRAND RIVER

0.4M E JCT CTH M, Green Lake, WI

Built 1924 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 250

USH 18 EB-USH 151

Fair

Over: CTH ID | S. JONES STREET

2.0M E JCT CTH T TO S, Iowa, WI

Built 1988 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 7,850

STH 23

Fair

Over: WISCONSIN RIVER 06

0.1M E JCT CTH C TO E, Iowa, WI

Built 1965 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 3,000

STH 39-MAIN ST

Fair

Over: BR E PECATONICA RIVER

0.4M E JCT CTH X, Iowa, WI

Built 1939 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 2,000

USH 2 EB

Fair

Over: MONTREAL RIVER

0.3M E JCT USH 51 TO S, Iron, WI

Built 1961 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 2,600

STH 77-WISCONSIN A

Fair

Over: W BR MONTREAL RIVER

5.7M E JCT CTH E, Iron, WI

Built 1981 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 2,700

STH 54

Fair

Over: DICKEY CREEK

0.9M E JCT CTH K, Jackson, WI

Built 1952 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 2,200

IH 94 EB

Fair

Over: CTH B

4.1M E JCT USH 10 TO E, Jackson, WI

Built 1966 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 12,350

IH 94 WB

Fair

Over: CTH B

6.5M W JCT STH 121 TO E, Jackson, WI

Built 1966 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 12,350

STH 121

Fair

Over: IH 94

2.7M E JCT CTH G, Jackson, WI

Built 1966 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 1,900

STH 71-STH 108

Fair

Over: BLACK RIVER

1.1M E JCT STH 54, Jackson, WI

Built 1985 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 3,300

LRD GARAGE RD

Fair

Over: HALLS CREEK

0.9M E JCT USH 12, Jackson, WI

Built 1982 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 87

LRD OLD STH 54

Fair

Over: INDIAN CREEK

0.8M W JCT STH 54, Jackson, WI

Built 1936 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 117

CTH F

Fair

Over: ROCK RIVER

3.9M N JCT IH 94 TO E, Jefferson, WI

Built 1950 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 5,000

IH 94 EB

Fair

Over: LRD ROCK LAKE RD

8.0M E JCT STH 73 TO N, Jefferson, WI

Built 1964 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 19,150

IH 94 EB

Fair

Over: ROCK RIVER

5.8M E JCT STH 89 TO N, Jefferson, WI

Built 1964 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 18,850

CTH F

Fair

Over: IH 94

0.5M N JCT CTH E, Jefferson, WI

Built 1963 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 6,888

Showing 2,251-2,300 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.