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 BEACH RD

Fair

Over: IH 43-STH 32

0.5M E JCT CTH LL, Ozaukee, WI

Built 1974 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 230

LRD SILVER BEACH R

Fair

Over: IH 43-STH 32

0.2M E JCT CTH LL, Ozaukee, WI

Built 1974 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 95

IH 43 NB-STH 32 NB

Fair

Over: LRD JAY RD

2.1 MI N JCT CTH D, Ozaukee, WI

Built 1974 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 12,500

CTH D

Fair

Over: ARKANSAW CREEK

0.1M E JCT CTH N, Pepin, WI

Built 1961 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 446

CTH P

Fair

Over: EAU GALLE RIVER

0.1M W JCT CTH O, Pepin, WI

Built 1979 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 897

STH 72

Fair

Over: LOST CREEK

1.6M E JCT USH 63 TO N, Pierce, WI

Built 1956 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 1,200

STH 65

Fair

Over: SOO LINE

0.8M N JCT CTH K, Polk, WI

Built 1960 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 1,700

CTH A

Fair

Over: BR WILLOW RIVER

0.4M W JCT CTH PP, Polk, WI

Built 1979 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 1,519

LRD EVERGREEN AVE

Fair

Over: TRADE RIVER

5.3M W JCT STH 87, Polk, WI

Built 1985 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 189

IH USH 51 -IH 39 N

Fair

Over: FOURMILE CREEK

3.4M N JCT CTH W, Portage, WI

Built 1962 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 14,600

USH STH 54-USH B51

Fair

Over: IH USH 51-IH 39

0.2M N JCT USH 51, Portage, WI

Built 1969 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 4,300

IH USH51-IH39NB

Fair

Over: CTH B

1.8M N JCT STH 54 TO E, Portage, WI

Built 1969 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 24,620

IH USH51-IH39SB

Fair

Over: CTH B

4.8M S JCT USH 10 TO E, Portage, WI

Built 1969 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 24,620

IH USH51-IH39 NB

Fair

Over: FV&W RR

2.0M N JCT STH 54 TO E, Portage, WI

Built 1969 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 11,050

STH 66-MAIN ST.

Fair

Over: PLOVER RIVER

0.4M E JCT CTH YY, Portage, WI

Built 1926 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 19,200

IH USH51-IH39SB

Fair

Over: DUCK CREEK

6.7M S JCT STH 54 TO E, Portage, WI

Built 1979 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 13,000

IH USH51-IH39(SB)

Fair

Over: FOURMILE CREEK

5.3M S JCT STH 54 TO E, Portage, WI

Built 1979 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 14,600

IH USH51-IH39 (SB)

Fair

Over: DITCH NO. 8

4.2M S JCT STH 54 TO E, Portage, WI

Built 1978 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 14,600

IH USH51-IH39SB

Fair

Over: BUENA VISTA CREEK

3.2M S JCT STH 54 TO E, Portage, WI

Built 1978 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 14,600

CTH DB

Fair

Over: IH USH 51-IH 39

0.7M S MARATHON CO LINE, Portage, WI

Built 1972 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 1,200

CTH D

Fair

Over: LITTLE ELK RIVER

2.2M W JCT CTH H, Price, WI

Built 1950 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 472

CTH N

Fair

Over: N FK JUMP RIVER

7.1M N JCT CTH D, Price, WI

Built 1980 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 144

CTH N

Fair

Over: S FK JUMP RIVER

4.8M N JCT CTH D, Price, WI

Built 1989 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 144

STH 36/STH 83 SB

Fair

Over: WIND LAKE DRAINAGE CANAL

0.4M N JCT CTH D, Racine, WI

Built 1967 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 6,800

CTH G

Fair

Over: BR CAMP CREEK

0.3M S JCT STH 56, Richland, WI

Built 1962 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 239

CTH Z

Fair

Over: BR FANCY CREEK

1.3M S JCT STH 56, Richland, WI

Built 1964 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 110

STH 131

Fair

Over: KICKAPOO RIVER

3.4M N JCT STH 56 TO E, Richland, WI

Built 1975 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 1,100

STH 80

Fair

Over: PINE RIVER

1.5M N JCT CTH I, Richland, WI

Built 1976 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 1,300

LRD WILLOW CREEK D

Fair

Over: WILLOW CREEK

0.3M W JCT STH 58, Richland, WI

Built 1979 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 380

CTH H

Fair

Over: FANCY CREEK

0.2M N JCT STH 56, Richland, WI

Built 1983 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 60

CTH D

Fair

Over: W BR PINE RIVER

0.6M N JCT STH 80, Richland, WI

Built 1983 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 330

CTH Q

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

0.1M E JCT CTH E, Richland, WI

Built 1986 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 320

CTH M

Fair

Over: ROCK RIVER

0.1M S JCT CTH F TO N, Rock, WI

Built 1956 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 1,413

IH 43 NB

Fair

Over: LRD CARVERS ROCK RD

1.8M N JCT STH 140 TO N, Rock, WI

Built 1975 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 9,400

IH 43 SB

Fair

Over: LRD CARVERS ROCK RD

6.7M S JCT USH 14 TO W, Rock, WI

Built 1975 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 9,400

LRD HANKE RD

Fair

Over: BLACKHAWK CREEK

0.6M N JCT CTH MM, Rock, WI

Built 1978 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 58

LRD EMERALD GROVE

Fair

Over: BR BLACKHAWK CREEK

0.1M S JCT USH 14, Rock, WI

Built 1993 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 376

CTH A

Fair

Over: STEVENS CREEK

3.2M W JCT STH 184, Rock, WI

Built 1984 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 960

CTH D

Fair

Over: CHIPPEWA RIVER 20

2.0M E JCT CTH E, Rusk, WI

Built 1972 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 680

LRD THORNAPPLE RD

Fair

Over: THORNAPPLE RIVER

0.7M N JCT USH 8-105, Rusk, WI

Built 1976 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 108

LRD E TOWN LINE RD

Fair

Over: THORNAPPLE RIVER

0.6M E JCT STH 27 #60, Rusk, WI

Built 1992 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 48

CTH K

Fair

Over: WILLOW RIVER

1.3M E JCT STH 65, St. Croix, WI

Built 1964 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 3,000

STH 65

Fair

Over: BR KINNICKINNIC RIVER

0.1M N JCT STH 35, St. Croix, WI

Built 1967 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 4,600

STH 136-BROADWAY S

Fair

Over: BARABOO RIVER

0.1M E JCT STH 154, Sauk, WI

Built 1949 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 1,200

STH 58

Fair

Over: CAZENOVIA BRANCH

0.1M N JCT CTH G TO W, Sauk, WI

Built 1953 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 1,400

CTH N

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

0.1M E JCT STH 130, Sauk, WI

Built 1978 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 230

LRD BRANTON RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE BARABOO RIVER

.1 M W JCT STH 58, Sauk, WI

Built 1981 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 254

STH 77

Fair

Over: W FK CHIPPEWA RIVER

7.5M E JCT CTH S, Sawyer, WI

Built 1948 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 990

CTH W

Fair

Over: N FK FLAMBEAU RIVER

2.3M W JCT CTH M TO S, Sawyer, WI

Built 1983 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 379

STH 57

Fair

Over: BR MULLET RIVER

0.5M N JCT STH 23, Sheboygan, WI

Built 1955 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 11,500

Showing 2,401-2,450 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.