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

STH 23

Fair

Over: BR RUSH CREEK

5.1M E JCT STH 130, Iowa, WI

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,600

STH 23-STH 39

Fair

Over: BREWERY CREEK

0.4M E JCT STH 39 TO E, Iowa, WI

Built 1997 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,300

LRD WEIDENFELLER R

Fair

Over: USH 151

0.4M W OF JCT STH 23, Iowa, WI

Built 2001 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 58

CTH C

Fair

Over: MONTREAL RIVER

1.2M E JCT USH 51, Iron, WI

Built 1975 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 142

STH 77

Fair

Over: POTATO RIVER

8.2M E ASHLAND CO LINE, Iron, WI

Built 1983 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 700

STH 27

Fair

Over: ROBINSON CREEK

1.9M N JCT CTH O, Jackson, WI

Built 1951 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,900

STH 27

Fair

Over: PERRY CREEK

6.1M N JCT CTH O, Jackson, WI

Built 1951 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,700

STH 54

Fair

Over: DOUGLAS CREEK

1.4M E JCT STH 71, Jackson, WI

Built 1955 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,600

STH 95-INTERSTATE

Fair

Over: TANK CREEK

0.3M E JCT CTH A, Jackson, WI

Built 1966 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,000

IH 94 WB

Fair

Over: CTH O

7.4M W JCT CTH E TO N, Jackson, WI

Built 1968 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 11,350

LRD S POLE GROVE R

Fair

Over: TANK CREEK

0.2M N JCT CTH A, Jackson, WI

Built 1966 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 176

CTH P

Fair

Over: KENYON CREEK

0.8M W JCT CTH C, Jackson, WI

Built 1979 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,308

LRD W INDIES RD

Fair

Over: BR BLACK RIVER

1.5M S JCT CTH D, Jackson, WI

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 170

USH 10-USH 12-STH

Fair

Over: COON CREEK

0.1M E JCT USH 12 TO W, Jackson, WI

Built 1992 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,100

CTH D

Fair

Over: BR S FK BEAVER CREEK

1.2M W JCT CTH H, Jackson, WI

Built 1998 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 390

STH 16 EB

Fair

Over: STH 19 WB

1.8M E JCT CTH R, Jefferson, WI

Built 1960 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,100

IH 94 EB

Fair

Over: CRAWFISH RIVER

3.3M E JCT STH 89 TO N, Jefferson, WI

Built 1964 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 18,850

STH 106

Fair

Over: MUD CREEK

2.5M E JCT CTH CI, Jefferson, WI

Built 1962 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,500

IH 94 WB

Fair

Over: LRD WILLOW GLEN RD

4.4M W JCT STH 67 TO N, Jefferson, WI

Built 1963 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 24,600

STH 19-MAIN ST

Fair

Over: ROCK RIVER

0.8M E JCT CTH R, Jefferson, WI

Built 1994 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,339

STH 26

Fair

Over: ALLEN CREEK

0.2M N JCT STH 106, Jefferson, WI

Built 1994 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,400

LRD COFFEE RD

Fair

Over: JOHNSON CREEK

0.8M E JCT CTH X, Jefferson, WI

Built 1999 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 250

STH 82

Fair

Over: TRIB CLEAVER CREEK

2.3M E JCT STH 80 TO N, Juneau, WI

Built 1986 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,300

STH 82

Fair

Over: TRIB CLEAVER CREEK

1.8M E JCT STH 80 TO N, Juneau, WI

Built 1986 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,300

CTH N

Fair

Over: LEMONWEIR RIVER SLOUGH

0.1M E JCT USH 12, Juneau, WI

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 343

STH 158

Fair

Over: CMSTPP RR

0.5 MI E JCT CTH H, Kenosha, WI

Built 1958 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 18,400

STH 50 EB-STH 83 S

Fair

Over: SOO LINE

1.4M E JCT STH 83 TO N, Kenosha, WI

Built 1980 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,750

STH 50

Fair

Over: SALEM BRANCH

2.3M E JCT STH 75, Kenosha, WI

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 18,400

STH 57

Fair

Over: RED RIVER

0.5M N JCT CTH X, Kewaunee, WI

Built 1958 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,100

STH 42

Fair

Over: SANDY BAY CREEK

0.7M N JCT CTH G, Kewaunee, WI

Built 1958 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,900

STH 42

Fair

Over: MASHEK CREEK

0.2M N JCT CTH O, Kewaunee, WI

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,100

LRD CURRAN RD

Fair

Over: BUCK CREEK

0.7M N JCT CTH BB, Kewaunee, WI

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100

LRD BAYVIEW RD

Fair

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

0.3M SOUTH OF MACCO RD, Kewaunee, WI

Built 2005 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 685

STH 162

Fair

Over: DUTCH CREEK

1.3M N JCT CTH II, La Crosse, WI

Built 1952 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,200

CTH M

Fair

Over: BR BOSTWICK CREEK

1.0M N JCT CTH O, La Crosse, WI

Built 1958 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,500

STH 16

Fair

Over: KINNEY COULEE TRIB

2.6 M E JCT IH 90, La Crosse, WI

Built 2016 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,650

IH 90 WB

Fair

Over: LRD DAVIS RD

1.4M W JCT STH 162 TO N, La Crosse, WI

Built 1968 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,650

IH 90 WB

Fair

Over: FISH CREEK

5.3M W JCT STH 27 TO N, La Crosse, WI

Built 1968 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,150

IH 90/BUOL ROAD

Fair

Over: BR LA CROSSE RIVER

0.8M E JCT CTH C TO N, La Crosse, WI

Built 1969 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,650

CTH GI (DEAD END)

Fair

Over: RUNNING SLOUGH

0.3M W JCT STH 35, La Crosse, WI

Built 1978 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 640

LRD SWAMP RD

Fair

Over: BOSTWICK CREEK

0.8M W JCT CTH M, La Crosse, WI

Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 146

STH 16

Fair

Over: MILLER COULEE/PED. TRAIL

1.2M E JCT STH 35, La Crosse, WI

Built 1981 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,850

LRD KLOSS RD (DEAD

Fair

Over: ST JOSEPH COULEE CREEK

0.2M E JCT CTH M, La Crosse, WI

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 21

USH 53-COPELAND AV

Fair

Over: LA CROSSE RIVER

0.8M N JCT USH 14, La Crosse, WI

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 25,300

STH 162

Fair

Over: BURNS CREEK

1.5M N JCT CTH EE, La Crosse, WI

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,300

LRD NAKOMIS AVE (D

Fair

Over: BLACK RIVER SLOUGH

0.6M N JCT CTH B, La Crosse, WI

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 500

USH 53

Fair

Over: SANDLAKE COULEE CREEK

0.5 M N JCT CTH OT, La Crosse, WI

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,700

LRD GATEWAY ACCESS

Fair

Over: BN RR

0.6M S JCT CTH B, La Crosse, WI

Built 1989 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,000

LRD HAGEN RD

Fair

Over: PAMMEL CREEK

0.1M S JCT STH 33, La Crosse, WI

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,700

STH 108

Fair

Over: WET COULEE CREEK

0.2M S JCT CTH DE, La Crosse, WI

Built 1992 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,100

Showing 3,101-3,150 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.