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

USH 53 NB

Fair

Over: NAMEKAGON RIVER

0.3M N JCT USH 63, Washburn, WI

Built 1988 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 3,400

USH 53 SB

Fair

Over: TOTOGATIC RIVER

2.2M S JCT CTH T, Washburn, WI

Built 1997 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 1,750

CTH I

Fair

Over: TOGOTATIC RIVER

4.9M W JCT STH 77, Washburn, WI

Built 1998 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 303

IH 41-USH 45

Fair

Over: BR CEDAR CREEK

0.8M N JCT STH 167 TO W, Washington, WI

Built 1970 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 63,100

USH 45 SB

Fair

Over: STH 33-STH 144

2.0 MI S JCT CTH D, Washington, WI

Built 1989 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 16,600

STH 167

Fair

Over: MENOMONEE RIVER

0.8M E JCT USH 41, Washington, WI

Built 1997 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 16,700

LRD WILSON AVE

Fair

Over: RUBICON RIVER

0.1M N JCT STH 60, Washington, WI

Built 1996 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 5,000

LRD BARSTOW ST

Fair

Over: FOX RIVER

0.1M S JCT USH 18, Waukesha, WI

Built 1963 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 10,700

IH 94

Fair

Over: BR POPLAR CREEK

3.4M E JCT USH 18, Waukesha, WI

Built 1960 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 17,600

IH 94 WB

Fair

Over: LRD CUSHING PARK RD

2.3M W JCT STH 83, Waukesha, WI

Built 1963 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 29,600

CTH F NB (REDFORD

Fair

Over: CP RAIL

1.8M N JCT IH 94 TO E, Waukesha, WI

Built 1966 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 13,700

STH 16 EB

Fair

Over: OCONOMOWOC RIVER

1.3 MI E JCT STH 67, Waukesha, WI

Built 1990 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 14,050

CTH JJ

Fair

Over: STH 16

2.3 MI N JCT IH 94, Waukesha, WI

Built 1983 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 3,900

LRD EB-MORELAND BL

Fair

Over: FOX RIVER

1.1M E JCT STH 164 TO S, Waukesha, WI

Built 1982 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 18,700

LRD MAIN ST

Fair

Over: MENOMONEE RIVER

0.1M E JCT STH 175, Waukesha, WI

Built 1991 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 9,400

LRD COTTONWOOD AVE

Fair

Over: BARK RIVER

1.0M N JCT CTH KE, Waukesha, WI

Built 1993 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 3,300

LRD OAKTON AVE

Fair

Over: PEWAUKEE RIVER

0.7M W JCT STH 16, Waukesha, WI

Built 1993 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 5,500

STH 59 EB

Fair

Over: CANADIAN NATIONAL RR

0.9 MI E JCT CTH XX, Waukesha, WI

Built 1999 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 11,950

USH10-STH49/54 EB

Fair

Over: STH 22 SB

1.4M E JCT STH 49 TO N, Waupaca, WI

Built 1996 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 11,700

STH 110

Fair

Over: LITTLE WOLF RIVER

4.5M N JCT STH 22 TO N, Waupaca, WI

Built 1939 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 870

IH USH 51-IH 39 NB

Fair

Over: LRD BUTTERCUP AVE

4.2M N JCT STH 21 TO E, Waushara, WI

Built 1984 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 5,100

USH 45-STH 175

Fair

Over: MERRITTS CREEK

2.9M N JCT STH 175 TO S, Winnebago, WI

Built 1988 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 6,260

LRD N CAMPBELL RD

Fair

Over: CAMPBELL CREEK

0.2M N JCT WITZEL AVE, Winnebago, WI

Built 1987 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 1,700

LRD WOODLAND RD

Fair

Over: ARROWHEAD RIVER

1.2M W JCT STH 110, Winnebago, WI

Built 1990 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 35

IH 41 NB

Fair

Over: MENASHA CREEK

2.2M N JCT CTH II, Winnebago, WI

Built 1992 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 52,000

USH 10 WB

Fair

Over: LRD COLD SPRING ROAD

0.5M W JCT USH 41, Winnebago, WI

Built 1997 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 16,350

USH 10 EB

Fair

Over: LRD PIONEER RD

2.0M E JCT USH 45 TO S, Winnebago, WI

Built 2003 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 8,700

LRD 13TH AVE

Fair

Over: HAY RIVER

1.3M E JCT CTH P, Barron, WI

Built 1962 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 47

LRD 11TH ST

Fair

Over: VERMILLION RIVER

0.2M N JCT USH 8, Barron, WI

Built 1974 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 88

LRD 3RD ST

Fair

Over: MOON CREEK

0.2M N 9/1/2 AVENUE, Barron, WI

Built 1976 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 47

LRD 7TH AVE

Fair

Over: BR HAY RIVER

0.2M E JCT CTH P, Barron, WI

Built 1930 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 47

LRD 21ST ST

Fair

Over: BR RED CEDAR RIVER

0.7M S JCT CTH D, Barron, WI

Built 1965 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 47

LRD SAND ROAD

Fair

Over: ELK CREEK

0.3M N JCT STH 88, Buffalo, WI

Built 1979 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 94

CTH Y

Fair

Over: ROSSMAN CREEK

0.9M S JCT CTH HH, Buffalo, WI

Built 1976 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 160

LRD HEINZ RD (DEAD

Fair

Over: BR WAUMANDEE CREEK

0.1M N JCT CTH U, Buffalo, WI

Built 1978 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 30

LRD ICE HOUSE BRID

Fair

Over: CLAM RIVER

3.3M N JCT CTH D, Burnett, WI

Built 1972 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 94

CTH C

Fair

Over: LITTLE HAY CREEK

0.4 M NW 125TH AVENUE, Chippewa, WI

Built 1930 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 320

LRD 250TH STREET

Fair

Over: LITTLE DRYWOOD CREEK

0.3 M N CTH S, Chippewa, WI

Built 1974 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 200

LRD 80TH AVENUE

Fair

Over: BRANCH ELK CREEK

0.2 M W CTH T, Chippewa, WI

Built 1970 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 180

LRD 20TH AVENUE

Fair

Over: S FK PAINT CREEK

0.8 M E CTH K, Chippewa, WI

Built 1968 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 465

LRD 212TH AVENUE (

Fair

Over: MCCANN CREEK

0.1 M E STH 40, Chippewa, WI

Built 1980 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 70

LRD 40TH STREET

Fair

Over: SAND CREEK

0.1 MILES N. CTH M, Chippewa, WI

Built 1980 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 155

CTH CM

Fair

Over: NEENAH CREEK

0.6M S JCT CTH T, Columbia, WI

Built 1959 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 500

LRD EDGEWOOD AVE

Fair

Over: VILAS PARK LAGOON

1.0M W JCT USH 151, Dane, WI

Built 1920 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 2,100

CTH BB

Fair

Over: CRAWFISH RIVER

1.5M N JCT STH 19, Dodge, WI

Built 1975 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 485

LRD MIDDLE RIVER R

Fair

Over: MIDDLE RIVER

0.3 M W JCT USH 53, Douglas, WI

Built 1940 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 107

CTH F

Fair

Over: LAMB CREEK

5.1M N JCT STH 25, Dunn, WI

Built 1982 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 263

LRD 430TH AVE

Fair

Over: IRON CREEK

0.2M W JCT CTH E, Dunn, WI

Built 1981 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 108

LRD HAY CREEK RD

Fair

Over: HAY CREEK

0.3M E CTH X, Eau Claire, WI

Built 1966 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 60

CTH Z

Fair

Over: HOYTS CREEK

0.1M N STH 37, Eau Claire, WI

Built 1964 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 153

Showing 4,851-4,900 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.