Colorado has 8,990 bridges on public roads, according to the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. Of those, 417 are rated in poor condition — a rate of 4.6% — below the national average of 6.7%. Another 5,538 are in fair condition, while 3,035 are in good condition.
Use the interactive Colorado bridge map below to explore every bridge, color-coded by condition. Click any cluster to zoom in, then click an individual bridge for its route, structural ratings, year built, daily traffic, and last inspection date. Filter by condition using the checkboxes, or switch to satellite view to see bridges from above. For a national comparison, see the full US bridges interactive map.
Colorado Bridge Conditions by the Numbers
- 8,990 total bridges on public roads in Colorado
- 417 in poor condition (4.6%) — below the national average of 6.7%
- 5,538 in fair condition (61.6%)
- 3,035 in good condition (33.8%)
- Oldest bridge in the inventory: VINCENT DRIVE, built 1887
Oldest Bridges in Colorado
The oldest bridges in Colorado date back to the 1880s. The ten oldest Colorado bridges still in the national inventory:
| Route / Facility | Crosses | Year Built | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| VINCENT DRIVE | COTTONWOOD CREEK | 1887 | Fair |
| COUNTY ROAD G | RIO GRANDE RIVER | 1892 | Poor |
| COUNTY ROAD 67 | EAST FORK EIGHT MILE CRK | 1894 | Poor |
| LOCAL DRAINAGE | FOREIGN TRADE ZONE BLVD | 1901 | Good |
| SW 14th Street | Misc Drainage Basin | 1901 | Good |
| I.9 ROAD | Local Drainage | 1901 | Poor |
| COUNTY ROAD 9D | Capitol Creek | 1901 | Fair |
| PLATTE AVENUE | SHOOKS RUN | 1902 | Poor |
| MESA AVENUE | BESSEMER DITCH | 1903 | Fair |
| SH 69 ML | TEXAS CREEK | 1906 | Fair |
Most Concerning Colorado Bridges: Poor Condition and High Traffic
The bridges of greatest concern combine a poor structural rating with high daily traffic loads. These Colorado bridges carry the most vehicles per day while rated in poor condition:
| Route / Facility | Crosses | Daily Traffic | Year Built | Deck | Superstructure | Substructure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 225 ML | GOLDSMITH GULCH | 128,000 vehicles/day | 1971 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| RAMP TO I 25 NBND | US 6 ML | 107,500 vehicles/day | 1989 | Good (7) | Poor (4) | Good (7) |
| US 6 ML | SH 121 ML | 101,000 vehicles/day | 1972 | Serious (3) | Poor (4) | Fair (5) |
| SH 35 ML | SAND CREEK | 60,000 vehicles/day | 1962 | Fair (5) | Fair (5) | Poor (4) |
| I 70 ML WBND | SH 391 ML | 57,000 vehicles/day | 1967 | Poor (4) | Fair (5) | Good (7) |
How Colorado Bridge Conditions Are Assessed
Bridge condition in the NBI is determined by ratings of three structural components — deck, superstructure, and substructure — on a scale of 0 (failed) to 9 (excellent). A bridge is classified as good when all three components score 7 or above. It is classified as poor when any component scores 4 or below. Ratings of 5 or 6 on any component with no component below 5 result in a fair classification. CDOT coordinates inspections across Colorado in line with FHWA standards, with most bridges inspected on a 24-month cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bridges in Colorado are in poor condition?
417 of Colorado’s 8,990 bridges are currently rated in poor condition by the FHWA National Bridge Inventory, a rate of 4.6%.
What is the oldest bridge in
The oldest bridge recorded in Colorado’s NBI inventory is VINCENT DRIVE, built in 1887.
What does a poor bridge rating mean?
A poor rating means at least one of a bridge’s three key structural components — deck, superstructure, or substructure — has been rated 4 or below on the NBI 0-9 scale. A rating of 4 is defined as “poor condition,” and ratings of 3, 2, 1, or 0 indicate increasingly serious deterioration. Poor-rated bridges are not necessarily unsafe or closed, but they require priority attention and monitoring.
View all 624,000+ US bridges on the national interactive map
Compare with neighboring states: Arizona bridges map | Kansas bridges map | Nebraska bridges map | New Mexico bridges map | Oklahoma bridges map | Utah bridges map | Wyoming bridges map
