Nebraska has 15,412 bridges on public roads, according to the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. Of those, 1,155 are rated in poor condition — a rate of 7.5% — 12% above the national average of 6.7%. Another 6,088 are in fair condition, while 8,169 are in good condition.
Use the interactive Nebraska 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.
Nebraska Bridge Conditions by the Numbers
- 15,412 total bridges on public roads in Nebraska
- 1,155 in poor condition (7.5%) — above the national average of 6.7%
- 6,088 in fair condition (39.5%)
- 8,169 in good condition (53%)
- Oldest bridge in the inventory: COUNTY HIGHWAY, built 1888
Oldest Bridges in Nebraska
The oldest bridges in Nebraska date back to the 1880s. The ten oldest Nebraska bridges still in the national inventory:
| Route / Facility | Crosses | Year Built | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| COUNTY HIGHWAY | NIOBRARA RIVER | 1888 | Fair |
| TOWNSHIP ROAD | S CH PLATTE RIVER | 1891 | Poor |
| ROMEO ROAD | LITTLE BLUE RIVER | 1893 | Poor |
| COUNTY ROAD E | BIG BLUE RIVER | 1897 | Poor |
| COUNTY HIGHWAY | NIOBRARA RIVER | 1899 | Poor |
| COUNTY HIGHWAY | STREAM | 1900 | Poor |
| COUNTY HIGHWAY | TURKEY CREEK | 1900 | Poor |
| KS STATELINE | SPRING CREEK | 1900 | Poor |
| COUNTY HIGHWAY | HONEY CREEK | 1900 | Poor |
| COUNTY HIGHWAY | BIG CREEK | 1900 | Poor |
Most Concerning Nebraska Bridges: Poor Condition and High Traffic
The bridges of greatest concern combine a poor structural rating with high daily traffic loads. These Nebraska bridges carry the most vehicles per day while rated in poor condition:
| Route / Facility | Crosses | Daily Traffic | Year Built | Deck | Superstructure | Substructure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US75 | J ST | 85,640 vehicles/day | 1970 | Poor (4) | Good (7) | Satisfactory (6) |
| 72ND ST/FAU 5037 | UPRR 816-828-J | 56,260 vehicles/day | 1966 | Poor (4) | Satisfactory (6) | Fair (5) |
| US75 | BETZ CREEK | 38,095 vehicles/day | 1989 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 42ND ST/FAU 5057 | UPRR 191-593-U | 38,000 vehicles/day | 1960 | Poor (4) | Poor (4) | Fair (5) |
| 42ND ST/FAU 5057 | UPRR 816-825-N | 38,000 vehicles/day | 1960 | Poor (4) | Poor (4) | Fair (5) |
How Nebraska 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. NDOT coordinates inspections across Nebraska in line with FHWA standards, with most bridges inspected on a 24-month cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bridges in Nebraska are in poor condition?
1,155 of Nebraska’s 15,412 bridges are currently rated in poor condition by the FHWA National Bridge Inventory, a rate of 7.5%.
What is the oldest bridge in
The oldest bridge recorded in Nebraska’s NBI inventory is COUNTY HIGHWAY, built in 1888.
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: Colorado bridges map | Iowa bridges map | Kansas bridges map | Missouri bridges map | South Dakota bridges map | Wyoming bridges map
