Bridges
| Bridges in the National Bridge Inventory | 26,014 |
|---|---|
| Good condition | 12,883 (49.5%) |
| Fair condition | 12,240 (47.1%) |
| Poor condition | 891 (3.4%) |
| Total deck area | 340,729,266 sq ft |
| Deck area in poor condition | 17,184,544 sq ft (5.0%) |
California ranks 43 of 51 (states plus DC) for the share of bridges in poor condition, where 1 is the highest share. Nationally, 6.6% of bridges are rated poor.
A poor share near or below the national rate usually shifts the work toward preservation, inspection and load rating rather than full replacements. Fair-rated bridges (12,240 here) are the ones most likely to slip to poor without timely work, which is why many DOTs fund preservation and inspection contracts alongside replacements.
ASCE report card
For California, refer to the category grades in ASCE's national Report Card for America's Infrastructure. See ASCE's California page and the national report card.
More on California for firm owners
- California DOT prequalification and procurement
- California PE licensure and PDH rules
- California civil engineer salaries
- Accredited programs in California
- Federal funding programs
Sources: Federal Highway Administration, National Bridge Inventory, 2026 Bridge Condition by Highway System (fhwa.dot.gov); ASCE Infrastructure Report Card state reports (infrastructurereportcard.org), produced by ASCE state sections in the year shown.
