Bridges
| Bridges in the National Bridge Inventory | 23,398 |
|---|---|
| Good condition | 9,288 (39.7%) |
| Fair condition | 9,831 (42.0%) |
| Poor condition | 4,279 (18.3%) |
| Total deck area | 100,445,454 sq ft |
| Deck area in poor condition | 9,499,065 sq ft (9.5%) |
Iowa ranks 1 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 well above the national rate points to a long pipeline of rehabilitation and replacement design, and it is the kind of need the federal Bridge Investment Program targets. Fair-rated bridges (9,831 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
The ASCE Iowa Section gave the state an overall grade of C in its 2023 report card. Read the full report.
| Category | Grade |
|---|---|
| Aviation | C- |
| Bridges | D |
| Dams | D |
| Drinking Water | C |
| Energy | C+ |
| Inland Waterways | D+ |
| Levees | C |
| Public Parks | C |
| Rail | C+ |
| Roads | A |
| Solid Waste | B- |
| Stormwater | D+ |
| Wastewater | C- |
Low-graded categories are where owners should expect agencies and utilities to push capital programs, and where grant applications tend to cluster.
More on Iowa for firm owners
- Iowa DOT prequalification and procurement
- Iowa PE licensure and PDH rules
- Iowa civil engineer salaries
- Accredited programs in Iowa
- 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.
