Bridges
| Bridges in the National Bridge Inventory | 13,580 |
|---|---|
| Good condition | 7,336 (54.0%) |
| Fair condition | 5,587 (41.1%) |
| Poor condition | 657 (4.8%) |
| Total deck area | 85,621,349 sq ft |
| Deck area in poor condition | 3,564,118 sq ft (4.2%) |
Minnesota ranks 34 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 (5,587 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 Minnesota Section gave the state an overall grade of C in its 2026 report card. Read the full report.
| Category | Grade |
|---|---|
| Aviation | B- |
| Bridges | C+ |
| Dams | C |
| Drinking Water | C- |
| Energy | C+ |
| Ports | C |
| Public Parks | B- |
| Roads | D+ |
| Stormwater | C |
| Transit | C |
| 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 Minnesota for firm owners
- Minnesota DOT prequalification and procurement
- Minnesota PE licensure and PDH rules
- Minnesota civil engineer salaries
- Accredited programs in Minnesota
- 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.
