Bridges
| Bridges in the National Bridge Inventory | 4,242 |
|---|---|
| Good condition | 1,686 (39.7%) |
| Fair condition | 2,072 (48.8%) |
| Poor condition | 484 (11.4%) |
| Total deck area | 16,788,116 sq ft |
| Deck area in poor condition | 881,338 sq ft (5.2%) |
North Dakota ranks 7 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 (2,072 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 North Dakota Section gave the state an overall grade of C in its 2019 report card. Read the full report.
| Category | Grade |
|---|---|
| Bridges | D+ |
| Dams | D |
| Drinking Water | C |
| Energy | C+ |
| Levees | C+ |
| Roads | B- |
| 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 North Dakota for firm owners
- North Dakota DOT prequalification and procurement
- North Dakota PE licensure and PDH rules
- North Dakota civil engineer salaries
- Accredited programs in North Dakota
- 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.
