The document summarizes bridge data from the 2014 National Bridge Inventory for the state of Colorado. It finds that 6% of the state's 8,668 bridges are structurally deficient, and 10% are functionally obsolete. From 2004 to present, 673 new bridges have been built and 97 major reconstructions completed, at a total cost of $997.44 million over five years. An estimated $2.2 billion is needed to repair 2,134 bridges in the state. The top 10 most traveled structurally deficient bridges range from 65,000 to 183,000 daily crossings.

1. © 2015 The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of
ARTBA.
Highlights from FHWA’s 2014 National Bridge Inventory Data:
 Of the 8,668 bridges in the state, 529 bridges, or 6% are classified as structurally deficient. This
means one or more of the key bridge elements, such as the deck, superstructure or
substructure, is considered to be in “poor” or worse condition.1
 There are 859 bridges, or 10% of all state bridges, classified as functionally obsolete. This means
the bridge does not meet design standards that are in line with current practice.
 State and local contract awards for bridge construction totaled $997.44 million over the past
five years, 26 percent of highway and bridge contract awards, compared to a national average of
29 percent.
 Since 2004, 673 new bridges have been constructed in the state and 97 bridges have undergone
major reconstruction.
 The state estimates that it would cost approximately $2.2 billion to fix a total of 2,134 bridges in
the state.2
Bridge Inventory:
All Bridges Structurally deficient Bridges
Type of Bridge
Total
Number
Area (sq.
meters)
Daily
Crossings
Total
Number
Area (sq.
meters)
Daily
Crossings
Rural Bridges
Interstate 553 395,729 5,877,688 31 33,933 291,368
Other principal arterial 628 335,270 3,640,039 21 7,637 75,900
Minor arterial 667 295,080 1,877,980 46 18,795 144,642
Major collector 701 261,610 1,356,285 46 13,214 57,156
Minor collector 1,072 295,904 1,132,141 63 13,754 55,261
Local 2,256 454,225 1,328,740 190 28,821 42,694
Urban Bridges
Interstate 562 964,250 24,367,891 32 42,304 1,337,016
Other freeway 401 499,367 11,420,015 16 24,423 943,055
Principal arterial 541 635,432 11,178,613 33 33,817 613,690
Minor arterial 433 353,477 4,215,035 19 16,933 118,774
Collector 343 229,627 2,112,010 11 4,464 42,709
Rural 511 157,764 1,511,646 21 5,359 22,965
Total 8,668 4,877,735 70,018,083 529 243,455 3,745,230
1
According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), a bridge is classified as structurally deficient if the condition rating for the deck,
superstructure, substructure or culvert and retaining walls is rated 4 or below or if the bridge receives an appraisal rating of 2 or less for
structural condition or waterway adequacy. During inspections, the condition of a variety of bridge elements are rated on a scale of 0 (failed
condition) to 9 (excellent condition). A rating of 4 is considered “poor” condition and the individual element displays signs of advanced section
loss, deterioration, spalling or scour.
2
This data is provided by bridge owners as part of the FHWA data and is required for any bridge eligible for the Highway Bridge Replacement
and Rehabilitation Program. However, for some states this amount is very low and likely not an accurate reflection of current costs.
State Bridge Profile
Colorado

2. © 2015 The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of
ARTBA.
Proposed bridge work:
Type of Work Number Cost (millions) Daily Crossings Area (sq. meters)
Bridge replacement 528 $1,503.0 4,359,444 331,061
Widening & rehabilitation 347 $161.7 5,115,298 246,580
Rehabilitation 153 $192.9 1,059,927 95,432
Deck rehabilitation/replacement 95 $105.3 1,428,757 90,929
Other work 1,011 $284.7 6,622,370 587,803
Top 10 Most Traveled Structurally Deficient Bridges in the State:
County
Year
Built
Daily
Crossings
Type of Bridge Location
Denver 1964 183,000 Urban Interstate I-70 over Havana Street and the Union Pacific Railroad
Denver 1956 137,000
Urban
freeway/expressway
US-6 over the South Platte River
Denver 1956 137,000
Urban
freeway/expressway
US-6 over the BNSF Railroad
Denver 1958 131,000
Urban
freeway/expressway
US-6 over Bryant Street
Jefferson 1964 102,000
Urban
freeway/expressway
US-6 over Garrison Street
Jefferson 1972 101,000
Urban
freeway/expressway
US-6 over SH 121
Jefferson 1967 84,000 Urban Interstate I-70 over Harlan Street
Denver 1973 83,000
Urban
freeway/expressway
US-85 SB over the South Platte River
Denver 1964 65,000 Urban Interstate I-70 WB over the Union Pacific Railroad
Denver 1964 65,000 Urban Interstate I-70 EB over SH 35
Sources: All data is from the 2014 National Bridge Inventory, released by the Federal Highway Administration in January 2015.
Note that specific conditions on bridge may have changed as a result of recent work. Cost estimates of bridge work provided as
part of the data and have been adjusted to 2014$ for inflation and estimated project costs. Contract awards data is for state
and local government awards and comes from McGraw Hill. Note that additional bridge investment may be a part of other
contract awards if a smaller bridge project is included with a highway project, and that would not be accounted for in the total
in this profile.