- Colorado has 8,612 bridges, of which 536 (6%) are structurally deficient and 902 (10%) are functionally obsolete. - Between 2003-2012, $918.6 million in federal funding supported construction of 836 bridges in Colorado. - It is estimated that it would cost $2.1 billion to repair 2,513 bridges in the state that need work.

1. © 2014 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 2013 National Bridge Inventory Data:
 Of the 8,612 bridges in the state, 536 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 902 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.
 Federal-aid investment in Colorado has supported $918.6 million in bridge construction
spending on 836 bridges between 2003 and 2012, according to FHWA data.2
 Since 2004, 712 new bridges have been constructed in the state and 106 bridges have
undergone major reconstruction.
 The state estimates that it would cost approximately $2.1 billion to fix a total of 2,513 bridges in
the state.3
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 545 489,528 6,514,327 25 28,527 266,340
Other principal arterial 493 286,594 3,389,381 17 7,230 218,633
Minor arterial 788 383,164 2,770,627 63 26,676 325,480
Major collector 705 255,252 1,384,639 50 13,453 54,583
Minor collector 1,079 301,797 1,232,513 58 12,088 43,729
Local 2,295 469,339 1,440,000 188 32,687 64,550
Urban Bridges
Interstate 518 851,566 23,685,476 33 45,255 1,528,380
Other freeway 361 417,783 10,660,838 12 18,422 809,950
Principal arterial 526 613,603 10,680,908 33 35,691 674,563
Minor arterial 393 317,391 3,784,135 18 11,044 104,886
Collector 379 260,155 2,672,179 16 8,685 112,327
Local 530 162,427 1,585,079 23 5,920 28,054
Not classified 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 8,612 4,808,599 69,800,102 536 245,679 4,231,475
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
ARTBA analysis of FHWA data, includes all bridge construction related spending on projects approved by FHWA between 2003 and 2012.
3
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. © 2014 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 561 $1,560.3 4,805,861 343,060
Widening & rehabilitation 292 $126.2 4,730,407 216,126
Rehabilitation 158 $122.1 1,107,375 95,007
Deck rehabilitation/replacement 101 $15.0 1,242,590 85,275
Other work 1,401 $274.5 5,220,082 556,965
Top 10 Most Traveled Structurally Deficient Bridges in the State
County Year
Built
Daily
Crossings
Type of Bridge Location
(route/water under the bridge, traffic on the bridge and location)
Denver 1964 183,000 Urban Interstate HAVANA ST UP RR, I 70 ML, IN DENVER
Denver 1956 137,000 Rural arterial BNSF RR, US 6 ML, EAST EDGE OF I-25 INT.
Denver 1956 137,000 Urban
freeway/expressway
SOUTH PLATTE RIVER, US 6 ML, W SIDE OF I-25 INT. DENVR
Denver 1958 131,000 Urban
freeway/expressway
BRYANT STREET, US 6 ML, IN DENVER
Jefferson 2011 113,000 Urban
freeway/expressway
SH 95 ML/SHERIDAN AVE., US 6 ML, IN LAKEWOOD
Denver 1965 109,000 Rural minor arterial I 70 ML, PECOS STREET, IN DENVER
Jefferson 1964 102,000 Urban
freeway/expressway
GARRISON STREET, US 6 ML, IN LAKEWOOD
Jefferson 1972 101,000 Urban
freeway/expressway
SH 121 ML, US 6 ML, IN LAKEWOOD
Denver 1966 96,500 Urban Interstate TENNYSON STREET, I 70 ML, LAKESIDE
Denver 1958 95,500 Urban Interstate US 85 ML, I 25 ML NBND, IN DENVER
Sources: All data is from the 2013 National Bridge Inventory, released by the Federal Highway Administration in March 2014.
Note that specific conditions on bridge may have changed as a result of recent work. Cost estimates of bridge work provided as
part of the data and have been adjusted to 2013$ 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.