National Bridge Inventory: Michigan



  • The state has identified needed repairs on 2,712 bridges.
  • This compares to 2,684 bridges that needed work in 2021.
  • Over the life of the IIJA, Michigan will receive a total of $608.2 million in bridge formula funds, which will help make needed repairs.
  • Michigan currently has access to $486.5 million of that total, and has committed $375.1 million towards 238 projects as of June 2025.
  • Of the 11,397 bridges in the state, 1,250, or 11.0 percent, are classified as structurally deficient. This means one of the key elements is in poor or worse condition.
  • This is up from 1,240 bridges classified as structurally deficient in 2021.
  • The deck area of structurally deficient bridges accounts for 7.3 percent of total deck area on all structures.

Top Most Traveled Structurally Deficient Bridges in Michigan

County Year Built Daily Crossings Type of Bridge Location
Oakland 1971 209,200 Urban Interstate I-696 over I-75 & 4 Ramps
Wayne 1971 98,506 Urban Interstate I-94 over Ent to Ford Plant
Wayne 1963 92,920 Urban freeway/expressway M-39 over Ecorse Creek
Wayne 1970 78,863 Urban Interstate I-96 WB Main Rdwy over M-39 (Southfield Expr)
Wayne 1962 74,175 Urban Interstate I-94 WB over Ecorse Rd
Monroe 1955 67,800 Urban Interstate I-75 over Conrail ,Raisin R, Front
Livingston 1960 64,800 Rural arterial US-23 over M-36
Genesee 1976 63,400 Urban Interstate I-475 over Davison - Broadway Aves
Genesee 1976 63,400 Urban Interstate I-475 over Chavez Dr
Wayne 1962 60,077 Urban Interstate I-94 EB over Beech-Daly Rd
Genesee 1971 59,000 Urban Interstate I-475 over CSX RR & NB Serv Rd(Abn)
Kent 1963 57,075 Urban Interstate I-196, M-21 WB over Conrail (No Tracks)(Abn)
Wayne 1928 53,839 Urban other principal arterial Allen & Pelham Rds over Sexton Kilfoil Drain
Kent 1961 50,972 Urban Interstate I-296 (US-131) SB over US-131 Br (Leonard)
Kent 1963 50,972 Urban Interstate I-296 NB (US-131N) over 6th Ave
Kent 1961 50,972 Urban Interstate I-296 (US-131) NB over US-131 Br (Leonard)
Kent 1963 50,972 Urban Interstate I-296 SB (US-131S) over 6th Ave
Livingston 1962 44,600 Urban Interstate I-96 WB over Grand River Ave
Livingston 1962 44,600 Urban Interstate I-96 EB over Grand River Ave
Bay 1960 44,350 Urban Interstate I-75 NB over Hesr
Kent 1961 42,978 Urban other principal arterial M-37 (E Belt Line) over I-96
Wayne 1962 42,800 Urban minor arterial Jefferson Ave over I-375
Kent 1964 41,000 Urban Interstate I-196 WB over Gd R,I-296,Scrb,Trn,Monr
Wayne 1958 40,380 Urban other principal arterial Wayne Road over Tonquish Creek
Oakland 1964 40,292 Urban other principal arterial I-75 Br over Clinton River

Bridge Inventory: Michigan

Type of Bridge Number of Bridges Area of All Bridges
(sq. meters)
Daily Crossings on All Bridges Number of Structurally Deficient Bridges Area of Structurally Deficient Bridges
(sq. meters)
Daily Crossings on Structurally Deficient Bridges
Rural Interstate 399 360,662 7,891,047 17 11,215 175,981
Rural arterial 637 393,711 5,660,000 40 20,890 363,631
Rural minor arterial 645 298,069 3,260,913 51 26,779 180,658
Rural major collector 2,099 680,722 4,402,749 244 55,599 472,086
Rural minor collector 547 137,818 484,112 50 9,356 29,753
Rural local road 3,225 551,112 1,539,641 514 55,769 136,868
Urban Interstate 858 1,441,501 32,023,699 52 97,127 1,872,230
Urban freeway/expressway 324 338,518 8,666,522 25 22,585 570,611
Urban other principal arterial 734 900,073 15,861,625 55 68,586 1,027,412
Urban minor arterial 829 748,371 9,525,751 85 58,569 926,234
Urban collector 495 285,921 3,327,473 51 23,207 256,254
Urban local road 605 314,000 2,442,164 66 18,102 123,550
Total 11,397 6,450,477 95,085,696 1,250 467,785 6,135,268

Proposed Bridge Work

Type of Work Number of Bridges Cost to Repair
(in millions)
Daily Crossings Area of Bridges
(sq. meters)
Bridge replacement 659 $580 1,957,341 146,303
Widening & rehabilitation 75 $121 1,363,445 43,789
Rehabilitation 1,067 $1,143 5,192,616 420,037
Deck rehabilitation/replacement 754 $2,039 9,395,307 743,025
Other structural work 157 $215 607,965 79,350
Total 2,712 $4,099 18,516,674 1,432,503

About the data:

Data and cost estimates are from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) National Bridge Inventory (NBI), downloaded on August 20, 2024. Note that specific conditions on bridges may have changed as a result of recent work or updated inspections.

Effective January 1, 2018, FHWA changed the definition of structurally deficient as part of the final rule on highway and bridge performance measures, published May 20, 2017 pursuant to the 2012 federal aid highway bill Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). Two measures that were previously used to classify bridges as structurally deficient are no longer used. This includes bridges where the overall structural evaluation was rated in poor or worse condition, or where the adequacy of waterway openings was insufficient.

The new definition limits the classification to bridges where one of the key structural elements—the deck, superstructure, substructure or culverts, are rated in poor or worse condition. During inspection, the conditions 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.

Cost estimates have been derived by ARTBA, based on 2023 average bridge replacement costs for structures on and off the National Highway System, published by FHWA. Bridge rehabilitation costs are estimated to be 68 percent of replacement costs. A bridge is considered to need repair if the structure has identified repairs as part of the NBI, a repair cost estimate is supplied by the bridge owner or the bridge is classified as structurally deficient. Please note that for a few states, the number of bridges needing to be repaired can vary significantly from year to year, and reflects the data entered by the state.

Bridges are classified by FHWA into types based on the functional classification of the roadway on the bridge. Interstates comprise routes officially designated by the Secretary of Transportation. Other principal arterials serve major centers of urban areas or provide mobility through rural areas. Freeways and expressways have directional lanes generally separated by a physical barrier, and access/egress points generally limited to on- and off-ramps. Minor arterials serve smaller areas and are used for trips of moderate length. Collectors funnel traffic from local roads to the arterial network; major collectors have higher speed limits and traffic volumes and are longer in length and spaced at greater intervals, while minor collectors are shorter and provide service to smaller communities. Local roads do not carry through traffic and are intended for short distance travel.

10
Compared to 9 in 2024

in the nation in % of structurally deficient bridges

1. Iowa 19.0%
9. North Dakota 11.0%
10. Michigan 11.0%
11. New York 10.0%

13
Compared to 12 in 2024

in the nation in # of structurally deficient bridges

1. Iowa 4,424
12. Ohio 1,266
13. Michigan 1,250
14. Nebraska 1,155

12
Compared to 11 in 2024

in the nation in % of structurally deficient bridge deck area

1. West Virginia 13.0%
11. Missouri 8.0%
12. Michigan 7.0%
13. Alaska 7.0%
Full State Ranking

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  • Source: Data is from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) National Bridge Inventory (NBI), downloaded on August 20, 2024. Note that specific conditions on bridges may have changed as a result of recent work or updated inspections.

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