Is It Safe to Drive? These 9 California Counties Have the Worst Bridges in the State

4: Madera County — 14% of Bridges in Poor Condition

Located in the geographic center of the state, Madera County is in the San Joaquin Valley and the Central Sierras. The county has a rich cultural heritage from the gold rush and the logging industry. In fact, Madera is the Spanish name for wood. Today, there is a lot to do in Madera County including outdoor activities, wine tasting, museums, and fishing. The county is located at the southern entrance to Yosemite National Park. The Devil’s Postpile National Monument is also located in Madera County.

However, Madera County comes in fourth on our list, with 34 out of 243 bridges classified as poor. 

5: San Joaquin County — 13.4% of Bridges in Poor Condition

San Joaquin County, located in the central part of the state, is about 90 minutes west of San Fransisco and 60 minutes south of Sacramento. It’s one of the oldest counties in California, while today the county is known for its strong agricultural industry. The area is also famous for its farm-to-table festivals, wine production, and almond crops. 

Coming in as fifth on our list, out of San Joaquin County’s 643 total bridges, 86 are classified as structurally deficient.

#6: Sierra County — 13.1% of Bridges in Poor Condition

Located on the Nevada border, near Reno, Sierra County is a sparsely populated region in the state. Within the county is the rugged Sierra Nevada mountain range. The county is known for its diverse landscapes and outdoor enthusiast destinations. Indeed, from the mountains to the lakes, streams, and forests, Sierra County has it all. Ancient petroglyphs in the area date back to 5,000 years ago.

Sierra County has a total of 61 bridges within its borders. A total of eight of those bridges are structurally deficient.

#7: Del Norte County — 12.6%

The county of Del Norte is in the far northwestern corner of the state. Bordered by Oregon to its north and the Pacific Ocean to its west, the county is known for its rocky coastline, remote beaches, towering redwood forests, mountains, valleys, and scenic rivers. The county is a haven for wildlife lovers and is home to a diverse amount of species including birds such as Aleutian cackling geese, bald eagles, surfbirds, and brown pelicans. Additionally, swimming in the ocean are whales, harbor seals, and northern elephant seals. And finally, roaming on land is the massive Roosevelt Elk. 

Seventh on our list of California counties with the worst bridges, out of Del Norte’s 95 bridges, 12 have been classified as structurally deficient. 

#8: Nevada County — 12.6%

Nevada County is a rural area located in the Sierra Nevada. Nevada County is known for its hiking trails, mountain biking, fishing, and ski resorts. Bordering the state of Nevada, it’s one of four counties in the U.S. to border a state with which it shares the same name. Nevada County is also home to the Donner Pass, the famous mountain trail where the Donner Party met their grim fate.

Coming in eight on our list, Nevada County has a total of 135 bridges, while 17 of them are on the “needs repairs” list.

#9: Sutter County — 12.3%

Located just north of Sacramento, Sutter County has a strong agricultural industry. In fact, Sutter County developed the world’s first seedless grape. Sutter County is also home to the Sutter Buttes. The buttes are often called the “smallest mountain range in the world.” However, they technically aren’t mountains at all, but ancient lava domes. They were formed over one million years ago from a volcano that has long since been dormant.

Finally, Sutter County rounds out our list at number nine. The county has a total of 122 bridges within its borders, and 15 of them are structurally deficient.

Summary of the 9 California Counties With the Worst Bridges in the State