State Spotlight

Minnesota Bridge Infrastructure: A Complete Analysis

A comprehensive look at Minnesota's bridge inventory, including condition grades, highest-traffic crossings, worst-rated structures, and oldest bridges.

By BridgeStats Data Team

Minnesota is home to 13,551 bridges spanning 87 counties, making it one of the most significant bridge inventories in the country. These bridges carry a combined 55,325,250 vehicle crossings every day. Here is a comprehensive look at the state of Minnesota's bridge infrastructure based on the latest National Bridge Inventory data.

13,551

Total Bridges

B

Infrastructure Grade

4.5%

Poor Condition

40 years

Average Age

Minnesota at a Glance

Minnesota earns an overall infrastructure grade of B based on the percentage of its bridges in poor condition. Currently, 609 bridges (4.5%) are rated poor, compared to the national average of 6.7%. The average bridge in Minnesota is 40 years old, younger than the national average of 48 years.

Of the state's 13,551 bridges, 7,636 are in good condition, 5,306 are fair, and 609 are poor. View the full breakdown on the [Minnesota report card](/reports/minnesota).

Most-Traveled Bridges in Minnesota

These are the bridges carrying the highest daily traffic volumes across Minnesota. High-traffic bridges are critical infrastructure -- their condition directly affects the commutes of tens of thousands of drivers.

# BridgeRating
1I 494

over KNOX AVE (BRT)

79.8
2I 35W

over STORM SEWER

80.6
3I 35W

over STORM SEWER

86.7
4I 494

over TH 100

76.2
5I 694

over TH 252; SB OFF RAMP

63.2
6I 35W

over COUNTY RD I

82.6
7I 94

over Franklin Terrace

70.1
8I 94

over MISS R ramp W River Rd

71.4
9I 694

over MN 47

67.6
10I 694

over 7th St. NE

71.1

Worst-Condition Bridges in Minnesota

The following bridges have the lowest sufficiency ratings in Minnesota. These structures are the most likely candidates for federal repair or replacement funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

# BridgeRating
1PERMANENTLY CLOSED

over CANNON RIVER

9.4
2T 76

over BUFFALO RIVER

10.5
3SERVICE RD

over South Fork Zumbro River

11.6
4SERVICE RD

over KANARANZI CREEK

11.8
5UT 2233

over SWAN RIVER

12.1
6T 144

over TOAD RIVER

12.2
7CR 118

over S BR ROOT RIVER

12.5
8T 516

over BEAVER CREEK

13.4
9MSAS 113

over TCW RR

14.4
10T 110

over JOE RIVER

14.6

Oldest Bridges in Minnesota

Minnesota's oldest bridges tell the story of the state's transportation history. Some of these structures have been in continuous service for over a century.

# BridgeRating
1MN 5

over RCRRA

57.1
2M 2105

over E CHAN MISSISSIPPI RIVER

66.1
3T 516

over BEAVER CREEK

13.4
4M 1608

over MINNEHAHA CREEK

39.9
5MSAS 226

over BNSF RR

63.3
6SERVICE RD

over South Fork Zumbro River

11.6
7T 362

over N FK CROW RIVER

18.7
8CR 118

over S BR ROOT RIVER

12.5
9MN 21

over STREAM

61.7
10CSAH 11

over STREAM

63.0

What These Numbers Mean for Minnesota

Minnesota's bridge infrastructure grade of B reflects both the current condition of the state's bridges and the scale of the challenge ahead. With an average bridge age of 40 years, many of these structures are approaching or past the 50-75 year design life typical of most bridges. The state's ability to maintain and replace aging bridges will determine whether conditions improve or deteriorate in the coming decade.

For county-by-county breakdowns, historical trends, and individual bridge profiles, visit the [Minnesota state page](/bridges/minnesota) or the [Minnesota report card](/reports/minnesota). You can also explore how Minnesota compares to other states in our [state rankings](/blog/best-bridge-infrastructure-by-state-2025).

Data source: All data comes from the National Bridge Inventory maintained by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). BridgeStats is not affiliated with the U.S. government. Data is provided for informational purposes only.