Imagine driving after one of Colorado's heavy snow storms; you're crossing over I-25 on one of the many bridges, and it collapses.

Pittsburgh just had a bridge collapse, injuring 10 and scaring the bajeebus out many more. They had to form a 'human chain' to get people off of a bus, and rescuers had to rappel down 150 feet down to help. A very, very frightening Friday morning for these folks.


Around the Fort Collins area, they always seem to be doing road construction, especially with the I-25 North Express Lanes Project. This is good news, not only for easing congestion but for making the bridges involved with the project safe.

In Colorado, according to 2021 study by the American Road & Transpiration Builders Association (ARTBA,) among the top 100 most-traveled & structurally deficient (a major component of the bridge is in poor or worse condition) bridges in America, Colorado has 8 of them.

Colorado's Structurally Deficient Bridges -- Amount of Daily Vehicles -- Year Built

  • #66 Denver -- 157,000 -- 1964
  • #76 Denver -- 157,000 -- 1964
  • #77 Denver -- 146,000 -- 1964
  • #78 Denver -- 146,000 -- 1964
  • #79 Denver -- 146,000 -- 1971
  • #80 Denver -- 146,000 -- 1960
  • #97 Jefferson County -- 135,000 -- 1967
  • #99 Jefferson County -- 135,000 -- 1967
  • #250 out of 250 - Larimer  - 86,000 -- 1965
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A 2019 ARTBA study found that $963 million in repairs/replacement were needed to address Colorado's problematic bridges/structures.

In 2021, the Federal Highway Administration noted the following for the Fort Collins area:

  • In LARIMER County, of the 557 bridges, 14 were/are in poor condition.
  • In WELD County, of the 607 bridges, 37 were/are in poor condition.

I've not been on a bridge in the Fort Collins area and felt it was unsafe; I wonder if those involved in the Pittsburgh collapse, also felt as safe?

Colorado's Most Dangerous Roads

Slivers of asphalt cling to mountainsides with barely enough room for a subcompact car, let alone the monster RVs peppering the roadways. Blind corners leave even the most experienced drivers wondering what awaits around the bend. Let's not forget the thousand-foot drops with nothing between safety and impending doom but a thin slice of gravel -- talk about white knuckles.

If you're brave enough to "risk your life" for beautiful views, you won't be disappointed.

How many of these dangerous roads have you traveled in Colorado?

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