Total bridges
1,068
Public highway bridges in Jefferson County
County profile · official public datasets
Jefferson County, AL
1,068 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 19.7% rated Good, 78.1% Fair, 2.2% Poor.
- 1,068
- Public bridges
- 19.7%
- Good condition
- 2.2%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Jefferson County posts a better-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across large county bridge inventory.
- Top 43%
- lowest Poor share in state
- 2.2%
- Poor-condition share
- 1,068
- public highway bridges
- 1973
- avg year built
Poor is an FHWA condition category from the lowest applicable component rating (4 or below), not a live crossing-safety or closure decision. Rankings cover counties with at least five public highway bridges.
Jefferson County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Jefferson County ranks #29 of 67 Alabama counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 2.2%). Jefferson County, Alabama contains 1,068 public highway bridges. Roughly 19.7% are rated “Good,” 78.1% “Fair,” and 2.2% “Poor.” Poor means the lowest applicable deck, superstructure, substructure, or culvert rating is 4 or below on the 0–9 NBI scale. It is a condition category, not a live safety or closure decision.
Responsible agencies inspect covered bridges on risk-based intervals under current NBIS rules and submit inventory data to FHWA annually. The list below shows every NBI-tracked bridge in the county. Use the “Sort by” controls to change the ordering, and click any row for its reported inspection date, traffic count, and condition fields.
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See methodology for full definitions.
Good condition
19.7%
210 of 1,068 rated 7-9
Fair condition
78.1%
834 of 1,068 rated 5-6
Poor condition
2.2%
24 of 1,068 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#29 of 67
Among Alabama counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 1,068 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 19.7% (210)
Fair 78.1% (834)
Poor 2.2% (24)
Jefferson County's Poor-condition bridges carry 268,111 vehicle crossings a day
That is 1.3% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 2.3% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 11,171 crossings a day against 8,372 for a Good-condition one. A Poor rating is a condition category, not a closure or a live safety judgement; it means the lowest applicable component rating is 4 or below.
Computed over the 1,053 of 1,068 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
51.5% of Jefferson County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
550 of the 1,068 bridges with a recorded construction year were built in 1974 or earlier. Age alone is not a defect: a well-maintained older bridge can rate Good, and 19.7% of this county's inventory does. Even so, this older cohort is the population from which future Poor ratings are drawn, which is why the age profile below matters alongside the condition split above.
Cutoff derives from the 2024 release year minus a 50-year design life. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
One structure carries 37% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
I - 459 SOUTH over CAHABA RIVER, built 1981, carries 99,312 vehicles a day, the most of any Poor-rated structure here. The county's Poor-condition exposure is concentrated rather than evenly spread, so the 24-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 268,111 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Jefferson County's bridges were built
1,068 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- 1900s 1
1900–1909
1 bridges
- 1910s 14
1910–1919
14 bridges
- 1920s 20
1920–1929
20 bridges
- 1930s 70
1930–1939
70 bridges
- 1940s 31
1940–1949
31 bridges
- 1950s 100
1950–1959
100 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
178 bridges
- 1970s
1970–1979
254 bridges
- 1980s
1980–1989
211 bridges
- 1990s 57
1990–1999
57 bridges
- 2000s 61
2000–2009
61 bridges
- 2010s 62
2010–2019
62 bridges
- 2020s 9
2020–2029
9 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1970s, when 254 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 23.8% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 45 to 54 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1973) matches the Alabama average (1974).
How Jefferson County compares with Alabama's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 Alabama counties nearest Jefferson County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 2.2% Poor share is the 4th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1973 against a peer-group mean of 1975 is in line with the group.
Showing the 5 closest of 66 Alabama counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County (this page) | 1,068 | 19.7% | 78.1% | 2.2% | 1973 |
| Madison County | 710 | 41.8% | 56.9% | 1.3% | 1972 |
| Mobile County | 612 | 21.1% | 76.1% | 2.8% | 1980 |
| Montgomery County | 596 | 37.9% | 59.9% | 2.2% | 1975 |
| Tuscaloosa County | 482 | 44.6% | 54.8% | 0.6% | 1981 |
| Calhoun County | 386 | 32.9% | 63.2% | 3.9% | 1969 |
Each share is of that county's own total tracked bridges; peers are the counties with 5 or more bridges whose inventory size is closest to Jefferson County's. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
Nationwide counties with similar inventory size or average build year
Two NBI-derived peer sets for Jefferson County, both outside Alabama so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside AL (1,068 bridges here).
- Shelby County, TN · 1,077 bridges
- Miami-Dade County, FL · 1,057 bridges
- Wayne County, MI · 1,026 bridges
- Riverside County, CA · 1,117 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside AL (1973 here).
- Erie County, NY · avg 1973 · 906 bridges
- Davidson County, TN · avg 1973 · 832 bridges
- Lancaster County, PA · avg 1973 · 801 bridges
- Sacramento County, CA · avg 1973 · 740 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
Fair-condition bridges (834)
OVERBROOK RD
FairOver: SHADES CREEK
OVERBROOK RD * SHADES CK, Jefferson, AL
Built 1915 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,730
SOUTH PARK RD
FairOver: VALLEY CK
SO PK RD * VALLEY CK, Jefferson, AL
Built 1925 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 8,000
16TH ST NO.
FairOver: VILLAGE CREEK
16TH ST * VILLAGE CK, Jefferson, AL
Built 1925 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 10,000
18 TH ST NO
FairOver: VILLAGE CK
18 TH ST NO * VILLAGE CK, Jefferson, AL
Built 1925 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 350
25 TH ST NO
FairOver: VILLAGE CK
25TH ST NO * VILLAGE CK, Jefferson, AL
Built 1925 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,200
OLD BRADFORD RD
FairOver: TURKEY CREEK
1 MILE NW OF PINSON, Jefferson, AL
Built 1930 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 351
CENTER STREET
FairOver: VALLEY CREEK
CENTER STREET * VALLEY CK, Jefferson, AL
Built 1930 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 6,000
75 TH ST
FairOver: VILLAGE CREEK
75TH ST N * VILLAGE CREEK, Jefferson, AL
Built 1930 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,500
84TH STREET NORTH
FairOver: VILLAGE CREEK
84TH ST N * VILLAGE CK, Jefferson, AL
Built 1930 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,100
LOMB AVE
FairOver: VALLEY CREEK
LOMB AVE * VALLEY CREEK, Jefferson, AL
Built 1931 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 16,000
ROCKY RIDGE ROAD
FairOver: SHADES CREEK
ROCKY RIDGE, Jefferson, AL
Built 1935 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 10,930
AL - 119
FairOver: BRANCH
1.4 MI N JEFF SHELBY LINE, Jefferson, AL
Built 1935 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 11,090
AL - 119
FairOver: LITTLE CAHABA RIVER
AL 119 * LIL CAHABARIVER, Jefferson, AL
Built 1935 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,650
OLD BRADFORD RD
FairOver: BEAVER CREEK(PINSON)
200 FT E HWY 79 PINSON, Jefferson, AL
Built 1935 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 671
OLD TENN PIKE ROAD
FairOver: GURLEY CREEK TRIBUTARY
0.25 MILES OFF HWY 79, Jefferson, AL
Built 1935 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 473
CHEROKEE DR
FairOver: CAHABA RV
CHEROKEE DR * PKWY DR, Jefferson, AL
Built 1937 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,000
GREENSPRINGS AVE
FairOver: RAILROAD
GREENSPRINGS AVE * CENTER, Jefferson, AL
Built 1938 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 20,500
AV W
FairOver: VILLAGE CK
AVENUE W ENS * VILLAGE CK, Jefferson, AL
Built 1938 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 20,200
NEW CASTLE RD
FairOver: CUNNINGHAM CREEK
1.5 MILES N NEW CASTLE, Jefferson, AL
Built 1938 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,798
SICARD HOLLOW RD
FairOver: FLEMING BRANCH
CAHABA HEIGHTS, Jefferson, AL
Built 1940 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 825
MT BROOK PKWY
FairOver: WATKINS CREEK
MT BROOK PKWY * CAHABA RD, Jefferson, AL
Built 1945 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,025
MT BROOK PKWY
FairOver: SHADES CREEK
MT BROOK PKWY * OLDMILL, Jefferson, AL
Built 1945 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 8,115
MT BROOK PKWY
FairOver: SHADES CREEK
MT BROOK PKWY * OLDMILL, Jefferson, AL
Built 1945 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 8,115
WATKINS ROAD
FairOver: WATKINS CREEK
Watkins Road, Jefferson, AL
Built 1945 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,008
BEECHWOOD ROAD
FairOver: SHADES CREEK
Beechwood - Overbrook rd, Jefferson, AL
Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,460
4TH AVE BESS
FairOver: HALLS CREEK
0.5 MILE S OF BESSEMER, Jefferson, AL
Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,622
OLD MULGA LOOP RD
FairOver: BHAM-SOUTHERN RR
500 SE AL 269 (MULGA), Jefferson, AL
Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 430
HEATHERMOOR RD
FairOver: WATKINS CREEK
HEATHERMOOR DR * WATKIN C, Jefferson, AL
Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,160
5TH AVE NO
FairOver: BLUE CREEK
5TH AVE / DUNBAR CT., Jefferson, AL
Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,150
OLD SPRINGVILLE RD
FairOver: CAHABA RIVER TRIBUTARY
50FT S UPHILL DR, Jefferson, AL
Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,251
OLD SPRINGVILLE R
FairOver: MCCULVY CREEK
150 FT N CAVERN RD, Jefferson, AL
Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,940
AL - 3 SOUTH
FairOver: PATTON CREEK
.6 MI. NO. I-65, Jefferson, AL
Built 1942 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 16,460
LOCK 17 ROAD
FairOver: VALLEY CREEK
2 MI E OAKGROVE, Jefferson, AL
Built 1954 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,326
AL - 5 (US 11)
FairOver: BRANCH
500 SOUTH AL 150, Jefferson, AL
Built 1955 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 19,500
BUD HOLMES ROAD
FairOver: TURKEY CREEK
1.5 MI E SR 75 PINSON, Jefferson, AL
Built 1955 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,966
BRADFORD ROAD
FairOver: SELF CREEK
JCT BRASHER ROAD, Jefferson, AL
Built 1955 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,319
RED LANE ROAD
FairOver: BRANCH
RED LANE RD * SUNSET DR, Jefferson, AL
Built 1958 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 12,000
SAULTER RD
FairOver: GRIFFIN BROOK
INT SAULTER * BROADWAY, Jefferson, AL
Built 1960 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,055
CAROLINA TERRACE
FairOver: DRAINAGE DITCH
CAROLINA TERR * 25 TH ST, Jefferson, AL
Built 1960 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,200
AL - 5 NORTH
FairOver: SOUTHERN RR
@ OLD JASPER HWY, Jefferson, AL
Built 1962 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 6,240
AL - 5 SOUTH
FairOver: SOU RR
@ OLD JASPER HWY, Jefferson, AL
Built 1962 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 6,240
CLEBURN AVE
FairOver: VALLEY CREEK
BRIGHTON ROAD* 34 TH SW, Jefferson, AL
Built 1962 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 14,000
LAKE RIDGE DR
FairOver: VILLAGE CREEK
LAKE RIDGE DR * VALLEY CK, Jefferson, AL
Built 1940 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,150
CHALKVILLE RD
FairOver: DRY CREEK
50 W GREEN DR TRUSSVILLE, Jefferson, AL
Built 1965 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 18,665
OPORTO-MADRID BLV
FairOver: GEORGIA RD * RR
OPORTO * GEORGIA RD, Jefferson, AL
Built 1967 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 18,400
LAWSON RD
FairOver: FIVE MILE CK
LAWSON RD * FIVE MI CK, Jefferson, AL
Built 1967 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,400
I 59/20 SOUTH
FairOver: 28 TH ST NO
I 59 * 28 TH ST, Jefferson, AL
Built 1971 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 76,205
MARY VANN LANE
FairOver: FIVE MILE CREEK
.5 MI W OLD SPRINGVILLE, Jefferson, AL
Built 1912 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,502
POPLAR LANE
FairOver: FRISCO RAILROAD
1 MI W MINOR PARKWAY, Jefferson, AL
Built 1972 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 547
RIVER RUN DRIVE
FairOver: CAHABA RIVER
RIVER RUN @ OVERTON, Jefferson, AL
Built 1973 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,805
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges
Every figure on PlainBridges is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. NBI condition categories reflect the latest reported inventory record, not a live safety, closure, or travel decision.