Total bridges
710
Public highway bridges in Madison County
County profile · official public datasets
Madison County, AL
710 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 41.8% rated Good, 56.9% Fair, 1.3% Poor.
- 710
- Public bridges
- 41.8%
- Good condition
- 1.3%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Madison County posts a top-quartile lowest Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across large county bridge inventory.
- Top 22%
- lowest Poor share in state
- 1.3%
- Poor-condition share
- 710
- public highway bridges
- 1972
- 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.
Madison County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Madison County ranks #15 of 67 Alabama counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 1.3%). Madison County, Alabama contains 710 public highway bridges. Roughly 41.8% are rated “Good,” 56.9% “Fair,” and 1.3% “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
41.8%
297 of 710 rated 7-9
Fair condition
56.9%
404 of 710 rated 5-6
Poor condition
1.3%
9 of 710 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#15 of 67
Among Alabama counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 710 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 41.8% (297)
Fair 56.9% (404)
Poor 1.3% (9)
Madison County's Poor-condition bridges carry 35,312 vehicle crossings a day
That is 0.5% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 1.3% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 3,924 crossings a day against 10,801 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 709 of 710 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
55.5% of Madison County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
394 of the 710 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 41.8% 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 54.1% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
SPARKMAN DR over PINHOOK CREEK, built 1968, carries 19,100 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 9-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 35,312 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Madison County's bridges were built
710 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- 1900s 1
1900–1909
1 bridges
- 1910s 4
1910–1919
4 bridges
- 1920s 12
1920–1929
12 bridges
- 1930s
1930–1939
97 bridges
- 1940s
1940–1949
63 bridges
- 1950s
1950–1959
73 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
93 bridges
- 1970s
1970–1979
64 bridges
- 1980s
1980–1989
79 bridges
- 1990s
1990–1999
99 bridges
- 2000s
2000–2009
66 bridges
- 2010s
2010–2019
46 bridges
- 2020s 13
2020–2029
13 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1990s, when 99 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 13.9% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 25 to 34 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1972) matches the Alabama average (1974).
How Madison County compares with Alabama's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 Alabama counties nearest Madison County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 1.3% Poor share is the 2nd-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1972 against a peer-group mean of 1979 is 7 years older.
Showing the 5 closest of 66 Alabama counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison County (this page) | 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 |
| Baldwin County | 381 | 48.3% | 50.4% | 1.3% | 1991 |
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 Madison 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 Madison County, both outside Alabama so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside AL (710 bridges here).
- Montgomery County, TX · 710 bridges
- McLennan County, TX · 714 bridges
- Pinal County, AZ · 716 bridges
- Pulaski County, AR · 721 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside AL (1972 here).
- Santa Clara County, CA · avg 1972 · 964 bridges
- Kern County, CA · avg 1972 · 668 bridges
- York County, PA · avg 1972 · 569 bridges
- Middlesex County, NJ · avg 1972 · 563 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
All bridges (710)
BUXTON ROAD
FairOver: DRAIN DITCH
JUST EAST OF GATE 2, Madison, AL
Built 1948 ADT: 3,950
OLD 431 HWY
FairOver: PAINT ROCK RIVER RELIEF
1.2 MI S NEW HOPE, Madison, AL
Built 1928 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 675
OLD 431 HWY
FairOver: PAINT ROCK RIVER RELIEF
1.3 MI S NEW HOPE, Madison, AL
Built 1928 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 672
LARKIN SULLIVAN R
FairOver: COPELAND CREEK
0.2 MI N JCT CO RD 142, Madison, AL
Built 1995 Load: 5.6 t ADT: 200
BOB STILES RD
FairOver: MOLDER BRANCH
0.2 MI E CO RD 416, Madison, AL
Built 1935 Load: 5.9 t ADT: 80
BUDDY WILLIAMSON
FairOver: SWAMP BRANCH CREEK
0.25 MI. WEST OF BUTLER, Madison, AL
Built 1940 Load: 7.9 t ADT: 100
INDIAN CREEK RD
FairOver: HAM CREEK
0.1 MI S CO RD 043, Madison, AL
Built 1967 Load: 8.1 t ADT: 120
BUTLER RD
FairOver: SWAMP BRANCH
0.5 MI SO JCT CO RD 487, Madison, AL
Built 1934 Load: 9.0 t ADT: 1,138
SHORT PIKE
FairOver: SHORT PIKE @ RELIEF CHAN
.2 MILES WEST WALL TRIANA, Madison, AL
Built 1955 Load: 9.4 t ADT: 80
MOONTOWN RD
FairOver: HAMBRICK BRANCH
0.4 MI SO US HWY 72E, Madison, AL
Built 1932 Load: 9.6 t ADT: 210
SHARPES HOLLOW RD
FairOver: HURRICANE CREEK
0.1 MI E JCT CO RD 468, Madison, AL
Built 1915 Load: 9.7 t ADT: 125
MAYSVILLE RD
FairOver: BANJO MARTIN BRANCH
0.2 MI NO CO RD 1425, Madison, AL
Built 1939 Load: 10.5 t ADT: 600
J B WALKER RD
FairOver: JENNY RIVER
1.6 MI NW OF PLEVNA, Madison, AL
Built 1955 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 125
CHARITY LA
FairOver: COPELAND CREEK
2.3 MI NW HAZEL GREEN, Madison, AL
Built 1934 Load: 11.6 t ADT: 1,250
COUNTY LAKE RD
FairOver: HURRICANE CREEK RELIEF
0.8 MI EAST CO ROAD1468, Madison, AL
Built 1956 Load: 11.6 t ADT: 250
HURRICANE RD
FairOver: STILLHOUSE CREEK
0.4 MI N CO RD 1436, Madison, AL
Built 1953 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 450
ELKWOOD SECTION RD
FairOver: COPELAND CREEK
1.1 MI E JCT FAS RT 45 04, Madison, AL
Built 2010 Load: 11.8 t ADT: 1,196
JEFF RD
FairOver: VAUGHN BRANCH
0.8 MI N US HWY 72, Madison, AL
Built 1939 Load: 12.0 t ADT: 3,500
MURPHY HILL RD
FairOver: BANYON SWAMP BRANCH
0.3 MI N CO RD 137, Madison, AL
Built 1936 Load: 12.5 t ADT: 2,967
SHARPES COVE RD
FairOver: HURRICANE CREEK
0.2 MI W CO RD 417, Madison, AL
Built 1934 Load: 13.3 t ADT: 190
JEFF RD
FairOver: DRY CREEK
0.2 MI N ALA HWY 53, Madison, AL
Built 1939 Load: 14.0 t ADT: 1,050
BROWNSBORO RD
FairOver: FLINT RIVER
0.2 MI NE US HWY 72 E, Madison, AL
Built 1950 Load: 14.0 t ADT: 450
TONEY SCHOOL RD
FairOver: HARDIN BRANCH
0.3 MI N JCT MCKEE RD, Madison, AL
Built 1952 Load: 14.1 t ADT: 175
J B HAWKINS RD
FairOver: KILLINGWORTH COVE BRANCH
0.1 MI JCT CO RD 409, Madison, AL
Built 1937 Load: 14.9 t ADT: 65
NEAL ROAD
FairOver: TOFTOY THROUGHWAY
0.55 miles N of VBC49, Madison, AL
Built 1968 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 1,992
HONEY DR
FairOver: JENNY RIVER
0.2 MI S TN STATE LINE, Madison, AL
Built 1956 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 100
RYLAND PIKE
FairOver: FLINT RIVER
0.7 MI W MAYSVILLE, Madison, AL
Built 1948 Load: 15.5 t ADT: 1,500
WALL-TRIANA HWY
FairOver: MADISON BRANCH
0.2 MI N MILL RD, Madison, AL
Built 1938 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 12,000
WINCHESTER RD
FairOver: RODGERS BRANCH
0.2 MI SOUTH NEW MARKET, Madison, AL
Built 1936 Load: 16.5 t ADT: 3,500
TA-1 CENTERLINE RD
FairOver: INDIAN CREEK
4.0 MI WEST PATTON ROAD, Madison, AL
Built 1992 Load: 16.8 t ADT: 30
7804 TARGET RANGE
FairOver: WETLAND
BEHIND (W) BUILDING 7804, Madison, AL
Built 1991 Load: 16.8 t ADT: 10
WEST LIMESTONE RD
FairOver: COPELAND CREEK
2 MI W HAZEL GREEN, Madison, AL
Built 1940 Load: 17.6 t ADT: 1,620
MAYSVILLE RD
FairOver: LOLLAR BRANCH
INTERSECT CO RD1443 1258, Madison, AL
Built 1939 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 650
COUNTY LAKE RD
FairOver: HURRICANE CREEK
0.2 MI EAST CO RD 1468, Madison, AL
Built 1939 Load: 18.0 t ADT: 927
JOE QUICK RD
FairOver: FLINT RIVER
0.3 MI NE JCT CO RD 187, Madison, AL
Built 1948 Load: 18.6 t ADT: 3,078
O. PATTERSON RD
FairOver: MOUNTAIN FORK CREEK
1.5 MI W JCT CO RD 305, Madison, AL
Built 1957 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 1,513
RIVERTON RD
FairOver: BRIER FORK FLINT RIVER
1.0 MI SO CO RD 450, Madison, AL
Built 1955 Load: 19.5 t ADT: 520
R8 (I565W-US231N)
FairOver: CITY STREETS ;CRK
RAMP 8 BUS DEPOT, Madison, AL
Built 1991 Load: 19.5 t ADT: 10,716
BAILEY COVE RD
FairOver: ALDRIDGE CREEK
8228 BAILEY COVE RD, Madison, AL
Built 1970 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 18,000
OLD 431 HWY
FairOver: GOOSE CREEK
0.5 MI NE US HWY 431, Madison, AL
Built 1928 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 746
O. PATTERSON RD
FairOver: FLINT RIVER
0.5 MI W JCT CO RD 450, Madison, AL
Built 1956 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 1,513
HOBBS ISLAND RD
FairOver: FLINT RIVER
4 MI W JCT HWY 431 S, Madison, AL
Built 1950 Load: 20.2 t ADT: 3,500
R11W(WASHST-I565)
FairOver: CHURCH STREET
2.3 MI E JCT I565 * SR 53, Madison, AL
Built 1991 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 5,284
ELKWOOD SECTION R
FairOver: FOWLER CREEK
1 MI W JCT US HWY 231, Madison, AL
Built 1962 Load: 20.7 t ADT: 850
ELKWOOD SECTION R
FairOver: WALKER CREEK
0.3 MI W US HWY 231 JCT, Madison, AL
Built 1962 Load: 20.7 t ADT: 820
SR 53
FairOver: STREAM
0.3 MI S US 431, Madison, AL
Built 1977 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 80,124
GURLEY PIKE
FairOver: HURRICANE CREEK
2.4 MI SE MAYSVILLE, Madison, AL
Built 1949 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 900
GURLEY PIKE
FairOver: HURRICANE CREEK (REL)
2.3 MI SE MAYSVILLE, Madison, AL
Built 1949 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 900
GURLEY PIKE
FairOver: HURRINCANE CREEK (REL)
2.2 MI SE MAYSVILLE, Madison, AL
Built 1949 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 900
BROWNSBORO RD
FairOver: BURNS SPRING BRANCH
0.2 MI WEST CO.RD. 1307, Madison, AL
Built 1940 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 650
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.