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.
Fair-condition bridges (404)
JAMES RECORD RD
FairOver: BRADFORD CREEK
2.1 MI W REDSTONE, Madison, AL
Built 1966 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 5,500
Madison Blvd
FairOver: INDIAN CREEK
1.8 MI W JCT SR255 * SR20, Madison, AL
Built 1965 Load: 43.6 t ADT: 39,200
BOB WADE LA
FairOver: WADE BRANCH
1.7 MI E JCT US HWY 231, Madison, AL
Built 1952 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 950
BROWNSBORO RD
FairOver: FLINT RIVER RELIEF
0.5 MI NE US HWY 72 E, Madison, AL
Built 1935 Load: 43.8 t ADT: 880
SR53
FairOver: NORTHFORK * SOUTHERN RR
JCT SR53 * SOUTHERN RR, Madison, AL
Built 1990 Load: 44.1 t ADT: 26,819
SR 53
FairOver: TYRONE CREEK
17 MI N JCT US 72, Madison, AL
Built 1957 Load: 44.7 t ADT: 9,025
MERIDIAN STREET .
FairOver: DALLAS CREEK BY-PASS
.25 MILE SOUTH OF I-565, Madison, AL
Built 2010 Load: 44.7 t ADT: 4,600
WINCHESTER RD
FairOver: LAWLER BRANCH
0.2 MI N CO RD 1469, Madison, AL
Built 1965 Load: 45.6 t ADT: 4,000
MARTIN ROAD
FairOver: MCDONALD CREEK
0.5 MILES WEST OF GATE 1, Madison, AL
Built 1962 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 14,800
JORDAN RD (CITY)
FairOver: JORDAN CREEK
1.0 MI NW CO RD 1322, Madison, AL
Built 1943 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 1,800
R5(US231S-RAMP6E)
FairOver: NONE
1.86 MI E JCT I565 * SR53, Madison, AL
Built 1991 Load: 46.4 t ADT: 1,276
CHRIS DRIVE
FairOver: UNNAMED TRIBUTARY
0.1 MILE WEST US231, Madison, AL
Built 1992 Load: 47.2 t ADT: 1,580
SR 255
FairOver: NORFOLK SOUTHERN
0.1 MI N JCT I565 * SR255, Madison, AL
Built 1968 Load: 47.3 t ADT: 34,608
WEST CLINTON AVE
FairOver: BROGLAN BRANCH
.5 MILE NORTH GOV. DRIVE, Madison, AL
Built 2009 Load: 47.3 t ADT: 6,000
INNOVATION WAY
FairOver: DRY CREEK
.5 MILE EAST PULASKI PIKE, Madison, AL
Built 2002 Load: 47.4 t ADT: 300
US 231; SR 53
FairOver: SERVICE ROAD LOOP
USELESS DRAKE, Madison, AL
Built 1969 Load: 47.5 t ADT: 77,340
SR 255
FairOver: NORFOLK SOUTHERN
0.1 MI N JCT I565 * SR255, Madison, AL
Built 1968 Load: 47.7 t ADT: 34,608
SR 53
FairOver: BROGLAN BRANCH
1.3 MI N JCT US 72, Madison, AL
Built 1957 Load: 47.8 t ADT: 29,742
US231; US431; SR1
FairOver: HUNTSVILLE SPRING BRANCH
JCT GOVERNORS DR * US231N, Madison, AL
Built 1977 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 27,430
BLAKE BOTTOM ROAD
FairOver: DRY CREEK
APP 1.15 M WEST OF US 53, Madison, AL
Built 2006 Load: 48.2 t ADT: 7,900
PULASKI PIKE
FairOver: DRY CREEK
500 FT N of Bob Wade LN, Madison, AL
Built 1975 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 13,980
PHILLIPS RD
FairOver: HESTER CREEK
0.3 MI NE JCT CO RD 485, Madison, AL
Built 1950 Load: 49.2 t ADT: 75
AL 53
FairOver: UNNAMED TRIBUTARY
5.6 MI.S. JCT.US431 231, Madison, AL
Built 2004 Load: 49.7 t ADT: 46,257
US 72; SR 2
FairOver: SPARKMAN DRIVE
1 MI W JCT US72 * SR 53, Madison, AL
Built 1970 Load: 50.3 t ADT: 23,831
OLD MTN FORK RD
FairOver: MOUNTAIN FORK CREEK
1.5 MI NW NEW MARKET, Madison, AL
Built 1948 Load: 51.1 t ADT: 175
WINCHESTER RD
FairOver: JENNY RIVER
0.3 MI SO TENN ST LINE, Madison, AL
Built 1946 Load: 51.4 t ADT: 3,500
SHIELDS ROAD
FairOver: NORFOLK RAILROAD
.5 MILE NORTH U.S. 72, Madison, AL
Built 1999 Load: 51.5 t ADT: 17,080
SR 255
FairOver: BRANCH
2 MI N JCT I-565, Madison, AL
Built 1968 Load: 55.3 t ADT: 59,964
VERMONT RD
FairOver: CREEK
.5 MI W HWY 231 SOUTH, Madison, AL
Built 1986 Load: 57.7 t ADT: 3,065
US 231; SR 53
FairOver: AIRPORT ROAD
US 231 OVER AIRPORT ROAD, Madison, AL
Built 1993 Load: 58.6 t ADT: 77,340
HOLLOWAY DRIVE
FairOver: UNNAMED CREEK
.20 MILE WEST OF MERIDIAN, Madison, AL
Built 1990 Load: 58.7 t ADT: 50
CARROL RD
FairOver: LESLIE BRANCH
0.2 MI E OF CO RD 490, Madison, AL
Built 1960 Load: 61.1 t ADT: 300
US 231
FairOver: BRANCH
6 MI S TENN ST LINE, Madison, AL
Built 1929 Load: 62.1 t ADT: 27,296
US 431
FairOver: BRANCH
4 MI N PAINT ROCK RIVER, Madison, AL
Built 1957 Load: 63.6 t ADT: 10,814
SR 255
FairOver: CREEK
2.9 MILES N JCT US 72, Madison, AL
Built 1992 Load: 64.9 t ADT: 30,649
US 431
FairOver: BRANCH
4.2 MI N FLINT RIVER, Madison, AL
Built 1961 Load: 68.1 t ADT: 28,833
MASTIN LAKE RD
FairOver: PINHOOK CREEK
1005 MASTIN LAKE RD, Madison, AL
Built 1935 Load: 69.2 t ADT: 6,700
BLUE SPRING RD
FairOver: PINHOOK CREEK
BLUE SPRING ROAD, Madison, AL
Built 1956 Load: 69.3 t ADT: 12,300
WILLENA DRIVE
FairOver: BRANCH
2512 WILLENA DRIVE, Madison, AL
Built 1984 Load: 70.4 t ADT: 400
US 231
FairOver: BRANCH
1.2 MI N JCT US 231* 431, Madison, AL
Built 1990 Load: 70.5 t ADT: 16,512
PAINT ROCK RD
FairOver: CEDAR CREEK
0.3 MI E CO RD 387, Madison, AL
Built 1959 Load: 70.8 t ADT: 400
OLD R R BED RD
FairOver: KNOX CREEK
0.9 MI N US 72 HWY, Madison, AL
Built 1965 Load: 71.8 t ADT: 6,458
BAILEY COVE ROAD
FairOver: STREAM
BAILEY COVE* COUNTRY LANE, Madison, AL
Built 1982 Load: 75.9 t ADT: 14,700
US 431
FairOver: BRANCH
5.2 MI S FLINT RIVER, Madison, AL
Built 1957 Load: 78.4 t ADT: 15,939
CHERRY TREE ROAD
FairOver: TREMBLE CREEK
0.8 MI NW CO RD 537, Madison, AL
Built 2004 Load: 87.1 t ADT: 430
US72; SR2
FairOver: BRANCH
0.2MI E JCT SHIELDS RD/72, Madison, AL
Built 1933 Load: 88.0 t ADT: 32,353
JOE QUICK RD
FairOver: PIGRUM BRANCH
0.4 MI NE JCT CO RD 187, Madison, AL
Built 1948 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 3,078
HEGIA BURROW RD
FairOver: CAMPBELL COVE BRANCH
0.6 MI E JCT CO RD 155, Madison, AL
Built 1963 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 250
I565 * RAMPS
FairOver: MCDONALD CREEK
1.6 MI N JCT SR255 * I565, Madison, AL
Built 1991 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 114,294
I565 * RAMPS
FairOver: CREEK
1.7 MI E JCT SR255 * I565, Madison, AL
Built 1991 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 111,452
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.