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.

Total bridges

710

Public highway bridges in Madison County

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

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).

Source FHWA National Bridge Inventory (year built) As of 2024 NBI release

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.

Bridge inventory size and condition shares for Madison County and the 5 Alabama counties closest to it in inventory size
County Bridges Poor
Madison County (this page) 710 1.3%
Mobile County 612 2.8%
Montgomery County 596 2.2%
Tuscaloosa County 482 0.6%
Calhoun County 386 3.9%
Baldwin County 381 1.3%

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).

Similar average build year

Nearest mean year-built outside AL (1972 here).

Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.

All 710 Good 297 Fair 404 Poor 9

Good-condition bridges (297)

US 431; SR 1

Good

Over: FLINT RIVER RELIEF #2

0.3 MI S FLINT RIVER, Madison, AL

Built 1984 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 10,772

US 431; SR 1

Good

Over: FLINT RIVER RELIEF #5

0.8 MI S FLINT RIVER, Madison, AL

Built 1984 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 10,772

US 431; SR 1

Good

Over: FLINT RIVER RELIEF #1

0.2 MI S FLINT RIVER, Madison, AL

Built 1984 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 10,772

RAMP 43 AIRPORT R

Good

Over: I565

1 MI E CO LINE RD, Madison, AL

Built 1989 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 4,781

US 231/ SR 53

Good

Over: WEATHERLY ROAD

US231 OVER WEATHERLY RD, Madison, AL

Built 2009 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 20,102

US 231/ SR 53

Good

Over: WEATHERLY ROAD

US231 OVER WEATHERLY RD, Madison, AL

Built 2009 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 28,276

HOLLOW ROAD

Good

Over: PINHOOK CREEK

.2 M N OF WINCHESTER RD, Madison, AL

Built 1988 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 700

Cave Springs Rd.

Good

Over: BAKERS SPRING BRANCH

?????????????????????????, Madison, AL

Built 2009 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 1,220

MILL RD.

Good

Over: MILL CREEK

1.0 MI W OF SULLIVAN ST., Madison, AL

Built 2009 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 3,500

MADISON PIKE

Good

Over: SR255

.3 MI N JCT I565/SR255, Madison, AL

Built 2022 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 16,934

US 431

Good

Over: PAINT ROCK RIVER RELIEF

0.4 MI N PAINT ROCK RIVER, Madison, AL

Built 1996 Load: 34.5 t ADT: 9,519

COLEMAN

Good

Over: DALLAS CREEK

COLEMAN, Madison, AL

Built 1971 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 350

MT. CARMEL RD

Good

Over: MT CARMEL BRANCH

.6 MI. E. H. NANCE RD, Madison, AL

Built 1994 Load: 34.8 t ADT: 200

GREENVILLE PIKE

Good

Over: STEWART BRANCH

1.5 SO LINCOLN CO LINE, Madison, AL

Built 2004 Load: 34.8 t ADT: 428

PULASKI PIKE

Good

Over: PINHOOK CREEK

PULASKI PIKE N STAGRUN, Madison, AL

Built 1968 Load: 34.9 t ADT: 11,000

R13E(WASHST-I565)

Good

Over: CONNECTS TO R-9

2.6 MI E JCT I565 * SR 53, Madison, AL

Built 1991 Load: 34.9 t ADT: 1,555

HILLCREST AVE

Good

Over: TRIB INDIAN CREEK

.5 NORTH OF US 72, Madison, AL

Built 2013 Load: 34.9 t ADT: 300

DEMENT

Good

Over: DALLAS CREEK

RISON * DEMENT, Madison, AL

Built 1974 Load: 35.1 t ADT: 150

RAMP 45 TO I565

Good

Over: I-565; SR 20

1 MI. EAST CO. LINE RD., Madison, AL

Built 1989 Load: 35.1 t ADT: 3,027

NORTH PLYMOUTH RD

Good

Over: BRANCH

305 N PLYMOUTH RD, Madison, AL

Built 1981 Load: 35.3 t ADT: 6,400

RUSSELL

Good

Over: DALLAS CREEK

RUSSELL * RISON, Madison, AL

Built 1971 Load: 35.4 t ADT: 850

CLINTON AVE

Good

Over: PINHOOK CREEK

604 CLINTON AVE, Madison, AL

Built 1966 Load: 35.5 t ADT: 15,400

ACCESS DRIVE

Good

Over: BROGLAN BRANCH

SW COR SPARKMAN DR*JOR LN, Madison, AL

Built 1972 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 50

PATTERSON LA

Good

Over: BEAVER DAM CREEK

0.8 MI W JCT CO RD 138, Madison, AL

Built 1946 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 2,476

TEL FAIR

Good

Over: FAGAN CREEK

TEL FAIR * FAGAN, Madison, AL

Built 1973 Load: 35.9 t ADT: 500

MOUNTAIN GAP ROA

Good

Over: ALDRIDGE CREEK

1010 MT GAP RD, Madison, AL

Built 1982 Load: 35.9 t ADT: 6,200

SLAUGHTER ROAD

Good

Over: RAINBOW CREEK

1.3 MI N OLD MADISON PIKE, Madison, AL

Built 2003 Load: 35.9 t ADT: 12,000

DOUGLAS RD.

Good

Over: DOUGLAS BRANCH

0.4 MI W JCT CO RD 088, Madison, AL

Built 2010 Load: 36.1 t ADT: 2,760

SR 53

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

5 MI N JCT US 72, Madison, AL

Built 2012 Load: 36.1 t ADT: 26,632

ASTALOT DRIVE

Good

Over: BRANCH

13009 ASTALOT DRIVE, Madison, AL

Built 1984 Load: 36.2 t ADT: 400

BRADFORD DRIVE

Good

Over: MID CITY EXIT

HUNTSVILLE, Madison, AL

Built 2020 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 16,196

_Haysland Road

Good

Over: UNAMED CREEK

0.25 MI NORTH HOBBS ROAD, Madison, AL

Built 2018 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 14,580

FOWLER ROAD

Good

Over: INDIAN CREEK

0.1 M W OF SATURN RD, Madison, AL

Built 2016 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 2,500

CARL T. JONES DR.

Good

Over: ALDRIDGE CREEK

2.2 MILES EAST HWY 231 SO, Madison, AL

Built 1988 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 24,000

_Wood Trail Dr

Good

Over: _unnamed drainage creek

0.25 east Big Cove Rd, Madison, AL

Built 2016 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 40

DUG HILL RD

Good

Over: HAMBRICK BRANCH

0.5 MI SO US HWY 72 E, Madison, AL

Built 1984 Load: 37.0 t ADT: 650

FARROW ROAD

Good

Over: INDIAN CREEK

0.10 MILE EAST OF SLAUGHT, Madison, AL

Built 2004 Load: 37.0 t ADT: 9,520

US 72; AL 2

Good

Over: I565

I565 * U.S. 72, Madison, AL

Built 2004 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 8,324

OAKWOOD AVE

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

3801 OAKWOOD AVE, Madison, AL

Built 1957 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 13,800

R16W (I565-PRATT)

Good

Over: CONNECTS TO RAMP 8

2.7 MI E JCT I565 * SR 53, Madison, AL

Built 1991 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 962

OLD MONROVIA RD

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

1 MILE NORTH U.S. 72, Madison, AL

Built 2008 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 22,000

I-565

Good

Over: N.S. R.R./INTERGRAPH WAY

2.8 MI E CO LINE ROAD, Madison, AL

Built 1988 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 36,415

I-565

Good

Over: N.S. R.R./INTERGRAPH WAY

2.8 MI E CO LINE RD, Madison, AL

Built 1988 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 36,415

R1 (565E-US231S)

Good

Over: PULASKI PIKE; HOLMES AVE

1.6 MI E JCT I565 * SR 53, Madison, AL

Built 1991 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 20,065

CARL T. JONES DR.

Good

Over: ALDRIDGE CREEK

2.2 MILES EAST HWY 231 S, Madison, AL

Built 1988 Load: 37.7 t ADT: 29,900

US 231/WHITEBURG D

Good

Over: WHITESBURG DRIVE

US231 OVER WHITESBURG DR, Madison, AL

Built 2009 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 40,203

CRAIGMONT DR

Good

Over: BRANCH

CRAIGMONT * LAUDERDALE, Madison, AL

Built 1983 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 460

Old Hwy US-431

Good

Over: Flint River (MC)

_, Madison, AL

Built 2021 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 1,000

TOWNSEND SE

Good

Over: FAGAN CREEK

TOWNSEND * FAGAN CREEK, Madison, AL

Built 1974 Load: 38.3 t ADT: 750

LENDON MAIN

Good

Over: UN NAMED DITCH

2.5 MILE EAST U.S.231, Madison, AL

Built 2011 Load: 38.3 t ADT: 100

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Related

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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.