County profile · official public datasets

Madison County, IL

523 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 49.3% rated Good, 42.3% Fair, 8.4% Poor.

523
Public bridges
49.3%
Good condition
8.4%
Poor condition

The verdict

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.

Madison County posts a higher-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across large county bridge inventory.

60th
of 102 on Poor share
8.4%
Poor-condition share
523
public highway bridges
1979
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 #60 of 102 Illinois counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 8.4%). Madison County, Illinois contains 523 public highway bridges. Roughly 49.3% are rated “Good,” 42.3% “Fair,” and 8.4% “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

523

Public highway bridges in Madison County

Good condition

49.3%

258 of 523 rated 7-9

Fair condition

42.3%

221 of 523 rated 5-6

Poor condition

8.4%

44 of 523 rated 4 or below

In-state Poor-share rank

#60 of 102

Among Illinois counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better

Condition distribution

Share of 523 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.

Good
49.3% (258)
Fair
42.3% (221)
Poor
8.4% (44)

Madison County's Poor-condition bridges carry 199,650 vehicle crossings a day

That is 4.8% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 8.4% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 4,538 crossings a day against 7,599 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 522 of 523 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.

39.8% of Madison County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark

208 of the 523 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 49.3% 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 12.5% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic

FAI 270 EB over COUNTY DITCH, built 1963, carries 24,900 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 44-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.

Share is of the 199,650 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

523 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade

bridges

What this shows Construction peaked in the 1960s, when 101 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 19.3% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 55 to 64 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1979) matches the Illinois average (1979).

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

How Madison County compares with Illinois's closest counties by inventory size

The 5 Illinois counties nearest Madison County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 8.4% Poor share is the 3rd-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1979 against a peer-group mean of 1978 is in line with the group.

Showing the 5 closest of 101 Illinois counties eligible for comparison.

Bridge inventory size and condition shares for Madison County and the 5 Illinois counties closest to it in inventory size
County Bridges Poor
Livingston County 579 8.3%
Iroquois County 570 14.4%
LaSalle County 528 12.3%
Madison County (this page) 523 8.4%
Vermilion County 494 7.3%
St. Clair County 486 9.1%

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 Illinois so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.

Similar inventory size

Nearest county inventories outside IL (523 bridges here).

Similar average build year

Nearest mean year-built outside IL (1979 here).

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

Fair-condition bridges (221)

IL 140 & IL 111 WB

Fair

Over: E Fork of Wood River

1.1mi W of IL 255, Madison, IL

Built 1973 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 15,200

IL3 HOMER ADAMS PK

Fair

Over: ILL 140

.4MI W FOSTERBERG RD, Madison, IL

Built 1985 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 13,500

CH61/AIRPORT ROAD

Fair

Over: LITTLE PIASA CREEK

1.3MI S JERSEY CO LN, Madison, IL

Built 1958 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 650

POWDERMILL/ FAU 90

Fair

Over: WOOD RIVER

1.5 M S ILL 140, Madison, IL

Built 1952 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 4,350

MSS 7010

Fair

Over: JUDY BRANCH

600 FT SOUTH OF MAIN, Madison, IL

Built 1987 Load: 35.0 t ADT: 500

FAI 270 FR RD 610

Fair

Over: COUNTY DITCH

1 mi W IL 157 on FR, Madison, IL

Built 1964 Load: 35.3 t ADT: 25

BROADWAY/FAU 9097

Fair

Over: ICG N&W RR

NEAR E C L VENICE, Madison, IL

Built 1936 Load: 35.3 t ADT: 7,450

OAK LAWN RD-MSS 90

Fair

Over: I-270

0.26 ME JCT 159, Madison, IL

Built 1964 Load: 35.3 t ADT: 800

IL 143

Fair

Over: WOOD RIVERCREEK

1.27 M W ILL 3, Madison, IL

Built 1967 Load: 35.3 t ADT: 10,500

US 67

Fair

Over: Mississippi Rvr NSRR UPR

ALTON RIVERFRONT, Madison, IL

Built 1994 Load: 35.3 t ADT: 22,000

FAI 70 EB

Fair

Over: MINIER SLOUGH

1.9 M W ILL 4, Madison, IL

Built 1964 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 15,300

FAI 70 WB

Fair

Over: MINIER SLOUGH

1.9 M W ILL 4, Madison, IL

Built 1964 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 15,300

I-270 EB

Fair

Over: St. Thomas Rd NSRR

1/2 MI E OF IL 3, Madison, IL

Built 1962 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 22,600

ILL 4

Fair

Over: W Trib to Silver Crk

500 N of IL 140, Madison, IL

Built 1936 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 3,800

IL 143

Fair

Over: POWER PLANT ACCESS

1.35MI W IL3/143 JCT, Madison, IL

Built 1968 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 10,500

FAI 70 EB

Fair

Over: WENDELL BRANCH

1.6 M E FAI 55, Madison, IL

Built 1965 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 15,300

I-270 WB

Fair

Over: St. Thomas Rd NSRR

1/2 MI E OF IL 3, Madison, IL

Built 1962 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 22,600

FAS 737

Fair

Over: WEST FK WOOD RIVERCK

3.5MI E GODFREY, Madison, IL

Built 1964 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 750

ARKANSAS RD/ TR 36

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF SUGAR CK

2.0 MI S HIGHLAND, Madison, IL

Built 1986 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 725

I-55/70 EB

Fair

Over: KEEBLER RD

1.5 M W 159, Madison, IL

Built 1959 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 23,000

I-55/70 WB

Fair

Over: KEEBLER RD

1.5 M WEST 159, Madison, IL

Built 1959 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 23,000

FAS777-LVNGSTN-ND

Fair

Over: FAI 55

AT LIVINGSTON, Madison, IL

Built 1974 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 1,550

IL 140 & IL 111

Fair

Over: Abandon RR ownd by quarr

0.1mi E of IL 3, Madison, IL

Built 1975 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 18,300

ILL 3 NB

Fair

Over: WOOD RIVER CREEK

W CL OF E ALTON, Madison, IL

Built 1984 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 21,100

US 40 / ILL 143

Fair

Over: W Trib to Sugar Crk

2M E Hghlnd rndabout, Madison, IL

Built 1901 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 5,300

TR 252

Fair

Over: TRIB TO SILVER CK

2.0 MI SW MARINE, Madison, IL

Built 1977 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 200

I-55/70 EB

Fair

Over: COLLINSVLE BELTLINE

COLLINSVILLE, Madison, IL

Built 1959 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 23,000

I-55/70 WB

Fair

Over: COLLINSVLE BELTLINE

COLLINSVILLE, Madison, IL

Built 1959 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 23,000

FAI 270 EB

Fair

Over: OA Rd UP KCS GWE NS IL20

1.5 MI W OF IL 111, Madison, IL

Built 1961 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 26,450

FAI 270 WB

Fair

Over: OA Rd UP KCS GWE NS IL20

1.5 MI W OF IL 111, Madison, IL

Built 1961 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 28,300

FAS 1937/TROY OFAL

Fair

Over: CONRAIL RR

1.5 MI S TROY, Madison, IL

Built 1987 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 8,150

TR 177 (MAPLE RD)

Fair

Over: FAI 55

2 M S JCT 140, Madison, IL

Built 1966 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 350

US 40

Fair

Over: FAI 70

2.2 MI E GRNT FRK RD, Madison, IL

Built 1964 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 4,300

IL 159

Fair

Over: Cahokia Creek

0.25 mi N of Edwardsville, Madison, IL

Built 1937 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 6,550

IL 143

Fair

Over: NSRR GWERR UPRR

0.3 MI E OF IL 3, Madison, IL

Built 1981 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 11,900

FAI 70 EB

Fair

Over: WILSON HEIGHTS RD

1.7 M E 159, Madison, IL

Built 1959 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 22,800

FAI 70 WB

Fair

Over: WILSON HEIGHTS RD

1.7 M E 159, Madison, IL

Built 1958 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 22,800

ALHAMBRA RD (FAS77

Fair

Over: I-55 & E FRONTAGE RD

0.3 MI SE LIVINGSTON, Madison, IL

Built 1973 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 525

FAI 255/RDWAY"B"

Fair

Over: FAI 55/70

1.35MI W OF ILL 157, Madison, IL

Built 1986 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 5,000

FAI-55 RAMPS &FR R

Fair

Over: TRIB TO SILVER CREEK

N OF NEW DOUGLAS RD, Madison, IL

Built 1970 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 28,800

LOW. MARINE RD/TR2

Fair

Over: SILVER CK.

3 MI. NE TROY, Madison, IL

Built 1991 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 475

FAI 255 NB

Fair

Over: HORSESHOE LAKE ROAD

1.2MI W ILL 157, Madison, IL

Built 1987 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 20,150

FAI 255 SB

Fair

Over: HORSESHOE LAKE ROAD

1.2MI W ILL157, Madison, IL

Built 1987 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 20,150

ROSE ROAD/ TR 395

Fair

Over: TRIB TO SUGAR CK

5.1 MI S HIGHLAND, Madison, IL

Built 1981 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 225

FAI 55/70 EB

Fair

Over: CANTEEN CREEK

FAI 70 OVER CANTEEN, Madison, IL

Built 1960 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 26,800

FAI 55/70 WB

Fair

Over: CANTEEN CREEK

FAI 70 OVER CANTEEN, Madison, IL

Built 1960 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 26,800

FAI 70 EB

Fair

Over: HIGHLAND SILVER LAKE

2.8 M E ILL 143, Madison, IL

Built 1962 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 11,800

FAI 70 WB

Fair

Over: HIGHLAND SILVER LAKE

2.8 M E ILL 143, Madison, IL

Built 1962 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 11,800

FAI 270 EB

Fair

Over: ILL 111

AT PONTOON BEACH, Madison, IL

Built 1961 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 26,200

FAI 270 WB

Fair

Over: ILL 111

AT PONTOON BEACH, Madison, IL

Built 1961 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 26,200
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.