Total bridges
523
Public highway bridges in Madison County
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.
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
- 1900s 12
1900–1909
12 bridges
- 1910s 3
1910–1919
3 bridges
- 1920s 6
1920–1929
6 bridges
- 1930s 19
1930–1939
19 bridges
- 1940s 12
1940–1949
12 bridges
- 1950s 33
1950–1959
33 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
101 bridges
- 1970s
1970–1979
47 bridges
- 1980s
1980–1989
91 bridges
- 1990s
1990–1999
76 bridges
- 2000s
2000–2009
71 bridges
- 2010s
2010–2019
41 bridges
- 2020s 11
2020–2029
11 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).
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.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Livingston County | 579 | 51.8% | 39.9% | 8.3% | 1978 |
| Iroquois County | 570 | 46.5% | 39.1% | 14.4% | 1980 |
| LaSalle County | 528 | 39.4% | 48.3% | 12.3% | 1978 |
| Madison County (this page) | 523 | 49.3% | 42.3% | 8.4% | 1979 |
| Vermilion County | 494 | 27.7% | 65% | 7.3% | 1979 |
| St. Clair County | 486 | 50% | 40.9% | 9.1% | 1977 |
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).
- Rapides County, LA · 523 bridges
- Kent County, MI · 523 bridges
- Williamson County, TN · 520 bridges
- New Castle County, DE · 527 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside IL (1979 here).
- Pima County, AZ · avg 1979 · 1,150 bridges
- Jefferson County, KY · avg 1979 · 662 bridges
- Spartanburg County, SC · avg 1979 · 638 bridges
- McPherson County, KS · avg 1979 · 586 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
Good-condition bridges (258)
TR 281A-Timber Rid
GoodOver: Trib to Wendell Branch
0.6 Mi E of Troy, Madison, IL
Built 2023 ADT: 25
US 40
GoodOver: SILVER CREEK
1.6 M W ILL 4, Madison, IL
Built 1938 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 7,850
SOUTH FRONTAGE-TR3
GoodOver: CANTEEN CK
1.2 MI E ILL 159, Madison, IL
Built 1959 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 1,600
MAD BOND CO LINE
GoodOver: CREEK
0.04M N I70, Madison, IL
Built 1965 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 325
CH 5
GoodOver: TRIB SILVER CR
5.3 MI N PIERRON, Madison, IL
Built 1962 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 300
I 255 "RAMP 006"
GoodOver: FAI 55 70;US 40
1.4MI W OF ILL 157, Madison, IL
Built 1986 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 6,700
CH8/MADISON CH5/BO
GoodOver: TRIB TO SILVER CK
5.9MI N PIERRON, Madison, IL
Built 1962 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 300
CONN RD/ TR 280
GoodOver: TRIB TO SILVER CK
1.0 MI SW ALHAMBRA, Madison, IL
Built 1979 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 75
ILL 143 WB
GoodOver: N ENTRANCE TO SIUE
1.3 MI W ILL 159, Madison, IL
Built 1968 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 7,550
TR 179
GoodOver: SUGAR FK CK
1.8 MI S ALHAMBRA, Madison, IL
Built 1970 Load: 29.5 t ADT: 125
PRAIRIE RD - TR 33
GoodOver: FAI 70
2.2 M E JCT 143, Madison, IL
Built 1963 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 400
TR 303
GoodOver: SUGAR FK
1.5 MI N ST JACOB, Madison, IL
Built 1977 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 250
ILL 143 EB
GoodOver: N ENTRANCE TO SIUE
1.3 MI W ILL 159, Madison, IL
Built 1968 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 10,500
Old Alton Edwrdsvl
GoodOver: SIU North Access Rd
OLD 159 1.5 M W EDWR, Madison, IL
Built 1968 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,200
ILL 4
GoodOver: TRIB TO SILVER CREEK
0.83 MI S OF ILL 143, Madison, IL
Built 1934 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,750
ILL 160
GoodOver: DRAIN TO SILVER LAKE
1MI N I-70AT TR 237, Madison, IL
Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,550
FAI 255
GoodOver: SCHNIEDER DITCH
.5MI NO OFI-55/70, Madison, IL
Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 40,200
IL 255 (FAP 310)
GoodOver: STREAM
0.17MI N MADISON AVE, Madison, IL
Built 1998 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 25,700
HORSESHOE LAKE RD
GoodOver: DRAIN TO HRSESHOE LK
.28MI W OF IL 111, Madison, IL
Built 2003 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,250
IL 100
GoodOver: YOUNGBLOOD HOLLOW BR
1.6MI E JERSEY CO LN, Madison, IL
Built 2008 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,600
POSSUM HILL ROAD
GoodOver: TRIB TO SILVER CREEK
1/4 MI W OF IL 4, Madison, IL
Built 1975 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,100
IL 111 / IL 267
GoodOver: N Trib to Rocky Fork
East of IL 255, Madison, IL
Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,050
FAS 778/ST. ROSE R
GoodOver: SUGAR CK
2.3MI E HIGHLAND, Madison, IL
Built 1948 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,550
LIBBRA RD/TR 67
GoodOver: TRIB TO SILVER CK
1.0MI SE LIVINGSTON, Madison, IL
Built 1974 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100
CH 13 SUMMERFIELD
GoodOver: LAKE FK CK
1.0 MI S ST JACOB, Madison, IL
Built 1971 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 350
ROOSEVELT RD/ TR 1
GoodOver: INDIAN CREEK
0.5 MI E MEADOWBROOK, Madison, IL
Built 1976 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 125
FAIRVIEW RD/ FAS 3
GoodOver: LITTLE SILVER
3.0 MI NE GRANTFORK, Madison, IL
Built 1978 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100
MAYER ROAD/ TR 239
GoodOver: SUGAR FORKCREEK
1.5 MI E MARINE, Madison, IL
Built 1981 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 150
BLACKSMITH RD/TR 1
GoodOver: TRIB TO L DRY FORK
2.0 MI SE N DOUGLAS, Madison, IL
Built 1979 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 50
DAVIS LN/ MSS 6160
GoodOver: S BR LITTLE PIASA
2.8 MI NW GODFREY, Madison, IL
Built 1978 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 400
SPRTSMNS LK RD/TR2
GoodOver: SUGAR FORK CREEK
1.5 MI SE MARINE, Madison, IL
Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100
TR 179/NIGGLI ROAD
GoodOver: LITTLE SILVER CREEK
4.0 MI NE GRANTFORK, Madison, IL
Built 1984 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100
TR157
GoodOver: TRIB. TO SILVER CRK.
1 MILE SE OF HAMEL, Madison, IL
Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 125
TR 165 MEFFERT RD
GoodOver: LITTLE SILVER CREEK
6.5 MI NORTH PIERRON, Madison, IL
Built 1986 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 150
BOND COUNTY TR 6
GoodOver: TRIBUTARY
3 MI SE NEW DOUGLAS, Madison, IL
Built 1986 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 25
TR 145
GoodOver: LITTLE SILVER CREEK
4.5 MI NE ALHAMBRA, Madison, IL
Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 50
ALHAMBRA RD/ TR 29
GoodOver: TRIB. TO LITTLE SILV
.2 MI. S. ALHAMBRA, Madison, IL
Built 1986 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 50
RINDERER RD/ TR 36
GoodOver: SUGAR CREEK
4.5MI SE OF HIGHLAND, Madison, IL
Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 325
NIGGLI RD/ TR 179
GoodOver: E. FORK SILVER CK
2.5 MI N GRANTFORK, Madison, IL
Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100
KEEBLER RD
GoodOver: BURDICK BR
.17MI S OF IL RT 162, Madison, IL
Built 1999 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,550
TR 372 LUDWIG RD
GoodOver: E. FORK OF SILVER CR
2.5 MI NE GRANTFORK, Madison, IL
Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 50
TR 328 GEIGER RD
GoodOver: SAND CREEK
3 MI SE. ALHAMBRA, Madison, IL
Built 1996 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 75
TR 9
GoodOver: TRIB TO DRY FORK CK
1.5 MI N NEW DOUGLAS, Madison, IL
Built 1994 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 50
S MORELAND RD CH 1
GoodOver: TRIB INDIAN CREEK
2.0 MI S BETHALTO, Madison, IL
Built 2004 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,850
POAG RD. CH69
GoodOver: DELLAPLAIN BR.
1.1 MI. W. 157, Madison, IL
Built 1966 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,100
E MICK RD/TR 261A
GoodOver: WENDALL BRANCH
2.0 MI N OF TROY, Madison, IL
Built 1996 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 200
FRANDSEN RD/TR 272
GoodOver: SILVER CREEK
2MI NW OF ALHAMBRA, Madison, IL
Built 1996 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100
TWIN HILL LN/TR 19
GoodOver: TRIB TO SILVER CREEK
2.5MI S OF HAMEL, Madison, IL
Built 1996 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 50
LUDWIG RD (TR 372)
GoodOver: EAST FORK SILVER CR.
1.0MI NE GRANTFORK, Madison, IL
Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 75
JOHNSTON RD (TR 28
GoodOver: CORLOCK BRANCH
2.5MI SEMARINE, Madison, IL
Built 1999 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100
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.