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.

All 523 Good 258 Fair 221 Poor 44

All bridges (523)

IL 157 (FAS 766)

Good

Over: MOONEY CREEK

0.8 MI NO. OF EVILLE, Madison, IL

Built 1999 Load: 53.8 t ADT: 4,600

IL 255 NB - FAP 31

Good

Over: IL 111/IL 267

at GODFREY, Madison, IL

Built 2012 Load: 54.1 t ADT: 6,500

IL 255 SB - FAP 31

Good

Over: IL 111/IL 267

at GODFREY, Madison, IL

Built 2012 Load: 54.1 t ADT: 6,500

IL 157

Good

Over: Trib to Silver Creek

Just S of Hamel CL, Madison, IL

Built 2019 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 2,550

IL 143

Good

Over: SUGAR CREEK

1MI W OF PIERRON, Madison, IL

Built 2014 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 2,750

IL 255 SB

Good

Over: UPRR KCSRR

0.25mi NW of Humbert Rd, Madison, IL

Built 2009 Load: 56.4 t ADT: 9,850

IL 160

Good

Over: SILVER CREEK

.6 MI S.OF GRANTFORK, Madison, IL

Built 2006 Load: 56.4 t ADT: 2,100

FAU 8998/SEMINARY

Good

Over: TRIB TO HONEY BR

1.0 MI N OF ALTON, Madison, IL

Built 1980 Load: 56.4 t ADT: 5,300

IL 4

Good

Over: SILVER CREEK

1.9MI S OF IL 140, Madison, IL

Built 2006 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 4,350

IL 4

Good

Over: LAKE FORK CREEK

2.8 MI S JCT 4 & 40, Madison, IL

Built 2006 Load: 58.3 t ADT: 7,000

IL 157

Good

Over: SUGAR CREEK

.8 M N EDWARDSVILLE, Madison, IL

Built 2013 Load: 59.3 t ADT: 4,600

IL 157

Good

Over: BR OF DELAPLAINE CRK

AT WOODLAND SCHOOL, Madison, IL

Built 2002 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 9,850

IL 4

Good

Over: E FORK SILVER CRK

.71 MI N US 40, Madison, IL

Built 2017 Load: 59.9 t ADT: 7,400

I-270 EB & WB

Good

Over: CHAIN OF ROCKS CANAL

2 MI E MISSISSIPPI R, Madison, IL

Built 2014 Load: 60.3 t ADT: 46,200

IL 255 SB

Good

Over: WEST FK WOODRIVER CK

1.2 W FOSTERBURG RD, Madison, IL

Built 2006 Load: 60.6 t ADT: 14,900

CH 76 Possum Hill

Good

Over: Sherry Creek

2.0 Mi N Carpenter, Madison, IL

Built 2023 Load: 60.9 t ADT: 350

ILL 143

Good

Over: FAI 70

1.9 M E MARINE, Madison, IL

Built 1964 Load: 62.2 t ADT: 8,850

FAI 70

Good

Over: SUGAR CREEK

0.3 M W BOND CO, Madison, IL

Built 1965 Load: 63.8 t ADT: 26,900

IL 255 NB

Good

Over: WEST FK WOODRIVER CK

1.2 W FOSTERBURG RD, Madison, IL

Built 2006 Load: 64.5 t ADT: 14,900

IL 143

Good

Over: STREAM

0.5M E US 67 Dscvry, Madison, IL

Built 1994 Load: 65.8 t ADT: 9,300

FAI 55 FR#1709

Good

Over: STREAM

SE FAI 55 LIVINGSTON, Madison, IL

Built 1973 Load: 89.1 t ADT: 200

IL 159

Good

Over: JUDYS BRANCH CRK

.21 MI N I270, Madison, IL

Built 1991 Load: 89.1 t ADT: 26,700

IL 255 - FAP 310

Good

Over: Drains to retention

just S OF IL 111, Madison, IL

Built 2001 Load: 89.1 t ADT: 23,000

IL 255 - FAP 310

Good

Over: ROCK CREEK

N OF SEMINARY RD, Madison, IL

Built 2010 Load: 89.1 t ADT: 13,600

IL 255 (FAP 310)

Good

Over: W. FORK WOODRIVER CR

.4MI E. OF VONNAHMEN, Madison, IL

Built 2008 Load: 89.1 t ADT: 14,900

TR 178

Good

Over: TRIB TO SHERRY CK

2.0 MI N PRAIRIETOWN, Madison, IL

Built 1982 Load: 89.1 t ADT: 250

FAI 70

Good

Over: MID TRIB SUGAR CREEK

0.8 M E ILL 160, Madison, IL

Built 1963 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 23,600

FAI 270

Good

Over: WATER MAIN

1.13 E OF MISS RIVER, Madison, IL

Built 1964 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 46,200

FAI 55

Good

Over: TRIB TO SILVER CREEK

1.68 S ILL 140, Madison, IL

Built 1955 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 30,100

SILVER CRK RD/TR 1

Poor

Over: SILVER CK

2.0MI SE LIVINGSTON, Madison, IL

Built 1901 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 125

GORENZ DR/TR 143

Poor

Over: TRIB TO SILVER CR

2.5 MI NW ALHAMBRA, Madison, IL

Built 1971 Load: 4.2 t ADT: 100

OR-5 ChainOfRocksR

Poor

Over: Chain of Rocks Cn & 2 LR

1.3 M E MISS R, Madison, IL

Built 1949 Load: 7.1 t ADT: 525

CNTR GROVE/ FAU 88

Poor

Over: MCT BIKE TRAIL

.85 EAST 157, Madison, IL

Built 1989 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 12,600

TR 172

Poor

Over: PENN CENTRAL RR

1.0 M S ILL 140, Madison, IL

Built 1901 Load: 14.3 t ADT: 350

IL 140

Poor

Over: Trib to Indian Creek

1.9 mi E of IL 255, Madison, IL

Built 1927 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 8,050

ZILLES RD/ TR 392

Poor

Over: TRIB TO SPANKER BR

4.5MI SE HIGHLAND, Madison, IL

Built 1925 Load: 17.5 t ADT: 150

TR 115 (HARRIS LAN

Poor

Over: W FORK WOOD RIVER CK

1.5 MI N ALTON, Madison, IL

Built 1990 Load: 17.5 t ADT: 1,100

FAI 270 EB

Poor

Over: COUNTY DITCH

1.03mi W. of IL 157, Madison, IL

Built 1963 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 24,900

LOWR MARINE RD/TR2

Poor

Over: SUGAR FORK CREEK

1 MI SE MARINE, Madison, IL

Built 1963 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 300

TR 288

Poor

Over: CONRAIL RR

1.5MN E LIVINGSTON, Madison, IL

Built 1901 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 225

BROWN ST./ FAU 896

Poor

Over: ROCKSPRING CREEK

100FT E ROCK SPRINGD, Madison, IL

Built 1955 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 4,050

LEE RD/ TR 89

Poor

Over: SUGAR CK

3.0MI N AVISTON, Madison, IL

Built 1965 Load: 20.7 t ADT: 275

BUCKEYE RD/ TR 371

Poor

Over: SUGAR CK

2.5MI SE HIGHLAND, Madison, IL

Built 1971 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 300

I-255 NB

Poor

Over: 162 Abandon UPRR 2 trail

2 mi W of IL 157, Madison, IL

Built 1987 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 20,150

I-255 SB

Poor

Over: 162 Abandon UPRR 2 trail

2 mi W of IL 157, Madison, IL

Built 1987 Load: 29.5 t ADT: 20,250

N SEMINARY /FAU 89

Poor

Over: BLACK CREEK

0.25 N BELTLINE, Madison, IL

Built 1966 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 4,600

CH 49 WIESEMAN RD.

Poor

Over: WEST FORK CAHOKIA CR

2.6 NW WORDEN, Madison, IL

Built 1988 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 275

FAS 773/ ALHAMBRA

Poor

Over: SILVER CK

1.0MI N ALHAMBRA, Madison, IL

Built 1971 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 600

IL 111

Poor

Over: MCT trail UPRR abandon R

0.25 mi N of IL 162, Madison, IL

Built 1940 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 8,850

FAIRMONT LANE

Poor

Over: FAI 55/70/US 40

1.86 MI W OF IL 157, Madison, IL

Built 1960 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,050

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

Related

Browse all → | Rankings →
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.