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.
All bridges (523)
IL 255 SB CD
FairOver: Ramp 255NB to 270WB
.20 MI N OF FAI 270, Madison, IL
Built 1994 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 3,750
FAS 2735
FairOver: W FK CAHOKIA CK
3MI E PRRTWN, Madison, IL
Built 1953 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 1,600
FAS 775/POCAHONTAS
FairOver: SAND CK
2.9MI E MARINE, Madison, IL
Built 1959 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 700
MAYER ROAD/ TR 239
FairOver: TRIB TO SUGAR CREEK
2.0 MI EAST MARINE, Madison, IL
Built 1976 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 125
CH 73
FairOver: PADDOCK CREEK
4.5 MI E MEADOWBROOK, Madison, IL
Built 1987 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,950
LIVINGSTON ROAD
FairOver: SILVER CREEK
1.7 MI E. I-55, Madison, IL
Built 1991 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 1,400
FAS 2735
FairOver: SHERRY CK
1.2MI E PRRTWN, Madison, IL
Built 1950 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 1,800
ILL 111
FairOver: HORSESHOE LK CHANNEL
1.1mi N of 55/70, Madison, IL
Built 1941 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 4,050
ILL 160
FairOver: FAI 70
2.2 M W PIERRON EXIT, Madison, IL
Built 1963 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 2,550
OLD ALTON-EDW RD C
FairOver: CAHOKIA CREEK
.25 S ILL 143 & 159, Madison, IL
Built 1990 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 1,200
CARPENTER RD/ TR 1
FairOver: TRIB TO CAHOKIA CK
2.0 MI SW CARPENTER, Madison, IL
Built 1981 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 350
IL 3 SB
FairOver: WOODRIVER CREEK
W CITY LIMIT E ALTON, Madison, IL
Built 1992 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 21,100
LEE ROAD/ TR 397
FairOver: TRIB TO SUGAR CREEK
4.7 MILES S HIGHLAND, Madison, IL
Built 1985 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 225
I-55 NB
FairOver: UPRR
N OF NEW DOUGLAS RD, Madison, IL
Built 1973 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 14,400
IL 255 NB
FairOver: Ramp 255NB to 270WB
.20 MI N OF FAI 270, Madison, IL
Built 1994 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 36,500
IL 255 SB
FairOver: Ramp 255NB to 270WB
.20 MI N OF FAI 270, Madison, IL
Built 1994 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 36,500
TR 228 BLACKJACK R
FairOver: MILL CREEK
4.0 MI SE TROY, Madison, IL
Built 1976 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 275
IL 111 - HOMER ADA
FairOver: US 67
1 M E JCT 111, Madison, IL
Built 1958 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 14,100
FAI 255NB
FairOver: CAHOKIA CANAL
.9MI SO ILL 162, Madison, IL
Built 1985 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 20,150
FAI 255 SB
FairOver: CAHOKIA CANAL
.9MI SO ILL 162, Madison, IL
Built 1985 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 20,150
FAI 270 EB
FairOver: FAI 70 WB RAMP
JCT FAI 55 70 270, Madison, IL
Built 1965 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 15,100
FAI 255 NB
FairOver: COLLINSVILLE RD
.1M SE FARMNT RACETK, Madison, IL
Built 1986 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 21,850
FAI 255 SB
FairOver: COLLINSVILLE RD
.1M SE FARMNT RACETK, Madison, IL
Built 1986 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 21,850
ILL 159
FairOver: I-55/70
JCT 70-159 S MRYVLLE, Madison, IL
Built 1996 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 19,700
IL 255 NB
FairOver: Poag Rd NSRR
2.5 mi N of I-270, Madison, IL
Built 1995 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 33,700
IL 255 SB
FairOver: Poag Rd NSRR
2.5 mi N of I-270, Madison, IL
Built 1995 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 33,700
CHAIN OF ROCKS ROA
FairOver: OVER IL 255 (FAP310)
2 M WEST OF IL 157, Madison, IL
Built 1994 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 2,200
IL 159 & IL 143
FairOver: NSRR
0.1 MI NW EDWRDSVLLE, Madison, IL
Built 1936 Load: 42.8 t ADT: 11,500
FAS 775 (MARINE RD
FairOver: FAI 70
1.25 M E RTE 4, Madison, IL
Built 1962 Load: 43.1 t ADT: 775
IL 3
FairOver: NSRR
0.6MI N OF IL 143, Madison, IL
Built 1947 Load: 43.4 t ADT: 9,950
FAI 55
FairOver: TRIB TO SILVER CREEK
0.24 MI S OF ILL 4, Madison, IL
Built 1971 Load: 43.7 t ADT: 31,500
IL 111
FairOver: UPRR
2 M N 270, Madison, IL
Built 1940 Load: 44.7 t ADT: 4,800
FAI 55
FairOver: TRIB TO SILVER CREEK
0.45MI S ALHAMBRA RD, Madison, IL
Built 1955 Load: 44.7 t ADT: 30,700
FAS 2735
FairOver: E FK SHERRY CK
1.6MI E PRRTWN, Madison, IL
Built 1950 Load: 44.7 t ADT: 1,800
N SIU ENT RD NB
FairOver: CAHOKIA CREEK
0.6 MI S ILL 143, Madison, IL
Built 1967 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 2,775
FAS 737/SEILER RD.
FairOver: HONEYCUT BRANCH
1.2 MI W FOSTERBURGM, Madison, IL
Built 1977 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 475
FAS 737SEILER RD
FairOver: INDIAN CREEK
1MI E OF DORSEY, Madison, IL
Built 1997 Load: 46.0 t ADT: 1,250
FAI 70 EB
FairOver: ILL 157
JCT 70 W COLLNVILLE, Madison, IL
Built 1960 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 23,000
FAI 70 WB
FairOver: ILL 157
JCT FAI 70 & ILL 157, Madison, IL
Built 1960 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 23,000
ILL 143
FairOver: MOONEY CREEK
0.5 M E JCT 157, Madison, IL
Built 1940 Load: 47.6 t ADT: 4,450
MSS 42 FAIRMONT AV
FairOver: CANTEEN CANAL
1.5MI W COLLINSVILLE, Madison, IL
Built 1973 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 825
N SIU ENT RD SB
FairOver: CAHOKIA CREEK
0.6 MI S ILL 143, Madison, IL
Built 1967 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 2,775
ILL 143
FairOver: HIGHLAND LAKE
2 M W HIGHLAND, Madison, IL
Built 1962 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 8,850
SAND PRAIRIE ROAD
FairOver: CANTEEN CREEK
1.32 M S ILL 111, Madison, IL
Built 1955 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 1,700
I-270 EB
FairOver: Engineer Rd A&SRR
1.25 MI W OF IL 111, Madison, IL
Built 1962 Load: 50.5 t ADT: 29,800
Ramp 255NB to 270W
FairOver: I-270
1.8MI W ILL 157, Madison, IL
Built 1987 Load: 51.5 t ADT: 4,800
US 67 NB
FairOver: IL 255 NB & SB
at GODFREY, Madison, IL
Built 2012 Load: 51.5 t ADT: 4,600
FAU 8877
FairOver: NORFORK & WESTERN RR
1.8 MI E ILL 111, Madison, IL
Built 1977 Load: 51.5 t ADT: 7,400
ELM ST./ TR 597A
FairOver: MEADOWBROOK CR.
1.5MI. E. BETHALTO, Madison, IL
Built 1973 Load: 51.5 t ADT: 75
FAI 270 WB
FairOver: OLD TROY RD/MCT TRL
1.3 M W FAI 55, Madison, IL
Built 1964 Load: 52.8 t ADT: 15,100
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.