Total bridges
252
Public highway bridges in Harlan County
County profile · official public datasets
Harlan County, KY
252 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 25.8% rated Good, 58.3% Fair, 15.9% Poor.
- 252
- Public bridges
- 25.8%
- Good condition
- 15.9%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Harlan County posts a higher-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across mid-size county bridge inventory.
- 119th
- of 120 on Poor share
- 15.9%
- Poor-condition share
- 252
- public highway bridges
- 1980
- 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.
Harlan County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Harlan County ranks #119 of 120 Kentucky counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 15.9%). Harlan County, Kentucky contains 252 public highway bridges. Roughly 25.8% are rated “Good,” 58.3% “Fair,” and 15.9% “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
25.8%
65 of 252 rated 7-9
Fair condition
58.3%
147 of 252 rated 5-6
Poor condition
15.9%
40 of 252 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#119 of 120
Among Kentucky counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 252 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 25.8% (65)
Fair 58.3% (147)
Poor 15.9% (40)
Harlan County's Poor-condition bridges carry 20,494 vehicle crossings a day
That is 7.3% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 15.9% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 512 crossings a day against 1,064 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 252 of 252 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
35.3% of Harlan County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
89 of the 252 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 25.8% 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 14.1% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
KY-72 over MARTINS FK CUMBERLAND RV, built 1970, carries 2,881 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 40-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 20,494 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Harlan County's bridges were built
252 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- 1920s 7
1920–1929
7 bridges
- 1930s 12
1930–1939
12 bridges
- 1940s 4
1940–1949
4 bridges
- 1950s 22
1950–1959
22 bridges
- 1960s 26
1960–1969
26 bridges
- 1970s
1970–1979
69 bridges
- 1980s 26
1980–1989
26 bridges
- 1990s
1990–1999
32 bridges
- 2000s 25
2000–2009
25 bridges
- 2010s 9
2010–2019
9 bridges
- 2020s 20
2020–2029
20 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1970s, when 69 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 27.4% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 45 to 54 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1980) matches the Kentucky average (1978).
How Harlan County compares with Kentucky's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 Kentucky counties nearest Harlan County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 15.9% Poor share is the 6th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1980 against a peer-group mean of 1975 is 5 years newer.
Showing the 5 closest of 119 Kentucky counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daviess County | 282 | 18.4% | 75.9% | 5.7% | 1979 |
| Harlan County (this page) | 252 | 25.8% | 58.3% | 15.9% | 1980 |
| Hopkins County | 251 | 10.4% | 80.5% | 9.2% | 1967 |
| Ohio County | 227 | 8.4% | 85% | 6.6% | 1970 |
| Hardin County | 223 | 47.1% | 48.4% | 4.5% | 1982 |
| Calloway County | 210 | 26.7% | 62.4% | 11% | 1978 |
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 Harlan 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 Harlan County, both outside Kentucky so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside KY (252 bridges here).
- Montgomery County, IN · 252 bridges
- Morgan County, IN · 252 bridges
- Oxford County, ME · 252 bridges
- Colfax County, NE · 252 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside KY (1980 here).
- Tulsa County, OK · avg 1980 · 1,135 bridges
- Miami-Dade County, FL · avg 1980 · 1,057 bridges
- Pulaski County, AR · avg 1980 · 721 bridges
- McLennan County, TX · avg 1980 · 714 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
All bridges (252)
KY-160
FairOver: LOONEY CREEK
.35 MI SE OF JCT KY 1254, Harlan, KY
Built 1942 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 5,415
COXTON HOLLOW RD
FairOver: CLOVER FK OF CUMBER RVR
100 N OF JCT KY 38, Harlan, KY
Built 1986 Load: 30.4 t ADT: 200
KY-38
FairOver: CLOVER FORK OF CUMBERLAN
.35 MI S.W. OF JCT KY 215, Harlan, KY
Built 1967 Load: 31.6 t ADT: 5,226
KY-991
FairOver: MARTINS FK CUMBERLAND RV
.02 MI WEST OF JCT KY 987, Harlan, KY
Built 1976 Load: 31.6 t ADT: 85
KY-2006
FairOver: CLOVERLICK CREEK
2.6 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 179, Harlan, KY
Built 1969 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 185
KY-3448
FairOver: STRAIGHT CREEK
.1 MI S OF JCT KY 221, Harlan, KY
Built 1970 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 84
US-421
FairOver: CSX RR-KY 480-CLOVER FK
.15 MI S OF S-JCT US 421, Harlan, KY
Built 1974 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 17,722
CR-1107
FairOver: YOCUM CREEK
.2 MI N OF JCT KY 215, Harlan, KY
Built 1975 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 150
CR-6002
FairOver: CLOVER FK-CUMBERLAND R
100 FT N. KY 38, Harlan, KY
Built 1990 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 500
KY-38
FairOver: YOCUM CREEK
.05 MI.NE JCT KY 215, Harlan, KY
Built 1994 Load: 32.8 t ADT: 1,382
COLLEGE BRIDGE RD
FairOver: CLOVERLICK CREEK
250 W OF JCT KY 179, Harlan, KY
Built 1975 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 50
US-119
FairOver: POOR FK CUMBERLAND RVR
.10 MI E OF HIRAM CNCT RD, Harlan, KY
Built 1975 Load: 33.5 t ADT: 2,443
CR-1341
FairOver: REUBEN BRANCH
.3 MI S US 421, Harlan, KY
Built 1990 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 100
KY-1601
FairOver: CLOVER FK CUMBERLAND RVR
.21 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 38, Harlan, KY
Built 1965 Load: 34.4 t ADT: 435
KY-2429
FairOver: YOCUM CREEK
.50 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 215, Harlan, KY
Built 1969 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 281
US-119
FairOver: POOR FORK @ MP. 33.317
.60 MI W OF JCT KY 179, Harlan, KY
Built 1975 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 2,443
KY-38
FairOver: CLOVER FK CUMBERLAND RVR
4.1 MI EAST OF JCT KY 215, Harlan, KY
Built 1938 Load: 35.1 t ADT: 1,382
US-119
FairOver: POOR FK CUMBERLAND RVR
.30 MI E OF DIONE CNCT RD, Harlan, KY
Built 1975 Load: 35.9 t ADT: 2,443
US-119
FairOver: POOR FK CUMBERLAND RVR
.15 MI W OF TOTZ CNCTR RD, Harlan, KY
Built 1974 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 3,117
US-119
FairOver: POOR FORK CUMBERLAND RIV
1.8 MI.S. LETCHER CO LNE, Harlan, KY
Built 1990 Load: 36.2 t ADT: 2,413
KY-2006
FairOver: CLOVERLICK CREEK
2.9 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 179, Harlan, KY
Built 1969 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 185
US-119
FairOver: POOR FK CUMBERLAND RVR
.10 MI W OF JCT KY 1254, Harlan, KY
Built 1978 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 2,413
US-119
FairOver: POOR FK CUMBERLAND RVR
.30 MI W OF DIONE CNCT RD, Harlan, KY
Built 1974 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 2,443
US-119
FairOver: POOR FK CUMBERLAND RVR
.90 MI E OF HIRAM CNCT RD, Harlan, KY
Built 1975 Load: 36.7 t ADT: 2,443
CR-1083
FairOver: CLOVER FK CUMBERLAND RVR
SW @ JCT KY 38, Harlan, KY
Built 1975 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 200
KY-219
FairOver: CUMBERLAND RIVER
.25 MI N OF JCT KY 2007, Harlan, KY
Built 1976 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 1,774
KY-987
FairOver: MARTINS FORK LAKE
4.7 MI SW OF JCT KY 3099, Harlan, KY
Built 1976 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 537
US-119
FairOver: POOR FK CUMBERLAND RVR
1.3 MI W OF HIRAM CNCT RD, Harlan, KY
Built 1975 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 2,443
KY-987
FairOver: MARTINS FK CUMBERLAND RV
2.1 MI SW OF JCT KY 3099, Harlan, KY
Built 1956 Load: 37.7 t ADT: 537
US-119
FairOver: POOR FK CUMBERLAND RVR
.30 MI E OF TOTZ CNCTR RD, Harlan, KY
Built 1974 Load: 37.7 t ADT: 2,443
CR-1042
FairOver: GREASY CREEK
0.1 MI. S OF KY 2008, Harlan, KY
Built 1982 Load: 37.7 t ADT: 40
US-119
FairOver: POOR FORK CUMBERLAND RIV
.30 MI E OF JCT KY 2010, Harlan, KY
Built 1974 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 3,117
KY 3455
FairOver: CLOVER FORK
500 FT S OF KY38 AT AGES, Harlan, KY
Built 2008 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 248
CR-1234
FairOver: CUMBERLAND RIVER
.2 MI SE JCT US 119 1M/P, Harlan, KY
Built 1980 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 100
US-119
FairOver: POOR FORK CUMBERLAND RIV
1.6 MI.S. LETCHER CO LINE, Harlan, KY
Built 1990 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 2,413
GRAYS BRANCH RD
FairOver: MARTINS FK-CUMBRLND RIVE
100 S JCT US 421, Harlan, KY
Built 1991 Load: 39.4 t ADT: 200
KY-72
FairOver: JACKSON MILL CREEK
1.1 MI SE OF JCT KY 2005, Harlan, KY
Built 1932 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 286
KY-221
FairOver: LITTLE LAUREL CREEK
1.5 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 510, Harlan, KY
Built 1955 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 221
KY-160
FairOver: LOONEY CREEK
5.4 MI. S.E. JCT US 119, Harlan, KY
Built 1988 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 211
CR-1233
FairOver: CATRONS CK
50 EAST 72, Harlan, KY
Built 2000 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 300
KY 179
FairOver: FUGETT CREEK
.9 MILE FROM 38, Harlan, KY
Built 2007 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 151
KY-3458
FairOver: YOCUM CREEK
.42 MI.E. JCT KY 215, Harlan, KY
Built 1998 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 132
KY-179
FairOver: CLOVERLICK CREEK
.10 MI W OF JCT KY 2006, Harlan, KY
Built 1974 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 151
US-421
FairOver: CLOVER FORK & L.&N. R.R.
.4 MI N-CLOVER ST-KY 38, Harlan, KY
Built 1974 Load: 41.2 t ADT: 17,722
KY-2006
FairOver: CLOVERLICK CREEK
3.7 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 179, Harlan, KY
Built 1969 Load: 41.3 t ADT: 185
KY-1601
FairOver: JONES CREEK
.5 MI. SE JCT KY 1601, Harlan, KY
Built 1999 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 435
US-119
FairOver: POOR FK CUMBERLAND RVR
.9 MI W OF PUTNEY CNCT RD, Harlan, KY
Built 1975 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 3,117
KY-215
FairOver: YOCUM CREEK
.10 MI SE OF JCT KY 2429, Harlan, KY
Built 1967 Load: 44.1 t ADT: 2,139
US-119
FairOver: POOR FORK CUMBERLAND RIV
1.4 MI.S. LETCHER CO LINE, Harlan, KY
Built 1990 Load: 44.6 t ADT: 2,413
CR-1000
FairOver: CLOVER FK CUMBERLAND RVR
.05 MI S OF JCT KY 38, Harlan, KY
Built 1975 Load: 45.1 t ADT: 200
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.