State profile · Below median Poor share

Alabama bridge safety

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, condition ratings, load ratings, and Poor-condition shares for every public highway bridge in Alabama.

16,205
Public bridges
37.0%
Good condition
3.4%
Poor condition

Alabama holds 16,205 public highway bridges (#15 of 52 by inventory) with a 3.35% Poor share (#43 of 52 by Poor share).

That is 3.4% of the state's inventory, against an average of 7.5% across the 54 states and territories with Poor-rated bridges on file, which places it 10 of 54 ordered from the lowest Poor share upward. A bridge is rated Poor when its weakest applicable component scores 4 or below on the inspecting agency's 0-9 scale, so the category is a maintenance and funding signal rather than a closure order or a live crossing-safety verdict.

Inventory: FHWA NBI 2024 · last ETL August 2026

Total Bridges

16,205

Public highway bridges in Alabama

Good Condition

37.0%

5,993 bridges rated 7-9

-13.0pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

3.4%

543 bridges whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

-4.2pp vs national avg 7.5%

Alabama vs national bridge condition

Alabama - Good condition share 37.0%
National avg

Share of bridges rated 7-9 on the FHWA 0-9 scale (deck, superstructure, substructure all good).

Alabama - Poor-condition share 11.2%
National avg

Lower is better. Bar maxes at 30% (worst-state ceiling). National average sits at 7.5%.

Alabama in the national condition pattern

Each point is a state or territory in the FHWA NBI; the highlighted point is this profile.

Inventory size and Poor-condition share are different measures: Alabama has 16,205 bridges and a 3.4% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #10 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The dashed comparisons mark the national average state rate and the midpoint of the plotted inventory range; neither is a live safety or closure threshold. Scatter plot of 54 data points. 0%10%20%30%40% 0k20k40k60k Public bridges in inventory (thousands) Poor-condition share (%) AL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 16.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 3.35%AK, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 1.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.89%AZ, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.15%AR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.43%CA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 25.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.91%CO, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 9k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.82%CT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.72%DE, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.26%DC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.95%FL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.79%GA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 15.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.59%GU, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0k · Poor-condition share (%): 12.77%HI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 1.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.53%ID, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.9%IL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 26.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 9.35%IN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 19.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.22%IA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 23.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 19.16%KS, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 24.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.26%KY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.37%LA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 12.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 11.48%ME, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 15.41%MD, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.56%MA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 8.88%MI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 11.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 11.27%MN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.44%MS, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 16.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.03%MO, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 24.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 8.95%MT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.81%NE, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 15.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.9%NV, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.14%NH, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.51%NJ, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 6.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.01%NM, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.51%NY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 17.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 9.43%NC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 19.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.76%ND, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 10.98%OH, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 26.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.74%OK, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 22.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.7%OR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.61%PA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 23.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 12.58%PR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 13.92%RI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 15.2%SC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 9.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.17%SD, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 16.36%TN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 20.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.41%TX, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 56.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.23%UT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 3.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.91%VT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.9%VI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0k · Poor-condition share (%): 29.17%VA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 3.39%WA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.45%WV, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 7.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 18.64%WI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.52%WY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 3.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.51%
Inventory size and Poor-condition share are different measures: Alabama has 16,205 bridges and a 3.4% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #10 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The dashed comparisons mark the national average state rate and the midpoint of the plotted inventory range; neither is a live safety or closure threshold.

Alabama vs all states by public bridge inventory

Where this state's FHWA NBI public-highway bridge count sits among every state and territory on PlainBridges

16,205 15th of 54 higher than 39 of 54 states

States and territories, banded by public bridge inventory size

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source FHWA National Bridge Inventory · 2024

Read the rank neighborhood for Alabama

The highlighted point is Alabama: 16,205 bridges and 3.35% in Poor condition, rank #10 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The five jurisdictions immediately above and below Alabama on that same Poor-share ordering:

  • Vermont: 2,862 bridges · 2.90% Poor
  • Utah: 3,125 bridges · 2.91% Poor
  • Alabama: 16,205 bridges · 3.35% Poor
  • Virginia: 14,120 bridges · 3.39% Poor
  • Tennessee: 20,379 bridges · 4.41% Poor

The full national sortable table lives on the rankings page.

Material families in Alabama

Exclusive FHWA material families across all 16,205 bridges in this state; continuous variants fold into the parent family. Orthogonal to the Poor-share scatter above.

Who maintains Alabama’s inventory

State agency holds 36.0% of the 16,205 public highway bridges filed under Alabama in the 2024 NBI, the agency-of-record split for this state, not a condition verdict.

When Alabama’s bridges were built

Pre-1950 construction accounts for 15.3% of the 16,205 bridges with a recorded original year in Alabama. Era bands are orthogonal to the Poor-share ranking above.

Condition Distribution

Alabama37%59.7%GoodFairPoor
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix - Alabama (FHWA NBI)

Counties (67)

Autauga 118 Baldwin 381 Barbour 192 Bibb 126 Blount 180 Bullock 136 Butler 189 Calhoun 386 Chambers 185 Cherokee 167 Chilton 189 Choctaw 154 Clarke 155 Clay 129 Cleburne 165 Coffee 216 Colbert 172 Conecuh 224 Coosa 126 Covington 332 Crenshaw 171 Cullman 246 Dale 206 Dallas 225 DeKalb 300 Elmore 202 Escambia 200 Etowah 236 Fayette 186 Franklin 194 Geneva 205 Greene 204 Hale 177 Henry 133 Houston 247 Jackson 314 Jefferson 1068 Lamar 181 Lauderdale 266 Lawrence 215 Lee 214 Limestone 324 Lowndes 157 Macon 177 Madison 710 Marengo 203 Marion 255 Marshall 172 Mobile 612 Monroe 142 Montgomery 596 Morgan 271 Perry 162 Pickens 233 Pike 169 Randolph 165 Russell 205 Shelby 344 St. Clair 183 Sumter 241 Talladega 243 Tallapoosa 149 Tuscaloosa 482 Walker 275 Washington 177 Wilcox 168 Winston 78

Alabama vs nearby ranks

Adjacent states by Poor-condition share (lower share = better)

States are ranked by the share of bridges whose lowest applicable component rating is 4 or below. This describes recorded condition; it does not measure funding effectiveness or live crossing safety. States here sit immediately above and below Alabama on the same metric.

VT

Vermont

2.90% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$2,862

UT

Utah

2.91% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$3,125
Selected

AL

Alabama

3.35% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$16,205

VA

Virginia

3.39% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$14,120

TN

Tennessee

4.41% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$20,379

Bridges Needing Most Attention in Alabama

Six lowest-condition bridges in Alabama, ranked by the portal's composite display score. Inspection intervals are risk-based under current NBIS rules.

COUNTRY CLUB ROAD

Poor

Over: BLACKWATER CREEK

1 MILE EAST HWY 195, Walker, AL

Built 1898 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 400

KINGS MILL ROAD

Poor

Over: LOST CREEK

1 MILE N OAKMAN HWY, Walker, AL

Built 1900 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 150

CAHABA BEACH ROAD

Poor

Over: LITTLE CAHABA RIVER

1.8 MILES NORTH OF US 280, Shelby, AL

Built 1904 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 100

19TH AVE

Poor

Over: MOORES CREEK

VALLEY, Chambers, AL

Built 1910 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 350

ROADWAY

Poor

Over: CO RT 1065 SUCARNOCHEE R

4.0 MI N CO RT 1064, Sumter, AL

Built 1912 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 40

SMITH CHAPEL RD

Poor

Over: MILL CREEK

1 MILE N HWY 78, Walker, AL

Built 1915 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 125

All Bridges in Alabama

WHITES GAP RD.

Fair

Over: COTTAQUILLA CREEK

WHITES GAP RD. LAKE, Calhoun, AL

Built 1964 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 2,315

SR15/US29

Fair

Over: TAN YARD CREEK

TOWN OF LANETT, Chambers, AL

Built 1924 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 18,253

I-20

Fair

Over: BRANCH

5.4 MI E JCT SR 77, Talladega, AL

Built 1965 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 44,364

CO RT 38

Fair

Over: TRIBUTARY BOGUECHITTO CK

CR 38, Perry, AL

Built 1966 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 300

CO. RT. 1352

Fair

Over: LAKE CATOMA

CR 1352, Cullman, AL

Built 1966 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 344

JAYBIRD ROAD

Fair

Over: WOODWARD RR (NO TRACKS)

BRIGHTON, Jefferson, AL

Built 1966 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 3,600

CO RT 27

Fair

Over: CROOKED CREEK

0.1 MI N JCT CO RT 136, Lawrence, AL

Built 1968 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 90

SR 131 MP 10.146

Fair

Over: DOUBLE BRANCH

1.3 MI.N.BARBOUR CO.12, Barbour, AL

Built 1968 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 1,130

CO RD 53

Fair

Over: UPHAPEE CREEK

0.14 MI SO WIRE RD, Macon, AL

Built 1973 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 400

SR 281

Fair

Over: SR1/US431

10.1 MI N CLAY CO LINE, Cleburne, AL

Built 1978 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 95

NARROW LANE RD

Fair

Over: COTNEY LOT CREEK

0.4 M N CO RD 547, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 1980 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 80

COUNTY ROAD 87

Fair

Over: PINHOOK CREEK

SEC 17 T13 R22, Bullock, AL

Built 1984 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 100

AL-124

Fair

Over: Lost Creek

AL-124 Lost Creek, Walker, AL

Built 1984 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 1,273

CHEROKEE #275

Fair

Over: JOHNNIES CREEK

4 MI N JCT SR 273, Cherokee, AL

Built 1969 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 60

AL.5

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

4.4 MI.N.OF AL 22, Dallas, AL

Built 1985 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 1,110

I-10 WB * EB

Fair

Over: ICG RR * TENN ST

3 MI E SR 163, Mobile, AL

Built 1964 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 70,156

CO. RD. 64

Fair

Over: FISH RIVER

2.1 MI. E. OF CO. RD. 27, Baldwin, AL

Built 1993 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 4,848

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: SIZEMORE CREEK

1MI S LITTLE ROCK, Escambia, AL

Built 1997 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 575

CO RD 26

Fair

Over: DRAVO QUARRY ROAD

0.6 mile E. US 31, Shelby, AL

Built 1999 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 6,840

I-22

Fair

Over: Mill Creek

I-22 @ Mill Creek, Walker, AL

Built 2004 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 14,713

CARPENTER RD

Fair

Over: PINE BARREN CREEK

3.2 MILES FROM HWY 17, Washington, AL

Built 1993 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 150

CARPENTER RD

Fair

Over: PINE BARREN CREEK

5.2 MILES FROM HWY 17, Washington, AL

Built 1993 Load: 32.2 t ADT: 150

AL-18

Fair

Over: Horns Branch

1 MI W JCT AL 69, Walker, AL

Built 1932 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 1,130

SR 68

Fair

Over: GRAYS CREEK

1.2 MI E JCT SR 35, Cherokee, AL

Built 1938 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 1,726

AL-19

Fair

Over: Broadtree Creek Branch

1.4 MI S JCT US 78, Marion, AL

Built 1951 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 282

AL - 79

Fair

Over: CEDAR CREEK

@ 3RD AVE., Jefferson, AL

Built 1957 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 26,410

CR-45

Fair

Over: Unnamed Branch

1.89 MI. NE CR-31, Coosa, AL

Built 1959 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 193

CO.RD.19

Fair

Over: RELIEF-CULVERT

HAYNES, Autauga, AL

Built 1960 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 500

CR-55

Fair

Over: Finikochika Creek

2.2 MI NE UNITY, Coosa, AL

Built 1960 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 287

COUNTY RT 12

Fair

Over: TRIB. TO COTTONWOOD CRK

2.6 MI. E. OF PRARIEVILLE, Hale, AL

Built 1964 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 200

COUNTY ROAD 12

Fair

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK

3.0 MI. E. OF PRARIEVILLE, Hale, AL

Built 1964 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 300

US 84 MP 191.811

Fair

Over: CHOCTAWHATCHEE RIVER

3 MI. E. OF DALEVILLE, Dale, AL

Built 1966 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 9,165

730

Fair

Over: COPPERAS BRANCH

Cr 730, Cullman, AL

Built 1971 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 45

COUNTY HWY 69

Fair

Over: LUXAPALLILA CREEK

0.8 MILE SOUTH JCT US 78, Marion, AL

Built 1973 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 80

I - 20 EAST

Fair

Over: RR * CITY STREET

I20 * GEORGIA ROAD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1974 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 30,680

COUNTY ROAD 36

Fair

Over: FIVE MILE CREEK TRIB.

2.1 MI. E. OF AKRON, Hale, AL

Built 1977 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 410

COUNTY ROAD 29

Fair

Over: TRIB TO 5 MILE CREEK

2.3 MI. N OF HOGGLESVILLE, Hale, AL

Built 1979 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 200

SR 193

Fair

Over: HERON BAY

1.8 MI S SR 188, Mobile, AL

Built 1981 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 5,222

OLD CHIPLEY RD.

Fair

Over: WRIGHTS CREEK

4 MILES SE OF SLOCOMB, Geneva, AL

Built 1983 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 60

COUNTY ROAD 17

Fair

Over: HURRICANE CREEK

0.5 MI SOUTH OF CO RD 44, Barbour, AL

Built 1984 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 165

AL - 75

Fair

Over: BRANCH

AL 75 * CO RD 34, Blount, AL

Built 1929 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 4,890

US 411

Fair

Over: BRANCH

0.1 MI S MT VIEW GROCERY, Etowah, AL

Built 1930 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 7,524

I-20

Fair

Over: BRANCH

2.4 MI E JCT SR 21, Calhoun, AL

Built 1969 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 37,868

MOFFET RD

Fair

Over: LIMESTONE CREEK

CO RD 115 TO US 231 SOUTH, Houston, AL

Built 1989 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 90

FORTSON RD

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

GENEVA CO LINE TO CO RD 4, Houston, AL

Built 1990 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 75

HORNE RD

Fair

Over: NEWTON CREEK

GENEVA CO LN TO HWY 52 W, Houston, AL

Built 1990 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 55

CURETON RD

Fair

Over: HODGES BRANCH

CO RD 33 TO CO RD 16, Houston, AL

Built 1990 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 45

LIGON SPRINGS RD

Fair

Over: DILLARD BRANCH

LIGON SPR. S LITTLE EGYPT, Colbert, AL

Built 1938 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 343

CR-20

Fair

Over: Escatawpa River

Escatawpa, Washington, AL

Built 2017 Load: 32.3 t ADT: 170

AL-17

Fair

Over: Beaver Creek

1.0 MI S of Palmetto, Pickens, AL

Built 1929 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,218

Showing 5,101-5,150 of 16,205 bridges

Related

All states → | National rankings → | Understanding conditions → | Retired SD term explained →
Data sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI), latest released cycle. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI). Poor condition is an inspection-record category, not a closure or unsafe-to-cross designation. Consult the bridge owner for current status.

Understanding Bridge Conditions

How FHWA rates bridge condition on a 0-9 scale.

Check Your Daily Bridges

How to look up bridge condition data for bridges on your route.

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

What to do with this

Use Alabama's inventory picture to drill to a county or a specific span.

  • Browse counties in Alabama and open the highest-Poor shares first. County list
  • See where this state sits among peers on Poor-condition share. State rankings
  • Compare this state with another jurisdiction on the same measures. State compare

NBI condition ratings are inventory snapshots, not live crossing-safety verdicts.

Every figure on PlainBridges is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Alabama Good/Fair/Poor shares and county rollups on this page are computed from the same NBI extract as the national boards; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2024 NBI release. NBI condition categories reflect the latest reported inventory record, not a live safety, closure, or travel decision.