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

US 80

Fair

Over: ALABAMA RIVER RELIEF

0.5 MI.W.OF AL.41, Dallas, AL

Built 1940 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,235

US 80

Fair

Over: ALABAMA RIVER RELIEF

0.5 MI.W.OF AL.41, Dallas, AL

Built 1940 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,235

AL 17

Fair

Over: UT LITTLE SANUSI

JCT. S.R. 28, Sumter, AL

Built 1940 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,537

CR 594

Fair

Over: LOVELESS CREEK

CR 594, Cullman, AL

Built 1940 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 180

SHOAL CREEK RD

Fair

Over: BRANCH

SEC17 T1S R5W, Limestone, AL

Built 1940 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 180

SR 76

Fair

Over: GREASY HEAD BRANCH

0.5 MI E JCT CO 45, Talladega, AL

Built 1940 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,678

AL - 144

Fair

Over: TROUT CREEK

@ RAGLAND FIRE DEPT/CITY, St. Clair, AL

Built 1940 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,170

MAYSVILLE RD

Fair

Over: BURDINE CREEK

0.7 MI SO CO RD 1469, Madison, AL

Built 1940 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 600

HARRISON COVE RD

Fair

Over: KILLINGSWORTH COVE BRCH

0.25 MI E CO RD 1411, Madison, AL

Built 1940 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 150

SICARD HOLLOW RD

Fair

Over: FLEMING BRANCH

CAHABA HEIGHTS, Jefferson, AL

Built 1940 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 825

OLD COLUMBUS ROAD

Fair

Over: GM*O RR OVERPASS

0.2 MI SE OF JCT US NO 82, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1941 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 216

AL - 53 (US 231)

Fair

Over: GABE BRANCH

2 . 5 MI S SO CLAIR CO LI, Shelby, AL

Built 1941 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,200

US 278

Fair

Over: LICK CREEK

3.7 MI E JCT SR69 * US278, Cullman, AL

Built 1941 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,843

SR 71

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1 MI N JCT SR 117 * SR 71, Jackson, AL

Built 1942 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,209

COMMERCE ST

Fair

Over: UN-NAMED CREEK

APPROX 150 FT N UNION AVE, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1942 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,050

STONE DRIVE

Fair

Over: SECTION BRANCH

0.5 MI NO US HWY 72 E, Madison, AL

Built 1943 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 250

US 11

Fair

Over: Beatty Branch

COALING, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1945 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,381

SR 64

Fair

Over: SPRING BRANCH

6 MI E JCT SR64 & SR101, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1945 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,110

SR 64

Fair

Over: BRANCH

0.2 MI W JCT SR64 & SR207, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1945 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,250

MT BROOK PKWY

Fair

Over: WATKINS CREEK

MT BROOK PKWY * CAHABA RD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1945 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,025

MT BROOK PKWY

Fair

Over: SHADES CREEK

MT BROOK PKWY * OLDMILL, Jefferson, AL

Built 1945 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 8,115

MT BROOK PKWY

Fair

Over: SHADES CREEK

MT BROOK PKWY * OLDMILL, Jefferson, AL

Built 1945 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 8,115

WATKINS ROAD

Fair

Over: WATKINS CREEK

Watkins Road, Jefferson, AL

Built 1945 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,008

CO RT 7

Fair

Over: LITTLE CYPRESS CREEK

2.5 MI N SR 157, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1947 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 250

BRANCH STREET

Fair

Over: SWEETWATER CREEK

0.2 M E INT SWEETWATER AV, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1947 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,250

SR 99

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.4 MI N. ELK RIVER, Limestone, AL

Built 1947 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,850

CHEROKEE #45

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

0.3 MI S JCT CO RD 16, Cherokee, AL

Built 1948 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 470

COUNTY RT 07

Fair

Over: HORSE CREEK

4.2 MI N CLARKECO L, Marengo, AL

Built 1949 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 440

BEECHWOOD ROAD

Fair

Over: SHADES CREEK

Beechwood - Overbrook rd, Jefferson, AL

Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,460

AL 277

Fair

Over: CSX RR

3.6 MI W CITY BRIDGEPORT, Jackson, AL

Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,701

LOCK AND DAM RD

Fair

Over: FOSCUE CREEK

0.35 MI W OF FOSCUE PARK, Marengo, AL

Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,000

4TH AVE BESS

Fair

Over: HALLS CREEK

0.5 MILE S OF BESSEMER, Jefferson, AL

Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,622

TANNER ROAD

Fair

Over: WOLF BRANCH

1.0 MI S CR 025, Morgan, AL

Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 330

OLD MULGA LOOP RD

Fair

Over: BHAM-SOUTHERN RR

500 SE AL 269 (MULGA), Jefferson, AL

Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 430

HEATHERMOOR RD

Fair

Over: WATKINS CREEK

HEATHERMOOR DR * WATKIN C, Jefferson, AL

Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,160

5TH AVE NO

Fair

Over: BLUE CREEK

5TH AVE / DUNBAR CT., Jefferson, AL

Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,150

OLD SPRINGVILLE RD

Fair

Over: CAHABA RIVER TRIBUTARY

50FT S UPHILL DR, Jefferson, AL

Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,251

OLD SPRINGVILLE R

Fair

Over: MCCULVY CREEK

150 FT N CAVERN RD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,940

SR 85 MP 3.707

Fair

Over: ROCKY CREEK

3.7 MI.N.JCT.SR 27, Geneva, AL

Built 1951 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,200

SR 187

Fair

Over: LITTLE BEAR CREEK

6 M S JCT SR 187 & SR 24, Franklin, AL

Built 1951 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 420

Lee Road 39

Fair

Over: WATOOLA CREEK

0.6 MI W JCT S 051, Lee, AL

Built 1952 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 244

CO RT 23

Fair

Over: CREEK

.15 MI W JCT SR 79, Jackson, AL

Built 1952 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 68

FORREST HILLS DR.

Fair

Over: THREE MILE BRANCH

0.13 MI S OF ATLANTA HWY, Montgomery, AL

Built 1952 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,200

CO. 84

Fair

Over: BRANCH

LANETT CITY LIMITS, Chambers, AL

Built 1952 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,408

NALL STREET

Fair

Over: BRANCH

350 E BAY SHORE AVE, Mobile, AL

Built 1952 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,205

DUCK SPRINGS RD.

Fair

Over: U.T. OF BIG WILLS CREEK

250 S. OF HOYT WHITT RD, Etowah, AL

Built 1952 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 775

BILTMORE AVE

Fair

Over: THREE MILE BRANCH

200FT E OF COLISEUM BLVD, Montgomery, AL

Built 1953 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,200

AL - 3 SOUTH

Fair

Over: PATTON CREEK

.6 MI. NO. I-65, Jefferson, AL

Built 1942 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 16,460

LOCK 17 ROAD

Fair

Over: VALLEY CREEK

2 MI E OAKGROVE, Jefferson, AL

Built 1954 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,326

AL - 5 (US 11)

Fair

Over: BRANCH

500 SOUTH AL 150, Jefferson, AL

Built 1955 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 19,500

Showing 5,301-5,350 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.