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

CO RT 30

Fair

Over: HOOPER CREEK

0.5 MI E JCT CR 17, Jackson, AL

Built 1969 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 130

W ALABAMA ST.

Fair

Over: CREEK

PIEDMONT, Calhoun, AL

Built 1970 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 500

SR 68

Fair

Over: BRANCH

IN CITY OF COLLINSVILLE, DeKalb, AL

Built 1970 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,922

GARTH

Fair

Over: ALDRIDGE CREEK

GARTH * DRAKE, Madison, AL

Built 1970 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,100

JC9

Fair

Over: ESTELLFORKCREEK

0.05 MI N JCT CR 140, Jackson, AL

Built 1970 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 140

I-20/59

Fair

Over: Tombigbee River Relief

3.1 MI S of Boligee, Greene, AL

Built 1971 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 18,594

I-20/59

Fair

Over: Tombigbee River Relief

2.5 MI S of Boligee, Greene, AL

Built 1971 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 18,594

I 59/20 SOUTH

Fair

Over: 28 TH ST NO

I 59 * 28 TH ST, Jefferson, AL

Built 1971 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 76,205

MARY VANN LANE

Fair

Over: FIVE MILE CREEK

.5 MI W OLD SPRINGVILLE, Jefferson, AL

Built 1912 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,502

BUXTON ROAD

Fair

Over: STREAM

1.5 MI N CO RT 20, Clarke, AL

Built 1972 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 75

POPLAR LANE

Fair

Over: FRISCO RAILROAD

1 MI W MINOR PARKWAY, Jefferson, AL

Built 1972 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 547

RIVER RUN DRIVE

Fair

Over: CAHABA RIVER

RIVER RUN @ OVERTON, Jefferson, AL

Built 1973 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,805

6TH AVE SW

Fair

Over: BUCK CREEK

6TH AVE * 8TH AVE, Shelby, AL

Built 1973 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,000

CO. 1266

Fair

Over: WEST POINT RESERVOIR

8 MI. N.E. FREDONIA, Chambers, AL

Built 1973 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 938

AL 14

Fair

Over: RICE CREEK

EAST CTY LIMITS MARION, Perry, AL

Built 1925 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,890

I - 59/20 NORTH

Fair

Over: 3RD AVE NORTH

I 59 & 3 RD AVE N, Jefferson, AL

Built 1974 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 67,050

US 84 MP 163.869

Fair

Over: BEAVER DAM CREEK

1.0 MI.W.87, Coffee, AL

Built 1938 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,010

I - 59 SOUTH

Fair

Over: WILLOW LANE

I 59 * WILLOW LANE, Jefferson, AL

Built 1975 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 20,545

I - 59 NORTH

Fair

Over: WILLOW LANE

I 59 * WILLOW LANE, Jefferson, AL

Built 1975 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 20,545

E LAMAR AVE

Fair

Over: THROCKMORTON BRANCH

LAMAR AV @ RE THOMPSON SC, Colbert, AL

Built 1975 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 600

VIVIAN ST

Fair

Over: LIL CAHABA RV

VIVIAN ST * LIL CAHABA RV, Jefferson, AL

Built 1975 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 720

JOAN HARRIS RD

Fair

Over: BULL BRANCH

2.2 MI S COUNTY RD 96, Mobile, AL

Built 1976 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 18

US 280

Fair

Over: LITTLE LOBOCKEE CREEK

3.9 MI S WAVERLY, Lee, AL

Built 1938 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,650

I - 459 SOUTH

Fair

Over: RAMPS C*D

I 65 * I 459 INTERCHANGE, Jefferson, AL

Built 1977 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 51,820

SR 123 MP 20.901

Fair

Over: CHOCTAWHATCHEE RIVER

TOWN OF NEWTON, Dale, AL

Built 1976 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,830

MCGEHEE RD

Fair

Over: GLADLANE DITCH

1.3 MI E OF WOODLEY RD, Montgomery, AL

Built 1960 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 10,500

MASON AVE

Fair

Over: HOLY WATER CREEK

250 FT E OF CAROLVILLA DR, Montgomery, AL

Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,200

I - 20/59 SOUTH

Fair

Over: WOODWARD ROAD

I59 * WOODWARD RD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 62,126

I - 20/59 NORTH

Fair

Over: WOODWARD ROAD

I59 * WOODWARD ROAD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 31,063

OLD STAGE ROAD

Fair

Over: ESCAMBIA CREEK

3 MI W REPTON, Conecuh, AL

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 150

I - 459 SOUTH

Fair

Over: NORFOLK SOUTHERN

I459 * NORFOLK SOUTHERN, Jefferson, AL

Built 1981 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 29,455

County Road 85

Fair

Over: Flat Creek

1 MILE NW HALEYVILLE, Marion, AL

Built 1982 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 550

SHADES CREST RD

Fair

Over: I 459

SHADES CREST RD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1982 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 14,069

I - 459 SOUTH

Fair

Over: SOU RR

I459 * NORFOLK SOUTHERN, Jefferson, AL

Built 1982 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 29,455

WINDWAY ROAD

Fair

Over: CREEK AND WINDWAY RD.

AUBURN, Lee, AL

Built 1982 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,092

AL 21

Fair

Over: BIG SWAMP CREEK

1 MI N OF COUNTY RD 2, Lowndes, AL

Built 1982 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,930

CO RD 53

Fair

Over: MILES CREEK

0.7 MI. NORTH I-85, Macon, AL

Built 1982 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 400

62 ND ST

Fair

Over: BRANCH

62 ND ST * 3RD AVE N, Jefferson, AL

Built 1982 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 500

BLUE CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: BLUE CREEK

4.2 MI S JOHNS ROAD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1982 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 253

3RD ST

Fair

Over: TOWN CK

3 RD ST * TOWN CK, Etowah, AL

Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,580

SR 50

Fair

Over: MOORES CREEK

TOWN OF LANETT, Chambers, AL

Built 1983 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,025

OYLER ROAD

Fair

Over: TRIB. TO TURKEY CREEK

1.2 MI S OF CO RD 36, Mobile, AL

Built 1984 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 279

JOHNS RD

Fair

Over: MUD CREEK

3 MI SW JOHNS, Jefferson, AL

Built 1984 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,260

AL - 25

Fair

Over: YELLOW LEAF CREEK

AL 25 * YELLOW LEAFCREEK, Shelby, AL

Built 1985 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,050

COUNTY ROAD 57

Fair

Over: DELVIN BRANCH

S. GLENWOOD RD., Crenshaw, AL

Built 1955 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 440

SNOW ST.

Fair

Over: SNOW CREEK

OXFORD, Calhoun, AL

Built 1986 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,500

CO RD 340

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

06 MI N JCT CR 38, Jackson, AL

Built 1986 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 75

AL - 261

Fair

Over: CREEK

.1 MI.NO.VULCAN MATL, Shelby, AL

Built 1925 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 11,100

I85

Fair

Over: MCDONOUGH ST

1.06 MI N OF I65, Montgomery, AL

Built 1966 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 83,530

SR 59

Fair

Over: WILLIE LEE CREEK

3.8 MI S MONROE CO LINE, Baldwin, AL

Built 1988 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 801

Showing 5,401-5,450 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.