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

FDR 731

Fair

Over: SOUTH SANDY CREEK

OAKMULGEE DISTRICT, Bibb, AL

Built 1981 Load: 12.3 t ADT: 50

STRANGE ST

Fair

Over: TOWN CREEK

.1 MI N BROWNSFERRY ROAD, Limestone, AL

Built 1938 Load: 12.4 t ADT: 644

COUNTY HWY 1300

Fair

Over: HOG CREEK

320 FT N JCT 1299, Marshall, AL

Built 1958 Load: 12.4 t ADT: 100

ALEXANDRIA RD.

Fair

Over: MASSEY BRANCH

Alexandria Rd, Calhoun, AL

Built 1955 Load: 12.4 t ADT: 1,300

CO RT #145

Fair

Over: LITTLE COALFIRE BRANCH

.5 MI EAST OF CO RT#45, Pickens, AL

Built 1984 Load: 12.4 t ADT: 50

COUNTY RT #172

Fair

Over: MAGBY BRANCH

1.3 MI WEST OF US #82, Pickens, AL

Built 1986 Load: 12.4 t ADT: 50

JONES FARM RD

Fair

Over: UNKNN TRBTRY TO GREER CR

1/4 MI. E. OF GREER CR., Hale, AL

Built 2013 Load: 12.4 t ADT: 5

MURPHY HILL RD

Fair

Over: BANYON SWAMP BRANCH

0.3 MI N CO RD 137, Madison, AL

Built 1936 Load: 12.5 t ADT: 2,967

CR 53

Fair

Over: LITTLE COON CREEK RELIEF

1.1 MI E JCT CR 35, Jackson, AL

Built 1956 Load: 12.5 t ADT: 142

HUNTERS CHAPEL RD

Fair

Over: FLAT BRANCH

1 MILE S JASPER, Walker, AL

Built 1970 Load: 12.5 t ADT: 20

MT MORIAH SCHOOLRD

Fair

Over: LITTLE KETCHEPEDRAKEE CR

3.5 MI EAST OF DELTA, Clay, AL

Built 1979 Load: 12.5 t ADT: 30

COUNTY DIRT RD

Fair

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

Homer Smith Rd, Covington, AL

Built 1973 Load: 12.5 t ADT: 70

CR # 109

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

2.9 MI W CR 21, Dallas, AL

Built 1937 Load: 12.5 t ADT: 50

CO RD 507

Fair

Over: PAINT ROCK RIVER

0.2 MI E SR 65, Jackson, AL

Built 1991 Load: 12.5 t ADT: 10

CR # 109

Fair

Over: ENGLISH CREEK

0.9 MI W SR 5, Dallas, AL

Built 1996 Load: 12.5 t ADT: 50

CO.RD.49

Fair

Over: AUTAUGA CREEK

OAK GROVE, Autauga, AL

Built 1950 Load: 12.6 t ADT: 625

CR 616

Fair

Over: BRANCH

Cr 616 West steel B, Cullman, AL

Built 1960 Load: 12.6 t ADT: 160

CHEROKEE #763

Fair

Over: CREEK

0.1 MI E INT CHERO #45, Cherokee, AL

Built 1965 Load: 12.6 t ADT: 50

CO# 92

Fair

Over: WATERS BRANCH

0.7 MI. E. CO 8, Talladega, AL

Built 1982 Load: 12.6 t ADT: 482

CR # 411

Fair

Over: WHITE OAK CREEK

BEHIND BOYS RANCH, Dallas, AL

Built 1996 Load: 12.6 t ADT: 20

BUD ODOM ROAD

Fair

Over: BATES CREEK

AT BATES CR ON ODOM RD, Washington, AL

Built 1986 Load: 12.6 t ADT: 25

CR 46 PRICE STORE

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.0 MI N INT AL 10 * 200, Choctaw, AL

Built 1913 Load: 12.7 t ADT: 100

CO RD 429

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK BLACKOAK CRK

.5MI N MOORES X RDST7SR7E, DeKalb, AL

Built 1929 Load: 12.7 t ADT: 137

CO RT 5

Fair

Over: THREET CREEK

0.4 MI N CO 8, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1937 Load: 12.7 t ADT: 270

CO.RT 95/FREDRICKS

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK BRANCH

1.0 MI SOUTH US 82, Pickens, AL

Built 1945 Load: 12.7 t ADT: 10

CO RD 44

Fair

Over: HARRIS CREEK

0.8 MI S ALA 24 CO 44 JCT, Franklin, AL

Built 1958 Load: 12.7 t ADT: 2,440

KIRK RD

Fair

Over: PHILLIPS BRANCH

.7 MI SW OF SR 35, DeKalb, AL

Built 1964 Load: 12.7 t ADT: 395

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: PERDIDO CREEK

3MI W FREEMANVILLE, Escambia, AL

Built 1970 Load: 12.7 t ADT: 100

Caton Road

Fair

Over: BERRY CREEK

S of Red Level off CR 21, Covington, AL

Built 1900 Load: 12.7 t ADT: 80

Piney Grove Road

Fair

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

Between CR 72 and CR 30, Covington, AL

Built 1959 Load: 12.7 t ADT: 180

JH Sellers Road

Fair

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

S of Red Level off CR 21, Covington, AL

Built 1961 Load: 12.7 t ADT: 140

GEATON RD.D

Fair

Over: BRANCH

4 MI W CASTLEBERRY, Conecuh, AL

Built 1986 Load: 12.7 t ADT: 50

CO. DIRT RD.

Fair

Over: NO NAME BR.

Riley Road, Covington, AL

Built 1900 Load: 12.7 t ADT: 60

Gopher Ridge Rd.

Fair

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

1/2 MI N OF FINKS MILL, Covington, AL

Built 1962 Load: 12.7 t ADT: 80

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: POLEY CREEK

3MI W DIXIE, Escambia, AL

Built 1964 Load: 12.7 t ADT: 175

Yellow Rvr Rch Rd

Fair

Over: DEVIL HEAD CREEK

Yellow Rvr Rch Rd, Covington, AL

Built 1991 Load: 12.7 t ADT: 60

FAULKNER RD.

Fair

Over: Unamed Branch

.4 MI. W OF CR. 55, Escambia, AL

Built 1800 Load: 12.7 t ADT: 15

PIEDMONT CUTOFF

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1 MI W PIEDMONT, Calhoun, AL

Built 1939 Load: 12.8 t ADT: 354

COUNTY DIRT RD

Fair

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

1/2 MI E OF BROG WILKERSO, Covington, AL

Built 1960 Load: 12.8 t ADT: 130

CO RD 63

Fair

Over: CEDAR CREEK

3 MI. N of AL-21, Wilcox, AL

Built 1970 Load: 12.8 t ADT: 105

ROADWAY

Fair

Over: CO RT 1177 CREEK

0.7 MI E ALA HWY 17, Sumter, AL

Built 1932 Load: 12.8 t ADT: 25

CHEROKEE #117

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.0 MI SW INT ALA #9, Cherokee, AL

Built 1994 Load: 12.8 t ADT: 235

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: WEST SEPULGA RELIEF

C C TRAIL, Conecuh, AL

Built 2001 Load: 12.8 t ADT: 50

WOLF RIDGE RD

Fair

Over: TOULMIN SPRINGS

0.3 MI W US 45, Mobile, AL

Built 1948 Load: 12.9 t ADT: 7,113

CR # 445

Fair

Over: SOAPSTONE CREEK

0.5 MI E CR 7, Dallas, AL

Built 1991 Load: 12.9 t ADT: 50

Johnson Quarters

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

Johnson quarter road, Covington, AL

Built 1994 Load: 12.9 t ADT: 80

COUNTY ROAD 3304

Fair

Over: WALNUT CREEK

SEC 26 T9N R21E, Pike, AL

Built 1953 Load: 13.0 t ADT: 180

COUNTY ROAD 5511

Fair

Over: WHITEWATER CREEK

SEC 16 T9N R22E, Pike, AL

Built 1954 Load: 13.0 t ADT: 220

COUNTY ROAD 3319

Fair

Over: WHITEWATER CREEK

SEC1 T8N R21E, Pike, AL

Built 1957 Load: 13.0 t ADT: 200

COUNTY HWY NO 59

Fair

Over: WHITEWATER CREEK(RELIEF)

SEC 1 T8N R21E, Pike, AL

Built 1957 Load: 13.0 t ADT: 225

Showing 501-550 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.