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

TVA RES. ROAD

Fair

Over: BUS BAR TUNNEL- REMOVED

NEAR NAT. FERT. DEV. CTR., Colbert, AL

Built 1958 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 1,929

SR 9

Fair

Over: HORSE TROUGH CREEK

CITY OF ASHLAND, Clay, AL

Built 1951 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 5,588

CO RD 23

Fair

Over: SIPSEY RIVER RELIEF

1.3 MI N LEWISTON, Greene, AL

Built 1953 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 1,000

SR 20

Fair

Over: BRANCH

6.1 M W JCT SR 20 & SR 67, Lawrence, AL

Built 1928 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 11,670

COUNTY ROAD 2278

Fair

Over: DEER CREEK

SEC 34 T8N R19E, Pike, AL

Built 1962 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 185

CO RT 23

Fair

Over: STREAM

0.35 MI N JCT CR RT 460, Lawrence, AL

Built 1965 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 400

US 90

Fair

Over: CHACALOOCHEE BAY

0.3 MI E I10 MIDBAY INTCH, Baldwin, AL

Built 1966 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 22,678

I - 59 NORTH

Fair

Over: 3RD AVE NO * 63RD ST

I59 * 63RD ST, Jefferson, AL

Built 1974 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 38,900

POWDER PLANT RD

Fair

Over: I - 20/59

POWDER PLANT ROAD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1977 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 24,240

AL - 269 NORTH

Fair

Over: BAYVIEW LAKE

3 MI. S CO RD 65, Jefferson, AL

Built 1980 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 3,705

CO. 208

Fair

Over: WESTERN R. R. OF ALABAMA

.7 MI. S. W. HUGULEY, Chambers, AL

Built 1983 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 9,279

CO. RD. 12

Fair

Over: BON SECOUR RIVER

1.4 MI. W. OF AL. HWY. 59, Baldwin, AL

Built 1985 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 1,797

CO.RD.64

Fair

Over: BLACKWATER RIVER

0.4 MI. E. OF CO. RD. 65, Baldwin, AL

Built 1996 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 4,150

SR 3

Fair

Over: TN River & CSX RR

0.1 M N JCT SR 3 & SR 20, Morgan, AL

Built 1996 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 20,045

CO. RD. 64

Fair

Over: EIGHT MILE CREEK

3.5 MI. N. OF I-10, Baldwin, AL

Built 2002 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 531

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: NO NAME CREEK

1/2MI SOUTH OF FIVE RUN, Covington, AL

Built 2002 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 269

COUNTY RT. 57

Fair

Over: DOUBLE CREEK

5.49 MI. N. OF JEFFERSON, Marengo, AL

Built 2003 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 530

COUNTY ROAD 19

Fair

Over: BILBO CREEK

.5 MI. NORTH OF TOPTON, Washington, AL

Built 2003 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 685

AL - 25

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RR

.2 MI. SO. AL 139, Shelby, AL

Built 2008 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 3,790

SR 49

Fair

Over: Trib. of Uphapee Creek

2.5 mi. w. of I-85, Macon, AL

Built 2019 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 1,450

Government Street

Fair

Over: Branch

1100 from sch highlands, Butler, AL

Built 1980 Load: 33.0 t ADT: 500

CO RD A24

Fair

Over: LICK CREEK

1.8 MI W JCT SR 187, Franklin, AL

Built 1929 Load: 33.1 t ADT: 600

SR 235

Fair

Over: BRANCH

4.1MI EAST JCT US 280, Talladega, AL

Built 1941 Load: 33.1 t ADT: 2,883

SR4/US78

Fair

Over: MUSCADINE CREEK

2.7 MI W ALA / GA LINE, Cleburne, AL

Built 1929 Load: 33.1 t ADT: 1,904

AL - 3 SOUTH

Fair

Over: BLACK CREEK

US 31 * BLACK CREEK, Jefferson, AL

Built 1955 Load: 33.1 t ADT: 8,490

US 80

Fair

Over: CALEBEE CREEK

11.3 MI.E.MONTG.CO LINE, Macon, AL

Built 1955 Load: 33.1 t ADT: 2,530

CO 14

Fair

Over: BRANCH OFF N FORK CREEK

2.8 N E HURTSBORO, Russell, AL

Built 1960 Load: 33.1 t ADT: 280

SHILOH ROAD

Fair

Over: TAYLOR CREEK

4.6 MI N W OF JCT US 11, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1961 Load: 33.1 t ADT: 400

AL9 SBL

Fair

Over: I 85 NBL

E BYPASS * I-85 INTERCHAN, Montgomery, AL

Built 1964 Load: 33.1 t ADT: 23,430

SR 17

Fair

Over: RELIEF

.5 MI.N.OF GILBERTOWN, Choctaw, AL

Built 1970 Load: 33.1 t ADT: 3,850

SR 17

Fair

Over: OKATUPPA CREEK

1 MI.N.OF GILBERTOWN, Choctaw, AL

Built 1971 Load: 33.1 t ADT: 3,850

BRAHAN ST

Fair

Over: BROGLAN BRANCH

2208 BRAHAN ST, Madison, AL

Built 1972 Load: 33.1 t ADT: 1,500

GOLDEN AVE

Fair

Over: TOULMIN SPRINGS

300 E US 45, Mobile, AL

Built 1976 Load: 33.1 t ADT: 21

US 90 EB TO I10 EB

Fair

Over: US 90

I10-US90-CHACALOOCHEE BAY, Baldwin, AL

Built 1978 Load: 33.1 t ADT: 6,747

CO RD 60

Fair

Over: MUCK CREEK

NE1/4 S19 T18 R23, Macon, AL

Built 1986 Load: 33.1 t ADT: 243

I 565

Fair

Over: LIMESTONE CREEK RELIEF

2.7 MI E JCT I 565 & I 65, Limestone, AL

Built 1987 Load: 33.1 t ADT: 665

CR-11

Fair

Over: I-22

1.2 MI S AL-19, Marion, AL

Built 1988 Load: 33.1 t ADT: 586

I-22

Fair

Over: NS Railroad

M.P. 62.9 on I-22, Walker, AL

Built 1998 Load: 33.1 t ADT: 20,662

US 82

Fair

Over: PINHOOK CREEK

4.8MI E OF CO RD 37, Bullock, AL

Built 1997 Load: 33.1 t ADT: 960

THEODORE DAWES RD

Fair

Over: I-10

2.4 MI W US 90, Mobile, AL

Built 1999 Load: 33.1 t ADT: 16,132

US 80 W.B.L.

Fair

Over: MUD CREED RELIEF

2.5 MI. W. OF AL 5, Dallas, AL

Built 2006 Load: 33.1 t ADT: 2,165

US 80 W.B.L.

Fair

Over: MUD CREEK

2.7 MI. W. OF AL 5, Dallas, AL

Built 2006 Load: 33.1 t ADT: 2,165

US 80 W.B.L.

Fair

Over: BRUSH CREEK

0.9 MI. W. OF AL 5, Dallas, AL

Built 2006 Load: 33.1 t ADT: 1,975

CO. HWY. 211

Fair

Over: RAILROAD

0.1 MI S JCT US 31, Shelby, AL

Built 1922 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 50

SR 27 MP 70.193

Fair

Over: WATSON CREEK

1 MI. N. HENRY CO.32, Henry, AL

Built 1929 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 880

US11

Fair

Over: BRANCH

IN CITY OF FORT PAYNE, DeKalb, AL

Built 1936 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 4,430

CO RD NO 56

Fair

Over: MCCONEGAL CREEK

1 MILE EAST OF MISSST LIN, Marion, AL

Built 1962 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 100

US 80

Fair

Over: WHITFIELD CANAL

DEMOPOLIS, Marengo, AL

Built 1934 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 20,210

SR38/US280

Fair

Over: DARBY BRANCH

1.0 MI N JCT AL 21, Talladega, AL

Built 1964 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 15,630

TILLMAN MILL RD

Fair

Over: BIG CR

SEC21 T2S R5W, Limestone, AL

Built 1965 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 940

Showing 5,601-5,650 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.