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

I65 SBL

Fair

Over: RAMPS AND JEFF DAVIS AVE

I65 AND I85 INTERCHANGE, Montgomery, AL

Built 1973 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 37,200

RIVERTON ROSE TR

Fair

Over: COLBERT CREEK

RRT @ LANE SPRINGS, Colbert, AL

Built 1973 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 85

I - 20 EAST

Fair

Over: CITY STREET 64TH PLACE

I20 * 64TH PLACE, Jefferson, AL

Built 1974 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 30,680

I-59

Fair

Over: AT*N.RR (ABANDON)

.3MI.S.OF S.R.17, Sumter, AL

Built 1974 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 9,020

US 43

Fair

Over: PAUL BAYOU CREEK

.4 MI. N.OF CALVERT, Washington, AL

Built 1979 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 6,180

US 43

Fair

Over: BATES CREEK

3.4 MI.N.OF CALVERT, Washington, AL

Built 1979 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 4,785

US 43

Fair

Over: BILBO CREEK

1.5 MI.S.OF MCINTOSH, Washington, AL

Built 1979 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 5,020

AL-6

Fair

Over: Coal Fire Creek Relief

Coal Fire, Pickens, AL

Built 1980 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 5,981

US 43

Fair

Over: BASSETTS CREEK

THOMASVILLE, Clarke, AL

Built 1981 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 4,275

POPLAR SPRINGS DRI

Fair

Over: POPLAR SPRINGS BRANCH

40 FT WEST OF COUNTY 70, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1981 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 205

CO. HWY. 55

Fair

Over: YELLOWLEAF CREEK

6.6 MI N HWY 25 INT, Shelby, AL

Built 1983 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 1,400

CO. RD. 87

Fair

Over: NEGRO CREEK

1.8 MI. N. OF CO. RD. 32, Baldwin, AL

Built 1983 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 1,255

CO 139

Fair

Over: MIDDLE CYPRESS CREEK

0.1 MI W CO 11, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1983 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 160

CO. RD. 87

Fair

Over: NEGRO CREEK RELIEF

1.9 MI. N. OF CO. RD. 32, Baldwin, AL

Built 1984 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 1,277

CO.RD. 87

Fair

Over: BLACKWATER RIVER

2.6 MI. N. OF CO. RD. 32, Baldwin, AL

Built 1987 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 1,278

I - 59 SOUTH

Fair

Over: NORFOLK SOUTHERN

I59 * AGS RR, St. Clair, AL

Built 1961 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 13,987

I 565

Fair

Over: PINEY CREEK

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

Built 1990 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 26,590

SR 22

Fair

Over: RED MOUTH CREEK

1 MI W JCT US 231, Coosa, AL

Built 1930 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 1,410

US 43

Fair

Over: LITTLE PAUL BAYOU

2.3 MILES N. OF CALVERT, Washington, AL

Built 2000 Load: 33.6 t ADT: 4,785

CR 170

Fair

Over: TRIB TO CROW CREEK

0.5 MI E JCT SR 117, Jackson, AL

Built 1930 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 80

OLD GAD-ANN HWY.

Fair

Over: SO RAILROAD

OLD GAD-ANN HWY (SKATE), Calhoun, AL

Built 1937 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 5,475

SR 9

Fair

Over: FOX CREEK

N CITY LIMITS LINEVILLE, Clay, AL

Built 1925 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 3,513

SR 9

Fair

Over: MAD INDIAN CREEK

3.5 MI N LINEVILLE, Clay, AL

Built 1925 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 3,194

HARRISON COVE RD

Fair

Over: HARRISON COVE BRANCH

0.5 MI E CO RD 1411, Madison, AL

Built 1940 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 140

SR 9

Fair

Over: BRANCH

6.5 MI N COOSA CO LINE, Clay, AL

Built 1942 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 1,756

SR4 / US 78

Fair

Over: TOWN CREEK

TOWN OF EDWARDSVILLE, Cleburne, AL

Built 1929 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 2,367

SR 77

Fair

Over: BRANCH

2.4 MI N TALLADEGA CO LIN, Calhoun, AL

Built 1956 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 6,910

I59

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.8 MI SO JCT AL 174, St. Clair, AL

Built 1961 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 14,630

US 411

Fair

Over: COOSA RIVER

.2 MI. N. OF 68 * AL 25, Cherokee, AL

Built 1961 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 16,699

WALES RD

Fair

Over: I 65

4.5 MI N JCT I 65 & SR 3, Limestone, AL

Built 1964 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 1,690

CO 40

Fair

Over: I65

2.2 MI N OF US 31, Autauga, AL

Built 1965 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 700

CO. RT.436

Fair

Over: VEST CREEK

CR 436, Cullman, AL

Built 1965 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 110

CR 77

Fair

Over: I-59 (MP 78.15)

1.7 MI S HAMMS POTTERY, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1966 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 2,602

I - 20/59 WEST

Fair

Over: VANDERBILT RD

I 59 * VANDERBILT RD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1971 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 76,895

SR 2

Fair

Over: BUZZARD ROOST CREEK

4.7 M E AL & MS ST LINE, Colbert, AL

Built 1971 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 4,850

I - 59 NORTH

Fair

Over: WALDROP AVE

I 59 * WALDROP AVE, Jefferson, AL

Built 1975 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 20,545

CLUB POND RD.

Fair

Over: BRYAN MILL CREEK

CLUB POND RD., Crenshaw, AL

Built 1980 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 50

POND CREEK RD.

Fair

Over: POND CREEK

POND CREEK ROAD, Crenshaw, AL

Built 1980 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 60

BETHEL ROAD

Fair

Over: GURLEY CREEK TRIBUTARY

1 MI W AL 79, Jefferson, AL

Built 1982 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 407

COUNTY ROAD 6606

Fair

Over: TRIB TO CONECUH RIVER

SEC 3 T11N R22E, Pike, AL

Built 1986 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 125

CR # 960

Fair

Over: BIG SWAMP CREEK

0.8 MI E CR 33, Dallas, AL

Built 1942 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 60

US-84 MP 187.378

Fair

Over: CLAYBANK CREEK

1 MI.W. JCT. SR-85, Dale, AL

Built 1993 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 9,465

I-22

Fair

Over: Calumet Road

M.P. 61.9 on I-22, Walker, AL

Built 1995 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 18,526

LAKEVIEW STREET

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

SEC 7 T3S R6W, Limestone, AL

Built 1999 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 40

CO RT 365

Fair

Over: BEAVERDAM CREEK

5.06 MI WEST OF ELBA, Coffee, AL

Built 2006 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 75

Poole Dirt Rd

Fair

Over: _Tributary to Panther

2 MI NE Sand Cut, Conecuh, AL

Built 2018 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 55

Dead Holl. Rd. N

Fair

Over: _MORGAN CREEK

_0.25 MI from Narrow Road, Shelby, AL

Built 2019 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 50

AL - 3 (US 31)

Fair

Over: BUXAHATCHEE CK

.3 MI.SO.JCT AL 25, Shelby, AL

Built 1920 Load: 33.8 t ADT: 7,680

US 31

Fair

Over: PIGEON CREEK

08.2 MI N JCT AL 10, Butler, AL

Built 1950 Load: 33.8 t ADT: 1,930

US 31

Fair

Over: PINEYWOOD CREEK

9.0 MI N OF JCT AL 10, Butler, AL

Built 1950 Load: 33.8 t ADT: 1,370

Showing 5,751-5,800 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.