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

COUNTY ROAD 39

Fair

Over: WHIPPOORWILL CREEK

ELLISON CROSSROADS, Blount, AL

Built 1957 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 808

I - 20/59 NORTH

Fair

Over: COOSA ST SOU SS * IRR

I59 * COOSA ST, Jefferson, AL

Built 1971 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 76,895

I65 SBL

Fair

Over: AL 14

I65 AND AL 14 INTERCHANGE, Elmore, AL

Built 1972 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 19,520

I-65 NBL

Fair

Over: AL 14

I65 AND AL 14 INTERCHANGE, Elmore, AL

Built 1972 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 19,520

I - 20/59 NORTH

Fair

Over: AIRPORT BLVD

I 59 * AIRPORT BLVD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1974 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 70,200

MULBERRY RD.

Fair

Over: PINEY WOODS CREEK

MULBERRY RD., Crenshaw, AL

Built 1974 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 50

BRADLEYTON RD.

Fair

Over: BLUE CREEK

BRADLEYTON RD., Crenshaw, AL

Built 1974 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 75

LEON DOUGLAS RD

Fair

Over: LEIGHTON BRANCH

LEON DOUGLAS RD, Colbert, AL

Built 1976 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 250

COUNTY ROAD 21

Fair

Over: SLAB CREEK

1 1/2 MI NW HIGHMOUND, Blount, AL

Built 1977 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 472

CR-60

Fair

Over: Town Creek

0.45 Mi SW of CR-31, Coosa, AL

Built 1980 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 177

COUNTY ROAD 75

Fair

Over: E FORK CTAWCHEE RIVER

0.3 MI. NE OF HENRYCO LIN, Barbour, AL

Built 1982 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 449

AL-17

Fair

Over: Coal Fire Creek

0.7 MI S Lamar Co Line, Pickens, AL

Built 1983 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 880

COUNTY ROAD 75

Fair

Over: E FORK CHOCTAWHATCHEE

0.1 MI E HENRY CO LINE, Barbour, AL

Built 1983 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 449

CO.HWY. 275

Fair

Over: CAHABA RIVER

SHELBY/JEFFCO.LINE, Shelby, AL

Built 1986 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 16,877

I - 65

Fair

Over: AL - 378 (FINLEY BLVD)

I - 65 / AL - 378, Jefferson, AL

Built 1970 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 104,190

CAHABA HEIGHTS RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE SHADES CREEK

JCT DOLLY RIDGE RD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1988 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 15,061

US 80 WBL

Fair

Over: L*N RR

0.4 MI.W.OF JCT.US 31, Montgomery, AL

Built 1992 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 12,126

UNIVERSITY PARK DR

Fair

Over: SHADES CREEK

AL 149/UNIV PK DR, Jefferson, AL

Built 1998 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 1,500

OLD GREENSBORO RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE SANDY CREEK

5MI.S ENGLEWOOD RD, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 2004 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 650

CO. RD. 12

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF BON SECOUR RI.

0.3 MI. E. OF AL. HWY. 59, Baldwin, AL

Built 2005 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 1,953

US 231 NBL

Fair

Over: TALLAPOOSA RIVER RELIEF

.4 MI N. OF TALLAPOOSA RI, Elmore, AL

Built 2013 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 16,115

US 31

Fair

Over: HALLS CREEK

05.0 MI N JCT AL 10, Butler, AL

Built 1949 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 1,930

Pepperell Parkway

Fair

Over: SOUGAHATCHEE CREEK

CITY OF OPELIKA, Lee, AL

Built 1955 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 26,900

SR 9

Fair

Over: COOSA RIVER

CEDAR BLUFF CITY LIMITS, Cherokee, AL

Built 1961 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 9,959

BEAVER CREEK RD

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.8 MI. N.E. VERNON, Lamar, AL

Built 1962 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 490

CO 05

Fair

Over: STREET CREEK

0.5 MI W MT. ZION CHURCH, Clay, AL

Built 1962 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 879

AL - 38 WEST

Fair

Over: LANE PARK RAMP

US 280 * LANE PK RAMP, Jefferson, AL

Built 1964 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 6,655

AL - 38 EAST

Fair

Over: LANE PARK RAMP

US 280 * LANE PK RAMP, Jefferson, AL

Built 1964 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 6,655

CO RD 6

Fair

Over: I65

1.1 MI.S.OF MONTG.CO.LINE, Lowndes, AL

Built 1965 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 455

SR 157

Fair

Over: FLINT CREEK

1.7 M N JCT SR157 & SR36, Lawrence, AL

Built 1968 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 3,415

SR 157

Fair

Over: ELAM CREEK

5.6 M S JCT SR157 & SR24, Lawrence, AL

Built 1968 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 3,535

I-65 SB

Fair

Over: Alabama Gulf Coast RR

1.1 MI S US 43, Mobile, AL

Built 1970 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 18,572

I-65 NB

Fair

Over: Alabama Gulf Coast RR

1.1 MI S US 43, Mobile, AL

Built 1970 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 18,676

Redland Road

Fair

Over: TOMKEHATCHEE CREEK

SEC 24 T18N R20E, Elmore, AL

Built 1972 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 2,200

Friendship Road

Fair

Over: WALLAHATCHEE CREEK

SEC 15 T21N R18E, Elmore, AL

Built 1973 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 2,200

Spigener Road

Fair

Over: PINKSTON CREEK

SEC 4 T19N R18E, Elmore, AL

Built 1973 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 130

Oak Valley Road

Fair

Over: WALLAHTCHEE CREEK

SEC 6 T18N R21E, Elmore, AL

Built 1973 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 90

North Ann Street

Fair

Over: CHANNAHATCHEE CREEK

SEC 1 T19N R20E, Elmore, AL

Built 1974 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 350

Balm Road

Fair

Over: SOFKAHATCHEE CREEK

SEC 15 T19E, Elmore, AL

Built 1975 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 420

Grier Road

Fair

Over: LITTLE WEOKA CREEK

SEC 22 T20N R19E, Elmore, AL

Built 1975 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 300

SHORT CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: SHORT CREEK

1 MI NE HWY 269, Jefferson, AL

Built 1975 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 1,630

John Wood Road

Fair

Over: PINKSTON CREEK

SEC 33 T20N R18E, Elmore, AL

Built 1976 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 20

US 331

Fair

Over: CATOMA CREEK RELIEF#2

0.3 MI.S.OF SOU.BYPASS, Montgomery, AL

Built 1976 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 3,615

CO 149

Fair

Over: EMAUHEE CREEK

1.0 MI E CO RT 123, Talladega, AL

Built 1979 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 175

AL - 5 (US 11)

Fair

Over: L*N FRISCO * SOU RR

@ 19TH STREET (BESSEMER), Jefferson, AL

Built 1936 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 28,150

US 31

Fair

Over: PERSIMMON CREEK

03.0 MI N JCT AL 185, Butler, AL

Built 1950 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 2,040

GALLANT RD.

Fair

Over: LITTLE CANOE CREEK

@ ETOWAH/ST CLAIR LINE, Etowah, AL

Built 1951 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 780

US 31

Fair

Over: MURDER CREEK

0.5 MI N SR 84 JCT, Conecuh, AL

Built 1953 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 8,472

SANFORD RD

Fair

Over: ROCKY CREEK

5.3 M E OF 63, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 1957 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 295

CO. HWY # 36

Fair

Over: BARNES CREEK BRANCH

4 MI NW OF HARTFORD, Geneva, AL

Built 1959 Load: 34.2 t ADT: 185

Showing 5,851-5,900 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.