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 RD 135

Fair

Over: CREEK

1.5 MI N US HWY 11, Greene, AL

Built 1963 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 180

US 43

Fair

Over: BEAVER DAM CREEK

1.3 MI N JCT CO RD 96, Mobile, AL

Built 1963 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 15,349

CORT12 FAS03

Fair

Over: DUNCAN CREEK

.3M WEST AL#5 ON CO RT 12, Perry, AL

Built 1965 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 410

ST BUNN

Fair

Over: I-59

2.5 MI S JCT I-359, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1970 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 500

SANDUSKY ROAD

Fair

Over: FRISCO RAILROAD

1 MI E MINOR PARKWAY, Jefferson, AL

Built 1970 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 2,428

798

Fair

Over: TWOMILE CREEK

Cr 798, Cullman, AL

Built 1971 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 165

ELBO PORTER ROAD

Fair

Over: VILLAGE CREEK

1.50 MI S FLAT TOP ROAD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1974 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 631

I - 459 SOUTH

Fair

Over: SCL RR SOU RR *ACCESS RD

I459* SOU RR, Jefferson, AL

Built 1983 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 27,200

VIRGINIA DRIVE

Fair

Over: FOLKES BRANCH

DOTHAN, Houston, AL

Built 1984 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 650

EAST SIDE DR

Fair

Over: I-759

I-759-EAST SIDE DR, Etowah, AL

Built 1985 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 318

SAGE AVE.

Fair

Over: ESLAVA CREEK

0.2 MI S. AIRPORT BLVD, Mobile, AL

Built 1962 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 4,057

CO RT 450

Fair

Over: BRANCH

2.1 MI NE OF INO, Coffee, AL

Built 1989 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 95

US 11; SR 68

Fair

Over: TOWN CREEK

JCT US 11 * SR 68, DeKalb, AL

Built 1993 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 7,037

CO RT 47

Fair

Over: ST. FLORIAN BRANCH

0.2 MI N INT CO AT 30, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1917 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 1,710

SR 21

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1 MI. S. OF BEATRICE, Monroe, AL

Built 1930 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 1,940

AL 219

Fair

Over: Osborn Creek

1.9 MI S JCT SR 183, Perry, AL

Built 1957 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 900

SR 210 MP 6.243

Fair

Over: CSX RAILROAD

0.8 MI. WEST 431 N., Houston, AL

Built 1958 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 12,080

SR 210 MP 6.243

Fair

Over: CSX RAILROAD

0.8 MI. WEST 431 N., Houston, AL

Built 1958 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 12,080

TOADVINE ROAD

Fair

Over: VALLEY CREEK

3 MI N OAK GROVE, Jefferson, AL

Built 1964 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 2,490

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: MASON CREEK

3MI W DIXIE, Escambia, AL

Built 1964 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 175

CO 47

Fair

Over: I-20

EXIT 179-PRIEBES MILL, Talladega, AL

Built 1967 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 11,597

CO RT 30

Fair

Over: HUDDON CREEK

1 MI E INT SR 17, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1937 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 450

I - 59 SOUTH

Fair

Over: I 20 RAMP A * B

I 59 * I 20 INTER, Jefferson, AL

Built 1974 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 38,900

I - 20/59 SOUTH

Fair

Over: AL - 7 ACADEMY DRIVE

I59 * ACADEMY DRIVE, Jefferson, AL

Built 1975 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 22,135

I - 20/59 NORTH

Fair

Over: AL - 7 ACADEMY DRIVE

I59 * ACADEMY DRIVE, Jefferson, AL

Built 1975 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 22,135

US 231 SBL

Fair

Over: AL 108 AND SERVICE ROADS

E. BYPASS AND ATLANTA HWY, Montgomery, AL

Built 1982 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 20,125

US 231 NBL

Fair

Over: AL 108 AND SERVICE ROADS

E.BYPASS AND ATLANTA HWY, Montgomery, AL

Built 1982 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 20,125

WOODLEY RD

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE RELIEF

0.9 MI S VIG. LP. RD, Montgomery, AL

Built 1984 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 5,000

WOODLEY RD

Fair

Over: BARNES SLOUGH

1.1 MI S OF VIG. LP. RD, Montgomery, AL

Built 1984 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 5,000

SKITTER RD. CR159

Fair

Over: BOGOECHITTO CREEK

SKITTER RD HAMBURG, Perry, AL

Built 1964 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 140

FRTG RD TO I165NB

Fair

Over: PRICE AVENUE

I165 @ PRICE AVENUE, Mobile, AL

Built 1993 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 2,306

SR 3

Fair

Over: I 65

3 MI N JCT SR 3 & SR 2, Limestone, AL

Built 1991 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 3,135

AL - 53 (US 231)

Fair

Over: CANOE CREEK

2 MI.SO. I-59, St. Clair, AL

Built 1994 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 8,140

CENTRAL PARKWAY

Fair

Over: CENTRAL PARKWAY/DITCH

600 FT N. POOLE VALLEY RD, Morgan, AL

Built 2002 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 399

MUD TAVERN ROAD

Fair

Over: MUD TAVERN ROAD/DITCH

1MI. EAST S.CHAPEL HILL, Morgan, AL

Built 2002 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 228

LOCUST LEVEL RD.

Fair

Over: TAN TROUGH CREEK

SEC 33 T20N R17E, Elmore, AL

Built 2005 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 30

POSSUM TROT RD.

Fair

Over: WOLF CREEK

SEC 13 T20N R17E, Elmore, AL

Built 2005 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 30

COOSA RIVER RD.

Fair

Over: NO NAME CREEK

SEC 22 T20N R17E, Elmore, AL

Built 2005 Load: 37.4 t ADT: 40

US 31

Fair

Over: HAWKINS CREEK

0.4 MI S JCT AL 185, Butler, AL

Built 1950 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 3,260

I-65

Fair

Over: BIG SPRING CREEK

6.8 MI N JCT SR 21, Escambia, AL

Built 1960 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 23,140

AL 147 / AL 267

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.1 MI N JCT SR 14, Lee, AL

Built 1969 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 16,270

CR-21

Fair

Over: I-59 (MP 24.8)

1.3 MI.N. OF CO.RD 20, Sumter, AL

Built 1974 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 100

SR 50

Fair

Over: C OF GA. R/R(ABANDONED)

TOWN OF LAFAYETTE, Chambers, AL

Built 1975 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 3,564

I - 59 SOUTH

Fair

Over: 85TH ST NO

I - 59 SO / 85TH ST NO, Jefferson, AL

Built 1976 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 34,590

I- 59 NORTH

Fair

Over: 85TH STREET

I59 * 85 TH ST, Jefferson, AL

Built 1976 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 34,590

COUNTY ROAD 20

Fair

Over: DEVIL HEAD CREEK

Glen Chambers Rd, Covington, AL

Built 1982 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 210

Lee Road 112

Fair

Over: CHEWACLA CREEK

1 MI SE JCT LEE RD 146, Lee, AL

Built 1985 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 2,349

RAMP"C"

Fair

Over: 26TH STREET

RAMP"D" TO RAMP, Jefferson, AL

Built 1987 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 15,477

SELF CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: SELF CREEK

SELF CREEK RD @ SELF CREK, Jefferson, AL

Built 1987 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 255

SR 165

Fair

Over: IHAGEE CREEK

9.1 MI NO COTTONTON, Russell, AL

Built 1989 Load: 37.5 t ADT: 3,360

Showing 6,551-6,600 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.