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 RT 36

Fair

Over: RICHARDSON CREEK

INT CO RT 36 AND CO RT 31, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1935 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 210

AL - 160

Fair

Over: SUGAR CREEK

.1 MI. SO.CO.RD.45, Blount, AL

Built 1949 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 4,340

US 31

Fair

Over: STREAM

02.2 MI N JCT AL 185, Butler, AL

Built 1950 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 2,580

CO.RD.4

Fair

Over: AUTAUGA CREEK

1MI.EAST SPRING HILCHURCH, Autauga, AL

Built 1951 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 7,000

CO RD #82

Fair

Over: TERRY MILL CREEK

West of Red Level, Covington, AL

Built 1951 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 270

US 431

Fair

Over: DRUM CREEK

2.4 MI N JCT US431 * SR75, Marshall, AL

Built 1952 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 29,989

DRAKE AVE

Fair

Over: BRAHAN SPRING BRANCH

2227 DRAKE AVE, Madison, AL

Built 1955 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 19,000

COUNTY ROAD 50

Fair

Over: POND CREEK

LIVE OAK RD., Crenshaw, AL

Built 1957 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 384

SR 20

Fair

Over: BRANCH

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

Built 1928 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 11,670

I 59

Fair

Over: NORFOLK SOUTHERN

I-59 * US 11, Etowah, AL

Built 1962 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 8,381

FRESNO LN

Fair

Over: WARES FERRY DITCH

200FT S OF RAY DR, Montgomery, AL

Built 1964 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 250

CO 38

Fair

Over: COWPEN CREEK

0.8 MI E INT CO 94, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1965 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 255

GRIZZARD RD

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

5314 GRIZZARD RD, Madison, AL

Built 1965 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 2,475

AL 211

Fair

Over: I59

AL 211 * I59, Etowah, AL

Built 1965 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 4,916

RAMP F

Fair

Over: 26 TH ST

RAMP F TO 2ND AVE NORTH, Jefferson, AL

Built 1972 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 31,810

I-59

Fair

Over: JONES CREEK (-)

2 MI. S. OF TOMBIGBEE, Sumter, AL

Built 1974 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 9,125

I-59

Fair

Over: JONES CREEK (+)

2 MI. S. OF TOMBIGBEE, Sumter, AL

Built 1974 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 18,594

CO RT 537

Fair

Over: DOUBLE BRIDGES CREEK

3.8 MILES WEST OF ENPRISE, Coffee, AL

Built 1974 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 55

US72; RAMP C

Fair

Over: ROSEBERRY CREEK

RAMP FROM SR279 TO US72 W, Jackson, AL

Built 1975 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 1,364

MADISON AVE

Fair

Over: NS RR (Abandoned)

0.4 MI E OF N RIPLEY ST, Montgomery, AL

Built 1975 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 17,000

SR 225

Fair

Over: I-65

JCT I-65 * SR 225, Baldwin, AL

Built 1976 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 1,919

US 82 MP 219.838

Fair

Over: STREAM

1.8 MI. E. BULLOCK CO. L., Barbour, AL

Built 1929 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 1,910

VISTA BONITA DR.

Fair

Over: SPENCERS BRANCH

0.2 MI E KNOLLWOOD DR, Mobile, AL

Built 1978 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 1,557

PINE HILL DR

Fair

Over: ESLAVA CREEK

0.3 MI S US 90, Mobile, AL

Built 1956 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 1,001

POCOHANTAS RD

Fair

Over: I - 459

POCOHANTAS RD * I459, Jefferson, AL

Built 1982 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 1,300

I - 20 EAST

Fair

Over: AL - 4 ( US 78)

I20 * US 78, Jefferson, AL

Built 1985 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 35,000

BEECHWOOD RD

Fair

Over: COXEY CREEK

SEC 21 T3S R6W, Limestone, AL

Built 1986 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 40

RAMP E-H

Fair

Over: 7TH * 8TH AVE NORTH

RAMP E-H OVER 7TH * 8TH, Jefferson, AL

Built 1987 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 15,241

I - 65 SOUTH

Fair

Over: BLUE RIDGE BLVD

I 65 * BLUE RIDGE BLVD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1972 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 58,955

SR4/US78

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.1 MI E JCT SR 21, Calhoun, AL

Built 1997 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 23,292

OLD DEER CREEK RD

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

0.4MI E JCT CO 43, Shelby, AL

Built 1995 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 50

AL-233

Fair

Over: I-22

2.45 Miles N AL-118, Marion, AL

Built 2000 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 700

Reeder Road

Fair

Over: I-22

Reeder Rd @I22-MM 80.4, Walker, AL

Built 2003 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 1,265

CO RD 33

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.1 MI N INT AL 156 * 251, Choctaw, AL

Built 1958 Load: 38.7 t ADT: 1,300

COUNTY ROAD 37

Fair

Over: PANTHER CREEK

SEC 16 T14 R21, Bullock, AL

Built 1959 Load: 38.7 t ADT: 200

CO. HWY. 71

Fair

Over: KATES BRANCH

0.64 MI. SOUTH CR 46, Shelby, AL

Built 1963 Load: 38.7 t ADT: 848

COUNTY RD 59

Fair

Over: TRIB. TO HARDIN CREEK

3.3 MI. W. OF HAVANA, Hale, AL

Built 1966 Load: 38.7 t ADT: 75

I-65 NB

Fair

Over: SR 59

I-65 @ SR 59, Baldwin, AL

Built 1967 Load: 38.7 t ADT: 12,271

CO RD 20

Fair

Over: BOLIGEE CANAL

1.0 MI N US 11, Greene, AL

Built 1968 Load: 38.7 t ADT: 630

BRANDY RUN ROAD

Fair

Over: TWELVE MILE CREEK

HIGHLAND WOODS SUBDIV., Mobile, AL

Built 1977 Load: 38.7 t ADT: 22

AL-17

Fair

Over: Mud Creek

5.0 MI N of Northport, Lamar, AL

Built 1985 Load: 38.7 t ADT: 1,191

AL.10

Fair

Over: JOHNS CREEK

8.6 MI.E.OF US 31 JCT., Butler, AL

Built 1989 Load: 38.7 t ADT: 1,850

R-J4; SR 53

Fair

Over: RAMP J-7(I565E TO SR53S)

0.1 MI S JCT SR 53 * I565, Madison, AL

Built 1991 Load: 38.7 t ADT: 3,209

MAIN ST.

Fair

Over: MANOY CREEK

1.4 MI S OF US 280, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 1920 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 1,000

STANTON RD

Fair

Over: THREE MILE CREEK

0.4 MI N SPRING HILL AVE, Mobile, AL

Built 1993 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 10,742

CO RT 63

Fair

Over: NORTH RIVER

7.0 N OF BERRY, Fayette, AL

Built 1953 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 130

DENVER RD

Fair

Over: SOAPSTONE CREEK

0.7 M N OF INT 520 * 523, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 1955 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 255

COUNTY ROAD 39

Fair

Over: CHAMPION CREEK

2 1/2 MI NE OF ONEONTA, Blount, AL

Built 1957 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 1,009

CR-18

Fair

Over: Unnamed Branch

0.31 MI N OF CR-14, Coosa, AL

Built 1959 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 159

I85 SBL

Fair

Over: AL 8

MITYLENE INTERCHANGE, Montgomery, AL

Built 1966 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 19,245

Showing 6,801-6,850 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.