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

US 11

Fair

Over: BIG WILLS CREEK

US 11 @ ATTALLA, Etowah, AL

Built 2000 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 6,384

LACEYS GROVE

Fair

Over: BEAVERDAM CK

LACEYS GROVE SUBDIVISION, Shelby, AL

Built 2005 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 150

Cr 504

Fair

Over: Thatcher Creek

CR 504, Cullman, AL

Built 2017 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 100

Deer Trace Pkwy.

Fair

Over: Lick skillet Creek

E of Upper Hurricane rd., Madison, AL

Built 1984 Load: 40.2 t ADT: 100

WEST FT. WILLIAMS

Fair

Over: DARBY CREEK

SYLACAUGA, Talladega, AL

Built 1940 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 4,200

SR 157

Fair

Over: SCROUGE ABOUT CRK RELIEF

6.8 M S JCT SR157 & SR36, Morgan, AL

Built 1959 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 5,160

COUNTY HIGHWAY137

Fair

Over: WHIPPORWILL CREEK

7322 FT S JCT 1561, Marshall, AL

Built 1960 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 200

SR 59 SB

Fair

Over: BOGGY BRANCH

0.25 MI S C0 RD 10, Baldwin, AL

Built 1976 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 17,450

Nobles Road

Fair

Over: SOFKAHATCHEE CREEK

SEC 5 T19N R19E, Elmore, AL

Built 1993 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 14

Thrasher Road

Fair

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

SEC 31 T19N R19E, Elmore, AL

Built 1995 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 60

Deatsville Highway

Fair

Over: MORTAR CREEK(RELIEF)

.2MI W OF AL 143, Elmore, AL

Built 1995 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 2,181

Ceaserville Road

Fair

Over: MORTAR CREEK

.3MI W OF AL 143, Elmore, AL

Built 1996 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 2,181

COUNTY ROAD 49

Fair

Over: COPELAND CREEK

1/2 MI S OF ROCK SPRINGS, Blount, AL

Built 2003 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 386

INDUSTRIAL ROAD

Fair

Over: NORFOLK/SOUTH RAILROAD

SOUTH OF US 43, Clarke, AL

Built 2007 Load: 40.3 t ADT: 1,738

W 8th St

Fair

Over: DARBY CREEK

SYLACAUGA, Talladega, AL

Built 1955 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 600

HORSECREEK BLVD

Fair

Over: FRISCO RR

1 MILE E CORDOVA, Walker, AL

Built 1967 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 1,500

I65 SBL/NBL

Fair

Over: DAY ST

0.2 MI.N.OF I85 INTERCHNG, Montgomery, AL

Built 1973 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 38,750

LEE ROAD 10

Fair

Over: TRIB TO CHOCTAFAULA CRK

0.5 MI W. JCT LEE ROAD 12, Lee, AL

Built 2008 Load: 40.4 t ADT: 2,226

AL-124

Fair

Over: West Fork Lost Creek

West Fork Lost Creek, Walker, AL

Built 1924 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 460

AL - 7 SOUTH

Fair

Over: CAHABA RV

TRUSSVILLE PARK, Jefferson, AL

Built 1928 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 7,580

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: LITTLE ESCAMBIA RELIEF

.5MI S HAMMAC, Escambia, AL

Built 1991 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 620

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: LITTLE ESCAMBIA CREEK

.5MI S HAMMAC, Escambia, AL

Built 1991 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 620

AL 77

Fair

Over: BRANCH

AL 77 IN SOUTHSIDE, Etowah, AL

Built 1958 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 9,603

I - 20/59 SOUTH

Fair

Over: 3RD ST NORTH

.1 MI. SO. RT.INTERCHANGE, Jefferson, AL

Built 1969 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 67,995

FAP 94 (DAY ST)

Fair

Over: OAK ST

I65 AND I85 INTERCHANGE, Montgomery, AL

Built 1973 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 7,440

CR-55

Fair

Over: I-20/59

I-20/59 MM 54.146 SB, Greene, AL

Built 1974 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 304

CR-55

Fair

Over: I-20/59

I-20/59 MM 54.1, Greene, AL

Built 1974 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 304

31ST STREET

Fair

Over: I-359 US 11 SR 69 SR 11

1.3 MI N JCT SKYLAND BLVD, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1982 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 4,160

US 82

Fair

Over: BUGHALL CRK

0.15 MI.E.OF CO RD 22, Bullock, AL

Built 1984 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 1,070

CAMELOT DRIVE

Fair

Over: BRANCH

13007 CAMELOT DRIVE, Madison, AL

Built 1984 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 400

GIN CREEK RD

Fair

Over: PUSS CUSS CREEK

0.1 MI E INT RT 10 * 008, Choctaw, AL

Built 1986 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 75

CATHERINE DRIVE

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

430FT. N of CARL AVE, Mobile, AL

Built 1986 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 332

SR 21

Fair

Over: AL RAILROAD CO.

0.5MI.N. TUNNEL SPRINGS, Monroe, AL

Built 1989 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 2,000

CO.RD.9

Fair

Over: BOGUELOOSA CK RELIEF

0.2 MI. E. INT AL 17 *282, Choctaw, AL

Built 1994 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 1,000

US231; SR53; SVRD

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE EASEMENT

0.1 MI S JCT US231 * GOLF, Madison, AL

Built 1993 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 48,892

CO RD 23

Fair

Over: BIG TALLAWAHPA CREEK

11.5MI S INT RT 87*130, Choctaw, AL

Built 1995 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 650

AL 185

Fair

Over: CSX RAIL ROAD

IN CITY OF GREENVILLE, Butler, AL

Built 2002 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 5,011

CYPRESS SHORES DR

Fair

Over: JANIC BAYOU

567 N OF BRENTWOOD DR, Mobile, AL

Built 1996 Load: 40.5 t ADT: 455

SR 273

Fair

Over: STREAM

9.5 MI N JCT SR 68 *273, Cherokee, AL

Built 1930 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 696

AL 21

Fair

Over: INDIAN CRK.

0.4 MI.N.OF WILCOX CO.LIN, Lowndes, AL

Built 1929 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 900

COUNTY ROAD 9

Fair

Over: WOLFPEN BRANCH

4 MILES SOUTH OF SLOCOMB, Geneva, AL

Built 1952 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 765

SR 53

Fair

Over: CREEK

3.7 M S JCT SR53 & SR251, Limestone, AL

Built 1957 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 7,300

COUNTY ROAD 61

Fair

Over: INDIAN CREEK

SEC 4 T12 R24, Bullock, AL

Built 1964 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 300

AL-102

Fair

Over: Guest Creek

AL-102 Guest Creek, Walker, AL

Built 1937 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 900

SR 205

Fair

Over: SLAB CREEK

1.5 MI N JCT SR 168, Marshall, AL

Built 1964 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 6,878

US 43

Fair

Over: BINION CREEK

OVER LAKE TUSCALOOSA, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1968 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 8,986

CO RD 62

Fair

Over: I-20

2.4 MI E JCT AL 46, Cleburne, AL

Built 1971 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 800

US 411 M.P.218.37

Fair

Over: TOWN CREEK

US 411 * TOWN CREEK, Etowah, AL

Built 1971 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 17,881

SELLERS ROAD

Fair

Over: BURNT CANE CREEK

WEST BRYAN ROAD, Walker, AL

Built 1977 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 500

CR. 45

Fair

Over: PINEY WOODS CREEK

2 MI. SO. JCT. FAS RT. 02, Butler, AL

Built 1979 Load: 40.6 t ADT: 453

Showing 7,051-7,100 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.