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

AL - 3 NORTH

Fair

Over: 10 TH AVE SO

US 31 * 10 TH AVE SO, Jefferson, AL

Built 1966 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 36,335

CO RD 20

Fair

Over: CREEK

0.2 MI S BOLIGEE, Greene, AL

Built 1966 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 530

CR. 23

Fair

Over: BRANCH

0.7 MI.W.ST.LUKE CHURCH, Butler, AL

Built 1967 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 54

CO. HWY. 42

Fair

Over: WAXAHATCHEE CREEK

2.5 MI. WEST SHELBY, Shelby, AL

Built 1971 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 769

CO. 12

Fair

Over: LITTLE SANDY CREEK

1.8 MI. N. NEW HARMONY, Chambers, AL

Built 1978 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 90

FARM RD 02

Fair

Over: LIMESTONE CREEK

0.1 M E Mooresville Rd, Limestone, AL

Built 1995 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 13

COUNTY ROAD 20

Fair

Over: TRIB. TO BURNT CORN CK

1.0 MI. W OF NICHBURG, Conecuh, AL

Built 1998 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 720

13th St.

Fair

Over: POLEY CREEK

0.15 Mi N Kincheon Rd, Chilton, AL

Built 1999 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 1,000

DEESE ROAD

Fair

Over: UNNAMED CREEK

SEC. 5 T-4-N R-23-E, Dale, AL

Built 1995 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 1,500

COUNTY DIRT ROAD

Fair

Over: HORSE HEAD CREEK

Parrish Road, Covington, AL

Built 2011 Load: 41.4 t ADT: 124

SR 9

Fair

Over: LITTLE SOCAPATOY CREEK

7 MI N JCT SR 22, Coosa, AL

Built 1938 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 1,881

AL 21

Fair

Over: BRANCH

3.2 MI S JCT SR 76, Talladega, AL

Built 1938 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 7,497

US 45

Fair

Over: MAGEE CREEK

2 MI S CO RD 55, Mobile, AL

Built 1931 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 13,020

CO. RT. 5

Fair

Over: BRANCH

CR 509, Cullman, AL

Built 1949 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 220

CO RD 60

Fair

Over: SIPSEY RIVER

4 MI W JCT SR 33, Winston, AL

Built 1961 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 750

MLK JR. BLVD.

Fair

Over: SLOUGH

2.5 MI E OF JCT US NO 11, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1996 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 1,200

HWY 53 Sparkman

Fair

Over: BROGLAN BRANCH

HWY 53 @ BROGLAN BRANCH, Madison, AL

Built 1968 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 20,900

SR 63

Fair

Over: HACKNEY CREEK

5.5 MI N ALEX CITY, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 1968 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 1,040

I - 59 SOUTH

Fair

Over: EDWARDS LAKE ROAD

I59 * EDWARDS LAKE RD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1970 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 29,395

SR 35

Fair

Over: US 72

JCT US 72 * SR 35, Jackson, AL

Built 1971 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 10,248

SR 35

Fair

Over: US 72; SR 2

JCT US 72 * SR 35, Jackson, AL

Built 1971 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 10,248

HSV Brown Ferry RD

Fair

Over: I 65

4 MI S JCT SR 2 & I 65, Limestone, AL

Built 1972 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 1,097

CLAYTON ST

Fair

Over: I65

0.3 MI.S.OF BELL ST, Montgomery, AL

Built 1973 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 8,299

I-59

Fair

Over: LOCK 9 ROAD (-)

1.8 MI S OF FOSTERS, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1974 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 12,030

US280(SR38)

Fair

Over: US 231(SR21)

INT US 280 / US 231, Talladega, AL

Built 1975 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 7,200

US 280(SR38)

Fair

Over: US 231(SR21)

INT US 280 * US 231, Talladega, AL

Built 1975 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 7,200

I - 459 NORTH

Fair

Over: ROCKY RIDGE ROAD

I 459 * ROCKY RIDGE ROAD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1980 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 51,820

LOVEJOY ROAD

Fair

Over: STEVENS CREEK

.2 MILE SOUTH JCT CO 29, Marion, AL

Built 1981 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 55

I 759

Fair

Over: COOSA RIVER

I 759 * COOSA RIVER, Etowah, AL

Built 1985 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 13,909

CARPENTER RD

Fair

Over: PINE BARREN CR

3 MI N.E. HWY 17, Washington, AL

Built 1985 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 150

SR 165

Fair

Over: UCHEE CREEK

6.7 MI S PHENIX CITY, Russell, AL

Built 1989 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 9,501

OLD SELLERS RD.

Fair

Over: BRANCH

.3 MI N OF ADA ROAD, Montgomery, AL

Built 1990 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 82

MAJESTIC ROAD

Fair

Over: TURKEY CREEK

0.75 MILE W OF CROSSTON, Jefferson, AL

Built 1991 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 3,820

US 43

Fair

Over: ARMSTRONG CREEK

1 MI. S. OF WAGARVILLE, Washington, AL

Built 2001 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 3,950

4TH AVE SOUTH

Fair

Over: EAST BRANCH

.1 MI S JCT 3RD AVE S, Marion, AL

Built 1996 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 200

EAST ORANGE AVE.

Fair

Over: SPAT CREEK

0.9 MI. E. OF OLD HWY 43, Mobile, AL

Built 2007 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 406

SR 46

Fair

Over: BRANCH

5.7 MI E TALLAPOOSA RIVER, Cleburne, AL

Built 1927 Load: 41.6 t ADT: 1,911

SR21 / US231

Fair

Over: HATCHET CREEK

3.5 MI N ROCKFORD, Coosa, AL

Built 1939 Load: 41.6 t ADT: 3,012

SR 189 MP 1.068

Fair

Over: CRIPPLE CREEK

.5 MI.N.COFFEE CO.6, Coffee, AL

Built 1950 Load: 41.6 t ADT: 1,010

SR 189 MP 6.385

Fair

Over: PAGES CREEK

1 MI. N. SR. 134, Coffee, AL

Built 1950 Load: 41.6 t ADT: 810

CO RD 19

Fair

Over: BEAVERDAM CREEK

4.9 MILES SOUTH US80/SR8, Macon, AL

Built 1964 Load: 41.6 t ADT: 60

HOBBIE ROAD

Fair

Over: RAMER CREEK RELIEF

3.2 MI N S-94 RAMER, Montgomery, AL

Built 1968 Load: 41.6 t ADT: 525

ROSS GATE ROAD

Fair

Over: WETWEATHER CRK BRNCH

.5M E of PRISON FARM, Escambia, AL

Built 1971 Load: 41.6 t ADT: 432

RAMBO MILL RD

Fair

Over: SPRING CK

CO RD 55 TO FLA LINE, Houston, AL

Built 1984 Load: 41.6 t ADT: 101

SR 202

Fair

Over: NFKSOU RR GLEN ADDIE AVE

10.1 MI E US 78, Calhoun, AL

Built 1984 Load: 41.6 t ADT: 13,398

CELESTE RD

Fair

Over: BAYOU SARA CREEK

1.1 MI N W I65, Mobile, AL

Built 1943 Load: 41.6 t ADT: 11,570

US 431

Fair

Over: HATCHECHUBEE CREEK

.9 MI SOUTH CO. RD. 4, Russell, AL

Built 2005 Load: 41.6 t ADT: 3,900

US 431

Fair

Over: HATCHECHUBBEE CREEK

.9 MI SOUTH OF CO. RD.4, Russell, AL

Built 2005 Load: 41.6 t ADT: 3,900

AL-253

Fair

Over: Branch

6 MI N JCT US 43, Marion, AL

Built 1948 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 1,212

I-10

Fair

Over: FOWL RIVER

4.2 MI W US 90, Mobile, AL

Built 1964 Load: 41.7 t ADT: 60,980

Showing 7,201-7,250 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.