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 82

Fair

Over: UT BIG CREEK (+)

0.9 MI E CO RD 140, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1929 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 9,445

COUNTY ROAD 7708

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

SEC 27 T11N R21E, Pike, AL

Built 1953 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 275

I-10 EB

Fair

Over: ALLEN SPRING BRANCH

3.5 MI E CO RD 87, Baldwin, AL

Built 1965 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 18,495

cr 1506

Fair

Over: BRINDLEY CREEK

Cr 1506, Cullman, AL

Built 1984 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 55

AL 14

Fair

Over: Colwell Creek

0.4 MI E JCT SR 61, Hale, AL

Built 1929 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 7,220

AL 14

Fair

Over: BUCK CREEK

0.6 MI.E.OF DALLAS CO, Autauga, AL

Built 1987 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 3,019

CO. HWY. 45

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

2.5 MI NW JCT STATE 25, Shelby, AL

Built 1989 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 406

BOOTH TOWN ROAD

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

0.6MI SE OF CO 19, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1997 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 600

US 45

Fair

Over: BENNETTS CREEK RELIEF

0.4 MI S WASH CO LINE, Mobile, AL

Built 1929 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 5,602

AL - 160

Fair

Over: SHOAL CREEK

@ CO. RD. 13, Blount, AL

Built 1949 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 3,520

HOBBS ST

Fair

Over: BRANCH

0.2 MI W OF US 31, Limestone, AL

Built 1959 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 4,708

AL 22

Fair

Over: VALLEY CREEK

6.5MI.W.CHILTONCO. LINE, Dallas, AL

Built 1966 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 2,690

I 65

Fair

Over: ROBINSON CREEK

3 MI N JCT I 65 & SR 3, Morgan, AL

Built 1968 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 30,930

COUNTY ROAD 10

Fair

Over: LITT.CHOCTAWHATCHEERIVER

SEC-27 T-4-N R-26-E, Dale, AL

Built 1985 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 394

MT. CARMEL ROAD

Fair

Over: KENCHELOW CREEK

1 MILE EAST OF SNEAD, Blount, AL

Built 1988 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 298

I 565

Fair

Over: I 565

6.4 M E JCT I 565 & I 65, Limestone, AL

Built 1988 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 5,328

SR 76

Fair

Over: BRYANT BRANCH

0.9 MI E JCT CO 16, Talladega, AL

Built 1940 Load: 42.3 t ADT: 2,678

SR 3

Fair

Over: BRANCH

3.4 MI N JCT SR 3 & SR 20, Limestone, AL

Built 1941 Load: 42.3 t ADT: 14,720

CO. RT. 1568

Fair

Over: PIED CREEK

Cr 1568 #2, Cullman, AL

Built 1965 Load: 42.3 t ADT: 135

I-22

Fair

Over: BNSF Railroad

M.P. 61.7 on I-22, Walker, AL

Built 1995 Load: 42.3 t ADT: 18,526

I-22

Fair

Over: BNSF Railroad

M.P. 61.7 on I-22, Walker, AL

Built 1995 Load: 42.3 t ADT: 18,526

AL 185

Fair

Over: I-65

I-65 * AL 185 INT, Butler, AL

Built 1996 Load: 42.3 t ADT: 11,250

US 80 WBL

Fair

Over: OLD TOWN CREEK

DALLAS/LOWNDES CO. L, Dallas, AL

Built 2015 Load: 42.3 t ADT: 10,048

AL 219

Fair

Over: OSBORN CREEK

4.0 MI S JCT SR 183, Perry, AL

Built 1957 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 900

MANUAL HILL RD

Fair

Over: CANE CREEK

2 MILES E HWY 269, Walker, AL

Built 1960 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 225

COVERED BRG RD

Fair

Over: I-59 (EXIT 86)

2.0 MI W CEDAR COVE, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1964 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 3,837

I65 SBL / NBL

Fair

Over: US 82

I65 AND AL 6 INTERCHANGE, Montgomery, AL

Built 1967 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 32,555

CO RT 127

Fair

Over: HICKS CREEK

2.2 MI S CO RT 89 T7SR9E, DeKalb, AL

Built 1969 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 779

SR1/US431

Fair

Over: ALABAMA/TENNESSEE R/R

2.9 MI NO JCT SR 144, Calhoun, AL

Built 1971 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 7,225

SR1/US431

Fair

Over: ALABAMA/TENNESSEE R/R

2.9 MI N JCT SR 144, Calhoun, AL

Built 1971 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 7,225

I - 20/59 WEST

Fair

Over: AL - 79

I 59 * AL 79, Jefferson, AL

Built 1973 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 76,895

I - 20/59 EAST

Fair

Over: AL - 79

I 59 * AL 79, Jefferson, AL

Built 1973 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 76,895

I - 20 EAST

Fair

Over: AL - 7 (1ST AVE NO)

I20 * US 11, Jefferson, AL

Built 1974 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 30,680

MELLON BRIDGE RD.

Fair

Over: CHOCCOLOCCO CREEK

MELLON BRIDGE RD, Calhoun, AL

Built 1974 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 1,388

18 TH ST

Fair

Over: L*N RR

18 TH ST OVER L*N RR, Jefferson, AL

Built 1976 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 2,500

US 31

Fair

Over: JAY BRANCH

0.5 MI N CO RD 77, Conecuh, AL

Built 1988 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 3,441

MAIN STREET

Fair

Over: CSX RAIL ROAD

NOTASULGA @ AL81 * MAINST, Macon, AL

Built 2009 Load: 42.4 t ADT: 499

SR 28

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1 MI. W. OF CAMDEN, Wilcox, AL

Built 1939 Load: 42.5 t ADT: 2,730

SR 76

Fair

Over: TRIB. TO BRYANT BRANCH

4.2 MI E CHILDERSBURG, Talladega, AL

Built 1940 Load: 42.5 t ADT: 3,043

US 31

Fair

Over: CSX RR 000459.5 Active

RR 0.4 MI N AUTUGA LINE, Chilton, AL

Built 1952 Load: 42.5 t ADT: 1,650

SR 9

Fair

Over: BIG NOSE CREEK

2.1 MI N JCT SR 9 *25, Cherokee, AL

Built 1961 Load: 42.5 t ADT: 9,726

US 231

Fair

Over: BRANCH

0.3 MI S JCT AL 34, St. Clair, AL

Built 1964 Load: 42.5 t ADT: 11,430

I - 65 SOUTH

Fair

Over: WISTERIA DR

I 65 * WISTERIA DR, Jefferson, AL

Built 1977 Load: 42.5 t ADT: 59,055

CO RD 460

Fair

Over: HOLLEY MILL CREEK

5.6 MI SOUTH INO, Coffee, AL

Built 1981 Load: 42.5 t ADT: 329

DEMETROPOLIS RD

Fair

Over: SPRING BRANCH

0.3 MI N HALLS MILLRD, Mobile, AL

Built 1949 Load: 42.5 t ADT: 4,730

U S 411

Fair

Over: BIG WILLS CREEK

U S 411 * BIG WILLS CK, Etowah, AL

Built 1967 Load: 42.5 t ADT: 15,482

COUNTY DIRT RD

Fair

Over: FEAGIN CREEK

BOB GANTT MILL RD, Covington, AL

Built 1952 Load: 42.5 t ADT: 80

DOUGLASS RD

Fair

Over: INDIAN CREEK

2 MI N MONROVIA ON DOUGRD, Madison, AL

Built 1988 Load: 42.5 t ADT: 1,020

BOBO SECTION RD

Fair

Over: COPELAND CREEK

1 MI. E. BUTTER * EGG RD, Madison, AL

Built 1991 Load: 42.5 t ADT: 1,100

COUNTY HIGHWAY 17

Fair

Over: PEA RIVER RELIEF

4.0 MI S OF SAMSON, Geneva, AL

Built 1995 Load: 42.5 t ADT: 640

Showing 7,301-7,350 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.