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

COUNTY ROAD 77

Fair

Over: SILOAM CREEK

IVY CREEK RD., Crenshaw, AL

Built 2001 Load: 44.2 t ADT: 743

CO 19

Fair

Over: DYNNE CREEK

CO 19 DYNNE CREEK, Cleburne, AL

Built 1949 Load: 44.3 t ADT: 960

I-20

Fair

Over: BRANCH

3.3 MI E JCT SR 21, Calhoun, AL

Built 1969 Load: 44.3 t ADT: 22,699

SR 251

Fair

Over: I 65

JCT I 65 & SR 251, Limestone, AL

Built 1969 Load: 44.3 t ADT: 7,300

I - 59 NORTH

Fair

Over: RAMP B TO 1ST AVE N

I59 * 1ST AVE NO, Jefferson, AL

Built 1976 Load: 44.3 t ADT: 34,590

AL-253

Fair

Over: I-22

7.5 MI N US 43, Marion, AL

Built 1993 Load: 44.3 t ADT: 952

SR 48

Fair

Over: HURRICANE BRANCH

3.5 MI E JCT SR 9, Clay, AL

Built 1931 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 1,785

COUNTY ROAD NO54

Fair

Over: HAWKINS FORD

RC BR. CULVT. ON FAS 23, Henry, AL

Built 1955 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 350

US 231

Fair

Over: BRANCH

4.6 MI.N.AL 94, Montgomery, AL

Built 1965 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 14,740

ED TOLAR RD

Fair

Over: CEDAR CREEK

US 84 TO AL 95, Houston, AL

Built 1970 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 175

FAS03 DICKEYRD#3

Fair

Over: BOGUECHITTO CREEK

DICKEY RD CR12, Perry, AL

Built 1981 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 150

Pap Franklin Road

Fair

Over: Mill Creek

1.4 MILES WEST JCT ST 19, Marion, AL

Built 1989 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 35

I - 65 NORTH

Fair

Over: 5 MILE CK * ELLERD RD

FULTONDALE, Jefferson, AL

Built 2014 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 91,383

SR 17

Fair

Over: BRANCH

.5 MI.N. OF BUTLER, Choctaw, AL

Built 1927 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 3,330

CR-9

Fair

Over: YELLOW CREEK RELIEF

6 MI. S.W. VERNON, Lamar, AL

Built 1950 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 510

BELLINGRATH RD

Fair

Over: MUDDY CREEK

0.9 MI S US 90, Mobile, AL

Built 1992 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 8,996

US 43

Fair

Over: LIL BEAVER DAM BRANCH

1.7 MI N JCT CO RD 96, Mobile, AL

Built 1930 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 13,903

CO RD B85

Fair

Over: LITTLE DICE BRANCH

1.5 MI S SR 243 CO RD B85, Franklin, AL

Built 1962 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 150

I-10

Fair

Over: REEDY BRANCH

1.6 MI E MISS ST LINE, Mobile, AL

Built 1964 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 48,605

CO RT 205

Fair

Over: JUMP CREEK

3.02 MILE EAST OF JACK, Coffee, AL

Built 1967 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 125

CR-15

Fair

Over: SIPSEY CREEK RELIEF

1.0 MI. N.W. DETROIT, Lamar, AL

Built 1992 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 260

I - 459 SOUTH

Fair

Over: AL - 7 (US 11)

I 459 * US 11, Jefferson, AL

Built 1970 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 25,205

CO RT 12

Fair

Over: TRIB. TO CHASTAIN CREEK

1.5 MI S AL 68 T9SR6E, DeKalb, AL

Built 1971 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 153

AL 152

Fair

Over: W.OF A RR

2.9 M W 231, Montgomery, AL

Built 1972 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 12,509

I - 20 WEST

Fair

Over: AL - 7 (1ST AVE NO)

I20 * US 11, Jefferson, AL

Built 1974 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 30,680

COUNTY ROAD NO40

Fair

Over: PANTHER CREEK

RC CULVERT ON FAS RT. 18, Henry, AL

Built 1974 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 200

UPPER COLUMBUS RD

Fair

Over: CLEVELAND CREEK

1.1 MI NW OF JCT CO 15, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1993 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 300

COUNTRY GARDEN RD

Fair

Over: WILLIAMS MILL CREEK

CO RD 57 TO CO RD, Houston, AL

Built 1978 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 315

SOUTH SANDY ROAD

Fair

Over: TADPOLE CREEK

0.3 MI SE JCT US # 82, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1992 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 200

CR 167

Fair

Over: NORTH FORK CREEK

1 MILE NORTH JCT CO 41, Marion, AL

Built 1900 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 60

SOUTH PARK AVE.

Fair

Over: STREAM

DOTHAN, Houston, AL

Built 1981 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 7,415

COUNTY RD 110

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

1.5 S OF BELK, Fayette, AL

Built 1983 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 80

FORTNER RD

Fair

Over: PINHOOK CREEK

CIRCLE TO PILGRAM REST CH, Houston, AL

Built 1984 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 820

13TH AVE

Fair

Over: US 80

3.8 MI E JCT 431, Russell, AL

Built 1986 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 2,500

CR-9

Fair

Over: YELLOW CREEK

6.1 MI. S.W. VERNON, Lamar, AL

Built 1987 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 510

ENTERPRISE CH RD

Fair

Over: WEBB CREEK

CO RD 55 TO CO RD 17, Houston, AL

Built 1988 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 247

HATLEY DETROIT RD

Fair

Over: SIPSEY CREEK

2.1 MI. S.W. DETROIT, Lamar, AL

Built 1988 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 380

CR-49

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

.3 MI. N. BEAVERTON, Lamar, AL

Built 1989 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 340

HATLEY DETROIT RD

Fair

Over: SIPSEY CREEK

2.0 MI. S.W. DETROIT, Lamar, AL

Built 1989 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 380

AL - 3 (US 31)

Fair

Over: VILLAGE CREEK

US 31 .1 MI SO FINLEY AVE, Jefferson, AL

Built 1989 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 19,450

CO RD 24

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

WILSON MILL TO STATE PARK, Houston, AL

Built 1989 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 300

CO RD 33

Fair

Over: COWARTS CREEK

US 84 TO CO RD 4, Houston, AL

Built 1989 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 500

CO RT 606

Fair

Over: LITTLE DOUBLE BRGS CK

2.3 MILES EAST OF GOODMAN, Coffee, AL

Built 1990 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 580

COUNTY ROAD #4

Fair

Over: CROOKED CREEK

4 MI. E. OF WING, Covington, AL

Built 1958 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 1,160

COUNTY RD 70

Fair

Over: YELLOW RIVER

Int of CR 70 and CR81, Covington, AL

Built 1960 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 280

COUNTY RD 49

Fair

Over: FIVE RUNS CREEK

Antioch Road, Covington, AL

Built 1963 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 310

COUNTY ROAD 19

Fair

Over: DOUBLE BRIDGE CREEK

US 231 TO COWARTS, Houston, AL

Built 1990 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 325

FORTNER ST

Fair

Over: NEWTON CREEK

CIRCLE TO PILGRAM REST CH, Houston, AL

Built 1990 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 490

COUNTY RD 7

Fair

Over: HOLLAND BRANCH

US 84 TO JUDGE LOUGE RD., Houston, AL

Built 1991 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 250

CR-15

Fair

Over: SIPSEY CREEK

.1 MI. W. ALA. 17, Lamar, AL

Built 1991 Load: 44.5 t ADT: 260

Showing 7,601-7,650 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.