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

SR 168

Fair

Over: STREAM

2.5 MI E JCT US431 *SR168, Marshall, AL

Built 1948 Load: 46.2 t ADT: 6,159

HOLLYWOOD BLVD

Fair

Over: AL - 38 (US 280)

US 280 * HOLLYWOOD BLVD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1964 Load: 46.2 t ADT: 1,800

AL - 3 SOUTH

Fair

Over: 8 TH AVE SO

US 31 * 8 TH AVE SO, Jefferson, AL

Built 1966 Load: 46.2 t ADT: 36,335

CO RT 25

Fair

Over: BRANCH

6 MI S. EVERGREEN, Conecuh, AL

Built 1969 Load: 46.2 t ADT: 361

RAMP I 459 TO US1

Fair

Over: AL GREAT SOU RR

I459 * US 11, Jefferson, AL

Built 1970 Load: 46.2 t ADT: 5,041

GEORGE WALLACE DR

Fair

Over: PINEY CREEK

BETWEEN 1ST AV*MALCON AVE, DeKalb, AL

Built 1970 Load: 46.2 t ADT: 140

WILDWOOD PLACE

Fair

Over: SPENCERS BRANCH

0.5 MI N COTTAGE HILL RD, Mobile, AL

Built 1978 Load: 46.2 t ADT: 1,145

SR 9

Fair

Over: SNAKE CREEK

5.5 MI N JCT US 431, Cleburne, AL

Built 1987 Load: 46.2 t ADT: 2,496

SR38(US 280)EXIT58

Fair

Over: I-85

0.2MI S FREDERICK RD, Lee, AL

Built 1995 Load: 46.2 t ADT: 32,040

AL 110

Fair

Over: JENKINS CREEK

0414 MI E OF US 80, Montgomery, AL

Built 2000 Load: 46.2 t ADT: 13,780

CO RD 16

Fair

Over: DRY CEDAR CREEK

2 MI WEST OF CO RD 7, Lowndes, AL

Built 1950 Load: 46.2 t ADT: 210

SR 22

Fair

Over: LANEY CREEK

2.5 MI E DAVISTON, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 1931 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 869

SR 9

Fair

Over: BIG NOSE CREEK

IN CITY OF CENTRE, Cherokee, AL

Built 1961 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 4,813

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: SEVEN MILE CREEK

1.5MI W N.BREWTON, Escambia, AL

Built 1970 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 250

FLOYD BRADFORD RD

Fair

Over: NORFOLK SO RR

0.5 MI N US 78 (LOVICK), Jefferson, AL

Built 1972 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 4,755

Old Union Road

Fair

Over: Flat Creek

.1 MILE EAST JCT STRD 5, Marion, AL

Built 1981 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 60

JORDAN RD (CITY)

Fair

Over: JORDAN CREEK

1.0 MI NW CO RD 1322, Madison, AL

Built 1943 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 1,800

US 45

Fair

Over: SILVER CREEK RELIEF

2.8 MI N CO RD 55, Mobile, AL

Built 1931 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 8,598

CO. HWY. 368

Fair

Over: CAHABA VALLEY CREEK

0.1 MI SO. AL 119, Shelby, AL

Built 1993 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 171

CO RD 52

Fair

Over: TRIGGER CREEK

2.4MI S GENERY JCT, Shelby, AL

Built 1952 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 14,630

SR 157

Fair

Over: BIG NANCE CREEK

4.5 M S JCT SR157 & SR101, Lawrence, AL

Built 2003 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 4,640

US 80 WBL

Fair

Over: BOGUE CHITTO CREEK

1.4 MI.E. OF AL5, Dallas, AL

Built 2009 Load: 46.3 t ADT: 1,040

OLD HWY 31

Fair

Over: FLINT CREEK RELIEF

0.5 MI W SR 31, Morgan, AL

Built 1950 Load: 46.4 t ADT: 1,440

FAS 23 CO RD 89

Fair

Over: HURRICANE CREEK

4 MI N JCT SR 35 T6S R10E, DeKalb, AL

Built 1951 Load: 46.4 t ADT: 3,133

BLOUNT CO NO 5

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

1 MI W OF BLOUNT SPRINGS, Blount, AL

Built 1956 Load: 46.4 t ADT: 697

FRIENDSHIP RD.

Fair

Over: CREEK

FRIENDSHIP RD., Calhoun, AL

Built 1963 Load: 46.4 t ADT: 4,147

RABBITTOWN RD.

Fair

Over: CREEK

RABBITTOWN RD., Calhoun, AL

Built 1963 Load: 46.4 t ADT: 877

DAVID JONES RD

Fair

Over: UT MIDDLEFORK COWIKEE CK

3.0 MI NW OF CO 97, Barbour, AL

Built 1969 Load: 46.4 t ADT: 130

SR 59

Fair

Over: KELLER CREEK

0.1 MI S CO RD 12, Baldwin, AL

Built 1974 Load: 46.4 t ADT: 42,316

OVERTON ACCESSRD

Fair

Over: I - 459

I459 * OVERTON ROAD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1981 Load: 46.4 t ADT: 1,400

INVERNESS STREET

Fair

Over: CAMP BRANCH

200 FT W FINLAND AVE, Jefferson, AL

Built 1989 Load: 46.4 t ADT: 405

R5(US231S-RAMP6E)

Fair

Over: NONE

1.86 MI E JCT I565 * SR53, Madison, AL

Built 1991 Load: 46.4 t ADT: 1,276

RAMSEY RD

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF FRANKLIN CREEK

0.7 MI. N. SR 188, Mobile, AL

Built 1994 Load: 46.4 t ADT: 2,890

10 TH AVE

Fair

Over: L*N RAILROAD

10TH AVE N * VANDERBILT, Jefferson, AL

Built 1970 Load: 46.5 t ADT: 13,000

8TH ST SW

Fair

Over: DRY BRANCH

JCT 8TH ST * DRY BRANCH, Morgan, AL

Built 1975 Load: 46.5 t ADT: 33,034

COUNTY ROAD 111

Fair

Over: MUD CREEK

2.4 MILES FROM CO. RD. 33, Jackson, AL

Built 1987 Load: 46.5 t ADT: 25

KENT ROAD

Fair

Over: JONES CREEK

1 MI SE FRIDAYS CROSSING, Blount, AL

Built 1989 Load: 46.5 t ADT: 110

US 80

Fair

Over: BRANCH

7.3 MI.E.AL.5, Dallas, AL

Built 1933 Load: 46.6 t ADT: 5,040

SR 165

Fair

Over: CLIATT CREEK

2.9 MI S COTTONTON, Russell, AL

Built 1947 Load: 46.6 t ADT: 2,080

ROADWAY

Fair

Over: CO RT 1132 PONKABIACREEK

1.1 MI NE ALA HWY 28, Sumter, AL

Built 1994 Load: 46.6 t ADT: 450

AL 215

Fair

Over: Cribbs Mill Creek

FORREST LAKE, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1960 Load: 46.6 t ADT: 33,192

CR. 23

Fair

Over: BRANCH

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

Built 1967 Load: 46.6 t ADT: 68

CO RD 19

Fair

Over: BRUSH CREEK

1.6 M N LIZZIEVILLE, Greene, AL

Built 1984 Load: 46.6 t ADT: 840

CO RD 25

Fair

Over: TIGER BRANCH

SEABOARD, Washington, AL

Built 1984 Load: 46.6 t ADT: 150

WOODLAND LAKE RD.

Fair

Over: DAVIS CREEK

2.0 MI NE OF JCT US NO 11, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1988 Load: 46.6 t ADT: 700

US 43

Fair

Over: THREE MILE CREEK

2.6 MI N BANKHEAD TUNNEL, Mobile, AL

Built 1995 Load: 46.6 t ADT: 1,792

U.S. 72

Fair

Over: RELIEF NO 2

1.7 MI WEST TENN ST LINE, Jackson, AL

Built 1997 Load: 46.6 t ADT: 10,719

AL-18

Fair

Over: Trib. of Hells Creek

0.5 MI E Lamar Co Line, Fayette, AL

Built 1929 Load: 46.7 t ADT: 1,520

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: LINDSEY MILL CREEK

3MI SW RIVERVIEW, Escambia, AL

Built 1991 Load: 46.7 t ADT: 1,900

US 98 WB

Fair

Over: THREE MILE CREEK

0.1 MI W I-65, Mobile, AL

Built 1978 Load: 46.7 t ADT: 18,294

Showing 7,901-7,950 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.