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 29 N.

Fair

Over: SEPULGA RIVER

6 MI. NORTH OF OWASSA, Conecuh, AL

Built 2002 Load: 47.7 t ADT: 450

SR 53

Fair

Over: BROGLAN BRANCH

1.3 MI N JCT US 72, Madison, AL

Built 1957 Load: 47.8 t ADT: 29,742

SR 130 MP 5.915

Fair

Over: BRANCH

2.2 MI.E.PIKE CO.55, Pike, AL

Built 1984 Load: 47.8 t ADT: 680

US 43

Fair

Over: BASSETTS CREEK

1.7 MI. N. OF WAGARVILLE, Washington, AL

Built 2002 Load: 47.8 t ADT: 4,120

SNOW ROAD NORTH

Fair

Over: PIERCE CREEK

1.5 MI. N.OF AIRPORT BLVD, Mobile, AL

Built 1986 Load: 47.8 t ADT: 9,632

EVANS DRIVE

Fair

Over: VALLEY CREEK

2.5 MI S OF ALLGOOD, Blount, AL

Built 2006 Load: 47.8 t ADT: 38

LAKEVIEW ROAD

Fair

Over: HURRICANE CREEK

SEC-10 T-5-N R-24-E, Dale, AL

Built 1956 Load: 47.9 t ADT: 975

SR 20

Fair

Over: BRANCH

7 M E JCT SR 20 & SR 33, Lawrence, AL

Built 1928 Load: 47.9 t ADT: 13,230

CR73 DRY VALLEY RD

Fair

Over: DRY VALLEY

CR73 2.3MISW DRY VALLEY, Chilton, AL

Built 1963 Load: 47.9 t ADT: 600

CO RD 57

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

0.4 MI N MARION CO LINE, Franklin, AL

Built 1970 Load: 47.9 t ADT: 110

CO. 147

Fair

Over: BIG BRANCH

2 MI. N. SHILOH, Chambers, AL

Built 1971 Load: 47.9 t ADT: 27

AL.10

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1 MI.E.OF CO RD 15, Butler, AL

Built 1926 Load: 48.0 t ADT: 1,380

FAS 12 CO RD 20

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK SCARHAM CREEK

05 MI W JCT SR 68, DeKalb, AL

Built 1957 Load: 48.0 t ADT: 645

AL 152

Fair

Over: W OF A RR

2.9 M.W OF US 231, Montgomery, AL

Built 1972 Load: 48.0 t ADT: 12,509

WEST ROAD

Fair

Over: SPRING BRANCH

1095 S. COTTAGE HILL RD, Mobile, AL

Built 1983 Load: 48.0 t ADT: 590

US 411

Fair

Over: BRANCH

0.8 MI N MT VIEW GROCERY, Etowah, AL

Built 1930 Load: 48.0 t ADT: 7,524

BELLINGRATH RD

Fair

Over: FOWL RIVER

1.9 MI S LAURINDINE RD, Mobile, AL

Built 1985 Load: 48.0 t ADT: 4,583

CO. 1053

Fair

Over: CHIKASANOXEE CREEK

0.8 MI. S.W.MULESHOE BEND, Chambers, AL

Built 1988 Load: 48.0 t ADT: 108

CO RT NO 54

Fair

Over: POWELL CREEK

1.5 MI E AL 69, Marengo, AL

Built 1975 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 150

US231; US431; SR1

Fair

Over: HUNTSVILLE SPRING BRANCH

JCT GOVERNORS DR * US231N, Madison, AL

Built 1977 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 27,430

I - 20/59 SOUTH

Fair

Over: JAY BIRD ROAD

I59 * JAY BIRD RD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1980 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 46,776

AL-17

Fair

Over: Drivers Creek

1.0 MI S of Millport, Lamar, AL

Built 1986 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 3,154

RIVER RD

Fair

Over: KITTIKASKI BRANCH

RIVER RD W OF FOSTER MILL, Colbert, AL

Built 1998 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 1,360

CO ROAD 66

Fair

Over: BUCK CREEK

.16 MI W JCT US HY 31, Shelby, AL

Built 1997 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 19,216

COUNTY HWY 20

Fair

Over: LITTLE WARRIOR RIVER

5 1/2 MI SE OF ONEONTA, Blount, AL

Built 2002 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 343

BEVERLY JEFFERIES

Fair

Over: NOBODIES CREEK

0.9 MI E. MISS STATE LINE, Mobile, AL

Built 2004 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 1,374

MT. PISGAH RD.

Fair

Over: TRIB. TO BLACK CREEK

MT. PISGAH RD., Etowah, AL

Built 2003 Load: 48.2 t ADT: 90

BLAKE BOTTOM ROAD

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

APP 1.15 M WEST OF US 53, Madison, AL

Built 2006 Load: 48.2 t ADT: 7,900

SR4/US278

Fair

Over: TRIB. TO BALLPLAY CREEK

1.4 MI W JCT CO. RD. 19, Calhoun, AL

Built 1931 Load: 48.3 t ADT: 3,506

AL - 7 (US 11)

Fair

Over: AVONDALE CK

1ST AVE. @ 39TH ST, Jefferson, AL

Built 1910 Load: 48.3 t ADT: 17,380

US 31

Fair

Over: VICKERS CREEK

1.4 MI NORTH OF CTY RD 49, Montgomery, AL

Built 1988 Load: 48.3 t ADT: 3,220

AL - 160

Fair

Over: TUCKER CREEK

.2 MI. NO. CO. RD. 45, Blount, AL

Built 1949 Load: 48.4 t ADT: 3,520

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: NARROW GAP CREEK

2MI W WALLACE, Escambia, AL

Built 1956 Load: 48.4 t ADT: 570

US 43

Fair

Over: GRADY HALL CREEK

4 MI N CO RD 84, Mobile, AL

Built 1963 Load: 48.4 t ADT: 15,349

CO 4

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1 MI E RUTHERFORD, Russell, AL

Built 1964 Load: 48.4 t ADT: 300

COUNTY ROAD 87

Fair

Over: LAKE TUSCALOOSA

0.7 MI E RICE MINE RD, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1970 Load: 48.4 t ADT: 6,984

US 82

Fair

Over: BRANCH

5.3 MI E OF AL 51 JCT, Bullock, AL

Built 1927 Load: 48.4 t ADT: 2,270

US 98

Fair

Over: SCHOOL HOUSE CREEK

0.6 MI E CO 49, Baldwin, AL

Built 1987 Load: 48.4 t ADT: 12,083

COPRICH RD.

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

2.0 MI W OF NEWTONVILLE, Fayette, AL

Built 1989 Load: 48.4 t ADT: 51

FILLINGIM ST

Fair

Over: THREE MILE CREEK

0.3 MI W STANTON RD, Mobile, AL

Built 1990 Load: 48.4 t ADT: 14,915

AL 223

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

1.9MI.N.OF PIKE CO. LINE, Bullock, AL

Built 1993 Load: 48.4 t ADT: 800

000005446222Z0

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF POWELL CREEK

1.25MI E AL 69, Marengo, AL

Built 1997 Load: 48.4 t ADT: 340

CR 55

Fair

Over: FOUR MILE CREEK

INT. CR 55 AND CR 61, Shelby, AL

Built 2007 Load: 48.4 t ADT: 1,526

COUNTY ROAD 93

Fair

Over: STREAM

Fleeta School Road, Covington, AL

Built 1960 Load: 48.5 t ADT: 220

I - 459 SOUTH

Fair

Over: RIVER RUN DRIVE

I459 * RIVER RUN DR, Jefferson, AL

Built 1981 Load: 48.5 t ADT: 40,005

AL - 4 (US 78)

Fair

Over: RAM HORN BRANCH

US 78 * RAM HORN BRANCH, St. Clair, AL

Built 1929 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 1,270

US 43

Fair

Over: 12 Mile Bend Creek

1.5 MI S FORKLAND, Greene, AL

Built 1931 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 3,740

AL 171

Fair

Over: UT BUCK CREEK

0.2 MI N OF MOORES BRIDGE, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1956 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 2,345

SARDIS RD.

Fair

Over: SHORT CREEK

250 FT EAST OF SMITH LN, Etowah, AL

Built 1966 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 2,640

CO. HWY. 42

Fair

Over: CAMP BRANCH

3 MI. W. SHELBY, Shelby, AL

Built 1971 Load: 48.6 t ADT: 769

Showing 8,051-8,100 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.