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

GATE 5 ROAD

Fair

Over: CANE CREEK

TA 5A1, Calhoun, AL

Built 1983 Load: 54.2 t ADT: 150

HARRISON RD

Fair

Over: SHERWOOD DITCH

0.2 MI W OF PERRY HILL RD, Montgomery, AL

Built 1965 Load: 54.3 t ADT: 3,500

Cotaco Florette Rd

Fair

Over: Cotaco Creek

1.5 mi North of SR67, Morgan, AL

Built 2016 Load: 54.3 t ADT: 1,416

US11

Fair

Over: BRANCH

4.2 MI S AL*GA ST LINE, DeKalb, AL

Built 1928 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 601

SR 21

Fair

Over: PENNINGTON BRANCH

3 MI N OF SYLACAUGA, Talladega, AL

Built 1937 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 9,228

I-65

Fair

Over: CHESTNUT CREEK

3.8 MI N AUTAUGA CO LINE, Chilton, AL

Built 1959 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 37,613

I-65 SB

Fair

Over: STEELE CREEK

1.6 MI S US 43, Mobile, AL

Built 1967 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 19,973

US 231 MP 177.650

Fair

Over: STREAM

1.4 MI.W.OF BRUNDIDGE, Pike, AL

Built 1971 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 16,720

I-65

Fair

Over: HARPERS BRANCH

1.3 MI N E US 43, Mobile, AL

Built 1975 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 22,289

I-65

Fair

Over: STREAM TO DEAD LAKE

2.5 MI N E US 43, Mobile, AL

Built 1975 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 22,289

AL 143

Fair

Over: SHOAL CREEK

3.0MI. N. JCT.AL.111, Autauga, AL

Built 1993 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 2,260

AL-171

Fair

Over: Branch

1.0 MI S JCT AL-129, Fayette, AL

Built 1926 Load: 54.6 t ADT: 5,730

US 29

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK

3 MI N CO RD 69, Escambia, AL

Built 1986 Load: 54.6 t ADT: 1,606

LAGRANGE RD

Fair

Over: POPLAR CREEK

LAGRANGE RD N CLEMENT RD, Colbert, AL

Built 1993 Load: 54.6 t ADT: 780

CO RD 208

Fair

Over: I-85

FAIRFAX ROAD - EXIT 77, Chambers, AL

Built 2006 Load: 54.6 t ADT: 15,510

OLD GREENSBORO RD

Fair

Over: KINGS BRANCH

4.3 MI NE OF JCT ALA N 69, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1954 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 750

SR 75

Fair

Over: BRANCH

3.1 MI N JCT SR 35, DeKalb, AL

Built 1942 Load: 54.9 t ADT: 6,507

SR 21

Fair

Over: FLAT TIRE CREEK

1.6 MI N JACKSONVILLE, Calhoun, AL

Built 1926 Load: 54.9 t ADT: 5,993

WILTERS STREET

Fair

Over: ROCK CREEK

1.6 M. E. OF COLLEGE AVE., Baldwin, AL

Built 2006 Load: 54.9 t ADT: 53

BEASLEY RD

Fair

Over: I - 65

I65 * BEASLEY RD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1985 Load: 55.0 t ADT: 1,200

MCDONALD ROAD

Fair

Over: CREEK

1.2 MI. N. CO. 28, Mobile, AL

Built 1993 Load: 55.0 t ADT: 7,303

CO. HWY. 25

Fair

Over: LITTLE ROCKY CREEK

4 MILES N. OF SAMSON, Geneva, AL

Built 1956 Load: 55.0 t ADT: 276

MUD CREEK RD

Fair

Over: MUD CREEK

2.3 MI NORTH OF FERNBANK, Lamar, AL

Built 2004 Load: 55.0 t ADT: 265

COUNTY ROAD 7

Fair

Over: DRY CEDAR CREEK

7.8 MI. NORTH OF ST. 21, Lowndes, AL

Built 2005 Load: 55.0 t ADT: 799

CR-34

Fair

Over: WILSON CREEK RELIEF

1.5 MI SOUTH OF MOLLOY, Lamar, AL

Built 2006 Load: 55.0 t ADT: 301

CR-34

Fair

Over: WILSON CREEK

1.5 MI S OF MOLLOY, Lamar, AL

Built 2006 Load: 55.0 t ADT: 301

SR 9

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.5 MI N MILLERVILLE, Clay, AL

Built 1942 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 2,482

SR 106 MP 27.663

Fair

Over: LITTLE PINEY WOODS CREEK

1.MI.E.BUTLER CO.LINE, Crenshaw, AL

Built 1956 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 700

SR 28

Fair

Over: LITTLE WOLF CREEK

1.8MI.W.OF DARLINGTON, Wilcox, AL

Built 1989 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 1,080

COUNTY ROAD 6

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

2 MILES E OF EUNOLA, Geneva, AL

Built 2004 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 339

CO. RD. 26

Fair

Over: WEEKS CREEK

0.3 MI. W. OF CO. RD. 49, Baldwin, AL

Built 2003 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 1,775

CR-9

Fair

Over: MUD CREEK

8 MI SW STAR, Lamar, AL

Built 2002 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 430

SHELL BELT RD

Fair

Over: BAYOU COTEAU

0.7 MI S AL 188, Mobile, AL

Built 2003 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 2,318

KNIGHT PLACE ROAD

Fair

Over: MUSSEL CREEK

1 MI EAST OF AL 263, Lowndes, AL

Built 2004 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 5

SIMMONS CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: BASSETT CREEK

0.05MI E INT ALLN*SMN CRK, Clarke, AL

Built 2004 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 250

ABERDEEN RD

Fair

Over: CUT BANK CREEK

7.5 MI NW VERNON, Lamar, AL

Built 2004 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 380

CO RT 6

Fair

Over: CYPRESS CREEK

1.8 MI West OF ST 157, Lauderdale, AL

Built 2004 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 1,410

COUNTY ROAD 83

Fair

Over: NEGRO CREEK

1.0 MI. N. OF CO. RD. 32, Baldwin, AL

Built 2008 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 828

CORD 30

Fair

Over: ROILEY CREEK

CORD 30 BY PAC, Monroe, AL

Built 2007 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 1,144

CLARK ROAD

Fair

Over: CORNER CREEK

Clark Road, Covington, AL

Built 2010 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 50

CO RD 45

Fair

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

Jody Wiggins Road, Covington, AL

Built 2013 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 290

AL 41

Fair

Over: FOUR MILE CREEK

4.9 MI. N. SARDIS, Dallas, AL

Built 1940 Load: 55.2 t ADT: 4,830

CO. 55

Fair

Over: MCCOWAN CREEK

2 MI. S. TILLER C.R., Chambers, AL

Built 1949 Load: 55.2 t ADT: 30

SR 56

Fair

Over: CREEK

4.4 MI. E. OF MISS.ST.LN, Washington, AL

Built 1950 Load: 55.2 t ADT: 1,010

HWY 65

Fair

Over: WALNUT CREEK

SEC-32 T-7-N R-26-E, Dale, AL

Built 1962 Load: 55.2 t ADT: 77

C.R. 65

Fair

Over: FREETOWN CREEK

4 5M SOUTH OF UNION TOWN, Perry, AL

Built 1968 Load: 55.2 t ADT: 325

COUNTY ROAD 103

Fair

Over: COX CREEK

SEC 24 T14 R25, Bullock, AL

Built 1986 Load: 55.2 t ADT: 40

UNIVERSITY BLVD.

Fair

Over: THREE MILE CREEK

1.08 MI. N. OLD SHELL RD, Mobile, AL

Built 1991 Load: 55.2 t ADT: 19,015

RUSSELL ROAD

Fair

Over: STREAM

1.2 MI W US 45, Mobile, AL

Built 1992 Load: 55.2 t ADT: 573

AL 14

Fair

Over: WATERS CREEK

RADFORD, Perry, AL

Built 1997 Load: 55.2 t ADT: 660

Showing 8,401-8,450 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.