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 95 MP 46.374

Fair

Over: OWENS BRANCH

0.5 MI. N. ABBEVILLE, Henry, AL

Built 1964 Load: 55.3 t ADT: 1,050

Lee Road 85

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.1 MI N RIDGE GROVE, Lee, AL

Built 1968 Load: 55.3 t ADT: 99

SR 255

Fair

Over: BRANCH

2 MI N JCT I-565, Madison, AL

Built 1968 Load: 55.3 t ADT: 59,964

CO RD 1

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

0.5 MILES S. ON CR 1, Wilcox, AL

Built 1995 Load: 55.3 t ADT: 400

US 11

Fair

Over: Dry Creek

0.5 MI W. FOSTERS, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1927 Load: 55.4 t ADT: 3,500

I-65 NB

Fair

Over: STEELE CREEK

1.6 MI S US 43, Mobile, AL

Built 1967 Load: 55.4 t ADT: 19,973

EAST DRIVE

Fair

Over: TWELVEMILE CREEK

0.4 MI S OLD SHELL RD, Mobile, AL

Built 1971 Load: 55.5 t ADT: 2,005

US 331 MP 48.807

Fair

Over: BRANCH

3.5 MI.N.OF BRANTLEY, Crenshaw, AL

Built 1938 Load: 55.5 t ADT: 6,190

AL 22

Fair

Over: VALLEY CREEK

IN SELMA, Dallas, AL

Built 2013 Load: 55.5 t ADT: 11,090

CO 4

Fair

Over: BRANCH

3 MI W PITTSVIEW, Russell, AL

Built 1952 Load: 55.6 t ADT: 350

COUNTY RD 68

Fair

Over: GILLEY MILL CREEK

GENEVA CO TO US 84, Houston, AL

Built 1987 Load: 55.6 t ADT: 265

US 280

Fair

Over: BRANCH

.3 MI. E CO RD 39, Shelby, AL

Built 1976 Load: 55.6 t ADT: 25,070

COUNTY RD 25

Fair

Over: NO NAME CREEK

Padget Road, Covington, AL

Built 1982 Load: 55.6 t ADT: 220

HOGAN ROAD

Fair

Over: JONES CREEK-CATTLE PASS

0.5 MI W SR 157, Morgan, AL

Built 1985 Load: 55.6 t ADT: 20

HALL ROAD

Fair

Over: FRANKLIN CREEK

0.1 MI N US 90, Mobile, AL

Built 2004 Load: 55.6 t ADT: 960

NESBIT LAKE ROAD

Fair

Over: COFFEE CREEK

NESBIT LAKE RD, Calhoun, AL

Built 2004 Load: 55.6 t ADT: 1,107

SR 27 MP 30.974

Fair

Over: STRIPLING CREEK RELIEF

2 MI. NORTH U.S. 84, Coffee, AL

Built 1929 Load: 55.7 t ADT: 5,240

AL - 5 (US 78)

Fair

Over: MORGAN BRANCH

US 78 @ WALKER CO. LN., Jefferson, AL

Built 1952 Load: 55.7 t ADT: 14,660

US 29

Fair

Over: LITTLE PERSIMMON CREEK

9.0 MI.N.OF FT.DAVIS, Macon, AL

Built 1984 Load: 55.7 t ADT: 2,490

SR 123 MP 4.758

Fair

Over: CANEY CREEK

0.1 MI.N.GENEVA 44, Geneva, AL

Built 1984 Load: 55.7 t ADT: 2,470

AL - 79

Fair

Over: BRANCH

AL 79 * THOMPSON AVE, Jefferson, AL

Built 1966 Load: 55.8 t ADT: 33,820

SR 162

Fair

Over: BRANCH

.4MI.W.OF JCT.S.R.28, Wilcox, AL

Built 1988 Load: 55.8 t ADT: 210

US 29

Fair

Over: BRANCH

11MINOFFORTDAVIS, Macon, AL

Built 1927 Load: 55.9 t ADT: 2,490

AL-14

Fair

Over: Jenny Watson Creek

1.5 MI E OF EUTAW, Greene, AL

Built 1929 Load: 55.9 t ADT: 2,313

US 84 MP 160.922

Fair

Over: MOORES CREEK

2 MI.EAST OF SR 141, Coffee, AL

Built 1963 Load: 55.9 t ADT: 1,760

US 80

Fair

Over: BOGUE CHITTO CREEK RELIE

1.2 MI.E.OF AL.5, Dallas, AL

Built 1933 Load: 55.9 t ADT: 2,080

US 84

Fair

Over: BRANCH

2.7 MI. W. OF GROVEHILL, Clarke, AL

Built 1938 Load: 55.9 t ADT: 1,500

US 11

Fair

Over: BRANCH

@ WATTERSON PARKWAY, Jefferson, AL

Built 1928 Load: 56.0 t ADT: 24,320

SR4/US78

Fair

Over: ROCKY BRANCH

2.1 MI E CALHOUN CO LINE, Cleburne, AL

Built 1929 Load: 56.0 t ADT: 4,413

AL-171

Fair

Over: Gravlee Creek

6.9 MI N of Newtonville, Fayette, AL

Built 1952 Load: 56.0 t ADT: 2,230

ROADWAY

Fair

Over: CO RT 1202 KINTERBISH CK

1.8 MI E ROSSER, Sumter, AL

Built 1959 Load: 56.0 t ADT: 178

SR74/US278

Fair

Over: BALLPLAY CREEK

0.7 MI EAST JCT CO 19, Calhoun, AL

Built 1991 Load: 56.0 t ADT: 3,325

I - 20

Fair

Over: AL - 4 ( US 78)

EDEN EXIT, St. Clair, AL

Built 2005 Load: 56.0 t ADT: 53,023

CO 49

Fair

Over: KEMP CREEK

CO 49 KEMP CREEK, Cleburne, AL

Built 1939 Load: 56.1 t ADT: 681

AL-257

Fair

Over: Duncan Creek

AL-257 Duncan Creek, Walker, AL

Built 1960 Load: 56.1 t ADT: 4,214

MICHIGAN AVE

Fair

Over: I-10

I-10 @ MICHIGAN AVE, Mobile, AL

Built 1966 Load: 56.1 t ADT: 7,727

CO.RD.33

Fair

Over: PINE CREEK

INDEPENDENCE-LANGORDSTORE, Autauga, AL

Built 1981 Load: 56.1 t ADT: 300

I65 NBL

Fair

Over: STREAM

1.8 MI.N.OF AL 97, Lowndes, AL

Built 1965 Load: 56.2 t ADT: 14,090

US 231 MP 55.851

Fair

Over: BRANCH

0.2 MI. S. SR 123, Dale, AL

Built 1956 Load: 56.2 t ADT: 14,800

PLEASANT VALLEY R

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

0.15 MI E. COTTAGE H. RD, Mobile, AL

Built 1990 Load: 56.2 t ADT: 11,037

I-22

Fair

Over: Luxapallilia Creek

8.87 Miles E of US-43, Marion, AL

Built 1992 Load: 56.2 t ADT: 12,261

SR 59

Fair

Over: FARRIS CREEK

9.7 MI N JCT I-65, Baldwin, AL

Built 1926 Load: 56.5 t ADT: 2,017

KNOLLWOOD DRIVE

Fair

Over: SPRING BRANCH

0.5 MI S COTTAGE HILL RD, Mobile, AL

Built 1983 Load: 56.5 t ADT: 8,459

CO. HWY. 91

Fair

Over: BEAVER DAM CREEK

2.3MI S.JCT. COS 52* 17, Shelby, AL

Built 1990 Load: 56.5 t ADT: 500

HALLS MILL RD

Fair

Over: BOLTON BRANCH

0.4 MI E MCVAY DR, Mobile, AL

Built 1975 Load: 56.6 t ADT: 6,820

US 84

Fair

Over: CHOCTAW CREEK

.7 MI. E. OF GOSPOR, Clarke, AL

Built 1984 Load: 56.6 t ADT: 3,151

SR 51

Fair

Over: ROBINSON CREEK

1 MI SOUTH OF AL 169, Lee, AL

Built 2020 Load: 56.6 t ADT: 9,280

AL 155

Fair

Over: UT DRY CREEK

0.7 MI S SHELBY CO LINE, Chilton, AL

Built 1951 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 4,006

OLD PROVIDENCE RD

Fair

Over: BROKEN ARROW CREEK

1.1 M N ALA 63, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 1960 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 295

US 331 MP 47.981

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

2.4 MI.N. OF BRANTLEY, Crenshaw, AL

Built 1999 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 6,190

Showing 8,451-8,500 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.