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 101

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1 M N JCT SR 101 & SR 157, Lawrence, AL

Built 1947 Load: 58.4 t ADT: 2,270

SR 40

Fair

Over: BENGIS CREEK

2.4 MI E JCT SR 75, DeKalb, AL

Built 1949 Load: 58.4 t ADT: 6,071

SR 17

Fair

Over: PACENCHA CREEK

2 MI.N.OF BUTLER, Choctaw, AL

Built 1927 Load: 58.5 t ADT: 1,670

US 84

Fair

Over: HUNTER CREEK

2.8 MI W OF I-65, Conecuh, AL

Built 1947 Load: 58.5 t ADT: 3,284

I65

Fair

Over: BRANCH

I65 AND AL.185 INTERCHANG, Lowndes, AL

Built 1966 Load: 58.5 t ADT: 29,840

SR 21

Fair

Over: CREEK

1 MI N JACKSONVILLE, Calhoun, AL

Built 1925 Load: 58.5 t ADT: 5,993

SR 9

Fair

Over: BRANCH

COOSA / CLAY CO LINE, Clay, AL

Built 1942 Load: 58.6 t ADT: 1,710

SR 69

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.4 MI N JCT SR 91, Cullman, AL

Built 1949 Load: 58.6 t ADT: 4,371

WATER OAK RD.

Fair

Over: 5 MILE CREEK

0.8 MI.S. OF WATEROAK, Hale, AL

Built 1955 Load: 58.6 t ADT: 50

US 231 MP 52.331

Fair

Over: BRANCH

2.9 MI.N.DALE CO.11, Dale, AL

Built 1956 Load: 58.6 t ADT: 12,430

US 231; SR 53

Fair

Over: AIRPORT ROAD

US 231 OVER AIRPORT ROAD, Madison, AL

Built 1993 Load: 58.6 t ADT: 77,340

US 82 MP 225.510

Fair

Over: STREAM

JCT. BARBOUR CO. # 79, Barbour, AL

Built 1929 Load: 58.7 t ADT: 1,690

COUNTY HWY. 16

Fair

Over: SANDY CREEK

2 MILES SOUTH OF SAMSON, Geneva, AL

Built 1993 Load: 58.7 t ADT: 552

HOLLOWAY DRIVE

Fair

Over: UNNAMED CREEK

.20 MILE WEST OF MERIDIAN, Madison, AL

Built 1990 Load: 58.7 t ADT: 50

US 43

Fair

Over: ROCKY CREEK

0.5 MI S FAYETTE CO LINE, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1926 Load: 58.8 t ADT: 2,950

US 29

Fair

Over: PERSIMMON CREEK

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

Built 1984 Load: 58.9 t ADT: 2,690

CR-63

Fair

Over: Rocky Ford Creek

0.90 Mi E SR-9, Coosa, AL

Built 1984 Load: 58.9 t ADT: 318

HOODS CROSSROADS

Fair

Over: HOODS CREEK

2 MI NW OF TAITS GAP, Blount, AL

Built 1988 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 343

US 84

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.7 MI. W. OF ZIMCO, Clarke, AL

Built 1938 Load: 59.1 t ADT: 1,500

AL-17

Fair

Over: Branch of Lubbub Creek

1.5 MI N Reform, Pickens, AL

Built 1929 Load: 59.1 t ADT: 2,274

SR 163

Fair

Over: ROBINSON BAYOU

1.8 MI S I-10, Mobile, AL

Built 1961 Load: 59.1 t ADT: 24,334

CR. 7

Fair

Over: STURDEVANT CREEK

BUTLER SPRINGS, Butler, AL

Built 1983 Load: 59.1 t ADT: 74

AL 5

Fair

Over: UT CAHABA RIVER

2.2 MI S BIBB CO LINE, Perry, AL

Built 1958 Load: 59.2 t ADT: 2,940

AL 97

Fair

Over: STREAM

1.4 MI.N.OF US 31 JCT., Lowndes, AL

Built 1932 Load: 59.2 t ADT: 1,980

CR-66

Fair

Over: Unnamed Branch

1.4 MI. E. MT. OLIVE, Coosa, AL

Built 1954 Load: 59.4 t ADT: 398

CR16CHARLIEMITCHEL

Fair

Over: LESTER BRANCH

CR16 1MI SE OF RIDERVILLE, Chilton, AL

Built 1963 Load: 59.5 t ADT: 275

US 31

Fair

Over: AUTREY CREEK

2.3 MI S SR 84, Conecuh, AL

Built 1984 Load: 59.5 t ADT: 4,024

AL 110

Fair

Over: BRANCH

.704 MI E OF CO.RD 7, Bullock, AL

Built 1961 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 3,400

SR 87 MP 39.688

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1 MI.N.COFFEE 58, Coffee, AL

Built 1976 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 2,130

THOUSAND OAKS DR

Fair

Over: WARES FERRY DITCH

200 FT N OF FAUNSDALE DR, Montgomery, AL

Built 1982 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 75

CO. HWY. 69

Fair

Over: S. FORK YELLOWLEAF

1.7 MI N JCT CO 47, Shelby, AL

Built 1986 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 685

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK

2MI SW DAMASCUS, Escambia, AL

Built 1956 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 450

COTTAGE HILL ROAD

Fair

Over: MILKHOUSE CREEK

0.4MI E CODY RD, Mobile, AL

Built 1995 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 28,038

AL 26

Fair

Over: WEOLUSTEE CREEK

2.3 MI WEST OF SEALE, Russell, AL

Built 1986 Load: 59.7 t ADT: 1,670

COUNTY ROAD 32

Fair

Over: 5 MILE CREEK TRIB.

4.4 MI. S. OF HARPER HILL, Hale, AL

Built 1986 Load: 59.7 t ADT: 100

CR-16

Fair

Over: Mill Branch

Junction CR-16/CR-29, Coosa, AL

Built 1991 Load: 59.7 t ADT: 184

AL. 94

Fair

Over: PATSALIGA CREEK

1.7 MI. W OF US 231 JCT, Montgomery, AL

Built 1993 Load: 59.7 t ADT: 640

AL 69

Fair

Over: GILE CREEK

2.4 MI N OF HAVANA, Hale, AL

Built 1929 Load: 59.8 t ADT: 7,960

I-22

Fair

Over: On-Ramp EB Lanes

5.6 Miles E of US-43, Marion, AL

Built 1991 Load: 59.8 t ADT: 105

US 31

Fair

Over: FRANKLIN MILL CREEK

0.3 MI N CO RD 18, Escambia, AL

Built 1955 Load: 59.9 t ADT: 9,539

Lee Road 198

Fair

Over: STURKIE CREEK

1.3 MI E JCT LEE RD 175, Lee, AL

Built 1960 Load: 59.9 t ADT: 59

COUNTY RD 73

Fair

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

Cantaline Bridge Road, Covington, AL

Built 1960 Load: 59.9 t ADT: 480

CR. 30

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF LONG CREEK

2.0 MI. NW PROVIDENCE, Butler, AL

Built 1990 Load: 59.9 t ADT: 28

AL-17

Fair

Over: Lubbub Creek Branch

3.5 MI N JCT SR 14, Pickens, AL

Built 1926 Load: 60.0 t ADT: 3,429

AL-17

Fair

Over: Branch

0.5 MI S DETROIT, Lamar, AL

Built 1948 Load: 60.0 t ADT: 1,867

CO RT 35

Fair

Over: CREEK

CR 35, Cullman, AL

Built 1961 Load: 60.1 t ADT: 300

COUNTY RD 70

Fair

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

4 MILE E ANDALUSIA, Covington, AL

Built 1963 Load: 60.1 t ADT: 280

I85 SBL

Fair

Over: BRANCH

3.1 MI.N.OF E.BYPASS, Montgomery, AL

Built 1965 Load: 60.1 t ADT: 42,250

AL-19

Fair

Over: Hamilton Mill Road

3 MI N JCT AL-17, Marion, AL

Built 1976 Load: 60.1 t ADT: 371

US 411 SR 25

Fair

Over: BRANCH

4.2 MI W JCT SR 25 * 68, Cherokee, AL

Built 1925 Load: 60.1 t ADT: 8,095

Showing 8,551-8,600 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.