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

I22

Fair

Over: UNNAMED CREEK

NORTH OF COALBURG RD, Jefferson, AL

Built 2007 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 11,910

FLYOVER B

Fair

Over: PATTON CK

CULVERT @ FLYOVER, Jefferson, AL

Built 2001 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 6,997

LAWRENCE COVE ROAD

Fair

Over: ROCK CREEK

JCT CR165 * CR 416, Morgan, AL

Built 2001 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 310

COUNTY ROAD # 511

Fair

Over: UNNAMED BRANCH

0.1 MI.STH.JCT.OVERBROOK, Talladega, AL

Built 1955 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 2,950

COUNTY ROAD 86

Fair

Over: LONG BRANCH

.3 MI FROM INT. OF CR42, Shelby, AL

Built 2002 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 700

SR1 / US431

Fair

Over: CREEK

4.6 MI N I20, Calhoun, AL

Built 2006 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 19,544

I-22

Fair

Over: Cane Creek

.5 MI E Cane Creek, Walker, AL

Built 2002 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 22,592

AL 41

Fair

Over: PINE FLAT CREEK

2.5 MI. N. SARDIS, Dallas, AL

Built 2004 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 2,940

I-22

Fair

Over: Branch

11 MI E of US-43, Marion, AL

Built 1997 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 12,834

DAVID JONES SPUR

Fair

Over: BRANCH NO NAME

1.6 MI N OF CO. RD. 89, Barbour, AL

Built 2001 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 73

FOREST LAKES PKWY.

Fair

Over: POPLAR BRANCH

.2 MI S JCT CO RD 43, Shelby, AL

Built 2000 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 1,000

SR 24

Fair

Over: LITTLE MUD CREEK

3.5 M W JCT SR24 & SR101, Lawrence, AL

Built 1999 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 4,520

SR 24

Fair

Over: MUD CREEK

6.9 M W JCT SR24 & SR101, Franklin, AL

Built 2000 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 4,520

SR 24

Fair

Over: BRANCH

7.2 M E JCT SR24 & SR243, Franklin, AL

Built 2000 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 3,980

COUNTY ROUTE 31

Fair

Over: MILL SHOAL CREEK

2.5 MILES N OF WATTS XRDS, Clay, AL

Built 1976 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 371

PATRIOT ROAD

Fair

Over: TRIBUTARY TO CANE CREEK

FORT MCCLELLAN, Calhoun, AL

Built 1936 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 150

AL 110

Fair

Over: STREAM

100 YRDS PAST MULLIS CRK, Montgomery, AL

Built 2000 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 9,480

S.R. 158

Fair

Over: OVERFLOW FOR OUTLAW POND

.1 MILE WEST OF U.S. 45, Mobile, AL

Built 2007 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 15,632

US 98

Fair

Over: SCARBO CREEK

?????????????????????????, Mobile, AL

Built 2007 Load: 88.9 t

Future US 98/SR158

Fair

Over: LONG BRANCH

0.1 MI W Wilmer GTown RD, Mobile, AL

Built 2007 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 12,910

I-22

Fair

Over: Indian Creek

.25 MI E. Smith Cem Rd, Walker, AL

Built 1995 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 14,713

CO. RD. 55

Fair

Over: BRANCH OFF PERONE BRANCH

3.1 MI.N. OF SR.104, Baldwin, AL

Built 1996 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 4,738

SR 49

Fair

Over: LEDBETTER CREEK

5.9 MI N JCT SR14, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 2005 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 2,133

COUNTY ROAD 29

Fair

Over: TOWN CREEK

BLACKBURN BOTTOM, Perry, AL

Built 2004 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 400

SR 1

Fair

Over: LITTLE BARBOUR CREEK

STATION 224 + 08, Russell, AL

Built 2004 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 6,950

SR 1

Fair

Over: BR. OF LITTLE BARBOUR CK

STATION 233+18.611, Russell, AL

Built 2004 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 6,950

SR 1

Fair

Over: LITTLE BARBOUR CREEK

STATION 283 + 16.22, Russell, AL

Built 2004 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 6,950

US 82 EBL

Fair

Over: PINE CREEK

4.0 MI E OF PRATTVILLE, Autauga, AL

Built 2019 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 10,990

Maudsley Road

Fair

Over: Flat Creek

.25 MILES E OF AL 13, Marion, AL

Built 2004 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 20

OLD US431

Fair

Over: SNOW CREEK

.05 MI. W JCT SR21, Calhoun, AL

Built 1960 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 17,109

CR 41

Fair

Over: UT TO BEAR CREEK

1.4 MILES No. of US 280, Shelby, AL

Built 1958 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 41,000

US 431

Fair

Over: TRIB TO HATCHECHUBBEE CK

.3 MI N CO RD 37-SEALE RD, Russell, AL

Built 2003 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 7,270

VETERANS DR.

Fair

Over: SWEET WATER CREEK

0.1 M W JCT SR157 & Vet, Lauderdale, AL

Built 2004 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 6,178

HUNTSVILLE ROAD

Fair

Over: HOLLOW BRANCH

0.8 M S JCT SR157 & SR2, Lauderdale, AL

Built 2004 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 4,804

CO RD 67

Fair

Over: UNNAMED BRANCH

2 MI. SOUTH OF CO RD 8, Macon, AL

Built 1965 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 30

CO RD 2

Fair

Over: UNNAMED BRANCH

11 MI SOUTH SR8/US80, Macon, AL

Built 1963 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 50

HIGHLAND VILL. DR.

Fair

Over: IVY BRANCH

VIL. HIGH. LK. SUB, Shelby, AL

Built 2005 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 300

US29 / SR15

Fair

Over: BRANCH

7.5 MI N JCT I85, Lee, AL

Built 2010 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 2,790

AL 119

Fair

Over: ALLEN BRANCH

ALABASTER @ US 31, Shelby, AL

Built 1995 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 25,170

CAMELLIA ROAD

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE TO POLECAT CR.

100 FT.FROM CO.RD.55, Baldwin, AL

Built 2005 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 83

INDIAN VALLEY ROAD

Fair

Over: INDIAN VALLEY LAKE

0.5 MILE FROM CR 17, Shelby, AL

Built 1960 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 2,000

WOODLAWN AVENUE

Fair

Over: BIG DITCH

250 S OF W. 8TH ST, Talladega, AL

Built 2002 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 300

FEDERAL WAY

Fair

Over: CANE CREEK

FEDERAL WAY, Calhoun, AL

Built 1936 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 4,800

WEATHERLY WAY

Fair

Over: PEAVINE CREEK

0.1 MI NW JCT K. CREST LN, Shelby, AL

Built 1990 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 3,645

WEATHERLY WAY

Fair

Over: PEAVINE CREEK

0.4 MI E JCT CR332/CSX RR, Shelby, AL

Built 1990 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 620

CO. RD. 63

Fair

Over: CANE CREEK

2.8 MILES NE OF BERRY, Fayette, AL

Built 1952 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 340

LIME CREEK WAY

Fair

Over: BOLIVAR CREEK

LIME CREEK SUBDIVISION, Shelby, AL

Built 2006 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 20

MINGO RD

Fair

Over: MILL BRANCH

MILL BRANCH ON MINGO RD, Colbert, AL

Built 2004 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 50

NARROWS WAY

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF YELLOWLEAF CK

NARROWS SUBDIVISION, Shelby, AL

Built 1998 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 900

COUNTY ROAD 36

Fair

Over: JOHNSONS CREEK

1.49 MI. E OF JCT ALA 105, Dale, AL

Built 1952 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 3,626

Showing 9,601-9,650 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.