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

CO 207

Good

Over: DRAIN - COLBERT

1.5 MI S CO 191, Talladega, AL

Built 1956 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 962

MALONE RD

Good

Over: LAKE CR

SEC26 T3S R5W, Limestone, AL

Built 1965 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 500

ROADWAY

Good

Over: CO RT 1078 POTTS CREEK

1.2 MI NW US HWY 11, Sumter, AL

Built 1966 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 623

COUNTY ROAD 12

Good

Over: CO RT 1095 SUCARNOCHEE R

6.4 MI NW US HWY 11, Sumter, AL

Built 1966 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 180

ROADWAY

Good

Over: CO RT 1078 STREAM

7.6 MI NW US HWY 11, Sumter, AL

Built 1966 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 175

CO.RD.68

Good

Over: MORTAR CREEK

BEASLEY-RD, Autauga, AL

Built 1969 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 565

SR 225

Good

Over: AIKIN CREEK

2 MI N I-65, Baldwin, AL

Built 1994 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 1,802

MEETING STREET

Good

Over: TRIB TO INDIAN CREEK

0.5 MILE NORTH U.S. 72, Madison, AL

Built 2003 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 80

NATCHEZ TRACE PARK

Good

Over: COLBERT CREEK

5.99 MILES SOUTH OF AL RO, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1964 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 670

CO RD 30

Good

Over: Branch of Kincaid Ck.

1.0 MI W OF MCSHAN, Pickens, AL

Built 1930 Load: 22.8 t ADT: 4,270

EGYPT RD.

Good

Over: LINE CREEK

0.5 MI W OF ROCKLEDGE, Etowah, AL

Built 1957 Load: 22.8 t ADT: 730

CO.RD.19

Good

Over: INDIAN CREEK

1MI.SO.CHILTON CO. LINE, Autauga, AL

Built 1960 Load: 22.8 t ADT: 500

I-59

Good

Over: COUNTY ROAD

2.2 MI N BROOKWOOD RD, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1964 Load: 22.8 t ADT: 23,785

I-59

Good

Over: COUNTY ROAD

2.2 MI N BROOKWOOD RD, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1964 Load: 22.8 t ADT: 23,785

I-59

Good

Over: WOODLAND LAKE RD (-)

2.0 MI S CAFFEE JCT, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1964 Load: 22.8 t ADT: 23,785

CYPRESS LANE

Good

Over: COWPEN CREEK

50 N SPRING LAKE DRIVE, Baldwin, AL

Built 2002 Load: 22.8 t ADT: 112

CO 7

Good

Over: HATCHET CREEK

2.6 MI S JCT ALA NO 148, Clay, AL

Built 1953 Load: 22.9 t ADT: 277

CO RD 133

Good

Over: BRUSH CREEK

4.0 MI NW US HWY 11, Greene, AL

Built 1963 Load: 22.9 t ADT: 315

CR # 45

Good

Over: TRIB TO TATUM CREEK

0.56 MI N SR 22 W, Dallas, AL

Built 1970 Load: 22.9 t ADT: 400

SR 95 MP 36.406

Good

Over: ABBIE CREEK

1 MI.S.HENRY CO.28, Henry, AL

Built 1993 Load: 22.9 t ADT: 460

US 29 MP 69.183

Good

Over: BRANCH

0.5 MI.S. SR 106, Crenshaw, AL

Built 1923 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 1,980

CR. 54

Good

Over: COTTON CREEK

SEC-8 T-6-N R-25-E, Dale, AL

Built 1947 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 391

COUNTY RT 63

Good

Over: BENEVOLA BRANCH

12 MI EAST OF JCT SR 14, Pickens, AL

Built 1954 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 600

COUNTY ROAD 72

Good

Over: JUDY CREEK

SEC-3 T-7-N R-24-E, Dale, AL

Built 1982 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 393

AL 25

Good

Over: CAHABA RIVER (-)

CENTREVILLE, Bibb, AL

Built 1983 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 4,125

CHEROKEE #101

Good

Over: LUMPKIN CREEK

0.3 MI N US #411, Cherokee, AL

Built 1995 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 258

CO RD 9

Good

Over: SLEEPY CREEK

2.6 Miles S US80W/SR8, Macon, AL

Built 1952 Load: 23.1 t ADT: 268

COUNTY RT 63

Good

Over: ROSS SANDERS BRANCH

15.6 MI EAST OF SR 14, Pickens, AL

Built 1954 Load: 23.1 t ADT: 600

US 80 WBL

Good

Over: BIG SWAMP CREEK RELIEF 1

5.3 MI. W. OF LOWNDESBORO, Lowndes, AL

Built 1976 Load: 23.1 t ADT: 4,275

MONTELUCIA WAY

Good

Over: BR. OFF FISH RIVER

.2 M. W. OF CR 64, Baldwin, AL

Built 2006 Load: 23.1 t ADT: 51

Blackridge Dr.

Good

Over: CSX Railroad

Elvira road over CSX, Shelby, AL

Built 2021 Load: 23.1 t ADT: 500

OLD JASPER ROAD

Good

Over: BRANCH

3.1 MI N OF JCT US NO 43, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1951 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 400

CO.RD.27

Good

Over: DRY BRANCH

WADSWORTH FARMS, Autauga, AL

Built 1958 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 581

Jackson Trace Road

Good

Over: DUNLAP CREEK

SEC 15 T20N R18E, Elmore, AL

Built 1958 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 40

COUNTY ROAD 46

Good

Over: TURKEY CREEK

7SEC-4 T-5-N R-26-E, Dale, AL

Built 1961 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 165

CO RT 437

Good

Over: PAGES CREEK

.5 MILE SW OF BROOKLYN, Coffee, AL

Built 1963 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 200

CO RD 90

Good

Over: SHANKLE BRANCH

1.5 MI N AL 35 T6SR8E, DeKalb, AL

Built 1968 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 199

CO 17 EAST TO CO

Good

Over: CREEK

2 3/4 MI EAST OF CO17, Lowndes, AL

Built 1970 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 360

SR 123 MP 30.788

Good

Over: C.S.X.T. RAILROAD

JCT. ROY PARKER ROAD, Dale, AL

Built 1986 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 2,620

COUNTY ROAD 005

Good

Over: EASTABOGA CREEK

0.2 MILES NORTH I20, Talladega, AL

Built 1987 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 3,575

CO ROAD 22

Good

Over: STREAM

1.5 E HWY 83, Conecuh, AL

Built 2014 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 104

_QUINN RD.

Good

Over: _ROUND ISLAND CREEK

_SEC 1 T35 R5W, Limestone, AL

Built 2017 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 969

POWELL ROAD

Good

Over: OAKLAND SPRING BR

SEC2 T4S R3W, Limestone, AL

Built 1955 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 1,968

CO RD 97

Good

Over: HODGES BRANCH

CO RD 105 TO CO RD 91, Houston, AL

Built 1965 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 375

ST CLAIR CO HW 21

Good

Over: SHOUL CREEK

0 3 MI S MT ZION CHURCH, St. Clair, AL

Built 1966 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 400

SANFORD RD

Good

Over: HILLABEE CREEK

2.95 MI EAST OF AL HWY 63, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 2000 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 345

CO 002

Good

Over: BRANCH CULVERT

0.7 MI E OF CO 008, Talladega, AL

Built 1949 Load: 23.4 t ADT: 795

CR # 30

Good

Over: TRIB TO SIX MILE CREEK

0.6 MI E CR 62 INT, Dallas, AL

Built 1952 Load: 23.4 t ADT: 400

SR 117

Good

Over: TOWN CREEK

4.4 MI NW JCT I59 * SR117, DeKalb, AL

Built 1952 Load: 23.4 t ADT: 3,749

CR 24 COOPER ENT

Good

Over: SOUTH PRONG

CR 24 1M W OF COOPER, Chilton, AL

Built 1955 Load: 23.4 t ADT: 475

Showing 9,901-9,950 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.