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

PELHAM RANGE 6A1

Fair

Over: CANE CREEK

6A1, Calhoun, AL

Built 1999 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 150

DIRT ROAD

Fair

Over: BRANCH

TRAINING AREA 1D2, Calhoun, AL

Built 1960 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 150

KILGORE BRANCH

Fair

Over: PAUL BOLTON ROAD

.4 MI S PLEASANTFIELD RD, Walker, AL

Built 1993 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 50

GOBBLER ROAD

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.0 MI NE OF AL 21, Calhoun, AL

Built 1985 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 50

ARMOR ROAD

Fair

Over: BRANCH

2.189 MI NE AL 21, Calhoun, AL

Built 1936 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 50

OLD US HWY 78

Fair

Over: CANE CREEK RUNOFF

NEAR LAKE AREA, Calhoun, AL

Built 1997 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 40

CHEROKEE #32

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.8 MI NW INT CHERO #19, Cherokee, AL

Built 1962 Load: 0.1 t ADT: 126

CHEROKEE #162

Fair

Over: FORNEY BRANCH

0.4 MI E CHEROKEE #45, Cherokee, AL

Built 1956 Load: 0.9 t ADT: 120

CHEROKEE #40

Fair

Over: SANDY CREEK

0.6 MI E INT CHEROKEE #34, Cherokee, AL

Built 1950 Load: 1.1 t ADT: 120

COUNTY HWY 1247

Fair

Over: BRANCH

14583 FT N JCT 1240, Marshall, AL

Built 1938 Load: 1.7 t ADT: 50

CR 30 - CYRIL RD

Fair

Over: BRANCH

4.2 MI W INT AL 10 * 196, Choctaw, AL

Built 1917 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 300

CAMPBELL GAP RD.

Fair

Over: BIG WILLS CREEK

0.1 MI S OF DCK SPRNGS, Etowah, AL

Built 1920 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 70

EASLEY BRIDGE RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE WARRIOR RIVER

1 1/2 MI NE OF EASLEY, Blount, AL

Built 1927 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 169

DODSON ROAD

Fair

Over: LUXAPALLILA CREEK

12. NE OF FAYETTE, Fayette, AL

Built 1928 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 20

CO. ROAD 310

Fair

Over: TALLADEGA CREEK

2.3 MI N CO209 AT CHANDLE, Talladega, AL

Built 1930 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 230

ATCHISON TRACE

Fair

Over: BIG CREEK

0.2 MI S JCT CO 26, Shelby, AL

Built 1935 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 40

CECILE DRIVE

Fair

Over: COLDWATER CREEK

Cecile Dr/.1 mi N US78, Calhoun, AL

Built 1936 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 525

CO RD 347

Fair

Over: BLACKWATER CREEK

2 MI S JCT CO RD 1, Winston, AL

Built 1939 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 100

CHEROKEE #43

Fair

Over: WOLF CREEK

0.8 MI W INT CHEROKEE #47, Cherokee, AL

Built 1945 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 131

CHEROKEE #15

Fair

Over: BRANCH

7 MI N JCT SR 35, Cherokee, AL

Built 1948 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 133

CO RT 141

Fair

Over: WOLF CREEK

1.0 MI E JCT CO RT 143, Lawrence, AL

Built 1948 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 55

ST CLAIR CO 66

Fair

Over: GREEN BRANCH

0 6 E RAGLAND, St. Clair, AL

Built 1948 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 520

CO 60

Fair

Over: TALLAPOOSA RIVER

CR 60 TALLAPOOSA RIVER, Cleburne, AL

Built 1950 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 220

Mobley Creek Loop

Fair

Over: NO NAME CREEK

1 mile west of CR7 & CR42, Covington, AL

Built 1930 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 77

ROBINSON RD

Fair

Over: ROBINSON CR

SEC18 T1S R4W, Limestone, AL

Built 1954 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 120

CO RD 39

Fair

Over: BIG WILLS CREEK

300 FT E AL 227 T9SR7E, DeKalb, AL

Built 1959 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 46

JACKSON TRAIL RD.

Fair

Over: HURRICANE CREEK

.3 MI NO BLOUNT CO LINE, Etowah, AL

Built 1991 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 126

COUNTY HWY 1422

Fair

Over: DRUM CREEK

2406 FT N JCT 1321, Marshall, AL

Built 1960 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 172

COUNTY DIRT RD

Fair

Over: REEDY CREEK

Ready Creek Road, Covington, AL

Built 1931 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 220

COUNTY DIRT RD

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

Plank Branch Road, Covington, AL

Built 1932 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 220

COUNTY DIRT RD

Fair

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

Welcome Church Road, Covington, AL

Built 1935 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 110

COUNTY DIRT RD

Fair

Over: PIGEON CREEK

Gorum Bridge Road, Covington, AL

Built 1932 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 140

COUNTY DIRT RD

Fair

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

Lindsey Loop, Covington, AL

Built 1932 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 80

GRAVEL ROAD CR121

Fair

Over: OLD TOWN CREEK

1MILE NORTH CALGARYCHURCH, Perry, AL

Built 1971 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 80

Chalker Rd.

Fair

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

Chalker Road, Covington, AL

Built 1939 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 80

CO 689

Fair

Over: BRANCH

BRANCH CR 689, Cleburne, AL

Built 1975 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 30

GRAVEL ROAD CR70

Fair

Over: BEAVERDAM CREEK

0 5M WEST AL 219, Perry, AL

Built 1977 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 90

CHURCH RD.

Fair

Over: MARGARET LAKE CREEK

MARGARETT LK CK *CO 12, St. Clair, AL

Built 1978 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 10

FAS03DICKEY RD#3

Fair

Over: RELIEF WASHINGTON CREEK

TOM DICKEY RD., Perry, AL

Built 1955 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 150

CO RD 224/DAVIS RD

Fair

Over: UNNAMED BRANCH

1.8 MI WEST SR21, Wilcox, AL

Built 1984 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 25

WALTER BOYLES RD

Fair

Over: OLD TOWN CREEK

0 5M WEST OF CO RT 29, Perry, AL

Built 1958 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 121

AIKEN RD.

Fair

Over: LITTLE PINEY WOODS CREEK

AIKEN RD., Crenshaw, AL

Built 1986 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 9

CO. RT.419

Fair

Over: BRANCH AT MILL CRK

1.2 MI. S OF CO. RD.6, Marengo, AL

Built 1986 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 50

ROADWAY

Fair

Over: CO RT 1059 STREAM

0.3 MI N CO RT 1056, Sumter, AL

Built 1950 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 33

CR # 952

Fair

Over: BIG SWAMP CREEK

1.2 MI N CR 33, Dallas, AL

Built 1938 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 30

COUNTY ROAD 216

Fair

Over: LOST CREEK

1MI SW CENTER WEST, Randolph, AL

Built 1940 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 30

CO RD 700

Fair

Over: GRISWALD CREEK

8 MI SE OF WEDOWEE, Randolph, AL

Built 1964 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 22

WESLEY CHAPEL RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE COAL FIRE CREEK

11 MI SW OF FAYETTE, Fayette, AL

Built 1986 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 20

CO ROAD 95

Fair

Over: SIPSEY RIVER

1.5 M NE OF HUBBERTVILLE, Fayette, AL

Built 1940 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 20

COUNTY ROAD 185

Fair

Over: BIG WILLS CREEK

T8S R8E SEC. 7, DeKalb, AL

Built 2006 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 31

Showing 51-100 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.