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 178

Good

Over: BRANCH - COLBERT

1.5 MI W AL 21, Talladega, AL

Built 1957 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 1,375

CO RT 474

Good

Over: HOLLEY MILL CREEK

5.8 MI E OF KINSTON, Coffee, AL

Built 1963 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 329

F.A.S.05

Good

Over: AFONEE CREEK RELIEF BR

1.3MI SW CO.1 F.A.S05, Bibb, AL

Built 1978 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 120

F.A.S.05

Good

Over: AFONEE CREEK

1.3MI SW BIBB CO.1 FAS.05, Bibb, AL

Built 1978 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 120

COUNTY ROAD 22

Good

Over: CONECUH RIVER

SEC 27 T13 R23, Bullock, AL

Built 1981 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 300

I-22

Good

Over: Buttahatchee River

2.8 MI W AL-171, Marion, AL

Built 1988 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 12,289

CR. 59

Good

Over: HARD LABOR CREEK

1.0 MI. N. SARDIS CHURCH, Butler, AL

Built 1991 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 322

COUNTY ROAD

Good

Over: HOLLY MILL CREEK

1 MI. W. CAMP WATT AL 41, Monroe, AL

Built 2009 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 20

CO RD 91

Good

Over: WALLACE CREEK

0.5 MI SOUTH OF CR 65, Cleburne, AL

Built 2012 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 50

CO RT 114

Good

Over: HALLS CREEK

2.5 MILES SOUTHOFNEW HOPE, Coffee, AL

Built 1952 Load: 25.0 t ADT: 375

CARDIFF STREET

Good

Over: FIVE MILE CREEK

WEST BROOKSIDE, Jefferson, AL

Built 1980 Load: 25.0 t ADT: 405

LECROY DRIVE

Good

Over: PARKER BRANCH

1/2 MI E OF WYNNVILLE, Blount, AL

Built 2003 Load: 25.0 t ADT: 693

FLETCHER ROAD

Good

Over: SHADES CREEK TRIBUTARY

1.0 MI SW LOU GEORGE LOOP, Jefferson, AL

Built 2001 Load: 25.0 t ADT: 528

CHEROKEE #41

Good

Over: MILLS CREEK

6 MI NE JCT SR 35, Cherokee, AL

Built 1952 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 505

COUNTY RD 35

Good

Over: ROBINSON BRANCH

7.6 MI N OF CARROLLTON, Pickens, AL

Built 1954 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 315

COUNTY RT 35

Good

Over: LITTLE COALFIRE CREEK

7.6 MI N OF CARROLLTON, Pickens, AL

Built 1954 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 300

CO RD 33

Good

Over: CREEK

3 MI SOUTH OF AL 21, Lowndes, AL

Built 1958 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 480

CHEROKEE #41

Good

Over: NORTH SPRING CREEK

1.1 MI NE CHEROKEE #75, Cherokee, AL

Built 1958 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 500

F.A.S.16

Good

Over: HILL CREEK

2 MI SW HOPEWELL CHFAS.16, Bibb, AL

Built 1975 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 120

SR 53 MP 1.627

Good

Over: COWARTS CREEK

1.6 MI. N. FLA. LINE, Houston, AL

Built 1985 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 1,980

PARKER CREEK RD.

Good

Over: PARKER CREEK

PARKER CREEK RD., Crenshaw, AL

Built 1997 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 10

OLD HWY 24

Good

Over: BAKERS CREEK

1 MI WEST SR24, Morgan, AL

Built 1952 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 4,500

COUNTY ROAD 1635

Good

Over: BRINDLEY CREEK

CR 1635, Cullman, AL

Built 2004 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 200

MCASHAN ROAD

Good

Over: NORFOLK SOUTHERN RR

0.6 MI SE OLD TUSC HW, Jefferson, AL

Built 2007 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 1,500

CO RT 121

Good

Over: BITTER BRANCH

1 MI N OF INT CO 14, Lauderdale, AL

Built 2005 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 95

WALLACE ROAD

Good

Over: EASTABOGA CREEK

.1 MI N OF CO 005, Talladega, AL

Built 1970 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 285

AIRPORT ROAD

Good

Over: U T TO BIG WILLS CREEK

AIRPORT ROAD, Etowah, AL

Built 2011 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 500

CO. RT. 30

Good

Over: LITTLE BASSETT CREEK

1.21 MI.E DICKINSON, Clarke, AL

Built 1991 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 450

CO RD 505

Good

Over: MORGAN CREEK

.25 MI E CO RT 90 T6SR8E, DeKalb, AL

Built 1968 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 392

US 72; SR 2

Good

Over: YELLOW BRANCH

0.1 MI E JCT JC ROUTE 63, Jackson, AL

Built 1975 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 7,678

US 72; SR 2

Good

Over: YELLOW BRANCH

0.1 MI E JCT JC ROUTE 63, Jackson, AL

Built 1975 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 7,678

SR 27 MP 54.059

Good

Over: W. CHOCTAWHATCHEE RIVER

JCT. DALE COUNTY # 18, Dale, AL

Built 1985 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 1,280

CO RT 148

Good

Over: KISER MILL CREEK

2.0 MILES N OF TABERNACLE, Coffee, AL

Built 1987 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 200

CR 85 BUTTERMILK

Good

Over: I-59

1.6 MI N OF COTTONDALE, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1989 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 8,015

CO RD 874

Good

Over: CORNHOUSE CREEK

SADDERS BR NW OF BROUGHTO, Randolph, AL

Built 1990 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 30

County Road 42

Good

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

Brooklyn Rd at Feagin Rd, Covington, AL

Built 1955 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 1,050

ROCKY FORD RD.

Good

Over: TRIB.TO BALL PLAY CREEK

0.1 MILE E OF ESTES RD, Etowah, AL

Built 1955 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 510

CO RD 5

Good

Over: BRANCH OF TAYLOR CREEK

1/2 MI W H17 BARLOW RD, Washington, AL

Built 1957 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 350

ROAD

Good

Over: MATHIS MILL CREEK

BR. CULVT. ON PAVEDRD.122, Henry, AL

Built 1958 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 80

CO. RD. 626

Good

Over: STREAM

5.3 MI.E.OF EASTERNBYPASS, Montgomery, AL

Built 1967 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 12,300

US 431/AL 1/US 231

Good

Over: SR 2

JCT US 431 * US 72, Madison, AL

Built 1986 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 44,169

SINGLETON RD

Good

Over: HURRICANE CREEK

AT JCT CO23 SINGLETON RD, Franklin, AL

Built 2007 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 35

Lee Road 393

Good

Over: HODNETT CREEK

0.8MI E JCT Lee Road 188, Lee, AL

Built 2018 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 109

NICK DAVIS RD

Good

Over: LIMESTONE CR

SEC2 T3S R3W, Limestone, AL

Built 1948 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 3,549

CR5 DILLBURG RD

Good

Over: LUBBUB CREEK

0.6 MI EAST OF SR 17, Pickens, AL

Built 1966 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 300

CR5 DILLBURG RD

Good

Over: LITTLE LUBBUB CREEK

0.8 MI EAST OF JCT SR #17, Pickens, AL

Built 1966 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 300

BETHEL ROAD

Good

Over: LITTLE LIMESTONE CR

SEC23 T1S R3W, Limestone, AL

Built 1961 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 600

FERRENE RD.

Good

Over: SIKES MILL CREEK

FERRENE RD., Crenshaw, AL

Built 1989 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 80

ANDREW LEE DR

Good

Over: KEITH CREEK

0.6 MI NE OF SR 40, DeKalb, AL

Built 1950 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 630

JOHNSEY BRIDGE RD

Good

Over: BLACKWATER CREEK

2 MILES NORTH OF HWY 5, Walker, AL

Built 2009 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 350

Showing 10,151-10,200 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.