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 RD 39

Good

Over: SMALL CREEK

4.0 MI S INT RT 8 * 110, Choctaw, AL

Built 1963 Load: 27.4 t ADT: 375

CO RD 6

Good

Over: BRANCH

0.3 MI E INT RT 231 * 241, Choctaw, AL

Built 1967 Load: 27.4 t ADT: 425

CR # 86

Good

Over: BRANCH TO BLUE GURTH SWP

1.6 MI E CR 81, Dallas, AL

Built 1970 Load: 27.4 t ADT: 75

CO RD 44A

Good

Over: CHERRY HILL CREEK

0.3 MI S CO 44 44A JCT, Franklin, AL

Built 1975 Load: 27.4 t ADT: 20

COUNTY ROAD 55

Good

Over: COOSA RIVER

CR 55 2 MI NW NEW HOPECH, Chilton, AL

Built 1979 Load: 27.4 t ADT: 250

US 29 MP 164.537

Good

Over: CONECUH RIVER

3.5 MI. W. OF TROY, Pike, AL

Built 1982 Load: 27.4 t ADT: 5,090

NEWFOUND ROAD

Good

Over: NEWFOUND CREEK

1 MI N FIELDSTOWN ROAD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1982 Load: 27.4 t ADT: 1,110

MAVIS CARROLL RD

Good

Over: WALLACE CREEK

0.7 MI SE OF CO 53, Barbour, AL

Built 1990 Load: 27.4 t ADT: 85

AL 297

Good

Over: ALAVE HOLTRD MNST RVR

RICE MINE * JACK WARNER, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 2003 Load: 27.4 t ADT: 7,175

MCCOLLOUGH ROAD

Good

Over: DOUBLE BRIDGES BRANCH

6 MILES N.E. OF SAMSON, Geneva, AL

Built 2002 Load: 27.4 t ADT: 65

Airport Road

Good

Over: Dye Branch

500 FT N AL 35 T7SR8E, DeKalb, AL

Built 1960 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 4,800

PLEASENT VALLEY RD

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

0.25MINWOFHWY411, Etowah, AL

Built 1960 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 868

MILLVILLE RD.

Good

Over: SPRING CREEK

2 MILES NE OF BLACK, Geneva, AL

Built 1970 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 60

DOVERTON ROAD

Good

Over: FRISCO RR

DOVERTOWN, Walker, AL

Built 1974 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 400

UNITY CHURCH RD.

Good

Over: LITTLE SAND VALLEY CREEK

300 WEST OF HORTON GAP R, Etowah, AL

Built 1990 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 150

ST ALBAN DR

Good

Over: UNNAMED TRIBUTARY

1.0M W/US231, Madison, AL

Built 1990 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 560

SR 21

Good

Over: WOLF CREEK

3.7 MI.N. OF FURMAN, Wilcox, AL

Built 1994 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 900

COUNTY ROAD 41

Good

Over: SIMMONS CREEK

2 MILES N.E. OF GENEVA, Geneva, AL

Built 2001 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 990

CROSSCUT ROAD

Good

Over: BIG CREEK BRANCH

1 MILE N. JCT. CO RD 26, Shelby, AL

Built 2002 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 200

MEDICAL CENTER DR.

Good

Over: RAM CREEK

1.5 MI NW OF THORSBY, Chilton, AL

Built 2012 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 200

Mooresville Road

Good

Over: Frenchs Mill Creek

Mooresville Road, Limestone, AL

Built 2015 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 5,146

23rd st. north

Good

Over: Unnamed creek

300 W. 5th ave North, Jefferson, AL

Built 2018 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 79

UNION ACDMY-ADA RD

Good

Over: BALL BRANCH

2.5 MI E OF US 31, Montgomery, AL

Built 1992 Load: 27.6 t ADT: 118

CO RT 114

Good

Over: TINDLE CREEK

4MILESSOUTHWESTOFNEWHOPE, Coffee, AL

Built 1951 Load: 27.6 t ADT: 375

CR # 37

Good

Over: BOGG BRANCH

1.2 MI N CR 16 INT., Dallas, AL

Built 1956 Load: 27.6 t ADT: 300

CO 4

Good

Over: WATERMELON CREEK

1.5 MI E PITTSVIEW, Russell, AL

Built 1975 Load: 27.6 t ADT: 650

COUNTY RT # 3

Good

Over: KYLES BRANCH

1.0 MI E OF SR RT 17, Pickens, AL

Built 1980 Load: 27.6 t ADT: 300

SR 109 MP 8.576

Good

Over: HARKIN BRANCH

1.3 MI. S. US 231, Houston, AL

Built 1983 Load: 27.6 t ADT: 4,120

CO RD #28

Good

Over: SCARHAM CREEK

2.0 MI E ALA HWY#68T8SR6E, DeKalb, AL

Built 1984 Load: 27.6 t ADT: 635

JUDKINS ROAD

Good

Over: UNNAMED CREEK

.2 MI N OF BARGANIER RD, Montgomery, AL

Built 1990 Load: 27.6 t ADT: 26

CR-72

Good

Over: I-22

JCT AL-4 and CR-72, Marion, AL

Built 2000 Load: 27.6 t ADT: 162

LEONARD ROAD

Good

Over: UNNAMED BRANCH

Leonard Road, Cullman, AL

Built 2004 Load: 27.6 t ADT: 200

CHEROKEE 177

Good

Over: FROG CREEK

1.0 MI N CHEROKEE 29, Cherokee, AL

Built 2010 Load: 27.6 t ADT: 150

TEA GARDEN DRIVE

Good

Over: UN-NAMED CREEK

1 MILE EAST BAILEY COVE, Madison, AL

Built 1974 Load: 27.6 t ADT: 750

CO ROAD 30

Good

Over: LONG BRANCH

1.5MI W LYEFFION, Conecuh, AL

Built 2013 Load: 27.6 t ADT: 119

TRAVIS WISE ROAD

Good

Over: PALMER BRANCH

5 MI NE OF SAMSON, Geneva, AL

Built 1979 Load: 27.7 t ADT: 35

SR 227

Good

Over: BIG SPRING CREEK

1 MI S JCT US431 * SR227, Marshall, AL

Built 1938 Load: 27.7 t ADT: 10,307

CO RT 462

Good

Over: PHILLIPS CREEK

2.03 MILES EAST OF INO, Coffee, AL

Built 1962 Load: 27.7 t ADT: 100

MENEFFEE RD

Good

Over: BRANCH

SEC14 T3S R3W, Limestone, AL

Built 1963 Load: 27.7 t ADT: 575

COUNTY ROAD 190

Good

Over: HUDSON BRANCH

0.2 MI W CO 207 LEDBETTER, Talladega, AL

Built 1965 Load: 27.7 t ADT: 550

SARDIS RD.

Good

Over: JACOBS CREEK

0.18MI SW LEETH GAP CUTOF, Etowah, AL

Built 1966 Load: 27.7 t ADT: 1,740

US 80

Good

Over: FRENCH CREEK

2.1 MI. E. OF DEMOPOLIS, Marengo, AL

Built 1984 Load: 27.7 t ADT: 4,650

CO RD 302

Good

Over: LAUREL CREEK

GILBERTS X-RDS T-8 R-7, DeKalb, AL

Built 1995 Load: 27.7 t ADT: 112

CO RT 84

Good

Over: WEST FLINT CREEK

2.3MI SW JCT CO RT 81, Lawrence, AL

Built 1992 Load: 27.7 t ADT: 88

TARTAN WAY

Good

Over: STREAM

ENTERPRISE .26 FROM AL192, Coffee, AL

Built 2002 Load: 27.7 t ADT: 180

SCOTT LANE

Good

Over: TALLAHATCHEE CREEK

SCOTT LN., Calhoun, AL

Built 2011 Load: 27.7 t ADT: 100

Boothe Road

Good

Over: _Drainage

100 yds N. from Nichols, Baldwin, AL

Built 2010 Load: 27.7 t ADT: 300

CR-36

Good

Over: YELLOW CREEK RELIEF

6.1 MI. N.E. VERNON, Lamar, AL

Built 1953 Load: 27.8 t ADT: 480

MEDICAL CENTERPKW

Good

Over: SOUTHERN R.R.

0.35 MI.N.OF OLD CAHABA R, Dallas, AL

Built 1973 Load: 27.8 t ADT: 7,815

SID HAMILTON ROA

Good

Over: BEAVER CREEK

0.8 MI. S. AL.5, Clarke, AL

Built 1963 Load: 27.8 t ADT: 100

Showing 10,451-10,500 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.