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

13TH ST-HORACE KIN

Good

Over: CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER

WEST COLUMBUS, Russell, AL

Built 2000 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 20,700

IRR BIA RTE 4007

Good

Over: PERDIDO CREEK

11.4KM NW OF ATMORE AL, Escambia, AL

Built 1999 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50

CO RT 119

Good

Over: BRANCH

0.2 MI N JCT SR 35, Jackson, AL

Built 1924 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 170

SR4/US78

Good

Over: BRANCH

2.5 MI W JCT I-20, Calhoun, AL

Built 1929 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,703

OLD LEE HWY

Good

Over: BURCHAM BRANCH

OLD LEE E OF TWIN ELM LN, Colbert, AL

Built 1929 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 765

CENTRAL AVENUE

Good

Over: STONE CREEK

TALLASSEE, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 1930 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 500

Co Rd 493

Good

Over: BIG CULVERT CREEK

0.2 MI W INT CR 93, Jackson, AL

Built 1935 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 40

CO RT 67

Good

Over: BRANCH

0.5 MI NE LANGSTON, Jackson, AL

Built 1936 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 420

SR 79

Good

Over: CREEK * LAKE

8.5 MI N JCT US431 * SR79, Marshall, AL

Built 1937 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,866

GASTON HOLLOW RD

Good

Over: SHOAL CREEK BRANCH

SEC 7 TIS R5W, Limestone, AL

Built 1940 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 120

US 31

Good

Over: BRANCH

1 MI N JCT AL 70, Shelby, AL

Built 1920 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 8,830

HOLT ROAD

Good

Over: BRANCH

SEC7 T2S R3W, Limestone, AL

Built 1941 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 850

ML KING RD

Good

Over: LITTLE SANDY CREEK

MLK, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 1947 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 160

CAIRO HOLLOW RD

Good

Over: CAIRO BRANCH

SEC23 T2S R6W, Limestone, AL

Built 1947 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,590

F.A.S.15

Good

Over: CAFFEE CREEK

1.1MI E.W.BLOCTON F.A.S15, Bibb, AL

Built 1948 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 460

CR # 63

Good

Over: TRIB TO MULBERRY CREEK

0.26 MI N OF CR 305, Dallas, AL

Built 1950 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 700

KENNELWORTH ST

Good

Over: GRIFFIN BROOK

KENNELWORTH ST * PRIMROSE, Jefferson, AL

Built 1955 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,207

SNAKE RD

Good

Over: POPLAR CR

SEC14 T3S R6W, Limestone, AL

Built 1962 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 575

C0. RD. 47

Good

Over: BRANCH

0.5MI S JORDAN CHAPEL, Randolph, AL

Built 1965 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 235

CLAY-PALMERDALE RD

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

1.5 MI W AL 75, Jefferson, AL

Built 1965 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,172

PARK ROAD

Good

Over: HALLS CREEK

TANNEHIL STATE PARK, Jefferson, AL

Built 1970 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 90

I-20/59

Good

Over: Tombigbee River Relief

3.1 MI S of Boligee, Greene, AL

Built 1971 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 18,594

I-20/59

Good

Over: Tombigbee River Relief

2.5 MI S of Boligee, Greene, AL

Built 1971 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 18,594

CO. 1266

Good

Over: WEST POINT RESERVOIR

3 MI. N. E. FREDONIA, Chambers, AL

Built 1973 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 861

CO. 1268

Good

Over: WEST POINT RESERVOIR

2 MI. N. STANDING ROCK, Chambers, AL

Built 1973 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 701

FRANKLIN ST

Good

Over: FAGAN CREEK

FRANKLIN * LOWE, Madison, AL

Built 1974 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 6,300

CO RD 81

Good

Over: UPPER BEAR CREEK

.5 MI NE JCT CO 71, Franklin, AL

Built 1977 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 460

CO 23 BIG OAK RD.

Good

Over: SCL RAILROAD

BIG OAK RD RXR, Calhoun, AL

Built 1947 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 77

LOCK 17 ROAD

Good

Over: MUD CREEK

SCRAP, Jefferson, AL

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,763

4TH ST

Good

Over: TOWN CK

4TH ST * TOWN CK, Etowah, AL

Built 1983 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,364

SOUTH 5TH ST

Good

Over: CSX RAILROAD

FIFTH STREET SOUTH, Lee, AL

Built 1984 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,316

CO. 1297

Good

Over: GROSS BRANCH

2 MI. S. W. HICKORY FLAT, Chambers, AL

Built 1984 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 150

OLD SHELL ROAD

Good

Over: MILKHOUSE CREEK

0.6 MI E SCHILLENGER RD, Mobile, AL

Built 1985 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 17,553

ROUTE 71

Good

Over: WILLS CREEK

300 FT WEST OF SR 35, DeKalb, AL

Built 1985 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,400

MILLER BLVD.

Good

Over: RAINBOW CREEK

0.5 MI N OLD MADISON PIKE, Madison, AL

Built 1986 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 800

CO. 1048

Good

Over: HUNTER CREEK

0.7MI.E. SIKES, Chambers, AL

Built 1986 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 154

DRIVEWAY

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

4200 OAKWOOD AVE, Madison, AL

Built 1987 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 12

WEBB ROAD

Good

Over: WELLS CREEK RELIEF

0.8 MI.S.AL.154, Clarke, AL

Built 1988 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

Berryhill Road

Good

Over: I-22

0.3 MI N AL-171, Marion, AL

Built 1988 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 55

CR-49

Good

Over: Mill Creek

1.5 MI N HANOVER, Coosa, AL

Built 1946 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,201

CO. HWY. 55

Good

Over: BEAR CREEK

2 MI. SO. JCT. CO. 43, Shelby, AL

Built 1989 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 446

63RD ST

Good

Over: BRANCH

63RD ST * 3RD AVE N, Jefferson, AL

Built 1989 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 500

CO RD B41

Good

Over: MUD CREEK

.6 MI S CO 42 CO B41 JCT, Franklin, AL

Built 1990 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 80

COUNTY ROAD 203

Good

Over: LIMESTONE CREEK

DOTHAN TO FLA LINE, Houston, AL

Built 1991 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 810

R14W(I565-WASHST)

Good

Over: RAMP TO WASHINGTON ST

2.6 MI E JCT I565 * SR 53, Madison, AL

Built 1991 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,555

Shelby St.

Good

Over: SHOAL CREEK

Shelby st / shoal ck., Shelby, AL

Built 1994 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,400

CO HWY 77

Good

Over: LITTLE BEESWAX CREEK

0.75 MI SOUTH CO 28, Shelby, AL

Built 1996 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 150

CO. RD. 54

Good

Over: FISH RIVER

2.6 MI. W. OF CO. RD. 55, Baldwin, AL

Built 1997 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,255

SOUTH FORTY DR

Good

Over: LIT BUCK CREEK

OFF CO RD 340, Shelby, AL

Built 1987 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 333

ALA RIVER PARKWAY

Good

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

0.2 MI S OF AL 143, Elmore, AL

Built 1997 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,200

Showing 11,201-11,250 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.