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

COUNTY RD 77

Good

Over: CONECUH RIVER

Rose Hill Road, Covington, AL

Built 1998 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 620

CO RD 71

Good

Over: SPRING CREEK BRANCH

0.2 MI S JCT CO RD 405, Shelby, AL

Built 1998 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 357

CO RD 40

Good

Over: N. BRANCH FOURMILE CREEK

.3 KM E CO RD 109, Shelby, AL

Built 1997 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 821

TOLBERT ST

Good

Over: BRANCH CREEK

50 South CR 10, Shelby, AL

Built 1998 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 25

RAILROAD STREET

Good

Over: BRANCH

0.5 MI. E. OF CO. RD. 47, Baldwin, AL

Built 1998 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 398

CO. RD. 645

Good

Over: WEHADKEE TRIBUTORY

2 MI.OF TALORS XRDS, Randolph, AL

Built 1998 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50

CO. RD. 470

Good

Over: BEAR CREEK

.25 MI. S. OF CO. RD. 471, Randolph, AL

Built 1998 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50

RECREATION DRIVE

Good

Over: SNOW CREEK

Rec Dr/.32 K E. AL 21, Calhoun, AL

Built 1984 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,800

CO RD 215

Good

Over: S.FORK BUXAHATCHEE CREEK

.2 K S JUNC CO RD 202, Shelby, AL

Built 1999 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 161

CO RD 202

Good

Over: S BRANCH BUXATCHEE CREEK

.3 MIN JCT CO RD 215, Shelby, AL

Built 1999 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

TEAL CIRCLE

Good

Over: DUCK CREEK

.8 MI. WEST HWY. 69, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1997 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 700

PEEKS HILL ROAD

Good

Over: OHATCHEE CREEK

PEEKS HILL (BIG), Calhoun, AL

Built 2002 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 762

ROSE BLVD

Good

Over: CARROLL CREEK

.5 MI. WEST AL. HWY. 43, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 2002 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,500

I - 22 EAST

Good

Over: LOCUST FK BLACK WARRIOR

FLAT TOP, Jefferson, AL

Built 2004 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,380

BEACH EXPRESS

Good

Over: BRANCH OFF PORTAGE CREEK

O.5 MI. N. OF CO. RD. 4, Baldwin, AL

Built 2000 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,378

CO RD 231

Good

Over: MINTERS CREEK

0.3 MI E US 11, Greene, AL

Built 2001 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 150

OLD 431

Good

Over: PINEY WOOD CR ?

1MI N. MORR. X RDS, Randolph, AL

Built 1988 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 400

BROWNS FERRY RD

Good

Over: BRADFORD CREEK

0.4 MI. EAST CNTY LINE, Madison, AL

Built 2000 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 550

SR 21

Good

Over: CHOCCOLOCCO CREEK

.9 MI S OF OXFORD, Talladega, AL

Built 2005 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,157

SEASON ROAD

Good

Over: BEAR CREEK

.25 SE JCT CO RD 43, Shelby, AL

Built 2001 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50

SEASON ROAD

Good

Over: BRANCH OF BEAR CREEK

.30 SE JCT CO RD 43, Shelby, AL

Built 2001 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50

CR-22

Good

Over: I-22

Cordova, Walker, AL

Built 2002 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 500

DANNE RD.

Good

Over: GREEN BRANCH

1.6 MI. S. OF CO. RD. 32, Baldwin, AL

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 335

CO. RD. 87

Good

Over: UNNAMED BRANCH

1.1 MI. N. OF CO. RD. 38, Baldwin, AL

Built 1998 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,247

VETERANS DRIVE

Good

Over: SR 157

1.1 M S JCT SR157 & SR2, Lauderdale, AL

Built 2003 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,000

CO RD 38

Good

Over: STRINGER CREEK

0.1 MI S CO RD 19, Jackson, AL

Built 2003 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 240

WINCHESTER ROAD

Good

Over: MOUNTAIN FORK CREEK

NEW MARKET AL????????????, Madison, AL

Built 2003 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,805

SR 41

Good

Over: CONECUH RIVER

0.2 MI N CO RD 55, Escambia, AL

Built 2021 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 6,391

PLEASANT HILL RD.

Good

Over: BLACK CREEK

0.25 MI S. OF TABOR RD, Etowah, AL

Built 2007 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 275

AL 150

Good

Over: SHADES CREEK

AL 150 @ SHADES CREEK, Jefferson, AL

Built 2018 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 12,200

CO. RD. 23

Good

Over: BIG BEAR CREEK

2.0 MI S. JCT. SR24, Franklin, AL

Built 2004 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 806

COUNTY ROAD 6622

Good

Over: BUCKHORN CREEK

SEC3 T10N R23E, Pike, AL

Built 2004 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 40

CO RD 32

Good

Over: GOOSE CREEK

0.5 MI EAST OF SR 5, Wilcox, AL

Built 2004 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 540

CROSS CREEK DRIVE

Good

Over: BEAR CREEK

.3 MILES FROM CR 43, Shelby, AL

Built 2000 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50

CR 97

Good

Over: UT TO CAMP BRANCH

1.1 MI. FROM AL 70, Shelby, AL

Built 2003 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 600

CR 12

Good

Over: FLOOD RELIEF

.2 MI. WEST CR 22, Shelby, AL

Built 2000 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,000

DOUG BAKER BLVD.

Good

Over: CAHABA VALLEY CREEK

.1 MI. FROM AL 119, Shelby, AL

Built 2003 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 6,500

CR 42

Good

Over: UT TO COOSA RIVER

1.7 MILES EAST AL 145, Shelby, AL

Built 2000 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,250

KELLY CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: UT TO KELLY CREEK

.1 MILE EAST OF CR 59, Shelby, AL

Built 2005 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50

COUNTY ROAD 11

Good

Over: BEAR CREEK FLOODWAY

1.9MILES N JCT ST HWY 24?, Franklin, AL

Built 2007 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 760

NATURES WAY

Good

Over: SWAMP DETENTION

0.3 MILE WEST ZERDT ROAD, Madison, AL

Built 2005 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 500

SR 17

Good

Over: LONG BRANCH

4.9 MI N MOBILE CO LINE, Washington, AL

Built 2012 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,750

RUSHING WOOD DRIVE

Good

Over: UN-NAMED CREEK

.50 MILE N OF US 72, Madison, AL

Built 2005 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50

CO. RD. 13

Good

Over: TRIB. TO FLY CREEK

.1 MI S. OF SR 104, Baldwin, AL

Built 2010 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,736

KELLER ROAD

Good

Over: WEEKS BRANCH

1.0 MI.S.OF U.S. 98, Baldwin, AL

Built 2007 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 53

PATRICK LN

Good

Over: CORNELIUS CREEK

PATRICK LN W OF RED ROCK, Colbert, AL

Built 2008 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

SHELBY FARMS

Good

Over: UT SPRING CK

SUBDIVISION, Shelby, AL

Built 2006 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 75

FORREST VILLAGE LN

Good

Over: UT SPRING CREEK

SUBDIVISION, Shelby, AL

Built 2000 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 200

CR 495

Good

Over: UT TO LAKE PURDY

0.25 MILES FROM US 280, Shelby, AL

Built 1997 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 300

RAMP ESX65

Good

Over: N.S. Railroad

I-22/I-65 Interchange, Jefferson, AL

Built 2016 Load: 32.7 t

Showing 11,251-11,300 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.