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

AL-13

Good

Over: Flat Creek

1.5 Miles S JCT AL-172, Marion, AL

Built 1998 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 5,675

AL - 53 (US 231)

Good

Over: BEAVER CREEK

SOUTH OF ASHVILLE, St. Clair, AL

Built 2003 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 4,020

LOTT ROAD

Good

Over: ESCATAWPA RIVER

2.4 MI S OF CO. RD 96, Mobile, AL

Built 2005 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 648

RURAL GROVE ROAD

Good

Over: TRIB OF FLINT CREEK

1 MI SOUTH SR 67, Morgan, AL

Built 2004 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 50

COUNTY ROAD 7702

Good

Over: PANTHER CREEK

SEC 15 T12N R21E, Pike, AL

Built 2004 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 38

COUNTY ROAD 7759

Good

Over: TRIB TO MILL CREEK

SEC5 T10N R22E, Pike, AL

Built 2004 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 22

COUNTY ROAD 33/13

Good

Over: BOARDTREE CREEK

4 MILES SOUTH OF US 78, Marion, AL

Built 2014 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 265

_CR 2

Good

Over: _Limestone Creek

.06 Mi E Monroeton, Monroe, AL

Built 2019 Load: 37.8 t ADT: 40

COUNTY ROAD 2241

Good

Over: BROAD HEAD CREEK

SEC 10 T8N R19E, Pike, AL

Built 1956 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 280

CO. RT. 44

Good

Over: TALLAHATTA CREEK

2.5 MI.W TALLAHATTASPRING, Clarke, AL

Built 1957 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 375

I-759

Good

Over: US-411

I-759-US-411, Etowah, AL

Built 1985 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 20,428

I-759

Good

Over: US-411

I-759-US-411, Etowah, AL

Built 1985 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 27,817

ELVESTER ROAD

Good

Over: CSX RAILROAD

2 MI S OF HAYDEN, Blount, AL

Built 1995 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 374

CHEROKEE #43

Good

Over: WOLF CREEK

1.5 MI E CHEROKEE #11, Cherokee, AL

Built 1996 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 385

SR 13

Good

Over: SOUTHERN RR

0.3 M S JCT SR 13 & SR 24, Franklin, AL

Built 1998 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 17,730

US 31 SB

Good

Over: LITTLE ESCAMBIA CREEK

4.3 MI N US 29, Escambia, AL

Built 2003 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 2,995

US 31 NB

Good

Over: LITTLE ESCAMBIA CREEK

4.3 MI N US 29, Escambia, AL

Built 2001 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 2,995

Mays Rd CR-E

Good

Over: I-22

East of CR-63, Walker, AL

Built 2002 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 500

COUNTY ROAD 18

Good

Over: CHAVERS CREEK

5MI N POLLARD, Escambia, AL

Built 2004 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 875

Lee Road 140

Good

Over: LITTLE UCHEE CREEK

0.2 MI N JCT S.169, Lee, AL

Built 2007 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 377

US 231/WHITEBURG D

Good

Over: WHITESBURG DRIVE

US231 OVER WHITESBURG DR, Madison, AL

Built 2009 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 40,203

31ST ST NO

Good

Over: I-20/59

NORWOOD COMMUNITY, Jefferson, AL

Built 2017 Load: 37.9 t

FDR 708

Good

Over: DAN BRANCH

OAKMULGEE DISTRICT, Hale, AL

Built 1986 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 50

CO RD 37

Good

Over: PRONG STEEP CREEK

1 MI SOUTH OF CO RD26, Lowndes, AL

Built 1961 Load: 38.0 t ADT: 460

COUNTY ROAD NO40

Good

Over: POOR CREEK

RC CULVERT ON FAS RT 18, Henry, AL

Built 1975 Load: 38.0 t ADT: 650

CO. 241

Good

Over: CHIKASANOXEE CREEK

0.5 MI. E. DOUBLEHEAD, Chambers, AL

Built 1981 Load: 38.0 t ADT: 575

US 43

Good

Over: WHITFIELD CANAL

DEMOPOLIS, Marengo, AL

Built 1988 Load: 38.0 t ADT: 7,830

BLUE CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: BURNT BRIDGE BRANCH

3 MI S JOHNS ROAD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1989 Load: 38.0 t ADT: 279

COUNTY LINE RD

Good

Over: HENNIGAN BRANCH

CLR SOUTH OF FORD CITY, Colbert, AL

Built 1991 Load: 38.0 t ADT: 2,968

CR. 49

Good

Over: PINE BARREN CREEK

2.5 MI NE SAUCER, Butler, AL

Built 1996 Load: 38.0 t ADT: 22

AL.21

Good

Over: SALT CREEK

5.7 MI S OF OXFORD, Talladega, AL

Built 2000 Load: 38.0 t ADT: 9,390

WATERLOO ROAD

Good

Over: CYPRESS CREEK

1 MILE EAST OF AL 20, Lauderdale, AL

Built 2003 Load: 38.0 t ADT: 2,500

COUNTY ROAD 26

Good

Over: BEAVER DAM CREEK

@ intersection of CR 17, Shelby, AL

Built 2000 Load: 38.0 t ADT: 5,470

ROSS BRIDGE PKWY

Good

Over: SHADES CREEK

ROSS BRIDGE, Jefferson, AL

Built 2005 Load: 38.0 t ADT: 4,700

I20

Good

Over: SNOW CREEK

.3 MI E JCT SR21, Calhoun, AL

Built 2012 Load: 38.0 t ADT: 41,038

CO RT 21

Good

Over: 5 MILE CREEK

4 MI. E. AKRON, Hale, AL

Built 1992 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 200

LOWE RD

Good

Over: STONE CREEK

0.6 MI NORTH ALA 14, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 1963 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 315

CO RD B41

Good

Over: CEDAR CREEK

1.3 MI N JCT SR 24, Franklin, AL

Built 1979 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 414

I-359 RAMP "B"

Good

Over: 15TH STREET

JCT WITH 15TH STREET, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1983 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 5,133

20TH ST

Good

Over: TOWN CREEK

20TH ST * TOWN CREEK, Walker, AL

Built 1985 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 6,000

CR-9

Good

Over: I-22

1.45 MI W AL-74, Marion, AL

Built 1986 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 100

I-22

Good

Over: Holley Creek

M.P. 60.5 on I-22, Walker, AL

Built 1996 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 16,665

I-22

Good

Over: Holley Grove Road

M.P. 60.5 on I-22, Walker, AL

Built 1996 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 16,665

EDGEWOOD BLVD

Good

Over: GRIFFIN BROOK

DGEWOOD BLVD * HILLWOOD D, Jefferson, AL

Built 2001 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 874

AL 17

Good

Over: UT BEAVER CREEK

.7 MI S OF PICKENS CO LIN, Sumter, AL

Built 2004 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 849

I-20

Good

Over: KELLY CREEK

I-20 @ KELLY CREEK, St. Clair, AL

Built 2010 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 51,890

LUM FIFE ROAD

Good

Over: WELLS BRANCH

1.8 MI. EAST OF CR#63, Pickens, AL

Built 2006 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 70

12th Court North

Good

Over: I - 65

.05 mi. N of Interchange, Jefferson, AL

Built 2017 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 1,250

SR4/US78

Good

Over: EGONIAGA CREEK

0.2 MI EAST JCT SR 9, Calhoun, AL

Built 1929 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 4,941

CO RD 58

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

1.2 MI SE JCT CO 49, Franklin, AL

Built 1991 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 220

Showing 12,401-12,450 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.