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-69

Good

Over: Blackwater Creek

AL-69 @ Blackwater Creek, Walker, AL

Built 2008 Load: 38.7 t ADT: 5,635

BENCE ROAD

Good

Over: SWEETWATER CREEK

?????????????????????????, Clay, AL

Built 2003 Load: 38.7 t ADT: 31

C R 31

Good

Over: TOWN CREEK

0.4 MI E JCT C R 28, Lawrence, AL

Built 2003 Load: 38.7 t ADT: 80

COUNTY ROAD 61

Good

Over: ST. FLORIAN BRANCH

0.05 MI JCT CO 47, Lauderdale, AL

Built 2005 Load: 38.7 t ADT: 2,700

COUNTY ROAD 1172

Good

Over: PANTHER CREEK

SEC 31 T10N R19E, Pike, AL

Built 2005 Load: 38.7 t ADT: 16

COWPEN CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: COWPEN CREEK

2.2 M. N. OF CO. RD. 87, Baldwin, AL

Built 2004 Load: 38.7 t ADT: 925

Co Rd 94

Good

Over: Cowpen Creek

0.1 Mi N INT Co Rd 145, Lauderdale, AL

Built 2016 Load: 38.7 t ADT: 404

chavies

Good

Over: town creek

0.5 mile s of sr 35, DeKalb, AL

Built 2019 Load: 38.7 t ADT: 550

_SUNSET ROAD

Good

Over: _S FORK DEER RIVER

_0.4 MI W AL 163, Mobile, AL

Built 2022 Load: 38.7 t ADT: 20

ROADWAY

Good

Over: CO RT 1202 STREAM

3.0 MI E ROSSER, Sumter, AL

Built 1959 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 115

CR. 27

Good

Over: BRANCH

0.5 MI. SO. AVANT, Butler, AL

Built 1966 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 66

CO. RD. 22

Good

Over: BUCK CREEK

BETHEL GROVE, Autauga, AL

Built 1990 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 125

CO RD 166

Good

Over: BLUFF CREEK

0.10MI E CO RT 87, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1995 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 30

AL 199

Good

Over: BULGER CREEK

5.1 MI N JCT AL 81, Macon, AL

Built 2000 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 810

CR38 ED LEACH

Good

Over: MOHORN CREEK

CR38 .3MI NW MARS HILL CH, Chilton, AL

Built 1966 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 350

US 80

Good

Over: RELIEF

3.5 MI. E. OF JCT US 29, Macon, AL

Built 2005 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 2,820

CHELSEA PARK DR.

Good

Over: CSX RAILROAD

CHELSEA PARK SUBDIVISION, Shelby, AL

Built 2006 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 750

ENTER BELL PARK

Good

Over: RELIEF DITCH

1.0 MILE WEST US 231, Madison, AL

Built 1995 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 120

I-65

Good

Over: NORFOLK SOUTHERN RR

I-65 NORFOLK SOUTHERN RR, Shelby, AL

Built 2013 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 20,220

I-59/I-20 WB

Good

Over: US 31 City Streets RR

0.4 Miles East of I-65, Jefferson, AL

Built 2019 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 67,732

_Shalerock Drive

Good

Over: _

_, Limestone, AL

Built 2018 Load: 38.8 t ADT: 100

CO RD 463

Good

Over: SHOAL CREEK

2 MI NE SAXON X ROADS, Randolph, AL

Built 1991 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 100

SALEM RD 33 TOCO4

Good

Over: FORT DEPOSIT CREEK

2 MI WEST OF CO 33, Lowndes, AL

Built 1987 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 115

Rudicell Road

Good

Over: Sipsey Creek

0.8MILE NORTH OF CORD 26, Marion, AL

Built 1989 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 50

CHURCH AVE

Good

Over: LITTLE WILLS CREEK

0.2 MI N OF CHURCH ST, DeKalb, AL

Built 1991 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 60

MINOR PARKWAY NB

Good

Over: VILLAGE CREEK

1.0 MI S DOCENA, Jefferson, AL

Built 1994 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 8,315

MINOR PARKWAY SB

Good

Over: VILLAGE CREEK

1.0 MI S DOCENA, Jefferson, AL

Built 1995 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 8,315

NEW OAKMAN HWY

Good

Over: INDIAN CREEK/SO RR

PARRISH, Walker, AL

Built 1994 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 2,900

AL-74

Good

Over: Ragsdale Creek

0.3 MI. East AL-17, Marion, AL

Built 2008 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 5,055

BROWNVILLE PIKE RD

Good

Over: SIPSEY RIVER (M.C.)

1.5MI NE OF CO RD 75, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 2005 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 50

COUNTY RD 89

Good

Over: SOUTH FORK COWIKEE CREEK

3.5 MILES NORTH OF US 82?, Barbour, AL

Built 2003 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 521

I-22

Good

Over: CR-47

12MI E of US-43, Marion, AL

Built 1997 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 12,834

I-22

Good

Over: CR-47

12 MI E of US-43, Marion, AL

Built 1997 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 12,834

CO RD 533

Good

Over: 1ST CREEK

0.7 MI W AL 207, Lauderdale, AL

Built 2009 Load: 38.9 t ADT: 218

CO RD 191

Good

Over: CREEK

1.8 MI SW UNION, Greene, AL

Built 1966 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 320

STEVENS MEM. CR46

Good

Over: TRIB. MUD CREEK

STEVENS MEM., Perry, AL

Built 1967 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 120

COUNTY ROAD 24

Good

Over: LINE CREEK

SEC-5 T-3-N R-23-E, Dale, AL

Built 1968 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 1,406

CR # 63

Good

Over: TRIB TO MULBERRY CREEK

0.33 MI N PECAN RD, Dallas, AL

Built 1989 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 350

FREEMAN CREEK RD.

Good

Over: FREEMAN CREEK

4.0 M NE OF CONCORD, Fayette, AL

Built 1990 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 55

MILTON SMITH RD.

Good

Over: DEADWATER CREEK

0.2 MI SW BANKSTON, Fayette, AL

Built 1990 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 60

I-565 E.B.

Good

Over: NORTHFOLK SOUTHERN R.R.

0.3 MI W JCT SR255 * I565, Madison, AL

Built 1990 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 52,839

CO RT 317

Good

Over: FLAT CREEK

0.7 MI E JCT CO RT 434, Lawrence, AL

Built 1990 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 475

COX GAP RD.

Good

Over: FISHER CREEK

1 MI SE SANDVALLEY CHURCH, Etowah, AL

Built 1998 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 260

COUNTY ROAD 176

Good

Over: BROWNS CREEK

4817 FT E JCT 1014, Marshall, AL

Built 2004 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 510

OLD BIG COVE ROAD

Good

Over: GREEN MOUNTAIN BRANCH

?????????????????????????, Madison, AL

Built 2004 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 600

COUNTY ROAD 135

Good

Over: INDIANCAMP CREEK

0.5MI EAST JCT CO 61, Lauderdale, AL

Built 2005 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 550

CO RD 27

Good

Over: BEAVER CREEK

4.3 MILES WEST ON CR #27, Wilcox, AL

Built 2005 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 125

BRAFFERTON DRIVE

Good

Over: COPPER RUN CREEK

2 MILE NORTH CAPSHAW RD, Limestone, AL

Built 2006 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 200

US 80

Good

Over: ALAMUCHEE CREEK

1.5 MI E JCT U.S 11, Sumter, AL

Built 2013 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 1,475

LP ACCESS ROAD

Good

Over: BASSETTS CREEK

0.5 MILES EAST OF US 43, Clarke, AL

Built 2007 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 1,250

Showing 12,551-12,600 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.