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. 158 WBL

Good

Over: CHICKASAW CREEK

.5 MI. E. US 45, Mobile, AL

Built 2013 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 13,067

CR 15

Good

Over: BASSETT CREEK RELIEF

0.32 MI NTH of CR2 INT, Clarke, AL

Built 2015 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 3,100

County Rd 9

Good

Over: Calebee Creek

North of US 80, Macon, AL

Built 2018 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 703

Coosada Parkway

Good

Over: Coosada Creek

SEC 25 T18 N R 17 E, Elmore, AL

Built 2015 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 6,147

COUNTY RT #34

Good

Over: LITTLE COALFIRE CREEK

5.2 MI EAST CO RT #75, Pickens, AL

Built 1968 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 200

CO RD 33

Good

Over: CAMP BRANCH

.5 MI W CO 49 CO 33 JCT, Franklin, AL

Built 1979 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 362

CO RD 33

Good

Over: LICK CREEK

.5 MI W CO 49 CO 33 JCT, Franklin, AL

Built 1979 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 391

PINE HILL ROAD

Good

Over: FIVEMILE CREEK TRIBUTARY

1000 W AL 79, Jefferson, AL

Built 1986 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 5,875

ALEXANDER ROAD

Good

Over: SKELTON CREEK

1.5 MILES SE OF QUINTOWN, Jefferson, AL

Built 1990 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 145

COUNTY ROAD 12

Good

Over: COTTONWOOD CREEK REL.

3.3 MI. E. OF PRARIEVILLE, Hale, AL

Built 1996 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 230

AL235

Good

Over: NORFOLK SOUTHERN R/R

.2 MI.NORTH INTER.US 280, Talladega, AL

Built 2008 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 5,134

LOWER TUSKEGEE RD

Good

Over: MILL CREEK

0.6 MI N OF MACON CO LINE, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 2003 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 745

COUNTY ROAD 181

Good

Over: BRUSH CREEK

1.5 MI N AL 14, Greene, AL

Built 2005 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 315

COUNTY HWY 1409

Good

Over: Scarham Creek

4500 FT N JCT 1414, Marshall, AL

Built 2015 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 1,309

ROAD

Good

Over: ABBIE CREEK

RCDG BR. ON PAVED RD. 46, Henry, AL

Built 1970 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 500

ADAMS

Good

Over: FAGAN CREEK

ADAMS * LOWELL, Madison, AL

Built 1973 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 1,000

CO. RT. 27

Good

Over: STREAM

0.84 MI.S. TVILLE, Clarke, AL

Built 1924 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 900

AL 25

Good

Over: BIG PRAIRIE CREEK

1.0 MI N LANEVILLE, Hale, AL

Built 1988 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 1,600

HOBBS ISLAND RD

Good

Over: YELLOW BANK CREEK

2 MI W JCT HWY 431-S, Madison, AL

Built 1989 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 3,500

REST AREA RAMPS

Good

Over: I-65

1.4MI N JCT SR69 S * I65, Cullman, AL

Built 1990 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 752

CO. RT. 1354

Good

Over: CSX RAILROAD

CR 1354 vinemont school, Cullman, AL

Built 1990 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 1,375

I 565

Good

Over: I 65

JCT I 565 & I 65, Limestone, AL

Built 1990 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 5,318

I-59

Good

Over: CLEVELAND AVE.

I-59 * CLEVELAND AVE., Etowah, AL

Built 1994 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 14,038

I 59

Good

Over: CLEVELAND AVE.

I 59 OVER CLEVELAND AVE., Etowah, AL

Built 1994 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 14,038

I-22

Good

Over: Blackwell Rd

2.7 MI. W Jasper INT, Walker, AL

Built 2000 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 20,698

MURDER CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: MURDER CREEK

.5 MI NE KIRKLAND, Escambia, AL

Built 2004 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 179

COUNTY ROAD 4419

Good

Over: SANDY RUN CREEK

SEC 28 T9W R23E, Pike, AL

Built 2005 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 110

COUNTY RD NO 465

Good

Over: LITTLE WEOKA CREEK

SEC9 T20 R19, Elmore, AL

Built 1988 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 100

North River Rd

Good

Over: Keller Creek

300 south of Keller Rd, Baldwin, AL

Built 2023 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 750

CO 2 EAST TO AL2

Good

Over: CREEK

3 1/4 MI WEST OF AL21, Lowndes, AL

Built 1963 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 460

I-20

Good

Over: BRANCH

3.3 MI E JCT SR 77, Talladega, AL

Built 1965 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 42,350

GLENNWOOD ROAD

Good

Over: NORTH CREEK TRIBUTARY

0.3 MI W NEW CASTLE RD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1986 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 725

CO RT 201

Good

Over: CEDAR CREEK

3.5 MILES E OF JACK, Coffee, AL

Built 1991 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 320

J.D. CUMMINGS RD

Good

Over: SEVEN MILE CREEK

SEC 11 T6N R24E, Dale, AL

Built 1995 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 203

I-22

Good

Over: AL-118

Carbon Hill Interchange, Walker, AL

Built 2001 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 18,196

I-22

Good

Over: AL-118

Carbon Hill Interchange, Walker, AL

Built 2001 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 18,196

I 65

Good

Over: CSX RAILROAD

5 MI S JCT I 65 & SR 53, Limestone, AL

Built 1999 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 11,890

I 65

Good

Over: CSX RAILROAD

5 MI S JCT I 65 & SR 53, Limestone, AL

Built 1999 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 11,890

CO RT 249

Good

Over: WATERSHED SINKING CREEK

0.5MI W JCT S R 33, Lawrence, AL

Built 1995 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 650

I-22

Good

Over: Cane Creek

W of Cordova, Walker, AL

Built 2002 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 22,592

COUNTY ROAD 69

Good

Over: COBB BRANCH

0.5 MI W FORKLAND, Greene, AL

Built 2003 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 369

COUNTY ROAD 41

Good

Over: SOUTH NEEDHAM CREEK

1.8 MI NE FORKLAND, Greene, AL

Built 2003 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 400

KIRKWOOD DRIVE

Good

Over: WILLOW CREEK

0.1 M. N. NORTH STREET, Greene, AL

Built 2010 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 75

WILHITE ROAD

Good

Over: MILL CREEK

0.5 MI SOUTH OF HWY 55, Morgan, AL

Built 2011 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 655

WEATHERBROOK LANE

Good

Over: BRANCH

WEATHERBROOK LN., Calhoun, AL

Built 2010 Load: 39.3 t ADT: 580

US 72; SR 2

Good

Over: SAUTY CREEK

0.1 MI E JCT JC ROUTE 114, Jackson, AL

Built 1975 Load: 39.4 t ADT: 6,986

US 72; SR 2

Good

Over: SAUTY CREEK

0.1 MI E JCT JC ROUTE 114, Jackson, AL

Built 1975 Load: 39.4 t ADT: 6,986

LAKEPOINT PARK RD

Good

Over: US 431

0.4 MI. S. JCT. SR 165, Barbour, AL

Built 1979 Load: 39.4 t ADT: 140

CO. 155

Good

Over: WILLIAMS CREEK

0.6 MI. N. E. MILLTOWN, Chambers, AL

Built 1983 Load: 39.4 t ADT: 20

CO 36

Good

Over: TALLAPOOSA RIVER

CO 36 TALLAPOOSA RIVER, Cleburne, AL

Built 1991 Load: 39.4 t ADT: 470

Showing 12,601-12,650 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.