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

MAGNOLIA DRIVE

Good

Over: JORDAN CREEK TRIBUTARY

MAGNOLIA DRIVE, Crenshaw, AL

Built 1990 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 50

KELLEY RD.

Good

Over: PINEY WOODS CREEK

KELLEY RD., Crenshaw, AL

Built 1991 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 50

SUMMERVILLE RD.

Good

Over: CSX RAILROAD

PHENIX CITY, Russell, AL

Built 1994 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 9,958

WATERMELON ROAD

Good

Over: BLUE CREEK

21.1 MI NE JCT US 82, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1995 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 50

I-22

Good

Over: AL-13

JCT I-22 & AL-13, Walker, AL

Built 2003 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 13,401

I-22

Good

Over: AL-13

JCT I-22 & AL-13, Walker, AL

Built 2003 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 13,401

SR 162

Good

Over: DIXON CREEK REL.

2.5M. W. JCT. S.R. 28, Wilcox, AL

Built 2001 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 210

SR 162

Good

Over: RED CREEK REL.

4.1 M. E. OF KIMBROUGH, Wilcox, AL

Built 2003 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 250

MT TABOR ROAD

Good

Over: OUTLAW SPRINGS CREEK

2 MILES SOUTH SR36, Morgan, AL

Built 2003 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 960

COUNTY ROAD 57

Good

Over: CONECUH TRIBUTARY

S. GLENWOOD RD, Crenshaw, AL

Built 1955 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 440

PRICKETT TRAIL

Good

Over: TALLAHACHEE CREEK

PRICKETT TRAIL, Calhoun, AL

Built 2010 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 120

Lee Road 375

Good

Over: Osanippa Creek

.4 mi w Jct Lee Road 379, Lee, AL

Built 2016 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 592

_Deans Ferry Road

Good

Over: _CSX Railroad

_1.5 Mile S of Hayden, Blount, AL

Built 2021 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 404

NATCHEZ TRACE PARK

Good

Over: MYNOT ROAD

5.95 MILES NORTH OF MS RO, Colbert, AL

Built 1981 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 720

CO RT #146

Good

Over: COOKS CREEK

2.6 MI EAST OF CO RT #27, Pickens, AL

Built 1968 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 200

CO RT 467

Good

Over: TEEL CREEK

1.8 MI S OF RHOADES, Coffee, AL

Built 1974 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 40

ALEX SHIPMAN RD

Good

Over: U.T. SAND CREEK

0.9 MI NE OF AL 10, Barbour, AL

Built 1990 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 30

CO RT 127

Good

Over: MIDDLE CYPRESS CK

0.1MI W INT CO 11, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1994 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 180

JOHNS ROAD

Good

Over: VALLEY CREEK

2 MI NE ADGER, Jefferson, AL

Built 1998 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 4,756

I-22

Good

Over: Clifty Branch

I-22 @ Clifty Branch, Walker, AL

Built 2004 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 14,713

SR 162

Good

Over: DIXON CREEK

2.7MI. W. OF JCT S.R. 28, Wilcox, AL

Built 2001 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 210

US 80

Good

Over: GLASS MILL CREEK

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

Built 2005 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 2,510

BEATLINE ROAD

Good

Over: KAUFMAN BRANCH

SEC 29 T2S R3W, Limestone, AL

Built 2002 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 345

AL - 119

Good

Over: SHOAL CREEK

MONTEVALLO, Shelby, AL

Built 2005 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 7,440

CO 73

Good

Over: DYNNE CREEK

1 MI. SOUTH OF CO RD 36, Cleburne, AL

Built 2002 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 250

SR 24

Good

Over: BEAR CREEK RELIEF 3

2.6 M E JCT SR 24 & SR 19, Franklin, AL

Built 2007 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 2,230

SR 24

Good

Over: MUD CREEK

2.7 M E JCT SR 24 & SR 19, Franklin, AL

Built 2007 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 2,230

COUNTY HWY 1063

Good

Over: SLAB CREEK

8513 FT S JCT 1064, Marshall, AL

Built 2014 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 56

AL - 53 (US 231)

Good

Over: I-20

231 OVER I-20, St. Clair, AL

Built 2008 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 13,520

CO RT 63

Good

Over: BRUSH CREEK

0.2 MI WEST INT US 43, Lauderdale, AL

Built 2007 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 708

SR 20

Good

Over: FOX CREEK

5.7 M W JCT SR 20 & SR 67, Lawrence, AL

Built 2014 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 16,900

SR 20

Good

Over: FOX CREEK

5.7 M W JCT SR 20 & SR 67, Lawrence, AL

Built 2014 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 16,900

EULATON PIKE RD.

Good

Over: BRANCH

EULATON PIKE RD., Calhoun, AL

Built 2010 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 2,672

CO RT 34

Good

Over: COWPEN CREEK

5.2 MI E INT SR 17, Lauderdale, AL

Built 2012 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 484

CR 124

Good

Over: Chisholm Branch

.1 mi West of SR 157, Lauderdale, AL

Built 2023 Load: 40.9 t ADT: 664

COUNTY ROUTE 16

Good

Over: BRANCH

3.0 MI. N.E. OLD TEXAS, Monroe, AL

Built 1963 Load: 41.0 t ADT: 300

SR 10 MP 190.149

Good

Over: THOMPSON CREEK

.8 MI.E.BARBOUR #3, Barbour, AL

Built 1986 Load: 41.0 t ADT: 2,151

SR 65

Good

Over: BRANCH

6.5 MI. N JCT US 72* SR65, Jackson, AL

Built 1998 Load: 41.0 t ADT: 999

AL 61

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

3.6 MI N PERRY CO LINE, Hale, AL

Built 2002 Load: 41.0 t ADT: 1,270

STABLEWAY ROAD

Good

Over: BRIDLE BROOK

0.1 MI.E.OFBRIDLBRK.BLVD., Montgomery, AL

Built 1995 Load: 41.0 t ADT: 636

I-22

Good

Over: AL-44

9.334 East of US-43, Marion, AL

Built 1994 Load: 41.0 t ADT: 12,261

US 280

Good

Over: BUCK CREEK

.1 MI W JCT SR49, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 2005 Load: 41.0 t ADT: 7,273

CO. 62

Good

Over: ALLEN CREEK

1.5 MI. N.W. TRAMMEL C.R., Chambers, AL

Built 2004 Load: 41.0 t ADT: 50

COUNTY ROAD 59

Good

Over: HURRICANE CREEK

4.1MI. FROM JCT US 11, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 2005 Load: 41.0 t ADT: 1,000

CO RD 156

Good

Over: CREEK

1.1 MI E COTTON BR, Greene, AL

Built 1961 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 367

CO RT 206

Good

Over: BRANCH

2.3 MILES EAST OF JACK, Coffee, AL

Built 1967 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 320

CR16 JOHN PIERCERD

Good

Over: SWIFT CREEK

CR16 1.5 M S SHILOH CH, Chilton, AL

Built 1971 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 175

I-22

Good

Over: NS Railroad

Cordova, Walker, AL

Built 2002 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 22,592

I-22

Good

Over: NS Railroad

Cordova, Walker, AL

Built 2002 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 22,592

CO RT 8

Good

Over: SHOALS CREEK

4.2 MI E INT AL 17, Lauderdale, AL

Built 2007 Load: 41.1 t ADT: 570

Showing 12,901-12,950 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.