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

SEXTON BRIDGE ROAD

Good

Over: LITTLE PATSALIGA CREEK

SEXTON BRIDGE ROAD, Crenshaw, AL

Built 2017 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 16

COUNTY ROAD 35

Good

Over: LITTLE PATSALIGA CREEK

SWANNER BRIDGE ROAD, Crenshaw, AL

Built 2017 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 78

_Creekside drive

Good

Over: _Black Creek

_creekside subdivision, Jefferson, AL

Built 2007 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 400

CR 187

Good

Over: WEST FLINT CREEK

0.85 MI W JCT CO RT 203, Lawrence, AL

Built 2019 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 231

THOMAS LANE CR1009

Good

Over: LITTLE PAINT CREEK

6324 FT E JCT 1005, Marshall, AL

Built 2023 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 105

PEAVY ROAD

Good

Over: BRANCH

1.5 MILES NE INDUSTRY, Butler, AL

Built 2022 Load: 41.8 t ADT: 34

CR50PLEASANT GRV R

Good

Over: PATE CREEK

CR50 1M NE PATES CHAPELCH, Chilton, AL

Built 1958 Load: 41.9 t ADT: 1,200

I-359

Good

Over: I-59 I-20 (-)

0.3 MI N JCT SKYLAND BLVD, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1970 Load: 41.9 t ADT: 20,365

THEODOREDAWES RD W

Good

Over: FOWL RIVER

0.2 MI E. MCDONALD RD., Mobile, AL

Built 1989 Load: 41.9 t ADT: 3,821

CO RD 14

Good

Over: MILL CREEK

1.3 MI W INT 67 * 64, Choctaw, AL

Built 1990 Load: 41.9 t ADT: 575

FRTG RD TO I165SB

Good

Over: WILSON AVENUE

I165 @ WILSON AVENUE, Mobile, AL

Built 1993 Load: 41.9 t ADT: 1,035

WATTERSON PARKWAY

Good

Over: NORFOLK S RR;PINCHGUT CR

0.2 MI S US 11, Jefferson, AL

Built 1993 Load: 41.9 t ADT: 8,345

SNOWVILLE-BRENT RD

Good

Over: BLACK WARRIOR R TRIBUTAR

2 MI SW US 78, Jefferson, AL

Built 1995 Load: 41.9 t ADT: 2,051

49TH STREET

Good

Over: 49TH ST BIG WILLS CREEK

.4MI W. JCT US11 49TH ST., DeKalb, AL

Built 2009 Load: 41.9 t ADT: 150

West St N

Good

Over: Isbell Branch

0.1 MI N of North St. W, Talladega, AL

Built 2019 Load: 41.9 t ADT: 1,050

SR 27 MP 63.939

Good

Over: DEAL CREEK RELIEF

0.8 MI.S.HENRY CO. L., Dale, AL

Built 1929 Load: 42.0 t ADT: 960

CO RT 349

Good

Over: PEA CREEK

2.6 MILES WEST OF LEE COM, Coffee, AL

Built 1956 Load: 42.0 t ADT: 250

CO RT 16

Good

Over: LITTLE BEAR CREEK

2.9 MI EAST OF JCT CO 57, Pickens, AL

Built 1966 Load: 42.0 t ADT: 500

CO RD 328

Good

Over: OTTER BRANCH

1 MI E JCT CO RD 4, Winston, AL

Built 1992 Load: 42.0 t ADT: 50

CO RD 139

Good

Over: LITTLE TALLASEEHATCHEE

LIL TALLASEEHATCHEE CRK, Talladega, AL

Built 1997 Load: 42.0 t ADT: 510

CO.RD.3

Good

Over: BAILEY CREEK

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

Built 2003 Load: 42.0 t ADT: 558

COUNTY ROAD 26

Good

Over: NOLTE CREEK

1.8 MI. W OF CO. RD. 49, Baldwin, AL

Built 2004 Load: 42.0 t ADT: 1,215

ELKAHATCHEE RD

Good

Over: ELKAHATCHEE CREEK

5.4 MI NORTH OF HWY 63, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 2002 Load: 42.0 t ADT: 1,285

COUNTY ROAD 97

Good

Over: CARGYLE CREEK

CR97 1MI SW PROVIDENCE CH, Chilton, AL

Built 1970 Load: 42.0 t ADT: 1,200

JOHN D ODOM ROAD

Good

Over: LITTLE CHOCTAWHATCHEE RI

1.2 MI N JCT US 84, Houston, AL

Built 2004 Load: 42.0 t ADT: 3,725

COUNTY ROAD 67

Good

Over: N FORK COWIKEE CREEK MC

1.5 MI N SHADY GROVE RD., Russell, AL

Built 2004 Load: 42.0 t ADT: 26

SR74 / US278

Good

Over: LADIGA CREEK

3.8 MI E JCT SR200, Calhoun, AL

Built 2013 Load: 42.0 t ADT: 4,299

17TH ST

Good

Over: ISBELL BRANCH

TALLADEGA, Talladega, AL

Built 2012 Load: 42.0 t ADT: 3,000

CR # 37

Good

Over: FOURMILE CREEK

2.5 MI N SR 80, Dallas, AL

Built 1950 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 2,000

CO RT 73

Good

Over: BUSHY CREEK

3 MI. S.E. REPTON, Conecuh, AL

Built 1959 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 280

ELBO PORTER ROAD

Good

Over: APC RAILROAD

1.25 MI S FLAT TOP ROAD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1974 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 2,855

FROST RD.

Good

Over: HUCKLEBERRY CREEK

FROST RD., Crenshaw, AL

Built 1985 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 75

CR. 50

Good

Over: NINE MILE BRANCH

1.0 MI. N. MIDWAY, Butler, AL

Built 1985 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 1,381

TURKEY CREEK RD.

Good

Over: BEAR CREEK

TURKEY CREEK RD., Crenshaw, AL

Built 1988 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 80

CO 21

Good

Over: BRUSH CREEK

12.5MI NE UCHEE, Russell, AL

Built 1996 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 200

SPLASH ADV PKWY

Good

Over: I - 20

BESSEMER, Jefferson, AL

Built 2003 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 5,000

COUNTY ROAD 582

Good

Over: SOUTH SAUTY CREEK

MARSHALL-JACKSON CO. LINE, Marshall, AL

Built 2005 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 400

TIDMORE BEND ROAD

Good

Over: HENLEY CREEK

0.25 MI E OF ANDERSON RD, Etowah, AL

Built 2003 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 1,600

I20

Good

Over: BARRY STREET

.5 MI W JCT SR21, Calhoun, AL

Built 2012 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 21,558

Patton Chapel Rd

Good

Over: Patton Creek

1.25 MI W. of US 31, Jefferson, AL

Built 2020 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 1,200

Danville Road

Good

Over: FLINT CREEK

1 mi S Decatur City Limit, Morgan, AL

Built 2015 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 3,270

PADGETT SWITCH RD

Good

Over: CARLS CREEK

0.9 MI N OF BLB LMTS, Mobile, AL

Built 2017 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 5,834

Erie Road

Good

Over: Baptizing Branch

3.4 Mi W of Sawyerville, Hale, AL

Built 2019 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 40

ROCK SPRINGS RD.

Good

Over: TRIB. OHATCHEE CREEK

6 MI NE OHATCHEE, Calhoun, AL

Built 2019 Load: 42.1 t ADT: 164

AL-107

Good

Over: Purgatory Creek

1 MI S JCT SR 118, Marion, AL

Built 1949 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 859

CR54 CP 1-20

Good

Over: BRANCH OF DRY CREEK

CR54 4 M NW DRY VALLEY CH, Chilton, AL

Built 1969 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 400

CO RT 19

Good

Over: SINKING CREEK

0.1MI S CO 14, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1995 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 105

AL-18

Good

Over: Cut Bank Creek

0.9 MI E Miss St Line, Lamar, AL

Built 2004 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 2,421

Brown Bridge Rd

Good

Over: Choccolocco Creek

BROWN BRIDGE RD., Calhoun, AL

Built 2019 Load: 42.2 t ADT: 320

CO RD 13

Good

Over: OLD TOWN CREEK

0.9 MI WEST CO RD 13N, Macon, AL

Built 1992 Load: 42.3 t ADT: 95

Showing 13,051-13,100 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.