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

CO RT 55

Good

Over: FIRST CREEK

0.8 MILES W OF AL 207, Lauderdale, AL

Built 2011 Load: 45.1 t ADT: 464

ST CLAIR CO 35

Good

Over: CANOE CREEK

0.1 NW FAIRVIEW CHURCH, St. Clair, AL

Built 1947 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 250

CO RD 71

Good

Over: CHEWACLA CREEK

.77 MILES N. CO RD 26, Macon, AL

Built 1991 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 75

CO.RD.16

Good

Over: BUCK CREEK

2MI EAST OF JONES, Autauga, AL

Built 1992 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 686

CO RD. 30

Good

Over: WEHADKEE Cr

WILSON BR)S WEHADKEE, Randolph, AL

Built 1996 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 500

US 84 MP 212.454

Good

Over: BRANCH

1 MI. E. SR.210, Houston, AL

Built 1927 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 20,960

US 431

Good

Over: BRANCH

2.9 MI S FLINT RIVER, Madison, AL

Built 1984 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 15,934

CO RT 151

Good

Over: FOLSOM MILL CREEK

6.7 MI SOUTH OF NEW HOPE, Coffee, AL

Built 1985 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 215

ST CLAIR 79

Good

Over: BROKEN ARROW CREEK

05 MI NW REFUGE CHURCH, St. Clair, AL

Built 1986 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 525

CONVENT ROAD

Good

Over: WOLF CREEK

0.7 MI N JCT 278, Cullman, AL

Built 1987 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 489

OLD PIKE ROAD

Good

Over: DRAINAGE RELIEF

3.6 MI N OF US 82, Montgomery, AL

Built 1988 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 350

ALABAMA AVE WEST

Good

Over: CREEK

LAFAYETTE, Chambers, AL

Built 1989 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 550

ROADWAY

Good

Over: CO RT 1088 STREAM

4.2 MI N US HWY 80, Sumter, AL

Built 1989 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 754

CO 44

Good

Over: BARBOUR CREEK

6 MI S W COTTONTON, Russell, AL

Built 1934 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 38

ST CLAIR HWY 19

Good

Over: BIG CANOE CREEK

0.75 MI N ASHVILLE, St. Clair, AL

Built 1990 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 560

TANNER WILLIAMS RD

Good

Over: PASTURE CREEK

1.3 MI E MISS LINE, Mobile, AL

Built 1990 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 3,240

CO RD 227

Good

Over: BIG SHOALS CREEK

0.3 MI E JCT CO RD 217, Lawrence, AL

Built 1991 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 250

CO.RD.42

Good

Over: AUTAUGA CREEK

BROWN TOWN, Autauga, AL

Built 1992 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 135

COUNTY DIRT ROAD

Good

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

.5 MI E OF HOLLOWAY BRIDG, Covington, AL

Built 1994 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 60

COUNTY ROUTE 30

Good

Over: LITTLE COALFIRE CREEK

1 MI NORTH S.R. 82, Pickens, AL

Built 1994 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 150

SELLERS ROAD

Good

Over: BURNT CANE CREEK

JCT. REID RD., Walker, AL

Built 1992 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 500

CR75 WILLIE HAMILT

Good

Over: POLEY CREEK

CR75 1.2 M N HIGHLAND CH, Chilton, AL

Built 1979 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 100

CO RD 7

Good

Over: BUCK CREEK

BETHEL GROVE CHURCH, Autauga, AL

Built 1996 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 97

CO RD 42

Good

Over: WAINWRIGHT BRANCH

BROWN TOWN, Autauga, AL

Built 1995 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 399

CO RT 117

Good

Over: BORDEN CREEK

0.6MI E JCT CO RT 108, Lawrence, AL

Built 1999 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 70

ANN RABREN ROAD

Good

Over: BAY BRANCH

6.4KM S OF ANDALUSIA, Covington, AL

Built 1996 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 186

Mitchell Road

Good

Over: Tributary to Poley Creek

1/4 M W OF 331 1M N OF 70, Covington, AL

Built 2000 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 80

CO. RD. 59

Good

Over: BRANCH INTO POINT A LAKE

Point A Road, Covington, AL

Built 1998 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 440

I-22

Good

Over: Gulf Branch

3.2 MI. E of AL-233, Marion, AL

Built 2004 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 13,401

SR. 55 MP 2.102

Good

Over: JACKSON POND

1 MI. N. US 331, Covington, AL

Built 2015 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 4,630

COUNTY ROAD 30

Good

Over: CANE CREEK

3 MI. N.W. OF EVERGREEN, Conecuh, AL

Built 2003 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 612

CO.RD.40

Good

Over: SWIFT CREEK CO.RD.40

0.6 MI. E OF INDEPENDENCE, Autauga, AL

Built 2002 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 560

CO.RD.40

Good

Over: SWIFT CREEK RELIEF

1.0 MI. E OF INDEPENDENCE, Autauga, AL

Built 2002 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 560

ROCKY CREEK RD

Good

Over: COWARTS CREEK

US 84 TO COTTONWOOD, Houston, AL

Built 2002 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 285

BROWNVILLE PIKE RD

Good

Over: REL 5 BR FOR SIPSEY RIV

1.72 MI E JCT BOYD RD., Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 2009 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 50

CO. RD. 524

Good

Over: CHISHOLM CREEK

1.7 MI E JCT SR 187, Franklin, AL

Built 2002 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 350

FROST MARLOW ROAD

Good

Over: CHEWALLA CREEK

1.25 MI N FOX RIDGE RD, Barbour, AL

Built 2003 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 150

CO.RD.9

Good

Over: SURVEYORS CREEK

1.3 MI W INT CR 25, Choctaw, AL

Built 2003 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 128

CR. 34

Good

Over: ROCK CREEK

4 MI.EAST OF MILLRY, Washington, AL

Built 2003 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 987

COUNTY ROAD NO 36

Good

Over: SUGAR CREEK

2 MILES EAST OF WAYSIDE, Fayette, AL

Built 2003 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 883

COUNTY ROAD 44

Good

Over: TRIB OF LITTLE DRY DREEK

1.0 MILES WEST OF DAYTON, Marengo, AL

Built 2003 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 460

CR04

Good

Over: POLL BAYOU

.25MI W OF US 43, Washington, AL

Built 2003 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 885

RABBITTOWN ROAD

Good

Over: LITTLE COVE CREEK

3/4 MI FROM LONESOME BEND, Etowah, AL

Built 2003 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 675

HALEY DR

Good

Over: OLD LEE HWY/NS RR

HALEY DR N OF HWY 72, Colbert, AL

Built 2005 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 3,060

TUSCALOOSA CO 26

Good

Over: RUM CREEK

0.5 MI W SR 215, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 2007 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 3,624

CO RD 54

Good

Over: UNNAMED BRANCH

1.9 MI NW SR29/AL15, Macon, AL

Built 2009 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 75

BEE BRANCH ROAD

Good

Over: BEE BRANCH

.1 MI. N JCT. US 11, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 2009 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 25

FOSTER CLARK ROAD

Good

Over: HURRICANE CREEK

2 MILES EAST OF HARTFORD, Geneva, AL

Built 2012 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 46

HARRELL ROAD

Good

Over: LITTLE CREEK

2 MILES NW OF SLOCOMB, Geneva, AL

Built 2013 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 62

OPEN POND ROAD

Good

Over: SANDY CREEK

8 MILE SE OF SAMSON, Geneva, AL

Built 2013 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 50

Showing 13,751-13,800 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.