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

dobbs rd

Good

Over: thorntol creek

5 mi w of jet. co. rd. 35, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 2016 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 450

BELLS MILL RD.

Good

Over: CANE CK. TRIB.

0.1 MI SO. AL 46, Cleburne, AL

Built 2014 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 375

POPLAR SPRINGS RD

Good

Over: SOUTH FORK COWIKEE CREEK

2.3 MI NORTH OF US HWY 82, Barbour, AL

Built 2016 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 33

Old Sardis Ch Rd

Good

Over: Howell Creek

1.8 MI S SR-30, Barbour, AL

Built 2016 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 17

Cody Kennedy Rd

Good

Over: U.T. of Pea Creek

1.9 MI East of CR-17, Barbour, AL

Built 2016 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 75

Pittsview Hwy

Good

Over: Weolustee Creek

Pittsview, Russell, AL

Built 2016 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 150

CO RD 46

Good

Over: MAHAN CREEK

CR46 2.3M W DRY VALLEY CH, Chilton, AL

Built 2013 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 175

_Baker Road

Good

Over: _Hartley Branch

_1.2 m. w od US 43, Mobile, AL

Built 2016 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 843

CR255JOHNMCKINNEY

Good

Over: _RIVER BRANCH

CR255 1 M NE MACEDONIA CH, Chilton, AL

Built 2017 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 30

AL-14

Good

Over: Blubber Creek

2.0 MI W Aliceville, Pickens, AL

Built 2021 Load: 45.2 t ADT: 2,880

1082

Good

Over: BLEVENS CREEK

CR 1082, Cullman, AL

Built 1964 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 800

CO RT 25

Good

Over: BRANCH

5 MI S. EVERGREEN, Conecuh, AL

Built 1969 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 361

COUNTY RT #134

Good

Over: RELIEF OF LUBBUB CREEK

0.8 MI E OF CO RT #3, Pickens, AL

Built 1988 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 50

FLAT TOP ROAD

Good

Over: BNSF RR

100FT E OF PALOS RD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1995 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 6,580

OLD 431 HWY

Good

Over: TARKLIN BRANCH

1.4MI S OWEN X ROADS, Madison, AL

Built 1945 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 1,500

CO 31

Good

Over: PADGETT BRANCH

3.2KM SE HUGLEY, Russell, AL

Built 1993 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 50

CO RD 19

Good

Over: HIGHLOG CREEK

0.4 KM SE HATCHECHUBER, Russell, AL

Built 1992 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 50

CO RD 14

Good

Over: UNNAMED TRIB AL RIVER

1.35 M N AL 28 ON CR 14, Wilcox, AL

Built 2006 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 50

ALVIN DYKES RD

Good

Over: HURRICANE CREEK

0.7 MI WEST OF CO 17, Barbour, AL

Built 2005 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 80

W. GANTTS MILL RD

Good

Over: MILL CREEK

08. MI. E. OF CO. RD. 015, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 2001 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 265

COUNTY ROAD 10

Good

Over: SUGAR CREEK

1.5 MI. WEST JCT CR36*10, Fayette, AL

Built 2003 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 215

COFFEE CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: COFFEE CREEK

2.2 MILES EAST OF WAYSIDE, Fayette, AL

Built 2002 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 32

COUNTY ROAD 64

Good

Over: OAKMULGEE CREEK

APPROX. 2600 E HWY 219, Perry, AL

Built 2005 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 66

BAKER ROAD

Good

Over: SHOAL CREEK

0.5 MI E NEW HOPE CHURCH, St. Clair, AL

Built 2005 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 65

COUNTY ROAD 44

Good

Over: POWELL CREEK

1.6 MI EAST OF U.S. 43, Marengo, AL

Built 2004 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 590

COUNTY ROAD 60

Good

Over: SHAMBLEY CREEK

1.6 MI W LEWISTON, Greene, AL

Built 2005 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 450

COUNTY ROAD 208

Good

Over: TRIB TO SIPSEY RIVER

3.8 MI N MANTUA, Greene, AL

Built 2005 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 100

OLD HIGHWAY 20

Good

Over: LIMESTONE CREEK

SEC 20 T4S R3W, Limestone, AL

Built 2005 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 1,165

CALDWELL LANE

Good

Over: BIG COVE CREEK

1/4 MI. EAST OF HWY. 431, Madison, AL

Built 2006 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 1,700

LANGDON WOODS ROAD

Good

Over: GOOSE CREEK

0.2 MILES EAST OF CR#49, Pickens, AL

Built 2005 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 60

COUNTY ROAD 42

Good

Over: KINTERBISH CREEK

?????????????????????????, Choctaw, AL

Built 2006 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 100

FAIR ROAD

Good

Over: DUNNS CREEK

1.0 MI. EAST OF CR#113, Pickens, AL

Built 2006 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 60

BROWN BRIDGE ROAD

Good

Over: SCARBROUGH CREEK

BROWN BRIDGE CULVERT, Calhoun, AL

Built 2002 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 121

MANORA ESTATES DR.

Good

Over: DUCK CREEK

.5 MI. WEST OF ALL HY 69, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 2006 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 200

MANORA ESTATES

Good

Over: DUCK CREEK

.5 MI. WEST OF ALA. 11, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 2006 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 200

CO. 176

Good

Over: BRANCH

1 MI. S. WARDS MILL, Chambers, AL

Built 2006 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 145

COUNTY ROAD 122

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

CR122 1.2 MNW MARS HILLCH, Chilton, AL

Built 2007 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 200

CR530

Good

Over: MOUNTAIN CREEK.

CR530 2.5 MI NE OF MIDWAY, Chilton, AL

Built 2007 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 125

CO RD 181

Good

Over: TRUSSELL CREEK

5.5 MI N AL HWY 14, Greene, AL

Built 1993 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 368

COUNTY ROAD 120

Good

Over: MAHAN CREEK

CR120 1M N.W.MARS HILL CH, Chilton, AL

Built 2008 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 100

CR 199

Good

Over: Sawmill Branch

CR199 2.1 M. N. of CR607, Chilton, AL

Built 2009 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 153

CO. RD. 11

Good

Over: SOUTH SANDY CREEK

1.2 MI N WAVERLY, Chambers, AL

Built 2013 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 370

CO RD 5

Good

Over: TAYLORS CREEK

BARLOW, Washington, AL

Built 2012 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 370

STEEDLEY ROAD

Good

Over: MUD CREEK

2 MI. S. OF WALNUT GROVE, Lamar, AL

Built 2014 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 25

CO RD 11

Good

Over: JAMES CREEK

1.0 MILE SOUTH CO RD 32, Wilcox, AL

Built 2014 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 180

CR 6

Good

Over: ARMSTRONG CREEK

CORTELYOU, Washington, AL

Built 2014 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 560

WILLIAMS RD.

Good

Over: COFFEE CREEK

WILLIAMS RD, Calhoun, AL

Built 1959 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 314

LOVELADY RD

Good

Over: SOUGHATCHEE CREEK

3.8 MI N ALA NO 49, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 1995 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 405

COUNTY ROAD 11

Good

Over: BEAVER BRANCH

BURGAMY SWAMP RD., Crenshaw, AL

Built 1961 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 555

OLD R R BED RD

Good

Over: JENKINS CREEK

2.4 MI N JCT US HWY72, Madison, AL

Built 1965 Load: 45.4 t ADT: 3,798

Showing 13,801-13,850 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.