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

COUNTY ROUTE 1

Good

Over: BRANCH

4.5 MI. N.ROCKY HILL, Monroe, AL

Built 1986 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 375

DAVENPORT STREET

Good

Over: MAGNOLIA CREEK

630 W. HEMELY ROAD, Mobile, AL

Built 2000 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 552

SO CO RD 75

Good

Over: WOFFORD CREEK

CO RD 81 TO STATE RD 84, Houston, AL

Built 2000 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 591

RONEY RD

Good

Over: OMUSSE CREEK

US 431 TO CO RD 51, Houston, AL

Built 2000 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 1,557

SULPHUR SPRINGS RO

Good

Over: ACKER CREEK

SULPHER SPRINGS RD., Calhoun, AL

Built 2002 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 60

COUNTY ROAD 90

Good

Over: CAT BRANCH

MARY NELSON ROAD, Henry, AL

Built 2005 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 6

HERMITAGE DRIVE

Good

Over: L * N RR * CITY STREET

.2 M S INT W HELTON DR, Lauderdale, AL

Built 2014 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 16,050

Oak Bowery Road

Good

Over: Rocky Branch

Oak Bowery Road, Lee, AL

Built 2015 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 2,150

BRUNER POND RD

Good

Over: MEADOWS CREEK

PLEASANTGROVE TO CO RD 75, Houston, AL

Built 2000 Load: 49.7 t ADT: 400

US 331 MP 25.426

Good

Over: LIGHTWOOD KNOT CREEK

1.4 M.N.OPP CITY LIMIT, Covington, AL

Built 2022 Load: 49.7 t ADT: 3,440

SR 35

Good

Over: LITTLE RIVER CANYON

Dekalb &Cherokee Co line, Cherokee, AL

Built 2010 Load: 49.7 t ADT: 3,645

SR 10

Good

Over: BOGUE CHITTO CREEK

1 MI E. OF LISMAN, Choctaw, AL

Built 2020 Load: 49.7 t ADT: 3,280

SR-34

Good

Over: POOR HOUSE BRANCH

.2 MI W JCT CO RD 332, Talladega, AL

Built 2022 Load: 49.7 t ADT: 3,458

COUNTY HWY 1023

Good

Over: PERKINS CREEK

6311 FT S JCTN 1418, Marshall, AL

Built 2000 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 150

COUNTY ROAD 234

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

.3 MILES SOUTH CO.RD. 302, Talladega, AL

Built 2004 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 395

CR-45

Good

Over: McKay Branch

W Side AL-171 on ROW, Marion, AL

Built 2003 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 500

SR 304

Good

Over: I-65

INT SR304 & I65, Limestone, AL

Built 2022 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 8,658

US 278 WEST BOUND

Good

Over: BIG COVE CREEK

US 278 @ BIG COVE CREEK, Etowah, AL

Built 1998 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 6,672

US 278 EAST

Good

Over: BIG COVE CREEK

US 278 @ BIG COVE CREEK, Etowah, AL

Built 1998 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 6,672

SR 2

Good

Over: Second Creek

1.2 M E JCT SR 2 & SR 101, Lauderdale, AL

Built 2017 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 15,440

Atkins Norfleet Rd

Good

Over: Dry Creek

_, Perry, AL

Built 2018 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 74

NATCHEZ TRACE PARK

Good

Over: THREET CREEK

2.3 MILES NORTH OF AL ROU, Lauderdale, AL

Built 2009 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 675

COUNTY ROAD 506

Good

Over: SEABES CREEK

SEC-7 T-5-N R-26-E, Dale, AL

Built 1986 Load: 50.0 t ADT: 114

SR 41

Good

Over: CREEK

1 MI. N. OF FRANKLIN, Monroe, AL

Built 1986 Load: 50.0 t ADT: 400

CO RT 73

Good

Over: KEITHLY BRANCH

0.9 MI N INT CO 47, Lauderdale, AL

Built 2003 Load: 50.0 t ADT: 561

AL - 25 (US 411)

Good

Over: BRANCH

3 . 4 MI NO JEFF COLN, St. Clair, AL

Built 1948 Load: 50.1 t ADT: 15,100

I 759

Good

Over: COOSA RIVER

I 759 * RIVER ROAD, Etowah, AL

Built 1985 Load: 50.1 t ADT: 7,039

US 29

Good

Over: BAY BRANCH

1.2 MI S CO RD 22, Escambia, AL

Built 1987 Load: 50.1 t ADT: 1,399

AL-74

Good

Over: Buttahatchee River

1.1 MI E JCT US-43, Marion, AL

Built 2015 Load: 50.1 t ADT: 4,000

NORMAN WAY

Good

Over: UT TO FOWLER LAKE

DUNNAVANT SQUARE SUB, Shelby, AL

Built 2007 Load: 50.1 t ADT: 100

MONAGHAN DRIVE

Good

Over: UT TO FOWLER LAKE

DUNNAVANT SQ SUB, Shelby, AL

Built 2007 Load: 50.1 t ADT: 100

CR 460

Good

Over: TROUBLESOME CREEK

4 MI W JCT SR 101, Lawrence, AL

Built 1929 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 4,180

COUNTY ROAD 35

Good

Over: TRIB. TO HINES CREEK

3.1 MI. S OF SAWERVILLE, Hale, AL

Built 1970 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD 9

Good

Over: MOSSY CAMP BRANCH

SEC-30 T-4-N R-25-E, Dale, AL

Built 1983 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 491

HWY 31

Good

Over: BARR CREEK

SEC-14 T-4-N R-24-E, Dale, AL

Built 1983 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 310

US 431 MP 73.670

Good

Over: COWIKEE CREEK

0.9 MI S JCT SR 165, Barbour, AL

Built 1997 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 6,175

US 431 MP 73.696

Good

Over: COWIKEE CREEK

0.9MI S JCT SR 165, Barbour, AL

Built 1998 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 6,175

AL 110

Good

Over: MILLIES CREEK

1.68MI. E. OF PIKE RD., Montgomery, AL

Built 2001 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 10,180

WINDMILL ROAD

Good

Over: CARR CREEK

6 MILES S OF ASHLAND, Clay, AL

Built 1999 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 33

NIXON ROAD

Good

Over: BRANCH

0.3 MI. NO. BATTON ROAD, Jefferson, AL

Built 2008 Load: 50.2 t ADT: 500

SR 22

Good

Over: HORNYHEAD BRANCH

2 MI E JCT US 431, Randolph, AL

Built 1940 Load: 50.3 t ADT: 3,264

CR # 28

Good

Over: CHILDERS CREEK

1.55 MI W SR 219, Dallas, AL

Built 1984 Load: 50.3 t ADT: 450

CR # 28

Good

Over: CHILDERS CREEK

1.60 MI W SR 219, Dallas, AL

Built 1984 Load: 50.3 t ADT: 450

JETPLEX IND. RD.

Good

Over: JETPLEX IND. RD.

.3 MI E JCT I-565, Madison, AL

Built 1990 Load: 50.3 t ADT: 32,324

JETPLEX IND. RD.

Good

Over: JETPLEX IND. RD.

.3 MI E JCT I565*JET PLEX, Madison, AL

Built 1990 Load: 50.3 t ADT: 32,324

NORRIS ROAD

Good

Over: WELLS CREEK

1.7 MI N CO.RD.21, Clarke, AL

Built 1990 Load: 50.3 t ADT: 100

COUNTY HWY 1079 *

Good

Over: CREEK

2305 FT S JCT 1064, Marshall, AL

Built 1994 Load: 50.3 t ADT: 400

COUNTY HWY 1123

Good

Over: REEDBRAKE CREEK

1297 FT NE JCT 1079, Marshall, AL

Built 2000 Load: 50.3 t ADT: 100

CO. ROAD 46

Good

Over: LITTLE ABBIE

1 MILE EAST OF HWY 95, Henry, AL

Built 2002 Load: 50.3 t ADT: 500

AL - 119

Good

Over: BUCK CREEK

ALABASTER 0.5MI. NO. CR26, Shelby, AL

Built 2002 Load: 50.3 t ADT: 23,590

Showing 14,301-14,350 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.