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

HARRIS STATION RD

Good

Over: PRYOR BRANCH

SEC 29 T4S R4W, Limestone, AL

Built 2004 Load: 55.6 t ADT: 1,428

HOWARD ROAD

Good

Over: PINE KNOT CREEK

0.4 MILES EAST OF SR#14, Pickens, AL

Built 2004 Load: 55.6 t ADT: 45

sr. 210 mp 2.418

Good

Over: beaver creek

0.9 mi. s. us 84 w, Houston, AL

Built 2015 Load: 55.7 t ADT: 16,485

CO. HWY. 26

Good

Over: N.FORK BIG CREEK

5.25M. NW. JCT ST. HWY 70, Shelby, AL

Built 1992 Load: 55.8 t ADT: 4,500

FRANKFORT RD

Good

Over: THROCKMORTON CREEK

FRANKFORT RD @ HWY 72, Colbert, AL

Built 1993 Load: 55.8 t ADT: 2,120

US 82

Good

Over: CAHABA RIVER (-)

0.10MI W JCT SR 25, Bibb, AL

Built 1997 Load: 55.8 t ADT: 6,109

US 82

Good

Over: CAHABA RIVER (+)

0.1 MI W JCT SR 25, Bibb, AL

Built 1997 Load: 55.8 t ADT: 2,610

CARRAWAY STREET

Good

Over: FIVEMILE CREEK

.2 MI S GRAYSON VALLEY RD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1999 Load: 55.8 t ADT: 1,262

SR 95 MP 61.780

Good

Over: WHITE OAK CREEK

BARBOUR CO. LINE, Henry, AL

Built 2007 Load: 55.8 t ADT: 2,260

County Hwy 1213

Good

Over: Branch

3523 N Jct Co Rd 1214, Marshall, AL

Built 2018 Load: 55.8 t ADT: 170

Cut Off Rd.

Good

Over: Millians Creek

_, Hale, AL

Built 2017 Load: 55.8 t ADT: 50

Wolf Road

Good

Over: STILL CREEK SPUR

SEC 5 717N R17E, Elmore, AL

Built 1989 Load: 55.9 t ADT: 38

CO RT 13

Good

Over: LINDSEY CREEK

0.6MI N SR 20, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1992 Load: 55.9 t ADT: 150

CR5 MT CARMEL RD

Good

Over: GALE CREEK

CR5 1.2M NE MT.CARMEL CH, Chilton, AL

Built 1969 Load: 55.9 t ADT: 200

SR 91

Good

Over: BRINDLEY CREEK

2.6 M. E. JCT 31* 91, Cullman, AL

Built 2014 Load: 55.9 t ADT: 5,772

SR1 / US431

Good

Over: BRANCH

.8 MI. NORTH OF SR4/US78, Calhoun, AL

Built 2003 Load: 55.9 t ADT: 19,544

SR74 / US278

Good

Over: TERRAPIN CREEK

3 MI E JCT SR9, Calhoun, AL

Built 2013 Load: 55.9 t ADT: 3,576

EXPLORER BLVD

Good

Over: UNNAMED CREEK

1 MI NORTH I-565, Madison, AL

Built 2009 Load: 55.9 t ADT: 13,465

SR1/US 431

Good

Over: Black Creek

@ Emma Sampson School, Etowah, AL

Built 2017 Load: 55.9 t ADT: 11,321

SR 167 MP 37.391

Good

Over: PEA RIVER RELIEF 1

3.2 MI. N JCT SR 51, Coffee, AL

Built 2020 Load: 55.9 t ADT: 4,830

SR 167 MP 37.791

Good

Over: PEA RIVER RELIEF 2

3.4 MI N. JCT. SR 51, Coffee, AL

Built 2020 Load: 55.9 t ADT: 4,830

COUNTY ROAD 28

Good

Over: BIG GERMAN CREEK

2.5 MI. W. OF GREENSBORO, Hale, AL

Built 1964 Load: 56.0 t ADT: 100

County Road 11

Good

Over: Boardtree Creek

6 miles east of Miss line, Marion, AL

Built 2018 Load: 56.0 t ADT: 100

County Road 38

Good

Over: Little Horse Creek

Little Horse Creek Rd, Crenshaw, AL

Built 2018 Load: 56.0 t ADT: 11

HUCKABY BRG RD

Good

Over: FLINT CREEK

5.75 MI N CULLMAN CO LN, Morgan, AL

Built 1985 Load: 56.1 t ADT: 610

CO 35

Good

Over: MUSCADINE CREEK

APROX. 1.5MI N OF HWY 78, Cleburne, AL

Built 2001 Load: 56.1 t ADT: 360

CO 49

Good

Over: FARMER CREEK

1 MI SOUTH OF RANBURNE, Cleburne, AL

Built 2008 Load: 56.1 t ADT: 1,242

AL-19

Good

Over: Glen Creek Branch

8.9 MI N JCT US 78, Marion, AL

Built 1951 Load: 56.2 t ADT: 712

COUNTY RT 19

Good

Over: DOUBLE CREEK

6.95 MI N AL 28, Marengo, AL

Built 1989 Load: 56.2 t ADT: 580

Lee Road 129

Good

Over: MARINGO CREEK

1.0 MI E JCT LEE ROAD 170, Lee, AL

Built 1998 Load: 56.2 t ADT: 279

CO RD 39

Good

Over: HOLLVER BRANCH

AT CHELSEA PARK, Shelby, AL

Built 2001 Load: 56.2 t ADT: 2,000

US 231/SR 53

Good

Over: WHITESBURG DRIVE

US231 OVER WHITESBURG DR, Madison, AL

Built 2009 Load: 56.2 t ADT: 40,203

HUSKY PARKWAY

Good

Over: CAHABA RIVER

HEWITT TRUSSVILLE SCHOOL, Jefferson, AL

Built 2014 Load: 56.2 t ADT: 1,400

_CR 216

Good

Over: _Branch

_CR 216, Cullman, AL

Built 2019 Load: 56.2 t ADT: 600

AL 28

Good

Over: BROWN BRICK CREEK

5 MI. E. OF BOYD, Sumter, AL

Built 1993 Load: 56.4 t ADT: 1,214

REPUBLIC ROAD

Good

Over: FIVE MILE CREEK

0.8 MI N CHERRY AVE, Jefferson, AL

Built 2005 Load: 56.4 t ADT: 2,375

COUNTY ROAD 107

Good

Over: POSSUM BRANCH

CR 107 1 M NE ED LEACH, Chilton, AL

Built 1975 Load: 56.4 t ADT: 371

CO. RD. 58

Good

Over: TOLLISON CREEK

1.8 MI SE JCT CO.49, Franklin, AL

Built 2016 Load: 56.4 t ADT: 218

Rescue Road

Good

Over: KID CREEK

2 mi South SR231, Morgan, AL

Built 2015 Load: 56.5 t ADT: 560

59/20 EB Off Ramp

Good

Over: 3rd Street North

.27 mi. E of Center St., Jefferson, AL

Built 2018 Load: 56.5 t ADT: 2,018

COUNTY ROAD 159

Good

Over: KEATY BRANCH

0.4 MI N JCT CO 136, Lauderdale, AL

Built 2004 Load: 56.6 t ADT: 90

COUNTY ROAD 22

Good

Over: U.T. WILLIAMS MILLPOND

2.4 MI SE OF CO 67, Barbour, AL

Built 1981 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 195

CR. 45

Good

Over: BRANCH OF PIGEON CREEK

2.0 MI. N. INDUSTRY, Butler, AL

Built 1983 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 278

COUNTY ROAD 23

Good

Over: LITTLE POPLAR CREEK

Hester Store Road, Covington, AL

Built 1990 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 290

WITTY MILL RD

Good

Over: WITTY BR

SEC1 T2S R5W, Limestone, AL

Built 1991 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 250

CO 59

Good

Over: SECOND CREEK

1.5 MI NORTH OF AL 64, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1999 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 297

Double Bridges Rd

Good

Over: Short Creek

367 FT SE JCT 168, Marshall, AL

Built 2002 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 2,910

AL-18

Good

Over: Deadwater Creek

Deadwater creek MP 39.61, Fayette, AL

Built 2018 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 1,500

HWY #17

Good

Over: BEE BRANCH

2 MI NW OF SAMSON, Geneva, AL

Built 1959 Load: 56.8 t ADT: 365

CNTY. RD. #9

Good

Over: JACK BRANCH

3.3 MI N INT RT 226 * 215, Choctaw, AL

Built 1953 Load: 56.8 t ADT: 340

Showing 14,751-14,800 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.