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

AL 77

Good

Over: BRANCH

0.8 MILES N ATTALLACTY LN, Etowah, AL

Built 1991 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 15,836

SR 165 MP 5.374

Good

Over: LITTLE BARBOUR CREEK

6.3 MI N. OF US 431, Barbour, AL

Built 1991 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 1,780

SR 187

Good

Over: HOLCOMBE BANCH

0.7 M N JCT SR187 & SR172, Franklin, AL

Built 1991 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 250

CO. HWY. 26

Good

Over: N. FORK OF BIG CREEK

6.1 MI. W OF ST. 70, Shelby, AL

Built 1937 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 6,770

CO RT NO 12

Good

Over: LITTLE DRY CREEK

1.4MI E CO RT 51, Marengo, AL

Built 1992 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 400

COUNTY RD 59

Good

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

Plywood Mill Rd @ 42, Covington, AL

Built 1961 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 250

COUNTY HWY 27

Good

Over: SPRING CREEK

2 MILE EAST HWY 195, Walker, AL

Built 1991 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 550

SR 41

Good

Over: BRANCH

6.5 MI. N. OF HYBART, Wilcox, AL

Built 1993 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 1,340

AL 28

Good

Over: UT HOLETAH CREEK

2.4 W. OF LIVINGSTON, Sumter, AL

Built 1993 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 4,144

CO. ROAD 31

Good

Over: JUNIPER CREEK

Rock Hole Bridge Road, Covington, AL

Built 1960 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 280

SR 69

Good

Over: LANDRUM CREEK

5 MI. N. OF NANAFALIA, Marengo, AL

Built 1993 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 1,220

EAST SEVENTH ST

Good

Over: NEGRO CREEK

0.5 MI S CO RD 36, Baldwin, AL

Built 1998 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 396

CO RT NO 77

Good

Over: BRANCH OF YELLOW CREEK

0.05 MI N US 80, Marengo, AL

Built 1994 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 200

US-84 MP 191.391

Good

Over: BRANCH

2.5 MI.E.OF DALEVILLE, Dale, AL

Built 1995 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 9,165

COUNTY ROAD 1224

Good

Over: BRANCH

1M S 1124, Marshall, AL

Built 1990 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 100

I-22

Good

Over: Dougan Creek

0.9 MI E OF US-43, Marion, AL

Built 1992 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 12,178

I-22

Good

Over: Trib. of Cooper Creek

7.51 Miles E of US-43, Marion, AL

Built 1991 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 12,261

ROCKY HOLLOW RD.

Good

Over: CLEAR CREEK

0.3 MI. SW CLEAR CK. CH, Etowah, AL

Built 1994 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 125

CO RD 38

Good

Over: SAND BRANCH

INDEPENDENCE, Autauga, AL

Built 1992 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 65

CO.RD. 113

Good

Over: FULLER CREEK

HWY 113(FULLER CULVERT), Randolph, AL

Built 1994 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 150

CO. RD. 45

Good

Over: CORNHOUSE CREEK

S OF FRIENDSHIP CHURCH, Randolph, AL

Built 1985 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 50

BIBB CO 7

Good

Over: BEAVER DAM CREEK

1 MI W AL 139, Bibb, AL

Built 1995 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 33

COUNTY HIGHWAY 85

Good

Over: SANDY BRANCH

6 MI NE OF HARTFORD, Geneva, AL

Built 1994 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 120

CO. RD. 109

Good

Over: BRANCH

Cr 109, Cullman, AL

Built 1994 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 350

SR38 / US280

Good

Over: TAR WATER BRANCH

2.79 MI N JCT AL 21, Talladega, AL

Built 1995 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 21,424

CR7 HUMPBACK ROAD

Good

Over: CR 7 BR OF CHESTNUT CRK

CR7 .2 M SW MAPLES SPR CH, Chilton, AL

Built 1971 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 100

CO RD 1483A

Good

Over: CREEK

300FT S CO RD 1483A, Marshall, AL

Built 1996 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 450

AL 179 8.852MP

Good

Over: BRANCH

8.8MI N US 278, Etowah, AL

Built 1996 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 3,316

CO RD 26

Good

Over: BRACKIN MILL CREEK

SEC 17 T3N R23E, Dale, AL

Built 1996 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 167

SANDUSKY ROAD

Good

Over: SECOND CREEK

0.25MI SE MINOR PARKWAY, Jefferson, AL

Built 1965 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 2,450

MT OLIVE ROAD

Good

Over: CROOKED CREEK TRIBUTARY

0.75 MI S SARDIS RD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1959 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 4,555

OLD 431 HWY

Good

Over: RICH CREEK

OWEN X ROADS, Madison, AL

Built 1945 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 1,500

SR 35

Good

Over: IVY CREEK

IN CITY OF RAINSVILLE, DeKalb, AL

Built 1996 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 19,316

SR 10

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

4.1MI E BUTLER, Choctaw, AL

Built 2000 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 3,400

SR 10

Good

Over: PACENCHA CREEK

1.6MI E BUTLER, Choctaw, AL

Built 2000 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 4,110

CO RO 45

Good

Over: SPIVEY MILL CREEK

HCP 34-05-94, Henry, AL

Built 1997 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 425

CO RT 72

Good

Over: UNNAMED CREEK

0.5MI E JCT CO RT 327, Lawrence, AL

Built 1996 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 1,430

WESSON LAKE RD.

Good

Over: ROOK CREEK

1.4 MI SW OF PLEASANT VLY, Etowah, AL

Built 1997 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 25

US 45

Good

Over: LITTLE CREEK

4.9MI N DEER PARK, Washington, AL

Built 1997 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 2,500

U.S. 280

Good

Over: PEPPERELL CREEK

1.1 MI. WEST OF I85, Lee, AL

Built 1996 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 32,040

SR 10

Good

Over: HURRICANE CREEK

6.7MI E OF BUTLER, Choctaw, AL

Built 1999 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 3,200

SR 10

Good

Over: SUCARBOWA CREEK

2.9MI E OF BUTLER, Choctaw, AL

Built 2000 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 3,400

AL 134 MP 2.118

Good

Over: W. FORK CRIPPLE CREEK

.5 MI. E. OPP CITY LIMIT, Covington, AL

Built 2000 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 3,590

SR 10

Good

Over: LOTTIES CREEK

1.4MI E OF CAMDEN, Wilcox, AL

Built 1998 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 2,940

ANDREWS ROAD

Good

Over: STREAM

0.17MI E OF I85, Lee, AL

Built 2002 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 1,500

CR #26

Good

Over: SORRELL BRANCH

1.05 MI W OF CR 55, Dallas, AL

Built 1998 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 300

I-22

Good

Over: Paul Creek

.6 MI W Blackwell Rd, Walker, AL

Built 2000 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 20,698

I-22

Good

Over: Burton Creek

.8 MI E Blackwell Rd, Walker, AL

Built 2000 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 20,698

AL-86

Good

Over: Big Creek

2.5 MI W Carrollton, Pickens, AL

Built 1999 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 1,909

COUNTY RT 30

Good

Over: TURKEY CREEK

6.1 MI E US 43, Marengo, AL

Built 1999 Load: 88.9 t ADT: 460

Showing 15,501-15,550 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.