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 ROAD 2219

Poor

Over: LYNN MILL CREEK

SEC 13 T9N R19E, Pike, AL

Built 1940 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 20

CO RD 67

Poor

Over: CALEBEE CREEK

3.1 MI E.OF SR8/US80E, Macon, AL

Built 1940 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 31

COUNTY RT #174

Poor

Over: SOUTHRAIL RAILROAD

2.9 MI W OF ETHELSVILLE, Pickens, AL

Built 1940 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 25

DRY CREEK RD

Poor

Over: DRY CREEK

2.4 MI NW OF COUNTY25, Barbour, AL

Built 1941 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 15

DUMAS BRIDGE ROAD

Poor

Over: BLACKBURN FORK

6 MI S OF ONEONTA, Blount, AL

Built 1942 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 106

REVELS FARM ROAD

Poor

Over: DOUBLE BRIDGES CREEK

4 MILES EAST SAMSON, Geneva, AL

Built 1900 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 55

CRAFT HWY

Poor

Over: TOULMIN SPRINGS

0.4 MI N US 45, Mobile, AL

Built 1943 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 11,232

MCGOO FLATS RD

Poor

Over: NORTH FORK COWIKEE CREEK

ON RUSSELL CO LINE, Barbour, AL

Built 1946 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 15

CHAMBLEE MILL RD

Poor

Over: COPELAND CREEK

1 1/2 MI N OF GUM SPRINGS, Blount, AL

Built 1946 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 186

CO.11

Poor

Over: NORFOLK RAILROAD

0.3MI.N.WAVERLY, Chambers, AL

Built 1946 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 298

CO. 2

Poor

Over: SOUTHERN R.R.

WAVERLY, Chambers, AL

Built 1948 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 305

SWANN BRIDGE ROAD

Poor

Over: UNK CREEK TO LOCUST FORK

1/2 MI W OF CLEVELAND, Blount, AL

Built 1948 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 324

CO RD A45

Poor

Over: HOLCOMB BRANCH

.2 MI W CO A45 SR 187 JCT, Franklin, AL

Built 1950 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 20

EVANS STATION RD

Poor

Over: POLE BRIDGE BRANCH

2.5 MI.W. OF EVANSVILLE, Hale, AL

Built 1950 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 20

CO RD 22

Poor

Over: YELLOW CREEK

.85 MI SE AL 176 T9SR8E, DeKalb, AL

Built 1950 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 79

DEANS FERRY ROAD

Poor

Over: LONGS BRANCH

2 MI N OF COUNTY LINE, Blount, AL

Built 1950 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 129

C0 863

Poor

Over: TALLAPOOSA RIVER

CR 863 TALLAPOOSA RIVER, Cleburne, AL

Built 1951 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 45

MARTIN CRK RD

Poor

Over: MARTIN CREEK

3.2 MI NE OF CO 89, Barbour, AL

Built 1952 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 45

UNPAVED ROAD

Poor

Over: L*N RAILROAD

0.5 MI. W JCT. CO. RT. 43, Cullman, AL

Built 1952 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 30

ROADWAY

Poor

Over: CO RT 1128 STREAM

1.0 MI.N CO RT 1115, Sumter, AL

Built 1938 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 25

MARTIN CRK RD

Poor

Over: MARTIN CREEK

3.2 MI NE OF CO 89, Barbour, AL

Built 1954 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 50

ALEX-WELL RD.

Poor

Over: TALLAHATCHEE CREEK

1 MI S WELLINGTON, Calhoun, AL

Built 1954 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 327

CO RD 158

Poor

Over: STRAIGHT CREEK

1MI NW OF CO RT 47 T6SR7E, DeKalb, AL

Built 1954 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 70

CO 290

Poor

Over: TALLAPOOSA RIVER

CR 290 TALLAPOOSA RIVER, Cleburne, AL

Built 1954 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 30

CO. 179

Poor

Over: WELLS CREEK

2 MI. N.W. DENSON, Chambers, AL

Built 1935 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 7

GREER CREEK ROAD

Poor

Over: TRIB. TO GREER CREEK

3.6 MI.E. OF LANEVILLE, Hale, AL

Built 1955 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 50

GREER CREEK ROAD

Poor

Over: TRIB. TO GREER CREEK

4.0 MI.E. OF LANEVILLE, Hale, AL

Built 1955 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 50

WASH.CH.RD.

Poor

Over: LEWIS CREEK

HAWTHORNE, Washington, AL

Built 1955 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 25

SUTTON BRIDGE RD.

Poor

Over: BIG WILLS CREEK

@ BLACK CREEK PKWY, Etowah, AL

Built 1956 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 10,500

BANGOR CAVE ROAD

Poor

Over: BANGOR CAVE

2 MI N OF BANGOR, Blount, AL

Built 1956 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 95

30

Poor

Over: DORSEY CREEK

Cr 30, Cullman, AL

Built 1957 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 125

Cr 1389

Poor

Over: FLINT CREEK

CR 1389, Cullman, AL

Built 1957 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 40

US 82

Poor

Over: AUTAUGA CREEK

2.0 MI E OF PRATTVILLE, Autauga, AL

Built 1957 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 14,890

US 82

Poor

Over: ICG RR

3.5 MI E OF PRATTVILLE, Autauga, AL

Built 1957 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 10,990

CO RT 63

Poor

Over: OLD TOWN CREEK

2 MI NORTH HERBERT, Conecuh, AL

Built 1957 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 90

COUNTY ROAD 49

Poor

Over: MOSLEY CREEK

SEC 16 T14 R24, Bullock, AL

Built 1957 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 100

CO. RT. 564

Poor

Over: BRANCH AT POWELL CRK

1.2 MI. N OF CO.RT.54, Marengo, AL

Built 1957 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 50

CALDWELL RD.

Poor

Over: SANDY CREEK

5 MI SE OF SAMSON, Geneva, AL

Built 1958 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 33

CO RD 128

Poor

Over: DRY CREEK

3.5 MI E MT HEBRON, Greene, AL

Built 1958 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 105

COUNTY ROUTE 45

Poor

Over: CALEBEE CREEK

W1/2 S36 T16 R23, Macon, AL

Built 1958 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 160

COUNTY ROUTE 45

Poor

Over: CALEBEE CREEK RELIEF

NE1/4 S36 T16 R23, Macon, AL

Built 1958 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 160

CO RD 465

Poor

Over: UNNAMED CREEK

3.5 MILES E.ON ROAD, Wilcox, AL

Built 1958 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 40

DOUG MOCK ROAD

Poor

Over: CORNER CREEK TRIBUTARY

1 MI W OF HACODA, Geneva, AL

Built 1925 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 50

ROADWAY

Poor

Over: CO RT 1045 CREEK

0.5 MI S US HWY 80, Sumter, AL

Built 1959 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 14

CO.RT.560

Poor

Over: BRANCH AT COTTONWOOD CRK

2.2 MI. E. OF AL.25, Marengo, AL

Built 1959 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 50

CO. 156

Poor

Over: CHIKASANOXEE CREEK

1.5 MI. E. MILLTOWN, Chambers, AL

Built 1929 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 30

GREER CREEK RD.

Poor

Over: GREER CREEK

3.8 MI. E. OF LANEVILLE, Hale, AL

Built 1960 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 50

ROADWAY

Poor

Over: CO RT 1072 STREAM

0.35 MI S CO RT 1070, Sumter, AL

Built 1960 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 11

CO RD 26

Poor

Over: CHAMBERS CREEK

6.6 MILES E.OF SR89, Wilcox, AL

Built 1960 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 30

CO RD 32/KPTHOMAS

Poor

Over: RED CREEK

4.3 MI NO SR 162, Wilcox, AL

Built 1960 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 50

Showing 15,701-15,750 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.