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

CO RD 26

Poor

Over: OPINTLOCCO CREEK RELIEF

4.7 MI EAST W-MLK HWY, Macon, AL

Built 1961 Load: 6.4 t ADT: 536

ROADWAY

Poor

Over: CO RT 1180 TOMS CREEK

6.1 MI NE ALA HWY 17, Sumter, AL

Built 1961 Load: 6.4 t ADT: 60

CO RD 9

Poor

Over: WALKER BRANCH

2.3 MI EAST OF SR229, Macon, AL

Built 1964 Load: 6.4 t ADT: 268

WYNN DR

Poor

Over: MCDONALD CREEK

WYNN DR S OF HOLMES AVE, Madison, AL

Built 1969 Load: 6.4 t ADT: 11,800

CO RD 24

Poor

Over: SPEAR CREEK

0.5 MI W INT AL 17 * 151, Choctaw, AL

Built 1973 Load: 6.4 t ADT: 1,725

TATE RD

Poor

Over: RED CREEK

0.5 MI. SO. CO. RD. 36, Washington, AL

Built 1980 Load: 6.4 t ADT: 75

BUD ODOM ROAD

Poor

Over: GOVERNORS BRANCH

AT BRANCH ON BUD ODOM RD, Washington, AL

Built 1981 Load: 6.5 t ADT: 25

2 ND AVE NO

Poor

Over: HALLS CREEK

2 ND AVE N * 11 TH ST, Jefferson, AL

Built 1935 Load: 6.6 t ADT: 1,500

WHISTLER ST

Poor

Over: EIGHT MILE CREEK

0.8 MI W WASSON AVE, Mobile, AL

Built 1946 Load: 6.8 t ADT: 1,945

Grayton Rd.

Poor

Over: OHATCHEE CREEK

GRAYTON RD., Calhoun, AL

Built 1939 Load: 7.2 t ADT: 912

BROOKWOOD GREEN TR

Poor

Over: LITTLE SHADES CREEK

150 E HWY 280 CAHABA HTS, Jefferson, AL

Built 1950 Load: 7.3 t ADT: 323

CO RD 21

Poor

Over: BLACK CREEK

0.5 MI N INT AL 84 * 241, Choctaw, AL

Built 1955 Load: 7.3 t ADT: 1,100

CO. HWY. 51

Poor

Over: YELLOWLEAF CREEK

1 MI SO. JCT CO 55, Shelby, AL

Built 1935 Load: 7.3 t ADT: 800

PARISH ST.

Poor

Over: BRANCH

0.2 MI E AL 63, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 1990 Load: 7.4 t ADT: 400

WATTS ROAD

Poor

Over: NUBBIN CREEK

2.5 MILES N OF WATTS XRDS, Clay, AL

Built 1960 Load: 7.5 t ADT: 20

CO RD NO. 388

Poor

Over: LITTLE WHIPPOORWILL CRK

0.3 MI E CO. RD. #3T8SR6E, DeKalb, AL

Built 1922 Load: 7.7 t ADT: 25

WASSON AVE

Poor

Over: GUM TREE BRANCH

0.6 MI N TURNER RD, Mobile, AL

Built 1948 Load: 7.7 t ADT: 2,369

COUNTY DIRT ROAD

Poor

Over: LARKIN CREEK

Booth Road, Covington, AL

Built 1926 Load: 7.8 t ADT: 40

CO. RD. 159

Poor

Over: FALL CREEK

NEAR JACKSON CO LINT3SR9E, DeKalb, AL

Built 1987 Load: 8.0 t ADT: 84

COUNTY DIRT RD

Poor

Over: FEAGIN CREEK

Green Road, Covington, AL

Built 1932 Load: 8.2 t ADT: 80

COUNTY DIRT RD

Poor

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

Al Baisden Rd., Covington, AL

Built 1971 Load: 8.2 t ADT: 80

CR # 52

Poor

Over: MULBERRY CREEK

2 MI E CR 63, Dallas, AL

Built 1954 Load: 8.3 t ADT: 310

CO 88

Poor

Over: SECOND CREEK

1.8 MI E CO 88, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1937 Load: 8.4 t ADT: 232

CO 290

Poor

Over: UT MUSCADINE CREEK

CR 290 UT MUSCADINE CREEK, Cleburne, AL

Built 1954 Load: 8.4 t ADT: 40

OLD HWY 43

Poor

Over: DENNY BRANCH

0.38 MI N MILITARY RD, Mobile, AL

Built 1942 Load: 8.6 t ADT: 345

CR132 CREEL RD.

Poor

Over: DOBINE CREEK

0.5M.EAST AL #183, Perry, AL

Built 1968 Load: 8.8 t ADT: 120

COURT STREET

Poor

Over: PRVITTS CREEK

0.4 MI. W. JCT. SR 33, Lawrence, AL

Built 1926 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 600

CO 49

Poor

Over: MIDDLE FORK BRANCH

2.3 MI N INT SR 207, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1937 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 180

HARRISON AVENUE

Poor

Over: BEECH CREEK

0.3 MI W SR 41, Dallas, AL

Built 1953 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 1,050

CO RD 88

Poor

Over: BRANCH

1.6 MI W JCT CR 88, Jackson, AL

Built 1959 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 76

Robinson Road

Poor

Over: CHANNAHATCHEE CREEK

SEC 7 T19N R21E, Elmore, AL

Built 1963 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 196

CO RT 134

Poor

Over: BRANCH

0.5 MI NE JCT CR 134, Jackson, AL

Built 1977 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 44

WILLIE RALEY RD

Poor

Over: BEAVER CREEK

CO RD 22 TO CO RD 44, Houston, AL

Built 1990 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 95

COUNTY ROAD 1222

Poor

Over: Peachtree Creek

1M S CO RD 1211, Marshall, AL

Built 1990 Load: 9.1 t ADT: 100

CO.RT.487

Poor

Over: BRANCH OF SIX MILE CRK

2.9MI.SW AL.28, Marengo, AL

Built 1987 Load: 9.2 t ADT: 50

CR 538

Poor

Over: MUD CREEK

CR 538, Cullman, AL

Built 1973 Load: 9.5 t ADT: 110

STILL ROAD

Poor

Over: HOLLINGER CREEK

1.0 MI. S. OF S.R. 112, Baldwin, AL

Built 1957 Load: 9.9 t ADT: 57

CO RT 837

Poor

Over: COAL CREEK

0.5 MI N CO RT 4 T9SR5E, DeKalb, AL

Built 1906 Load: 9.9 t ADT: 106

CO. ROAD 132

Poor

Over: CROOKED CREEK

SYLACAUGA, Talladega, AL

Built 1925 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 150

Weldon Road

Poor

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

SEC 33 T19N R21E, Elmore, AL

Built 1993 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 314

CO RD 22

Poor

Over: UNNAMED BRANCH

2.25 MI WEST HWY80W, Macon, AL

Built 1961 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 325

CO RD 26

Poor

Over: OPINTLOCCO CREEK

4.9 MI EAST MLK HWY, Macon, AL

Built 1961 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 535

CO RD NO 52

Poor

Over: LUXAPALLILA CREEK

3 MILES EAST OF GUIN, Marion, AL

Built 1965 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 130

COUNTY ROAD

Poor

Over: HODGE CREEK

1MI E DAMASCUS, Escambia, AL

Built 1968 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 75

BOWDEN BRIDGE RD

Poor

Over: THREE RUN CREEK

1.5 MI. E. NEW PROVIDENCE, Butler, AL

Built 2001 Load: 10.0 t ADT: 45

COUNTY ROAD

Poor

Over: BRANCH

.07 MI. S.JAYS COTTON HS., Monroe, AL

Built 1942 Load: 10.1 t ADT: 70

COUNTY HWY 1131

Poor

Over: SLAB CREEK

5996 FT S JCT 1073, Marshall, AL

Built 1958 Load: 10.2 t ADT: 850

COUNTY ROAD

Poor

Over: STURDERVANT CREEK

3.0 MI. S.E. OLD TEXAS, Monroe, AL

Built 1953 Load: 10.3 t ADT: 60

MARVIN TURNER RD

Poor

Over: FLAT BRANCH

DEER PARK, Washington, AL

Built 1983 Load: 10.3 t ADT: 15

Hog Foot Road

Poor

Over: HOG FOOT CREEK

Hog Foot Road, Covington, AL

Built 1930 Load: 10.4 t ADT: 110

Showing 16,001-16,050 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.