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 155

Fair

Over: MILLER CREEK

2.5 MI W AL 75 T2SR10, DeKalb, AL

Built 1965 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 485

CHEROKEE #8

Fair

Over: TERRAPIN CREEK

0.8 MI E INT ALA # 9, Cherokee, AL

Built 1966 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 325

CO RT 39

Fair

Over: SIMMONS CREEK

2MI. S MT UNION, Conecuh, AL

Built 1966 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 150

HWY # 16

Fair

Over: SANDY CREEK BRANCH

6 MI SE OF SAMSON, Geneva, AL

Built 1969 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 99

CO RD 48 FAS09

Fair

Over: WATER SHED BRANCH

2M EAST HALE CO LINE, Perry, AL

Built 1968 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 225

CLUBVIEW DR

Fair

Over: BROGLAN BRANCH

1403 CLUBVIEW, Madison, AL

Built 1968 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 515

SR 38 / US280

Fair

Over: WEOGUFKA CREEK

1.3 MI E.TALLADEG CO LINE, Coosa, AL

Built 1973 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 13,113

CO.RD.69

Fair

Over: SWIFT CREEK RELIEF

VIDA CO.RD.69, Autauga, AL

Built 1977 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 151

COUNTY DIRT RD

Fair

Over: BAYBRANCH

BAY BRANCH Road, Covington, AL

Built 1929 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 210

Walding Road

Fair

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

South of Opp, Covington, AL

Built 1900 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 65

CO. HWY. 61

Fair

Over: COOSA RIVER TRIBUTARY

0.3 MI. N. CO. 30, Shelby, AL

Built 1952 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 1,157

PARK STREET

Fair

Over: Kennedy Branch

KENNEDY, Lamar, AL

Built 1929 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 128

AL-7

Fair

Over: Spencers Creek

2.5 MI S I-59, Greene, AL

Built 1937 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 1,440

US 278; SR 74

Fair

Over: DUCK CREEK

5.6 MI E JCT SR69 * US278, Cullman, AL

Built 1941 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 8,205

SR 76

Fair

Over: TALLASEEHATCHEE CREEK

CITY OF CHILDERSBURG, Talladega, AL

Built 1941 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 5,894

US 80 EBL

Fair

Over: BIG SWAMP CREEK RELIEF 2

5.0 MI. W. OF LOWNDESBORO, Lowndes, AL

Built 1946 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 4,275

US 80 EBL

Fair

Over: BIG SWAMP CREEK RELIEF

4.7 MI. W. OF LOWNDESBORO, Lowndes, AL

Built 1946 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 4,275

US 80 EBL

Fair

Over: BIG SWAMP CREEK RELIEF

4.5 MI. W. OF LOWNDESBORO, Lowndes, AL

Built 1946 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 4,275

SR 285 MP 0.942

Fair

Over: WYLAUNEE CREEK

2.1 MI. N. US 431, Barbour, AL

Built 1947 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 470

SR 21

Fair

Over: CANE CREEK

2.5 MI N JCT US 431, Calhoun, AL

Built 1948 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 13,974

SR 127

Fair

Over: ELK RIVER

2 MI S AL & TN ST LINE, Limestone, AL

Built 1949 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 1,850

SR 127

Fair

Over: ELK RIVER RELIEF

1.7 M S AL & TN ST LINE, Limestone, AL

Built 1949 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 1,850

ST CLAIR CO HWY 6

Fair

Over: BIG BLACK CREEK

1 0 SW MARGARET, St. Clair, AL

Built 1956 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 3,373

Agricola Road

Fair

Over: Sandy Creek

2.3 MI N CO RD 039, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 1957 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 270

I65

Fair

Over: MARIOT CREEK

4 MI N JCT SR 91, Cullman, AL

Built 1958 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 44,987

SR 210 MP 10.060

Fair

Over: C.S.X. RAILROAD

0.6 MI. N US.84E, Houston, AL

Built 1958 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 14,085

CR. 42

Fair

Over: STALLINGS CREEK

1 MI.W.JCT. I-65 * FAS 15, Butler, AL

Built 1959 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 1,635

AL - 3 (US 31)

Fair

Over: MULBERRY FK WARRIORRIVER

BLOUNT/CULLMAN CO.LN., Blount, AL

Built 1960 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 3,180

CO RT 30

Fair

Over: CREEK

1.2 MI W SR 79, Jackson, AL

Built 1960 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 130

CO.RD.40

Fair

Over: BRIDGE CREEK

W. CULVERT @ CO RD 59, Autauga, AL

Built 1960 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 392

CO RT 12

Fair

Over: SIPSEY RIVER RELIEF

0.4 E OF NEWTONVILLE, Fayette, AL

Built 1962 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 168

CO. RT. 436

Fair

Over: RYAN CREEK

CR 436, Cullman, AL

Built 1962 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 750

CR 55

Fair

Over: BIG COON CHANNEL

3.8 MI N JCT CR 42, Jackson, AL

Built 1965 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 56

AL 97

Fair

Over: I-65

INT. I-65 * AL.97, Lowndes, AL

Built 1965 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 1,740

CO RD 11

Fair

Over: CREEK

1 MI SOUTH OF AL 21, Lowndes, AL

Built 1969 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 250

AL 41

Fair

Over: ALABAMA RIVER

1.0 MI.N.OF US 80, Dallas, AL

Built 1970 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 10,540

RAMP F

Fair

Over: 10 TH AVE NO * RRS

RAMP F TO I-59, Jefferson, AL

Built 1987 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 15,477

MARYS CREEK-Bridg

Fair

Over: MARYS CREEK

SHOAL CREEK DISTRICT, Cleburne, AL

Built 1958 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 50

101ST AIRBORNE RD

Fair

Over: UCHEE CREEK

3.4 KM S OF SUNSHINE RD, Russell, AL

Built 1942 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 375

COUNTY HIGHWAY121

Fair

Over: BRANCH

2552 FT S JCT 1213, Marshall, AL

Built 1969 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 100

SIPSEY ROAD

Fair

Over: BLACKWATER CREEK

3/4 MILE N HWY 78, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 3,440

County Road 5

Fair

Over: BRANCH

Cr 5, Cullman, AL

Built 1947 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 50

AL 21

Fair

Over: MIDDLE CREEK

3.8 MI.N.OF WILCOX CO LIN, Lowndes, AL

Built 1947 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 440

HSV-BRFERRY RD

Fair

Over: LIMESTONE CR

SEC33 T3S R3W, Limestone, AL

Built 1948 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 8,300

SR 22

Fair

Over: WEHADKEE CREEK

4.2 MI E JCT US 431, Randolph, AL

Built 1952 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 2,762

AL 14

Fair

Over: BEECH CREEK

0.6 MI.W.OF SOU.RR, Dallas, AL

Built 1953 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 5,930

US 11

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

2.0 MI N GREENE CO LINE, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1954 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 1,080

US 231

Fair

Over: BRIAR FORK FLINT RIVER

8 MI S TENN ST LINE, Madison, AL

Built 1956 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 13,648

CO. RT. 703

Fair

Over: EIGHTMILE CREEK

Cr 703 west, Cullman, AL

Built 1956 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 600

AL - 79 SOUTH

Fair

Over: FIVE MILE CK

KEYTONNA, Jefferson, AL

Built 1957 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 14,045

Showing 1,651-1,700 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.