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 123

Fair

Over: EMAUHEE CREEK

5.3 MI E MAINE AVE, Talladega, AL

Built 1956 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 548

ROAD

Fair

Over: DEAL BRANCH

BR. CULVT. ON PAVEDRD. 62, Henry, AL

Built 1958 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 150

AL-74

Fair

Over: Clear Creek

3.8 MI W JCT SR 195, Winston, AL

Built 1958 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 2,186

CO RD 68

Fair

Over: BRANCH TO MUD CREEK

0.9 MI E CO 48 CO 68 JCT, Franklin, AL

Built 1959 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 315

SR 167 MP 13.703

Fair

Over: CHOCTAWH. RIVER RELIEF

4.3 MI.N.OF HARTFORD, Geneva, AL

Built 1959 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 2,870

SR 167 MP 13.879

Fair

Over: CHOCTAWH.RV.REL.2

4.5 MI.N.OF HARTFORD, Geneva, AL

Built 1959 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 2,870

CO RD 30

Fair

Over: I-65

0.7 MI N SR 83, Conecuh, AL

Built 1960 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 325

UPPER COLUMBUS RD.

Fair

Over: TRIBUTARY OF BIG CREEK

7.1 MI NW OF JCT US NO 82, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1960 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 300

SR 225

Fair

Over: BAY MINETTE CREEK

2.1 M N JCT US 31 * 225, Baldwin, AL

Built 1962 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 9,595

I-65

Fair

Over: INDIAN CREEK * SER ROAD

8 MI N JCT SR 157 * I65, Cullman, AL

Built 1964 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 20,489

I-65

Fair

Over: INDIAN CREEK * SER ROAD

8 MI N JCT SR 157 * I-65, Cullman, AL

Built 1964 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 20,489

163 SB TO I-10 EB

Fair

Over: I-10 * SR 163

I-10 @ SR 163 INTERCHANGE, Mobile, AL

Built 1966 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 2,384

COUNTY RT 75

Fair

Over: SOUTH RAIL RAILROAD

8.0 MI N OF US HWY 14, Pickens, AL

Built 1966 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 600

I-65

Fair

Over: GODBOLT CREEK

0.5 MI N SR 59, Baldwin, AL

Built 1967 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 24,541

CO RT 622

Fair

Over: BLANKET CREEK

2.3MILENORTHWESTBATTENXRD, Coffee, AL

Built 1969 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 610

CHURCH ST

Fair

Over: STREAM

0.1 E JCT CHURCH*GRANT ST, Morgan, AL

Built 1974 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 16,804

CITY ROUTE 64

Fair

Over: TOWN CREEK

Family Dollar, Limestone, AL

Built 1975 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 1,101

I10 WB TO US 90E/W

Fair

Over: US 90

I10-US90-CHACALOOCHEE BAY, Baldwin, AL

Built 1978 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 1,271

OLD MONROVIA RD

Fair

Over: INDIAN CREEK

0.3 MI E CO RD 1088, Madison, AL

Built 1956 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 8,342

US 31

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK

2.3 MI N JCT SR 155, Chilton, AL

Built 1941 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 3,770

US 31

Fair

Over: WATSON CREEK

1.5 MI S SHELBY CO LINE, Chilton, AL

Built 1941 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 3,770

AL - 269

Fair

Over: BHAM SOUTHERN RR

3.5 MI.SO.CO. RD 65, Jefferson, AL

Built 1954 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 3,705

SR 9

Fair

Over: LITTLE CREEK

0.27 MI S CHEROKEE CO LIN, Calhoun, AL

Built 1949 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 5,519

DUCK SPRINGS RD.

Fair

Over: VALLEY CREEK

@ DUCK SPRINGS SCHOOL, Etowah, AL

Built 1952 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 840

CO RD 37

Fair

Over: UNNAMED CREEK

2MI SOUTH OF AL HWY97, Lowndes, AL

Built 1953 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 460

CO RD 37

Fair

Over: UNNAMED CREEK

2MI SOUTH OF AL HWY97, Lowndes, AL

Built 1953 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 460

CO RD 37

Fair

Over: BIG SWAMP CREEK

2MI SOUTH OF AL HWY97, Lowndes, AL

Built 1953 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 460

AL - 4 (US 78)

Fair

Over: CAHABA RIVER

AL - 4 CAHABA RIVER, Jefferson, AL

Built 1955 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 2,825

AL - 269 SOUTH

Fair

Over: BAYVIEW LAKE

3 MI.S. CO RD 65, Jefferson, AL

Built 1954 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 3,705

3 MI W AL 77

Fair

Over: ACKER CREEK

BOILING SPRINGS RD., Calhoun, AL

Built 1955 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 2,408

US 43 SB

Fair

Over: GUNNISON CREEK

0.6 MI N JCT I-65, Mobile, AL

Built 1957 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 13,454

US 43 NB

Fair

Over: GUNNISON CREEK

0.6 MI N JCT I-65, Mobile, AL

Built 1957 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 13,454

CO. RD. 64

Fair

Over: STYX RIVER

0.9 MI. N. OF I-10, Baldwin, AL

Built 1957 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 653

County Road 16

Fair

Over: Beaver Creek

2 MILES WEST OF GUIN, Marion, AL

Built 1959 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 340

CO 40

Fair

Over: CYPRESS CREEK

2MI EAST OF CO23 CO40 INT, Lowndes, AL

Built 1960 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 610

AIRPORT AVE

Fair

Over: WILLS CREEK

1.5 MI N OF SR 35, DeKalb, AL

Built 1960 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 3,600

CR45 S 1086

Fair

Over: MULBERRY CK BRANCH

CR45 .05 SE STANTON SC, Chilton, AL

Built 1961 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 200

ROAD

Fair

Over: SANDY CREEK

RC BR.ON PAVED ROADNO. 56, Henry, AL

Built 1961 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 150

SR 99

Fair

Over: ELK RIVER

9.3 M N JCT SR99 & SR127, Limestone, AL

Built 1961 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 3,260

AL. 49

Fair

Over: UPHAPEE CREEK

3.0MI.W.OFI-85, Macon, AL

Built 1962 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 1,450

CO. RD. 87

Fair

Over: STYX RIVER

0.5 MI. N. OF I-10, Baldwin, AL

Built 1962 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 291

SR 243

Fair

Over: HARRIS CREEK

1.3 M S JCT SR243 & SR 24, Franklin, AL

Built 1965 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 3,290

SR 287

Fair

Over: I-65 SB * NB

SR 287 @ I-65, Baldwin, AL

Built 1965 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 10,515

FOREST CHAPEL ROAD

Fair

Over: NO BUSINESS CREEK

1.5 MI N ST RT 36, Morgan, AL

Built 1969 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 1,050

ALLSBORO RD

Fair

Over: PENNYWINKLE CREEK

PENNYWINKLE ALLSBORO RD, Colbert, AL

Built 1978 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 400

RAMP "A"

Fair

Over: 26TH STREET

I59 TO 26TH STREET, Jefferson, AL

Built 1987 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 15,477

I-10 WB * EB

Fair

Over: BROAD STREET

2.4 MI E SR 163, Mobile, AL

Built 1966 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 70,431

CO RD 60

Fair

Over: STINKING BEAR CREEK

0.3 MI E US 43 CO 60 JCT, Franklin, AL

Built 1934 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 1,439

ELKWOOD SECTION R

Fair

Over: LIMESTONE CREEK

0.4 MI W JCT CO RD 011, Madison, AL

Built 1936 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 400

Lee Road 318

Fair

Over: TURKEN CREEK

3.1 MI N W JCT LEE RD 248, Lee, AL

Built 1950 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 614

Showing 1,701-1,750 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.