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

ALBERT MANN RD

Fair

Over: POND CREEK

0.2 MI W OF CO RD 384, Madison, AL

Built 1938 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 650

COUNTY HIGHWAY114

Fair

Over: BIG MUD CREEK

653 FT W JCT 1093, Marshall, AL

Built 1968 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 75

AL-6

Fair

Over: Little Bear Creek

E City Limits of Gordo, Pickens, AL

Built 1952 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 9,811

US 82

Fair

Over: LINE CREEK

0.25 MI E OF CO RD 37, Bullock, AL

Built 1953 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 1,110

US 84

Fair

Over: SEPULGA RIVER

0.6 MI W CO RD 47, Conecuh, AL

Built 1954 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 2,310

US 84

Fair

Over: PIGEON CREEK

CONECUH-COVINGTON LINE, Conecuh, AL

Built 1954 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 2,356

AL - 3 NORTH

Fair

Over: TURKEY CREEK

US 31 * TURKEY CK, Jefferson, AL

Built 1958 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 4,745

RAMP TO I 59

Fair

Over: LITTLE WILLS CK * N/S RR

I 59 * N/S RR, Etowah, AL

Built 1963 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 732

STOUTS ROAD

Fair

Over: BLACK CREEK

FULTONDALE, Jefferson, AL

Built 1973 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 1,886

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: HALL CREEK

2MI NW OSAKA, Escambia, AL

Built 1974 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 110

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: COWPEN CREEK

2MI N SARDIS CHURCH, Escambia, AL

Built 1974 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 450

Grier Road

Fair

Over: S FORK SOFKAHATCHEE CK

SEC 10 T19N R19E, Elmore, AL

Built 1976 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 972

CO RD 32

Fair

Over: JAMES CREEK

2.2 MI. W. OF SR5, Wilcox, AL

Built 1950 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 130

CO RD 15

Fair

Over: BEAVER DAM CREEK

0.25 MI N JEFFERSON AVE, Washington, AL

Built 1967 Load: 23.2 t ADT: 1,100

2ND AVENUE

Fair

Over: CSX RAILROAD

INT 2ND AVE * SAMFORD, Lee, AL

Built 1935 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 12,830

AL - 3 (US 31)

Fair

Over: MURPHY CREEK

3.5 MI.NO. I-65, Blount, AL

Built 1942 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 2,400

AL-129

Fair

Over: Buttahatchee River

0.6 MI S JCT US 278, Marion, AL

Built 1948 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 1,343

SR 259

Fair

Over: OAKACHOY CREEK

6.4 MI N JCT SR 9, Coosa, AL

Built 1948 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 1,308

DOCK RD. ( DIRT)

Fair

Over: JOHNS CREEK

3.0 MI. S. MIDWAY, Butler, AL

Built 1994 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 40

CR # 7

Fair

Over: MUSH CREEK

2.5 MI S CR 62, Dallas, AL

Built 1950 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 500

CR # 7

Fair

Over: SOAPSTONE CREEK

0.2 MI S CR 30, Dallas, AL

Built 1950 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 600

CR-16

Fair

Over: Weogufka Creek

0.24 MI. W. CR-29, Coosa, AL

Built 1950 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 188

CO 4

Fair

Over: BRANCH

3.4 MI E RUTHERFORD, Russell, AL

Built 1952 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 300

SR 22

Fair

Over: EMUCKFAW CREEK

6 MI N JCT SR 49, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 1952 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 904

AL-14

Fair

Over: Coal Fire Creek Relief

4.9 MI NO. SR 86, Pickens, AL

Built 1953 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 1,215

CO RT 43

Fair

Over: SOUTH SAUTY CREEK

JACKSON-DEKALB LINE, Jackson, AL

Built 1956 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 700

CR 1273

Fair

Over: CHANEY BRANCH

cr 1273, Cullman, AL

Built 1958 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 60

CO RD 504 MP 294.2

Fair

Over: I65

2 MI N JCT I65 * SR 91, Cullman, AL

Built 1959 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 659

ST CLAIR/ HWY127

Fair

Over: KELLY CREEK

1.8 MI NE BROMPTON, St. Clair, AL

Built 1963 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 2,595

CO RD 20

Fair

Over: COWPEN BRANCH

3 MI EAST OF ABB ROAD, Washington, AL

Built 1964 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 300

GROUND HOG ROAD

Fair

Over: WOODS CREEK

1.55 MI W MUD CREEK RD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1964 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 350

GROUND HOG ROAD

Fair

Over: MUD CREEK

0.35 MI W MUD CREEK RD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1964 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 858

COUNTY HWY 70

Fair

Over: NEWTON CREEK

1 MILE NE MALVERN, Geneva, AL

Built 1965 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 220

ST CLAIR CO 64

Fair

Over: PERMETER CREEK

0 3 MI SE MCKNTYRE CHURCH, St. Clair, AL

Built 1966 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 500

ST CLAIR CO HW 21

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

0 5 SW OLDHAM CHAPEL CH., St. Clair, AL

Built 1966 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 400

EDGAR GOOCH RD

Fair

Over: FOWLER CREEK

0.5 MI N JCT CO RD 274, Madison, AL

Built 1966 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 202

AL - 3 SOUTH

Fair

Over: 6TH AVE SOUTH

US 31 * 6 TH AVE SO, Jefferson, AL

Built 1968 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 35,335

AL - 3 NORTH

Fair

Over: 6TH AVE SO

US 31 * 6TH AVE SO, Jefferson, AL

Built 1968 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 35,335

BRYANT STREET

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

0.2 MI W OF CROMWELL ROAD, Mobile, AL

Built 1982 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 172

WHEELER MILL RD.

Fair

Over: WHEELER MILL BRANCH

2 MILES E. OF GENEVA, Geneva, AL

Built 1996 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 25

HOG FOOT BRIDGE-Br

Fair

Over: HOG FOOT CREEK

CONECUH DISTRICT, Covington, AL

Built 1977 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 50

SR 20

Fair

Over: BRANCH

2.4 M E JCT SR 20 & SR 33, Lawrence, AL

Built 1934 Load: 23.4 t ADT: 11,290

COUNTY ROAD 385

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

0.4 MI N CO 385 LAKE ELLI, Talladega, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.4 t ADT: 720

U.S. 11

Fair

Over: Trib. of Alamuchee Creek

CUBA, Sumter, AL

Built 1946 Load: 23.4 t ADT: 3,200

US 11

Fair

Over: UT TOOMSUBA CREEK

1.5 MI. S. OF YORK, Sumter, AL

Built 1946 Load: 23.4 t ADT: 2,070

US 11

Fair

Over: YELLOW CREEK

2.2 MI. S. OF LIVINGSTON, Sumter, AL

Built 1946 Load: 23.4 t ADT: 2,792

US 80

Fair

Over: COFFEE CREEK

DALLAS CO LINE, Perry, AL

Built 1946 Load: 23.4 t ADT: 2,165

FAS 06 CO RT 51

Fair

Over: LITTLE WILLS CREEK

0.1MI S JCT SR 68, DeKalb, AL

Built 1955 Load: 23.4 t ADT: 512

AL - 7 (US 11)

Fair

Over: SOU L * N C OF G RRS

@ SLOSS FURNACES, Jefferson, AL

Built 1950 Load: 23.4 t ADT: 15,760

BROWNSFERRY RD

Fair

Over: ROUND ISLAND CR

SEC32 T3S R5W, Limestone, AL

Built 1950 Load: 23.4 t ADT: 1,750

Showing 1,901-1,950 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.