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

BUDDY DURHAM RD

Fair

Over: CALHOUN BRANCH

BUDDY DURHAM RD CHIP SEAL, Colbert, AL

Built 1938 Load: 4.6 t ADT: 220

Booker Road

Fair

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

Booker Road, Covington, AL

Built 1941 Load: 4.6 t ADT: 80

Joe Road

Fair

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

Brooklyn Rd & County line, Covington, AL

Built 1994 Load: 4.7 t ADT: 60

Weogufka Forest Rd

Fair

Over: Finikochika Creek

0.41 MI SE CR-55, Coosa, AL

Built 1934 Load: 4.8 t ADT: 36

CHEROKEE #97

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.3 MI SW INT ALA #68, Cherokee, AL

Built 1945 Load: 4.8 t ADT: 130

ANDERSON RD.

Fair

Over: HALAWAKEE CREEK

ANDERSON ROAD, Lee, AL

Built 1957 Load: 4.8 t ADT: 151

COUNTY DIRT RD

Fair

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

1/2 MI N OF COOL SPRINGS, Covington, AL

Built 1940 Load: 4.9 t ADT: 110

CO 31

Fair

Over: WALLACE BRANCH

CR 31 WALLACE BRANCH, Cleburne, AL

Built 1976 Load: 4.9 t ADT: 50

CO RT 371

Fair

Over: SANDY FORD CREEK

1.5 MI N CO RT 769 T4SR9E, DeKalb, AL

Built 1960 Load: 5.0 t ADT: 120

GILBERT LN

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

GILBERT LN N NATCHEZ TR, Colbert, AL

Built 1937 Load: 5.3 t ADT: 56

CHEROKEE #59

Fair

Over: BRANCH

0.5 MI N INT CHEROKEE #14, Cherokee, AL

Built 1956 Load: 5.3 t ADT: 110

CHEROKEE #166

Fair

Over: YELLOW CREEK

1.5 MI NE CHEROKEE #11, Cherokee, AL

Built 1962 Load: 5.3 t ADT: 80

CO RT 106

Fair

Over: BRUSH CREEK

.4 MI W AL 117 T6 R10, DeKalb, AL

Built 1968 Load: 5.3 t ADT: 260

PROVIDENCE RD

Fair

Over: WHITE OAK CREEK

0.5 MI E PROVIDENCECHURCH, Clay, AL

Built 1979 Load: 5.3 t ADT: 20

TRUCK TRAIL ROAD

Fair

Over: BLACK BRANCH

TRUCK TRAIL RD @ BLACK BR, Morgan, AL

Built 1960 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 15

CO RD #451

Fair

Over: CUTNOSE CREEK

.4 MI N OF PROSPECTCHURCH, Randolph, AL

Built 1925 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 45

KING MANASCO RD

Fair

Over: HURRICANE CREEK

11/2MILE SOUTH TOWNLEY, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 110

CO 482

Fair

Over: TALLAPOOSA RIVER

CR 482 TALLAPOOSA RIVER, Cleburne, AL

Built 1953 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 50

CO RD 24

Fair

Over: BROOMSTRAW BRANCH

1.5 MI E AL 75 T8SR6E, DeKalb, AL

Built 1966 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 182

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: BIG ESCAMBIA CK BRANCH

.2 MI N CANAAN CHURCH, Escambia, AL

Built 1954 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 10

COUNTY DIRT RD

Fair

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

T Bridge Road, Covington, AL

Built 1934 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 140

OLD TALL. HWY

Fair

Over: CREEK

0.2 MI EST. AL 21, Talladega, AL

Built 1952 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 104

CO 485 BASS LN

Fair

Over: UN - NAMED CREEK

.2 MI E OF JCT CHEAHA RD., Talladega, AL

Built 1965 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 53

BURNOUT RD.

Fair

Over: MUCK CREEK

BURNOUT RD., Crenshaw, AL

Built 1940 Load: 5.5 t ADT: 4

PARKS ROAD

Fair

Over: HALLS CREEK

TANNEHILL STATE PARK, Jefferson, AL

Built 1902 Load: 5.5 t ADT: 70

COUNTY ROAD 2239

Fair

Over: SMILEYS MILL CREEK

SEC 33 T9N R20E, Pike, AL

Built 1990 Load: 5.5 t ADT: 100

LARKIN SULLIVAN R

Fair

Over: COPELAND CREEK

0.2 MI N JCT CO RD 142, Madison, AL

Built 1995 Load: 5.6 t ADT: 200

CO RD 329

Fair

Over: DOE BRANCH

1 MI W JCT CO RD 4, Winston, AL

Built 1937 Load: 5.6 t ADT: 50

CO RD 72

Fair

Over: PINEY CREEK

1.0 MI W AL 75 T6SR7E, DeKalb, AL

Built 1964 Load: 5.6 t ADT: 551

REED RD.

Fair

Over: KIRK BRANCH

3.5 MI NW OF WAYSIDE, Fayette, AL

Built 1965 Load: 5.6 t ADT: 45

DOBYNE RD.CR71

Fair

Over: OAKMULGEE CREEK

DOBYNE RD.1/2 M.SOUTH 183, Perry, AL

Built 1980 Load: 5.6 t ADT: 110

CO 191

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK

4 MI W OF JONESVIEW, Talladega, AL

Built 1964 Load: 5.7 t ADT: 1,510

OLD BROOK TRAIL

Fair

Over: LITTLE SHADES CREEK

OLD BRK TR @ LTLE SHADES, Jefferson, AL

Built 1983 Load: 5.7 t ADT: 118

CHEROKEE #14

Fair

Over: BRANCH

0.2 MI E INT CHEROKEE #19, Cherokee, AL

Built 1939 Load: 5.8 t ADT: 130

CR 14

Fair

Over: LONG CREEK

4.5 MI N JCT SR 117, Jackson, AL

Built 1943 Load: 5.8 t ADT: 60

DEPOTE ST

Fair

Over: CREEK

DEPOTE ST * CO, St. Clair, AL

Built 1935 Load: 5.9 t ADT: 750

BOB STILES RD

Fair

Over: MOLDER BRANCH

0.2 MI E CO RD 416, Madison, AL

Built 1935 Load: 5.9 t ADT: 80

CHEROKEE #59

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.2 MI SE INT CHERO #19, Cherokee, AL

Built 1957 Load: 5.9 t ADT: 110

C C C TRAIL DIRT R

Fair

Over: W SEPULGA RIVER

C C TRAIL, Conecuh, AL

Built 2001 Load: 5.9 t ADT: 40

CO. 150

Fair

Over: SANDY CREEK

2.2 MI. S.W. MILLTOWN, Chambers, AL

Built 1920 Load: 6.0 t ADT: 20

SOUTH MADISON ST

Fair

Over: TOWN CREEK

BETWEEN SOUTH * GREEN ST, Limestone, AL

Built 1938 Load: 6.0 t ADT: 840

Beaver Road

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

Beaver Road, Covington, AL

Built 1993 Load: 6.0 t ADT: 50

BRICKYARD RD.

Fair

Over: CREEK

0.2 MILES STH. HWY 148, Talladega, AL

Built 1950 Load: 6.0 t ADT: 77

CO RD A9

Fair

Over: BLUE CREEK

1.8 MI N SR 19 CO A9 JCT, Franklin, AL

Built 1935 Load: 6.1 t ADT: 60

Tidwell Road

Fair

Over: Camp Creek

0.4 Miles from JCT ST 278, Marion, AL

Built 1950 Load: 6.2 t ADT: 25

BUDDY DURHAM RD

Fair

Over: WILLIS CREEK

BUDDY DURHAM @ NATCHEZ TR, Colbert, AL

Built 1936 Load: 6.3 t ADT: 50

COUNTY ROAD 466

Fair

Over: CREEK

0.6 MI. WEST CO 005, Talladega, AL

Built 1999 Load: 6.3 t ADT: 280

BROAD ST

Fair

Over: COOSA RIVER

BROAD ST * COOSA RIVER, Etowah, AL

Built 1927 Load: 6.4 t ADT: 16,100

CHEROKEE #31

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.4 MI N INT CHEROKEE #6, Cherokee, AL

Built 1939 Load: 6.4 t ADT: 100

LIGON SPRINGS RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE BEAR CREEK

LIGON SPRINGS FAME RANCH, Colbert, AL

Built 1972 Load: 6.4 t ADT: 206

Showing 151-200 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.