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

ESSLINGER RD

Fair

Over: BUCK DITCH

1.2 MI NE JCT CO RD 220, Madison, AL

Built 1938 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 347

C C IVEY RD

Fair

Over: TURNER BRANCH

1 MI E JCT CO RD 375, Madison, AL

Built 1938 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 75

DICKEY SPRINGS RD

Fair

Over: UNNAMED CREEK

0.8 MI E POCAHONTAS ROAD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1938 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,528

NEW HOPE CED PNT

Fair

Over: POND CREEK

.2 MI. NE POP. RIDGE RD(3, Madison, AL

Built 1938 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 825

SR 25

Fair

Over: BRANCH

5.8 MI. N. OF VINELAND, Marengo, AL

Built 1939 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,190

VIRGINIA DRIVE

Fair

Over: LICK CREEK

2 MI SW OF HUEYTOWN, Jefferson, AL

Built 1939 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 3,706

CO RT 33

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

1.0 MI NW US 72, Jackson, AL

Built 1939 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 840

CO RT 33

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.1 MI NW US 72, Jackson, AL

Built 1939 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 840

JOHNS RD

Fair

Over: OAKWOOD BRANCH

1.2 MI W US HWY 72W, Madison, AL

Built 1939 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 600

SR 77

Fair

Over: CHOCCOLOCCO CREEK

5.9 MI NO JCT SR 34, Talladega, AL

Built 1939 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 8,085

WALKER LA

Fair

Over: SANDIDGE CREEK

1.5 MI E US HWY 231 NO, Madison, AL

Built 1939 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 920

MAPLES RD

Fair

Over: VANN SPRING BRANCH

1.0 MI W US HWY 431, Madison, AL

Built 1939 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 319

CHERRY TREE RD

Fair

Over: BUTLER SPRING BRANCH

0.5 MI N CO RD 395, Madison, AL

Built 1939 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 550

BOLES RD

Fair

Over: PIGRUM BRANCH

0.3 MI W JCT CO RD 249, Madison, AL

Built 1939 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 634

LINCOLN RD

Fair

Over: SLATE ROCK BRANCH

1.6 MI E JCT US HWY 231, Madison, AL

Built 1939 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,636

DUG HILL RD

Fair

Over: DUG HILL BRANCH

0.7 MI E CO RD 1240, Madison, AL

Built 1939 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 794

DUG HILL RD

Fair

Over: HILL BRANCH

1.0 MI NO CO RD 1335, Madison, AL

Built 1939 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 650

MACON LA

Fair

Over: RICE BRANCH

0.6 MI NO CO RD 451, Madison, AL

Built 1939 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 320

WALL-TRIANA HWY

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

2 MI N HWY 53, Madison, AL

Built 1939 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 699

ROAD

Fair

Over: JONES BRANCH

CONC. BR. CULVT 431 BUS., Henry, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,370

YELLOWJACKET RD

Fair

Over: WEST FORK

1 MILE N HWY 102, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 550

MILL CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

4 MILES N KANSAS, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 120

DEE GUESS ROAD

Fair

Over: TRIB. OF LOST CREEK

2 MILE S HWY 78, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 110

MCDADE ROAD

Fair

Over: CRANFORD CREEK

1 MILE S CARBON HILL, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 110

COAL VALLEY ROAD

Fair

Over: CANE CREEK

COAL VALLEY, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 325

COAL VALLEY ROAD

Fair

Over: CANE CREEK

COAL VALLEY, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 325

PROVIDENCE LOOP

Fair

Over: UNNAMED BRANCH

3 MILE E OAKMAN, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 425

HAY VALLEY ROAD

Fair

Over: BULL BARN CREEK

2 MILES E HWY 269, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 450

OLD PARRISH/CORODV

Fair

Over: STANDARD BRANCH

2 MILES EAST HWY269, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 700

AMERICA JUNCTION R

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RR

1MILE E HWY 269, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 500

BUTTERMILK ROAD

Fair

Over: EVANS CREEK

1 MILE N CORDOVA, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 425

EAST LAKE ROAD

Fair

Over: SPOKAGE CREEK

1 MILE N CORDOVA, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 450

WHITEHOUSE RD

Fair

Over: FLAT BRANCH

1 MILE S JASPER, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 450

WHITEHOUSE RD

Fair

Over: BATES CREEK

1 MILE S JASPER, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 325

STELLA LOCKHART RD

Fair

Over: CORDELL CREEK

1 1/2 MILE E HWY 78, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 200

HILL ROAD

Fair

Over: OLD TOWNE CREEK

3 MILES NE SUMITON, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 400

VALLEY SCHOOL RD

Fair

Over: POLEY CREEK

1/2 MILE N HWY 78, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 200

SHARON BLVD

Fair

Over: BURNT CANE CREEK

1 MILE S DORA, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,000

SHARON BLVD

Fair

Over: BURNT CANE CREEK

2 MILES S DORA, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,000

BURNWELL RD

Fair

Over: BURNT CANE CREEK

1 MILE S DORA, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 200

GRANNY HYCHE RD

Fair

Over: BURTON CREEK

2 MILES S CORDOVA, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 100

TUTWILER ROAD

Fair

Over: LITTLE INDIAN CREEK

3 MILE E HWY 69, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 350

N SPRING STREET

Fair

Over: ISBELL BRANCH

TALLADEGA, Talladega, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 500

LAWSON RD

Fair

Over: BRANCH

LAWSON RD * WEDGEWOOD DR, Jefferson, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 4,500

KELLY SPRINGS RD

Fair

Over: KELLY SPRING BR

0.1 MI E JCT CO RD 088, Madison, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 720

50TH ST

Fair

Over: BRANCH

50TH ST * 15TH AVE NO, Jefferson, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,000

SLAUGHTER RD

Fair

Over: INDIAN CREEK

0.2 MI N ALA HWY 20, Madison, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 11,100

SR 127

Fair

Over: SULPHUR CREEK

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

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,970

CAVE SPRING RD

Fair

Over: RICH CREEK

0.1 MI JCT US HWY 431, Madison, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 550

MOONTOWN RD

Fair

Over: MOONTOWN BRANCH

1.0 MI SO US HWY 72EAST, Madison, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 60

Showing 2,101-2,150 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.