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

COUNTY LAKE RD

Fair

Over: SO FORK LAWLER BRANCH

0.5 MI FAP 116, Madison, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 520

MARY DAVIS HOL RD

Fair

Over: GIN BR

SEC33 T1S R6W, Limestone, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 90

BOB WADE LA

Fair

Over: FORK OF DRY CREEK

1.7 MI E JCT ALA HWY 53, Madison, AL

Built 1941 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 3,118

OLD GURLEY PIKE

Fair

Over: HILL CREEK

22 MI N NEW HOPE, Madison, AL

Built 1941 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 325

MAYSVILLE RD

Fair

Over: LOCUST GROVE BRANCH

0.2 MI SO CO. RD 1448, Madison, AL

Built 1941 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 600

ORVILLE SMITH RD

Fair

Over: SMITH BRANCH

0.5 MI E JCT CO RD 011, Madison, AL

Built 1941 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 220

ST CLAIR RD

Fair

Over: BERRY SPRING BRANCH

0.1 MI W CO RD 1427, Madison, AL

Built 1941 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 115

SHARPES HOLLOW RD

Fair

Over: BARLEY BRANCH

1 MI SE JCT CO RD 468, Madison, AL

Built 1941 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 40

DARWIN RD

Fair

Over: DARWIN BRANCH

0.2 MI NO CO RD 269, Madison, AL

Built 1941 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 650

SR 9

Fair

Over: TRIBUTARY TO LYNCH CREEK

3 MI N MILLERVILLE, Clay, AL

Built 1923 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,482

SR 9

Fair

Over: BRANCH

4.5 MI N JCT US 431, Cleburne, AL

Built 1942 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,442

AL-14

Fair

Over: Lubub Creek Branch

2.5 MI E Aliceville, Pickens, AL

Built 1942 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,083

SR 21

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.8 MI. N. OF OAK HILL, Wilcox, AL

Built 1942 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 550

80TH ST N

Fair

Over: VILLAGE CREEK

80TH ST N * VILLAGE CREEK, Jefferson, AL

Built 1942 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,100

CO 76

Fair

Over: SPRINGFIELD BRANCH

0.1 MI E INT, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1942 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 240

SR 176

Fair

Over: BRANCH

13.0 MI N JCT SR68, DeKalb, AL

Built 1942 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 752

AIRPORT RD * 52ND

Fair

Over: BRANCH

AIRPORT RD * 15TH AVE N, Jefferson, AL

Built 1942 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 5,000

Co Rd 322

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.2 MI E CR 22, Jackson, AL

Built 1943 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 66

Co Rd 59

Fair

Over: KIRBY CREEK

0.45 MI SE JCT SR 71, Jackson, AL

Built 1944 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 65

CAHABA ROAD

Fair

Over: JONES CREEK

INTER.CAHABA RD., Dallas, AL

Built 1945 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 7,211

S JACKSON AVENUE

Fair

Over: TOWN BRANCH

.1 MI S JCT TUSCALOOSA ST, Franklin, AL

Built 1945 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,000

CO RD 6

Fair

Over: LITTLE SOUWILPA CREEK

0.5 MI E INT US 84 * RT21, Choctaw, AL

Built 1946 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 350

SR 99

Fair

Over: DRY BRANCH

9.4 MI N. OF ELK RIVER, Limestone, AL

Built 1937 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 590

CO RD 2

Fair

Over: CUBAHATCHEE CREEK

3.3 MI WEST SR15/US29, Macon, AL

Built 1948 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 268

4TH AVE NO

Fair

Over: VALLEY CREEK

4TH AVE N * 4TH ST N, Jefferson, AL

Built 1948 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,000

WEST BLVD

Fair

Over: VILLAGE CREEK

WEST BLVD * 1ST AVENUE NO, Jefferson, AL

Built 1948 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,500

US 231

Fair

Over: BROKEN ARROW CREEK

3 MI.SO. CO RD 22, St. Clair, AL

Built 1948 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 3,960

W DELANO AVE.

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

0.15 MI W OF S COURT ST, Montgomery, AL

Built 1948 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,000

E AUDUBON RD.

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

150FT S OF PORTLAND AVE, Montgomery, AL

Built 1948 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,000

W PATTON AVE

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

0.14 MI W OF S COURT ST, Montgomery, AL

Built 1948 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 3,000

OPP REYNOLDS RD

Fair

Over: BEAVER DAM CREEK

1.8 MI W JCT CO RD 260, Madison, AL

Built 1948 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 733

CO. HWY 67

Fair

Over: KELLY CREEK

SEC-12 T-4-N R-25-E, Dale, AL

Built 1949 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 520

HARMER STREET

Fair

Over: VALLEY CREEK

BRIGHTON, Jefferson, AL

Built 1950 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 3,193

JOHN FINDLAY DRIVE

Fair

Over: SPILLWAY

OAK MTN. STATE PARK, Shelby, AL

Built 1950 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,100

31ST STR SW

Fair

Over: BRANCH

31ST STR SW * JEFF AVENUE, Jefferson, AL

Built 1950 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 16,000

HWY 41S

Fair

Over: BELL CREEK

0.5 MI S CR 013, Morgan, AL

Built 1950 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,200

AVE W

Fair

Over: VALLEY CREEK

AVE W * VALLEY CREEK, Jefferson, AL

Built 1950 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 8,000

CHEROKEE #29

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

2.0 MI N INT US #411, Cherokee, AL

Built 1950 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 420

SR 73

Fair

Over: BRANCH

8.17 MI N JCT SR 71* 73, Jackson, AL

Built 1950 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,630

HEADLAND AVE

Fair

Over: BEULAH CREEK

CIRCLE TO US 431 NORTH, Houston, AL

Built 1950 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,785

HEADLAND AVE

Fair

Over: HODGES BRANCH

CIRCLE TO US 431 NORTH, Houston, AL

Built 1950 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,785

HEADLAND AVE

Fair

Over: CEDAR CREEK

CIRCLE TO US 431 NORTH, Houston, AL

Built 1950 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,785

HEADLAND AVE

Fair

Over: BURDESHAW MILL CREEK

CIRCLE TO US 431-NO, Houston, AL

Built 1950 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,785

7TH. STREET NORTH

Fair

Over: OUTFALL STORM SEWER

7TH ST N * 5TH AVE, Jefferson, AL

Built 1950 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 700

SWEENY HOLLOW RD

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

50 FT W CENTERWOOD DR, Jefferson, AL

Built 1950 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 7,325

ROCK SPRINGS RD

Fair

Over: MOORES CREEK

4.5 M N CO RD 308, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 1950 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 255

CR 54

Fair

Over: Ttibu. Little Coon Creek

0.9 MI W RASH, Jackson, AL

Built 1934 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 68

CO 10

Fair

Over: KNOKES CREEK

CO 10 KNOKES CREEK, Cleburne, AL

Built 1951 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 725

SR 35

Fair

Over: BRANCH

.1 M NORTH JCT SR 35/273, Cherokee, AL

Built 1951 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 2,707

SEALE ROAD

Fair

Over: COCHGALECHEE CREEK

PHENIX CITY, Russell, AL

Built 1952 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 5,150

Showing 2,151-2,200 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.