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 RT NO 39

Fair

Over: CHICKASAW BOGUE RELIEF

5.95 N AL 28, Marengo, AL

Built 1969 Load: 23.8 t ADT: 130

CO RT 430

Fair

Over: WISES MILL CREEK

5.93 MI NE INO, Coffee, AL

Built 1972 Load: 23.8 t ADT: 125

77 TH ST

Fair

Over: VILLAGE CK

77TH ST N * VILLAGE CREEK, Jefferson, AL

Built 1975 Load: 23.8 t ADT: 9,000

OLD DIXIANA RD

Fair

Over: SELF CREEK

BRADFORD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1977 Load: 23.8 t ADT: 200

LEE STREET

Fair

Over: MURDER CREEK

0.3 MI E ST JOSEPH ST, Escambia, AL

Built 1978 Load: 23.8 t ADT: 1,538

SR 24

Fair

Over: BIG SHOAL CREEK

5.1 M E JCT SR 24 & SR157, Lawrence, AL

Built 1984 Load: 23.8 t ADT: 12,360

SR 35

Fair

Over: TENNESSEE RIVER

0.1 MI N JCT SR 40 * SR35, Jackson, AL

Built 1985 Load: 23.8 t ADT: 8,276

COUNTY ROAD 62

Fair

Over: YELLOW CREEK

0.6 MI. E.OF NEW PROSPECT, Hale, AL

Built 1986 Load: 23.8 t ADT: 100

SR 21

Fair

Over: PINE BARREN CREEK

4.MI.S.OF SNOW HILL, Wilcox, AL

Built 1989 Load: 23.8 t ADT: 1,210

MEDDERS DRIVE

Fair

Over: UNKNOWN TRIBUTARY

MEDDERS DR, Calhoun, AL

Built 2002 Load: 23.8 t ADT: 196

SR 101

Fair

Over: TENNESSEE RIVER

ON WHEELER DAM, Lawrence, AL

Built 1937 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 5,358

OLD U.S. 280

Fair

Over: CAHABA RIVER

OLD 280 * CAHABA RIVER, Jefferson, AL

Built 1925 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 6,000

CO 111

Fair

Over: BRANCH

0.3 MI NE CO 33, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1927 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 80

CO 66

Fair

Over: NEELEY BRANCH

0.8 MI SR 207, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1933 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 325

BROAD STREET

Fair

Over: HOLLAND CREEK

PHENIX CITY, Russell, AL

Built 1934 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 16,975

SHANNON-WENONAH RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE SHADES CREEK

0.5 MI S OF LAKESHORE, Jefferson, AL

Built 1935 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 2,560

CO 552

Fair

Over: HURRICANE BRANCH

0.1 MI W CO 86, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1937 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 15

CO RT 48

Fair

Over: LITTLE BLUEWATER CREEK

1 MI N OF INT. 48 * 160, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1937 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 110

CO 112

Fair

Over: BURCHAM CREEK

0.2 MI E OF CO 81, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1937 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 75

CO 85

Fair

Over: GREENBRIER BRANCH

0.5 MI E OF SR 157, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1937 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 135

CO 258

Fair

Over: GREENBRIER BRANCH

1.1 MI W OF CO 10, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1937 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 140

CO 86

Fair

Over: BELUE BRANCH

1 MI N CO 92, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1937 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 140

CO 66

Fair

Over: SIX MILE CREEK

.3 MI E SCHOOL LANEKILLEN, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1938 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 410

CO 10

Fair

Over: THREET CREEK

2.4 MI W INT SR 157, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1939 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 160

OLD PARRISH CDV RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE FROG AGUE CREEK

0.2MI W JCT COLUMBUS BLVD, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 650

SR 49

Fair

Over: SANDY CREEK

6.5 MI N JCT SR 50, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 1941 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 4,918

SR 69; SR 74

Fair

Over: EIGHT MILE CREEK

1.3 MI E JCT SR 69 * US31, Cullman, AL

Built 1942 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 15,349

CO RD 152

Fair

Over: LINDSEY CREEK

0.5 MI SW CO 8, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1947 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 62

MC VAY DR

Fair

Over: ESLAVA CREEK

0.3 MI E NAVCO RD, Mobile, AL

Built 1947 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 13,603

CO 93

Fair

Over: ANDERSON CREEK

50 FT N SR 207, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1947 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 180

COUNTY ROUTE47

Fair

Over: WALLACE CREEK

.7M NORTH INTER AL #5*C47, Perry, AL

Built 1948 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 210

SR 105 MP 1.266

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.3 MI.N SR. 27, Dale, AL

Built 1948 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 4,160

AL-171

Fair

Over: Martins Creek

2.1 MI S JCT SR 159, Fayette, AL

Built 1952 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 2,103

COALBURG ROAD

Fair

Over: 5 MILE CREEK

COALBURG RD * 5-MILE CK, Jefferson, AL

Built 1952 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 1,500

County Road 45

Fair

Over: Flurry Branch

5 MILES NORTH OF GUIN, Marion, AL

Built 1900 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 230

US82

Fair

Over: LINE CREEK RELIEF

0.15MI E.OFCORD.37, Bullock, AL

Built 1953 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 1,110

BUCK JACKSON RD

Fair

Over: WILSON CREEK

6 MI. S. ALA. 278, Lamar, AL

Built 1955 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 280

US 431

Fair

Over: BIG WILLS CREEK

US 431 * BIG WILLS CREEK, Etowah, AL

Built 1927 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 7,836

US 431

Fair

Over: LINE CREEK

.1 MI. SO.US 278, Etowah, AL

Built 1927 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 7,836

CO RD 9

Fair

Over: BRANCH

3.2 MI W INT RT 120 * 122, Choctaw, AL

Built 1956 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 900

CO 65

Fair

Over: BRANCH

CO 65 BRANCH, Cleburne, AL

Built 1957 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 675

COUNTY HWY 61

Fair

Over: COX MILL CREEK

4 MILES NORTH OF HARTFORD, Geneva, AL

Built 1958 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 220

SOUTH JEFFERSON S

Fair

Over: TOWN CREEK

S. JEFFERSON * SOUTH ST., Limestone, AL

Built 1958 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 6,697

CO RD 26

Fair

Over: UNNAMED BRANCH

4.9 MI SOUTHWEST SR8, Macon, AL

Built 1961 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 535

THOMPSON ROAD

Fair

Over: L * N RAILROAD

0.2 MI E. US 31, Morgan, AL

Built 1962 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 5,621

SICARD HOLLOW RD

Fair

Over: CAHABA RIVER

SICARD HOLLOW * CAHABA RI, Jefferson, AL

Built 1962 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 2,500

I - 20 WEST

Fair

Over: COOSA RIVER

RIVERSIDE, St. Clair, AL

Built 1963 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 21,335

I - 20 EAST

Fair

Over: COOSA RIVER

RIVERSIDE, St. Clair, AL

Built 1963 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 21,335

YOUNGS MILL RD

Fair

Over: FOX CREEK

1.5 MI SE BARFIELD, Clay, AL

Built 1963 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 80

I-85 N.B.L.

Fair

Over: BRANCH

4.1MI.N.SHORTER EXIT, Macon, AL

Built 1963 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 17,090

Showing 2,351-2,400 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.