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

ANDREWS ROAD

Fair

Over: BIG BRUSH CREEK

1.2 MI. N. OF WEDGEWORTH, Hale, AL

Built 2011 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 15

CO RD. 11

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

.7 MILE FROM WIDOW CREEK, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 3,000

AL 160

Fair

Over: HENDERSON CREEK

.5 MI.NO. CO.RD.37, Blount, AL

Built 1946 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 3,950

WULFF ROAD S

Fair

Over: CROOKED CREEK

1.1 MI N OF HOWELLS FERRY, Mobile, AL

Built 1947 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 1,072

AL.14

Fair

Over: OAK MULGEE CREEK RELIEF

0.4 MI.E.OF PERRY CO.LINE, Dallas, AL

Built 1947 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 1,050

SR 68

Fair

Over: YELLOW CREEK

4.5 MI W JCT SR 273, Cherokee, AL

Built 1948 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 4,063

BRADFORD-TRAFFORD

Fair

Over: GURLEY CREEK

0.5 MILE S OF TRAFFORD, Jefferson, AL

Built 1953 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 687

SR 9

Fair

Over: BRANCH

3.7 MI S JCT SR 9 *25, Cherokee, AL

Built 1949 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 6,874

CO RT 46

Fair

Over: CEDAR CREEK

3.75 M EAST OF BERRY, Fayette, AL

Built 1951 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 157

AL-69

Fair

Over: BNSF RailRoad

.5M S AL-124 Interchange, Walker, AL

Built 1951 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 3,850

CHEAHA PARK RD

Fair

Over: TATER CREEK

0.2 MI N OF S PARK BDRY, Talladega, AL

Built 1952 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 211

CO RD 35

Fair

Over: SIPSEY RIVER RELIEF

0.9 S OF FAYETTE, Fayette, AL

Built 1952 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 1,065

ROADWAY

Fair

Over: CO RT 1092 PONKABIACREEK

3.9 MI N US HWY 80, Sumter, AL

Built 1953 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 260

LITTLE COVE RD

Fair

Over: FLINT RIVER

2.3 MI W JCT US HWY 72, Madison, AL

Built 1953 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 2,297

AL 21

Fair

Over: GENETTA DITCH

0.4 MI W OF I65, Montgomery, AL

Built 1955 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 20,760

CHEROKEE #12

Fair

Over: BRANCH

0.2 MI N INT CHERO #29, Cherokee, AL

Built 1958 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 330

CO.RD.95 MP 14.723

Fair

Over: CEDAR CREEK

3 MI.N. OF GORDON, Houston, AL

Built 1958 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 420

I-85 N.B.L.

Fair

Over: AL 199

I-85 OVER AL.199, Macon, AL

Built 1964 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 15,625

ROAD

Fair

Over: MCCLENNY MILL CREEK

RC BR. CULVT. ON CORD. 5, Henry, AL

Built 1965 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 120

SR 181 NB

Fair

Over: I-10 EB * WB

JCT I-10 * SR 181, Baldwin, AL

Built 1970 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 22,356

SR 181 SB

Fair

Over: I-10 EB * WB

JCT I-10 * SR 181, Baldwin, AL

Built 1970 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 22,356

CO RT 058

Fair

Over: STREAM

0.2 M W OF CR 59, Lawrence, AL

Built 1976 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 80

CO RD 321

Fair

Over: GRAVEL CREEK

2.3 MILES E.ON ROAD 321, Wilcox, AL

Built 1978 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 40

US72

Fair

Over: STREAM

0.1 MILE W JCT 72 SR255, Madison, AL

Built 1994 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 58,807

HUGGINS PLANTATION

Fair

Over: STREAM

HUGGINS PLANTATION RD, Conecuh, AL

Built 1998 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 30

ANDREWS AVENUE

Fair

Over: CLAYBANK CRK

SE OF STRUCTURE 40161, Dale, AL

Built 1975 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 540

ANDREWS AVE

Fair

Over: UNKNOWN STREAM

SE OF STRUCTURE 09812, Dale, AL

Built 1975 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 540

ENGINEER RD

Fair

Over: DILLY BRANCH

WEST OF HATCH RD, Dale, AL

Built 1975 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 540

FORESTRY ACCESS RD

Fair

Over: GIN BRANCH

WEST OF S COUNTY RD 21, Dale, AL

Built 1999 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 10

AIRPORT ROAD

Fair

Over: CLAYBANK CREEK TRIB

EAST OF ANDREWS AVE, Dale, AL

Built 1978 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 540

CHRISTIAN RD

Fair

Over: WHITTAKER CRK

SE OF STRUCTURE 24230, Dale, AL

Built 1977 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 540

CHRISTIAN RD

Fair

Over: CLAYBANK CRK

NW OF STRUCTURE 24229, Dale, AL

Built 1956 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 540

CHRISTIAN RD

Fair

Over: STEEPHEAD CRK

W OF STRUCTURE 24230, Dale, AL

Built 1977 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 540

E PERIMETER RD

Fair

Over: BOWLES CRK

S OF STRUCTURE 24577, Coffee, AL

Built 1981 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 100

HATCH RD #2

Fair

Over: GIN BRANCH

N OF W HWY 134, Dale, AL

Built 1977 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 540

FORESTRY ACCESS

Fair

Over: BLACKS MILL CRK

SE OF STRUCTURE 25444, Dale, AL

Built 1998 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 15

ECH RD

Fair

Over: BLACKS MILL CRK

NE OF STRUCTURE 40153, Dale, AL

Built 1976 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 20

EAST PERIMETER RD

Fair

Over: BOWLES CRK

NW OF STRUCTURE 25462, Coffee, AL

Built 1977 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 20

JOHNSON ROAD #1

Fair

Over: TRIB OF CLAYBANK CREEK

SE OF STRUCTURE 25462, Dale, AL

Built 1981 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 100

FORESTRY ACCESS RD

Fair

Over: PIMPKIN CRK

NW OF STRUCTURE 25454, Coffee, AL

Built 2013 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 100

FORESTY ACCESS RD

Fair

Over: TRIB CLAYBANK CRK

NW OF STRUCTURE 25456, Dale, AL

Built 1998 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 20

BAILY RD

Fair

Over: STEEP HEAD CRK

N OF COUNTY RD 700, Dale, AL

Built 1974 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 100

FARRELL RD

Fair

Over: CLAYBANK CREEK

SE OF STRUCTURE 24231, Dale, AL

Built 1976 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 540

LOWE FIELD RD

Fair

Over: HARRAND CREEK

NW OF STRUCTURE 09812, Dale, AL

Built 1979 Load: 24.1 t ADT: 540

PULASKI PIKE

Fair

Over: BEAVER DAM CREEK

0.25 MI E CO RD 1110, Madison, AL

Built 1935 Load: 24.2 t ADT: 3,218

SAKS RD.

Fair

Over: CANE CREEK

SAKS RD., Calhoun, AL

Built 1946 Load: 24.2 t ADT: 4,732

SR 134 MP 72.601

Fair

Over: JUMP AND RUN CREEK

.8 MI.E. HENRY CO.63, Henry, AL

Built 1946 Load: 24.2 t ADT: 460

US 231

Fair

Over: MUCKLEROY CREEK

.4 MI.NO.US 11, St. Clair, AL

Built 1948 Load: 24.2 t ADT: 5,520

CR # 30

Fair

Over: SOAPSTONE CREEK

3.5 MI E SR 41, Dallas, AL

Built 1952 Load: 24.2 t ADT: 400

SR 165

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

7.8 MI N COTTONTON, Russell, AL

Built 1952 Load: 24.2 t ADT: 3,240

Showing 2,451-2,500 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.