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

SR 21

Fair

Over: TUSKEHADKY BRANCH

4.1 MI S OF OXFORD, Talladega, AL

Built 1942 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 5,357

CO RT #19/SAPPS RD

Fair

Over: BLUBBER CRK

1.1 MI NORTH ST RT #14, Pickens, AL

Built 1950 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 300

SR 21

Fair

Over: BRANCH

.16 MI S JCT MEMORIAL DR., Calhoun, AL

Built 1925 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 5,923

CO. HWY. 55

Fair

Over: MUDDY PRONG CREEK

2 MI. N. U.S. 280, Shelby, AL

Built 1951 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,017

COUNTY HIGHWAY141

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1683 FT E JCT 1024, Marshall, AL

Built 1955 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,000

SR 36

Fair

Over: NO BUSINESS CREEK

5.9 M E JCT SR36 & SR157, Morgan, AL

Built 1952 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 3,880

CO. HWY. 44

Fair

Over: BUCK CREEK

1.9 MI. E. JCT. CO.17, Shelby, AL

Built 1962 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 7,242

VETO RD

Fair

Over: ROBINSON CR

SE18 T1S R4W, Limestone, AL

Built 1954 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 420

COUNTY HWY 55W

Fair

Over: SCROUGEABOUT CREEK

0.1 MI E SR 157, Morgan, AL

Built 1955 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 875

US 43 NB

Fair

Over: BAYOU SARA

JCT SR 213, Mobile, AL

Built 1957 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 11,436

AL 219

Fair

Over: SANDY CREEK

1.0 MI S SR 6/US 82, Bibb, AL

Built 1957 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,120

AL 139

Fair

Over: MAHAN CREEK

BRIERFIELD, Bibb, AL

Built 1958 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 3,216

E GREY HODGES RD

Fair

Over: BURDESHAW MILL CK

BURDESHAW MILL CREEK, Houston, AL

Built 1964 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 400

DUQUESNE DR

Fair

Over: SHERWOOD DITCH

200 FT W OF AVONDALE ST, Montgomery, AL

Built 1965 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 600

I-59

Fair

Over: CRIBBS MILL CREEK (+)

1.9 MI S JCT I-359, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1969 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 35,284

SHELLY HUGHES ROAD

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

2.9 MI N OF JCT US NO 82, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1968 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 160

LOST CREEK RD

Fair

Over: LOST REED CREEK

3.5 MI. W. ALA. 17, Lamar, AL

Built 1969 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 120

CR # 65

Fair

Over: VALLEY CREEK

0.25 MI W SR 22 N, Dallas, AL

Built 1960 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,375

CO. HWY. 439

Fair

Over: YELLOWLEAF CREEK

.2 MI. W. JCT. CO. 47, Shelby, AL

Built 1972 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 2,021

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: CHAVERS CREEK

2MI NW MCCALL SCHOOL, Escambia, AL

Built 1955 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 100

CO RD 4

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK

4 MI W JCT SR 195, Winston, AL

Built 1974 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 200

WOODLEY RD

Fair

Over: BALDWIN SLOUGH

0.25 MI N OF KNOLLWOOD DR, Montgomery, AL

Built 1979 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 5,000

SR 34

Fair

Over: POOR HOUSE BRANCH

0.1 MI E JCT CO 61, Talladega, AL

Built 1985 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 2,708

POST OAK RD.

Fair

Over: UT of GRANT BRANCH

Post Oak Rd S OF SLOCOMB, Geneva, AL

Built 1995 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 50

Knight Road

Fair

Over: Oaktasasi Creek

2.7 MI NORTH OF AL HWY 22, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 2000 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 180

MILLWOOD ROAD

Fair

Over: LIMESTONE CREEK TRIB.

1.3 MI. E. OF MILLWOOD, Hale, AL

Built 2009 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 25

OLD TOXEY-BUTLER

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.0 MI N INT AL 17 * 101, Choctaw, AL

Built 1910 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 140

Century Rd. 1915

Fair

Over: TALLAHATCHEE CREEK

CENTURY RD. 1915, Calhoun, AL

Built 1915 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 186

SR 65

Fair

Over: BRANCH

6 MI N JCT SR 146 * SR 65, Jackson, AL

Built 1922 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 225

SR 65

Fair

Over: BRANCH

7 MI N JCT SR 146 * SR 65, Jackson, AL

Built 1922 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 225

SR 65

Fair

Over: BRANCH

3 MI S AL-TN ST LINE, Jackson, AL

Built 1922 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 225

AL. 81

Fair

Over: BRANCH

100S.OF JCT.199, Macon, AL

Built 1929 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 4,540

HOWELL RD.

Fair

Over: LADIGA CREEK RELIEF

HOWELL RD., Calhoun, AL

Built 1930 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 40

HOWELL RD.

Fair

Over: LADIGA CREEK

HOWELL RD., Calhoun, AL

Built 1930 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 45

CHERRY AVE.

Fair

Over: PRUDES CREEK

100 W BAXTER AVE, Jefferson, AL

Built 1930 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,002

REMLAP DRIVE

Fair

Over: VALLEY CREEK

2 MI N OF REMLAP, Blount, AL

Built 1932 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 370

DAUPHIN IS.PKWY N

Fair

Over: NORTH FORK DEER RIVER

1.3 MI. S. SR 163, Mobile, AL

Built 1935 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 132

CO 80

Fair

Over: MCINTYRE DITCH

0.3 MI E CO 15, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1937 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 52

ED SPEARS RD

Fair

Over: TARKLIN BRANCH

0.8 MI N JCT US HWY 431, Madison, AL

Built 1938 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 275

RIDDLE FARM RD.

Fair

Over: EGONIAGA CREEK

RIDDLE FARM RD., Calhoun, AL

Built 1939 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 150

FISH HATCHERY RD.

Fair

Over: CREEK

FISH HATCHERY RD., Calhoun, AL

Built 1940 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 209

US 278; SR 74

Fair

Over: STREAM

0.8 MI W JCT SR91 * US278, Cullman, AL

Built 1941 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 6,842

SEVEN SPR. RD.

Fair

Over: BRANCH

SEVEN SPRINGS RD, Calhoun, AL

Built 1946 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 890

SR 101

Fair

Over: BRANCH

4 M S JCT SR 101 & SR 64, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1947 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 3,600

SR 101

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

1 M S JCT SR 101 & SR 64, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1947 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 3,600

SR 101

Fair

Over: Crossroads Branch

2 M N JCT SR 101 & SR 64, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1947 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,220

SR 68

Fair

Over: YELLOW CREEK

2.0 MI W JCT SR 68 * 273, Cherokee, AL

Built 1948 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 4,063

HOLDER LN.

Fair

Over: BRANCH

HOLDER LN., Calhoun, AL

Built 1948 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 169

AL-6

Fair

Over: ABS Railroad

1.3 MI W TUSC CO LINE, Pickens, AL

Built 1949 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 10,322

HWY 41S

Fair

Over: DUTTON CREEK

0.6 MI S CR 013, Morgan, AL

Built 1950 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 1,339

Showing 2,551-2,600 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.