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

US 90

Fair

Over: BOLTON DITCH

0.6 MI E I-65, Mobile, AL

Built 1952 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 18,048

US 90

Fair

Over: ESLAVA CREEK

2.0 MI E I-65, Mobile, AL

Built 1952 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 18,048

SR 49

Fair

Over: TALLAPOOSA RIVER

HORSESHOE BEND, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 1955 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 1,088

CO RT 110

Fair

Over: CLEARWATER CREEK

.6 MILE WEST OF ROETON, Coffee, AL

Built 1955 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 330

US 431

Fair

Over: BRANCH

3.3 MI S FLINT RIVER, Madison, AL

Built 1957 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 15,934

CO RT 146

Fair

Over: MILLER CREEK

.5 MI E CO RT 155 T3SR10, DeKalb, AL

Built 1958 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 343

.5 MI W ALA 21

Fair

Over: SO RAILROAD

LENLOCK LN RXR, Calhoun, AL

Built 1960 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 8,156

SR 99

Fair

Over: BRANCH

2 MI W JCT SR 99 & SR 3, Limestone, AL

Built 1965 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 6,880

FOWLER RD

Fair

Over: FOWLER BRANCH

CO RD 33 TO US 84, Houston, AL

Built 1967 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 325

WEBSTER DR

Fair

Over: PINHOOK CREEK

500 A WEBSTER DR, Madison, AL

Built 1968 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 520

BONNER HOLLOW RD

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

1 MILL N DOGTOWN, Walker, AL

Built 1970 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 160

CO RD B27

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

.6 MI E CO B27 CO 32 JCT, Franklin, AL

Built 1971 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 30

4 MI N WILLIAMS

Fair

Over: OHATCHEE CREEK

LANDERS RD., Calhoun, AL

Built 1972 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 23

CO RD 01

Fair

Over: BRUSHY CREEK

0.4MI W US 45, Washington, AL

Built 1963 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 450

HUNDLEY RD.

Fair

Over: BUZZARD BAY

4 MILES NW. OF MALVERN, Geneva, AL

Built 1998 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 100

AL 5

Fair

Over: BOGUECHITTO CREEK

0.1 MI N JCT SR 183, Perry, AL

Built 1947 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 2,570

US 31 SBL

Fair

Over: AL RR

2.2 MI N US 29, Escambia, AL

Built 1949 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 3,561

AL 22

Fair

Over: CSX RR Active

RR W CITY LIMIT CLANTON, Chilton, AL

Built 1949 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 7,492

COUNTY ROAD 385

Fair

Over: FAYNE CREEK

INT CO398 *C0385 MCELDERY, Talladega, AL

Built 1950 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 710

SR 67

Fair

Over: COTACO CREEK

8.3 M N JCT SR 67 & SR 69, Morgan, AL

Built 1952 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 3,120

EASTER FERRY RD

Fair

Over: SULPHUR CR

SEC35 T1S R5W, Limestone, AL

Built 1953 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 920

CO.RD.19

Fair

Over: WRIGHT BRANCH

VIDA, Autauga, AL

Built 1956 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 611

COUNTY RD 42

Fair

Over: LIGHTWOOD KNOT CREEK

1.75 WEST OF OPP, Covington, AL

Built 1956 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 330

COUNTY RD 42

Fair

Over: POLEY CREEK

Opine Rd @ Frank Tisdale, Covington, AL

Built 1958 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 360

COUNTY ROAD 563

Fair

Over: WILLIAM CREEK

SEC-32 T-4-N R-25-E, Dale, AL

Built 1959 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 110

PLEASANT VALLEY R

Fair

Over: MONTLIMAR CREEK

0.5 MI W I65, Mobile, AL

Built 1960 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 6,268

COUNTY RD 82

Fair

Over: PIGEON CREEK

CR 82 @ County Line, Covington, AL

Built 1930 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 270

COUNTY ROAD 42

Fair

Over: YELLOW RIVER

2 MI EAST OF SANFORD, Covington, AL

Built 1962 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 600

PINE STREET

Fair

Over: CIRCULAR ROAD

1.5 MI N JCT SR 20, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1962 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 18,500

COUNTY RD 82

Fair

Over: BUCK CREEK

Gantt to Red Level Rd, Covington, AL

Built 1963 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 670

CR 45-MARSHTOWN R

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.4 MI N INT AL 10 * 193, Choctaw, AL

Built 1966 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 150

SR 9

Fair

Over: NANCES CREEK

6 MI SOUTH OF PIEDMONT, Calhoun, AL

Built 1968 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 2,211

5TH AVENUE SOUTH

Fair

Over: SHADES CK

5 TH AVE S. NEAR 28TH ST, Jefferson, AL

Built 1968 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 500

CR-459

Fair

Over: Little Pinchoulee Creek

2.41 MI. S. AL 22, Coosa, AL

Built 1971 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 306

CO RD 9

Fair

Over: OKATUPPA CRK MOSELY BR

0.0 MI W INT RT61 * 71, Choctaw, AL

Built 1971 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 1,950

CO RD 9

Fair

Over: BOGUELECHITTO CREEK

0.7 MI S INT AL 10 * 160, Choctaw, AL

Built 1971 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 890

OWENS DR SE

Fair

Over: FAGAN CREEK

1218 OWENS DRIVE, Madison, AL

Built 1973 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 1,000

MOTHERSHED RD.

Fair

Over: LITTLE PATSALIGA CREEK

MOTHERSHED RD., Crenshaw, AL

Built 1974 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 80

I-459 NORTH

Fair

Over: I -20 / 59

I 459 * I 59 INTR, Jefferson, AL

Built 1977 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 23,500

CO RT #178

Fair

Over: NASH CREEK

0.9 MI WEST OF CO RT #75, Pickens, AL

Built 1984 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 50

CR. 25

Fair

Over: ROCKY CREEK

2 MI. S. BUSH POND, Butler, AL

Built 1993 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 173

CO RD 34

Fair

Over: BRIER CREEK WEST

2.42 KM E OF MILLRY, Washington, AL

Built 1995 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 1,276

COUNTY ROAD 736

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

T4S R10E SECTION 14, DeKalb, AL

Built 2004 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 178

RIPLEY CUTOFF RD

Fair

Over: CHEATHAM CREEK

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

Built 1940 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 110

FOURTH ST NAUVOO

Fair

Over: BLACKWATER CREEK

500 FT.W STATE HWY 5, Walker, AL

Built 1940 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 1,300

SR 134 MP 70.942

Fair

Over: STEVENSON CREEK

1.5 MI.W. HENRY CO.63, Henry, AL

Built 1945 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 1,350

US 84

Fair

Over: BURNT CORN RELIEF

0.7 MI E CO RD 11, Conecuh, AL

Built 1947 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 2,578

US 84 MP 126.276

Fair

Over: ADAMS CREEK

1 MI. W. RIVER FALLS, Covington, AL

Built 1947 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 3,610

AL 21

Fair

Over: HAYNES CREEK

1.3 MI.N OF AL 263, Lowndes, AL

Built 1947 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 1,180

SR 21

Fair

Over: FLAT CREEK

6.3 MI. N. OF BEATRICE, Monroe, AL

Built 1947 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 500

Showing 2,701-2,750 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.