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 80

Fair

Over: CUBAHATCHEE CREEK

2.4 MI.E.OF MONTG.CO LINE, Macon, AL

Built 1955 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 1,700

US 82

Fair

Over: JEMISON MILL CREEK

0.6 MI W US 43, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1956 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 31,380

TABOR RD.

Fair

Over: UT TO BLACK CREEK

TABOR @ ANTIOCH, Etowah, AL

Built 1956 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 1,085

CO RD 608

Fair

Over: I-59

CR 608 OVP. MM 227.7, DeKalb, AL

Built 1960 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 1,200

CO RT 731 SEQ.CAVE

Fair

Over: I-59

CR 731 OVP. MP 236.2, DeKalb, AL

Built 1960 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 200

CO RD 15

Fair

Over: I65

3.7 MI.N.OF CONECUH CO, Butler, AL

Built 1960 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 862

PINE TRAIL

Fair

Over: I-65

6.4 MI N SR 83, Conecuh, AL

Built 1960 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 160

CO RD 436

Fair

Over: I65

2 MI S JCT US 278 * I65, Cullman, AL

Built 1960 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 1,528

CO RD 0097

Fair

Over: I85

1.2 MI.N.OF MONTG.CO.LINE, Macon, AL

Built 1961 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 1,552

CR-36

Fair

Over: YELLOW CREEK

10.4 MI. N.E. VERNON, Lamar, AL

Built 1961 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 450

CO 64

Fair

Over: I85

2.2 MI N OF MITYLENE EXIT, Montgomery, AL

Built 1962 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 2,155

CO RT 483

Fair

Over: I-59

CO RT 483 OVP MP 210.1, DeKalb, AL

Built 1964 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 1,330

BAMA ROCK GARDEN

Fair

Over: I-59 (MP 92.17)

5 MI S CAFFEE JCT, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1964 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 932

CO 97/AIRPORT RD.

Fair

Over: I-20

5.0 MI E JCT SR 77, Talladega, AL

Built 1965 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 596

CO RT 15

Fair

Over: WASHINGTON CREEK

CR 15, Perry, AL

Built 1965 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 175

CO RD.

Fair

Over: I65

4.5 MI.N.OF BUTLER CO., Lowndes, AL

Built 1966 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 628

ROAD

Fair

Over: WARD MILL CREEK

BR. CULVT. ON PAVEDRD. 32, Henry, AL

Built 1966 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 320

CO 02

Fair

Over: PARTRIDGE CREEK

0.7 MI W JCT ALA NO 9, Clay, AL

Built 1966 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 197

CO RD 61

Fair

Over: I65

CO RD 61 OVER I65, Butler, AL

Built 1967 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 612

I-20

Fair

Over: CHOCCOLOCCO CK RELIEF#1

0.6 MI W JCT US 431, Calhoun, AL

Built 1968 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 22,699

I-20

Fair

Over: CHOCCOLOCCO CK RELIEF#1

0.6 MI W JCT US 431, Calhoun, AL

Built 1968 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 22,699

I-20

Fair

Over: CHOCCOLOCCO CK RELIEF#2

0.4 MI W JCT US 431, Calhoun, AL

Built 1968 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 20,649

FIRETOWER RD

Fair

Over: HAMILTON CREEK

0.1 MI E HOWELLS FERRY RD, Mobile, AL

Built 1968 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 2,297

SR 281

Fair

Over: I-20

3.9 MI N JCT US 431, Cleburne, AL

Built 1969 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 95

US 90 EB TO I10 EB

Fair

Over: US 90 EB * WB

EAST TUNNEL INTERCHANGE, Mobile, AL

Built 1973 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 5,005

I85 SBL

Fair

Over: HOLT ST

I85 AND I65 INTERCHANGE, Montgomery, AL

Built 1973 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 22,110

US 98

Fair

Over: BIG CREEK LAKE

2.5 MI E CO RD 5, Mobile, AL

Built 1984 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 16,864

I - 65 SOUTH

Fair

Over: LOCUST FK WARRIOR RIVER

I 65 * LOCUST FK, Jefferson, AL

Built 1985 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 25,220

I - 65 NORTH

Fair

Over: LOCUST FK WARRIOR RIVER

I65 * LOCUST FK, Jefferson, AL

Built 1985 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 25,220

US 90

Fair

Over: US 43 * NORFOLK SOUTHERN

0.4 MI W COCHRANE BRIDGE, Mobile, AL

Built 1997 Load: 25.7 t ADT: 22,343

US 80 EBL

Fair

Over: BIG SWAMP CREEK RELIEF 1

5.3 MI. W. OF LOWNDESBORO, Lowndes, AL

Built 1946 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 4,275

COUNTY HIGHWAY119

Fair

Over: BRANCH

5453 FT N JCT 1214, Marshall, AL

Built 1951 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 550

SR 225

Fair

Over: STONEY RIDGE CREEK

1 MI N COUNTY ROAD 138, Baldwin, AL

Built 1951 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 3,375

CO RD 9

Fair

Over: THOBOLOCCO BRANCH

2.2 MI. S. SR8/US80, Macon, AL

Built 1952 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 268

ALGER ROAD

Fair

Over: I-65

7.3 MI N SR 21, Escambia, AL

Built 1960 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 96

I - 59 SOUTH

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.4 MI NO US 231, St. Clair, AL

Built 1961 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 10,590

US 45 SBL

Fair

Over: I-65

JCT I-65 * US 45, Mobile, AL

Built 1962 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 9,483

US 45 NBL

Fair

Over: I-65

JCT I-65 * US 45, Mobile, AL

Built 1962 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 9,483

CO. HWY. 28

Fair

Over: LITTLE BEESWAX CREEK

.25 MI. E. JCT.CO 77, Shelby, AL

Built 1963 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 1,167

SR 144

Fair

Over: LITTLE ALEXANDER CREEK

8 MI EAST JCT SR 77, Calhoun, AL

Built 1963 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 8,902

COUNTY ROAD 4432

Fair

Over: TRIB TO PEA RIVER

SEC 31 T8N R23E, Pike, AL

Built 1963 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 225

I-65 NBL

Fair

Over: BRANCH

3.5 MI N BALDWIN CO LINE, Escambia, AL

Built 1964 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 13,191

ST CLAIR CO 26

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

2 4 MI SE ASHVILLE H SCH, St. Clair, AL

Built 1964 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 1,301

ST CLAIR CO 26

Fair

Over: SHOAL CREEK

3 7 MI NE FAIRVIEW CHURCH, St. Clair, AL

Built 1964 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 600

ST CLAIR CO 26

Fair

Over: TROUT CREEK

1 8 MI E FAIRVIEW CHURCH, St. Clair, AL

Built 1964 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 600

CO RD 127

Fair

Over: TRIB. TO LITTER RIVER

.3 MI N JCT AL 176 T8SR9E, DeKalb, AL

Built 1964 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 348

HAPPY HOLLOW RD

Fair

Over: CAHABA RIVER

2.0 MI NE OF TRUSSVILLE, Jefferson, AL

Built 1971 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 1,995

AL.152 EBL

Fair

Over: THREE MILE BRANCH

1.4 MI. W. US 231, Montgomery, AL

Built 1972 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 11,660

AL152 WBL.

Fair

Over: THREE MILE BRANCH

1.4 MI. W. US 231, Montgomery, AL

Built 1972 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 11,660

US 43

Fair

Over: TOMBIGBEE RIVER

WASHINGTON * CLARKE CO LI, Washington, AL

Built 1973 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 4,920

Showing 3,051-3,100 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.