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 43

Fair

Over: TOMBIGBEE RIVER

WASHINGTON * CLARKE CO LI, Washington, AL

Built 1973 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 4,920

MARLEY MILL RD

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

SEC-13 T-6-N R-26-E, Dale, AL

Built 1977 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 695

SR 55 MP 42.715

Fair

Over: PIGEON CREEK

4.4 MI.N.RED LEVEL, Covington, AL

Built 1976 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 3,800

CO 55

Fair

Over: TERRAPIN CREEK

CO 55 TERRAPIN CREEK, Cleburne, AL

Built 1978 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 300

I - 459 SOUTH

Fair

Over: CAHABA RIVER

I459 * CAHABA RIVER, Jefferson, AL

Built 1981 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 40,005

WASHINGTON STREET

Fair

Over: SOU RR * CLEVELAND ST

.1 M S JCT WASH ST * I565, Madison, AL

Built 1990 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 9,500

I-65

Fair

Over: ILLINOIS CENTRAL GULF RR

0.7 MI N US 45, Mobile, AL

Built 1965 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 80,661

WILLOW GLEN DR

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

0.12 MI E OF WOODMERE, Montgomery, AL

Built 1980 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 50

SHILOH CHURCH ROAD

Fair

Over: KETCHEPEDRAKEE CREEK

2 MILES EAST OF DELTA, Clay, AL

Built 1979 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 40

SR 3

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RR

0.2 M N JCT SR 3 & SR 20, Limestone, AL

Built 1936 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 8,210

SR 5

Fair

Over: A.G.R

KIMBROUGH, Wilcox, AL

Built 1940 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 2,700

AL 25

Fair

Over: MAHAN CREEK

1.0 MI S SHELBY CO LINE, Bibb, AL

Built 1928 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 4,371

AL.14

Fair

Over: CHILDERS CREEK

0.6 MI.E.JCT.AL.219, Dallas, AL

Built 1947 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 3,210

LINDSAY ST

Fair

Over: WHIPPOORWILL CK

LINDSAY ST * WHIPPORWILL, Etowah, AL

Built 1950 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 177

EAST HIGHLAND

Fair

Over: WHIPPOORWILL CK

WHIPPOORWILL CK * SELF ST, Etowah, AL

Built 1950 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 100

SR4/US78

Fair

Over: COLDWATER CREEK

4.2 MI EAST JCT SR 202, Calhoun, AL

Built 1952 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 9,834

AL - 3

Fair

Over: L * N RR

1.6 MI.SO. I-65(CALERA EX, Shelby, AL

Built 1953 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 14,180

AL-6

Fair

Over: Bear Creek

1.4 MI W of Gordo, Pickens, AL

Built 1954 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 7,221

GULFCREST ROAD

Fair

Over: SAND HILL CREEK

1.3 W US 45, Mobile, AL

Built 1954 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 535

AL - 269

Fair

Over: ABANDONED RR

.2 MI.SO.END OF 4-LANE, Jefferson, AL

Built 1954 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 7,150

SR 20

Fair

Over: CYPRESS CREEK

1.4 M N JCT SR 20 & SR 2, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1955 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 7,060

HARRIS STATION RD

Fair

Over: SWAN CR

SEC19 T4S R4W, Limestone, AL

Built 1955 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 1,689

COUNTY RT 75

Fair

Over: KINCAIDE CREEK

4.5MI N OF US HW 14, Pickens, AL

Built 1955 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 550

AL-253

Fair

Over: Pearce Mill Creek

2 MI S JCT US 278, Marion, AL

Built 1955 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 245

GNATVILLE RD.

Fair

Over: BRANCH

GNATVILLE RD., Calhoun, AL

Built 1956 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 345

GARRETT RD

Fair

Over: PINEY CREEK

SEC25 T4S R4W, Limestone, AL

Built 1957 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 262

ATLANTA HWY

Fair

Over: OLIVER CREEK

1.4 MI E OF EASTERN BLVD, Montgomery, AL

Built 1957 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 18,520

OAKWOOD AVE

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

4207 OAKWOOD AVE, Madison, AL

Built 1957 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 13,900

CO RD 82

Fair

Over: SAUTY CREEK BRANCH

0.5 MI N JCT CO RD 30, Jackson, AL

Built 1958 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 95

SAM WOOD ROAD

Fair

Over: DUNBAR CREEK

1.5 MI NO. MILLRY, Washington, AL

Built 1961 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 150

COUNTY ROAD 71

Fair

Over: BALL PLAY CREEK

0.2 MI SE OF CREEKSIDE DR, Etowah, AL

Built 1961 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 936

AL 219

Fair

Over: OAKMULGEE CREEK RELIEF

4.8 MI.N.OF AL 14, Dallas, AL

Built 1962 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 1,150

CO RT 603

Fair

Over: WILBERS CREEK

1M SOUTH OF TURNERS X RDS, Coffee, AL

Built 1963 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 350

CO. RD. 1387

Fair

Over: MOODY BRANCH

CR 1387, Cullman, AL

Built 1965 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 35

SR 167 MP 46.113

Fair

Over: WHITE WATER CREEK

3.8 MI.N. SR 125, Coffee, AL

Built 1965 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 3,930

US 231 MP 48.098

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

3.2 MI. N. SR 27, Dale, AL

Built 1967 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 6,600

Lee Road 252

Fair

Over: WACOOCHEE BRANCH

1.0 MI N W JCT S 001, Lee, AL

Built 1968 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 217

SR 144

Fair

Over: OHATCHEE CREEK

2.1 MI EAST JCT SR 77, Calhoun, AL

Built 1968 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 3,971

AL - 75 NORTH

Fair

Over: BLACKBURN FK WARRIOR RV

.4 MI. SO CO RD 15, Blount, AL

Built 1968 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 4,105

I-59

Fair

Over: WARRIOR RIVER RELIEF (+)

3.3 MI S JCT I-359, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1969 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 29,291

US 31 SB

Fair

Over: CSX RR/BAY MINETTE

0.8 MI N JCT CO RD 138, Baldwin, AL

Built 1969 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 22,306

US 31 NB

Fair

Over: CSX RR/BAY MINETTE

0.8 MI N JCT CO RD 138, Baldwin, AL

Built 1969 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 25,432

CO RD #57

Fair

Over: REEDY CREEK

0.5 MI S CO RT #52 T7SR7E, DeKalb, AL

Built 1970 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 323

RIDGEDALE RD

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.7 MI W JCT SR 279, Jackson, AL

Built 1970 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 255

US 80

Fair

Over: I-59

2.0 MI W OF CUBA, Sumter, AL

Built 1971 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 1,670

US 80 (+)

Fair

Over: I-59

2.0 MI W. OF CUBA, Sumter, AL

Built 1971 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 3,676

AL 69

Fair

Over: NS RR Active (-)

RR 0.5 MI S JCT SR 7, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1972 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 22,395

AL 69

Fair

Over: NS RR Active (+)

RR 0.5 MI S OF JCT SR 7, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1972 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 49,955

I-59

Fair

Over: UT SWEETWATER CREEK

4.6 MI.N.OF MISS.ST.LINE, Sumter, AL

Built 1974 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 19,886

I-59

Fair

Over: SUCARNOOCHEE RVR REL

1.4 MI. S. OF SR 28, Sumter, AL

Built 1974 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 20,946

Showing 3,101-3,150 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.