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

CO RT 41

Fair

Over: LITTLE CYPRESS CREEK

1.2 MI E INT AL 20, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1939 Load: 10.3 t ADT: 455

CO RT 188

Fair

Over: SHOALS CREEK

0.2 MI W JCT CO RT 217, Lawrence, AL

Built 1939 Load: 10.3 t ADT: 75

COU RT 5

Fair

Over: LINDSEY CREEK

1.3 MI N AL 20, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1947 Load: 10.3 t ADT: 195

CO. HWY. 450 EXT.

Fair

Over: MUDDY PRONG CREEK

2 MI EAST CR 55, Shelby, AL

Built 1962 Load: 10.3 t ADT: 200

PAINTER ROAD

Fair

Over: LOCUST FORK RIVER

1 MI N OF SUSAN MOORE, Blount, AL

Built 1963 Load: 10.3 t ADT: 259

Oscar Pugh Road

Fair

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

Oscar Pugh Road, Covington, AL

Built 1975 Load: 10.3 t ADT: 80

OLD CENTRE HWY

Fair

Over: BRANCH

PIEDMONT, Calhoun, AL

Built 1932 Load: 10.3 t ADT: 300

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: BURNT CORN CREEK

1MI JAMES MILL, Conecuh, AL

Built 2010 Load: 10.3 t ADT: 50

CO RD 220

Fair

Over: BRUSH CREEK

0.5 MI SE SNODDY, Greene, AL

Built 1946 Load: 10.4 t ADT: 232

CO. 244

Fair

Over: LEE CREEK

2.1 MI. S.E. DOUBLEHEAD, Chambers, AL

Built 1966 Load: 10.4 t ADT: 30

MOUNTAIN PASS RD.

Fair

Over: GREENS CREEK

0.4 MI S. OF GRN VLY RD, Etowah, AL

Built 1972 Load: 10.4 t ADT: 110

CO 30

Fair

Over: LOST CREEK

CO 30 LOST CREEK, Cleburne, AL

Built 1973 Load: 10.4 t ADT: 310

MAYSVILLE RD

Fair

Over: BANJO MARTIN BRANCH

0.2 MI NO CO RD 1425, Madison, AL

Built 1939 Load: 10.5 t ADT: 600

S Thornton Road

Fair

Over: Wind Creek

3.1 M N OF AL 49, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 1998 Load: 10.5 t ADT: 105

CO RT 45

Fair

Over: LITTLE SOUWILPA CREEK

0.3 MI E INT AL 17 * RT45, Choctaw, AL

Built 1950 Load: 10.6 t ADT: 150

CO 149

Fair

Over: BRANCH

0.2 MI E CO RT 123, Talladega, AL

Built 1950 Load: 10.6 t ADT: 235

COUNTY DIRT RD

Fair

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

Cain Road, Covington, AL

Built 1955 Load: 10.6 t ADT: 230

CR 45

Fair

Over: CROW CREEK

2.4 MI N CEDARGROVE, Jackson, AL

Built 1977 Load: 10.6 t ADT: 263

CHEROKEE #6

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.3 MI E INT CHEROKEE #19, Cherokee, AL

Built 1935 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 133

COLVIN GAP RD.

Fair

Over: BIG COVE CREEK

AT INT WITH ALFORD BEND, Etowah, AL

Built 1938 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 950

CO RD 832

Fair

Over: CEDAR CREEK

1.1MI SE ALMOND, Randolph, AL

Built 1950 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 35

CO RD #861

Fair

Over: SEABOARD COAST LINERR

.2MI SOUTH PEAVY, Randolph, AL

Built 1950 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 55

J B WALKER RD

Fair

Over: JENNY RIVER

1.6 MI NW OF PLEVNA, Madison, AL

Built 1955 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 125

RT #11/SALEM RD.

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK BRANCH

3.2 MI NORTH CO RT 22, Pickens, AL

Built 1981 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 100

COUNTY ROAD

Fair

Over: BURNT CORN CREEK

C.R. 94, Conecuh, AL

Built 2004 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 60

CO RD 8

Fair

Over: DISMAL BRANCH

.8 MI SW US 43 CO 8 JCT, Franklin, AL

Built 1955 Load: 10.8 t ADT: 140

DRY CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

1/2 MI E OF FIVE POINTS, Blount, AL

Built 1961 Load: 10.8 t ADT: 152

CO. HWY. 450 EXT.

Fair

Over: CLEAR PRONG CREEK

2.5MI E JCT CO 450*55, Shelby, AL

Built 1975 Load: 10.8 t ADT: 150

Connector Road

Fair

Over: Sandy Creek

0.9 M N US 280, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 1925 Load: 10.8 t ADT: 105

TRAILS END ROAD

Fair

Over: SO. FORK YELLO LEAK CK

.5 MI SO. CR 74 * CR 69, Shelby, AL

Built 2003 Load: 10.8 t ADT: 10

CO RT 47

Fair

Over: SHOALS CREEK

3.5 MI N INT CO RT 30, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1928 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 2,040

CO 70

Fair

Over: LEGG BRANCH

0.4 MI S OF CO 26, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1937 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 205

CO 136

Fair

Over: BLUE WATER CREEK

1.3 MI NW INT SR 64, Lauderdale, AL

Built 1937 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 494

CR 39

Fair

Over: Tribut. to Inglis Branch

0.95 MI N JCT CR 42, Jackson, AL

Built 1938 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 252

8 TH AVE

Fair

Over: TANYARD CREEK

8 TH AVE * 19 TH ST, Walker, AL

Built 1948 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 300

CO RD 20

Fair

Over: MOONEY BRANCH

.5MI E SKIRUM T8SR6E, DeKalb, AL

Built 1948 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 587

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Fair

Over: RAILROAD BRANCH

1MI E FLOMATON, Escambia, AL

Built 1957 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 1,250

CO RT 42

Fair

Over: MUD CREEK

1.0 MI S JCT CR 42, Jackson, AL

Built 1967 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 250

CO 34

Fair

Over: LOST CREEK

CR 34 LOST CREEK, Cleburne, AL

Built 1967 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 225

CO RD 63

Fair

Over: REEDY BRANCH

.1 MI N JCT CO 81, Franklin, AL

Built 1968 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 330

NEW HOPE RD.

Fair

Over: BELL CREEK

BELLWOOD, Geneva, AL

Built 1957 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 50

CR # 272

Fair

Over: LITTLE OAKMULGEE CREEK

PANHANDLE, Dallas, AL

Built 1970 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 25

COUNTY DIRT RD

Fair

Over: PIGEON CREEK

GORUM BRIDGE Road, Covington, AL

Built 1900 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 70

CO.#6/CO LINE RD.

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

0.1MI. WEST OF SR #17, Pickens, AL

Built 1991 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 50

CO. DIRT ROAD

Fair

Over: NO NAME BRANCH

6 MI. SE OF WING, Covington, AL

Built 1985 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 90

FORDS VALLEY RD.

Fair

Over: HARRIS CREEK

.8 MI E OF CO RD 53, Fayette, AL

Built 1985 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 15

Old Larkinsville

Fair

Over: Roseberry Bottoms

2.2 Mi E of SR 79, Jackson, AL

Built 1960 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 900

Town Creek Road

Fair

Over: Town Creek

0.7 M N CO RD 363, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 1986 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 130

COUNTY HWY 1009

Fair

Over: CREEK

8540 FT E JCT 1005, Marshall, AL

Built 1938 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 80

COUNTY ROAD 1124

Fair

Over: BEEMAN CREEK

SEC 26 T11N R20E, Pike, AL

Built 1950 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 50

Showing 351-400 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.