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 3

Fair

Over: FLINT CREEK

1 MI N JCT SR 3 & I 65, Morgan, AL

Built 1951 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 5,290

SR 49

Fair

Over: FOX CREEK

1.5 MI N CSX RAILROAD, Clay, AL

Built 1952 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 1,177

SR 13

Fair

Over: BIG SPRING CREEK

0.9 M S JCT SR 13 & SR 2, Colbert, AL

Built 1953 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 6,975

CR. 16

Fair

Over: BRANCH

0.1 MI. SO. JCT. AL. 106, Butler, AL

Built 1953 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 103

SR 13

Fair

Over: BIG SPRING CREEK RELIEF

1.1 M S JCT SR 13 & SR 2, Colbert, AL

Built 1954 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 6,975

SR 13

Fair

Over: BIG SPRING CREEK

0.9 M S JCT SR 13 & SR 2, Colbert, AL

Built 1954 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 6,975

AL 22

Fair

Over: US 82

JCT US 82, Chilton, AL

Built 1954 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 3,140

SR 3

Fair

Over: CSX RAILROAD

3.5 M S JCT SR 3 & SR 67, Morgan, AL

Built 1928 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 7,205

SR 3

Fair

Over: CSX RAILROAD

3.5 M S JCT SR 3 & SR 67, Morgan, AL

Built 1955 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 7,205

SR4 / US 78

Fair

Over: CANE CREEK

1 MI E EDWARDSVILLE, Cleburne, AL

Built 1955 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 2,600

AL-5

Fair

Over: Blackwater Creek

AL-5 Blackwater Creek, Walker, AL

Built 1955 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 1,730

AL 5

Fair

Over: RICE CREEK

N CITY LIMITS OF MARION, Perry, AL

Built 1955 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 3,070

US 80

Fair

Over: CUBAHATCHEE CREEK RELIEF

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

Built 1955 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 1,700

US 80

Fair

Over: LITTLE CALEBEE CREEK

4.5 MI.W.OF TUSKEGEE, Macon, AL

Built 1955 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 2,460

US 431

Fair

Over: BIG WILLS CREEK

US 431 * BIG WILLS CREEK, Etowah, AL

Built 1956 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 7,836

US 431

Fair

Over: LINE CREEK

1 MI NO. US 278, Etowah, AL

Built 1956 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 7,924

SR 2

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RR

0.9 MI N JCT SR 2 & SR 13, Colbert, AL

Built 1956 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 13,380

SR 2

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RR

0.9 MI N JCT SR 2 & SR 13, Colbert, AL

Built 1956 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 13,380

AL 171

Fair

Over: SIPSEY RIVER RELIEF

1.3 MI S OF MOORES BRIDGE, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1956 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 2,582

AL 171

Fair

Over: SIPSEY RIVER RELIEF

1.1 MI S OF MOORES BRIDGE, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1956 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 2,667

AL 171

Fair

Over: SIPSEY RIVER RELIEF

1.0 MI S OF MOORES BRIDGE, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1956 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 2,667

AL 171

Fair

Over: TURKEY CREEK

2.4 MI S FAYETTE CO LINE, Tuscaloosa, AL

Built 1956 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 2,480

CODY RD

Fair

Over: HELLS CREEK RELIEF

.2 MI. S. ALA. HWY.18, Lamar, AL

Built 1958 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 230

SR 2

Fair

Over: LIMESTONE CREEK

7.1 MI E JCT SR 2 & I 65, Limestone, AL

Built 1959 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 9,625

NORMANDALE

Fair

Over: BRANCH

3208 NORMANDALE, Madison, AL

Built 1962 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 750

CO RD 1

Fair

Over: I-65

5.7 MI N BALDWIN CO LINE, Escambia, AL

Built 1964 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 4,379

196

Fair

Over: ELKAHATCHEE CREEK

2.6 M N ALA 63/ALEX CITY, Tallapoosa, AL

Built 1964 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 285

CO. RD. 32

Fair

Over: YELLOW CREEK

1.0 MI E JCT SR 176T8SR8E, DeKalb, AL

Built 1965 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 216

SHIRLEY LN

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

300 FT W OF EASTERN BLVD, Montgomery, AL

Built 1965 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 1,800

COUNTY FARM RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE BEAR CREEK

COUNTY FARM RD, Colbert, AL

Built 1968 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 185

I-565

Fair

Over: INDIAN CREEK

5.5 MI E COUNTY LINE RD, Madison, AL

Built 1988 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 39,205

I-565

Fair

Over: INDIAN CREEK

5.5 MI E COUNTY LINE ROAD, Madison, AL

Built 1988 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 39,205

COTTONHILL RD

Fair

Over: CHANEYHATCHEE CREEK

2.4 MI SOUTH OF AL HWY 30, Barbour, AL

Built 1988 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 270

AL-142

Fair

Over: BNSF Railroad

0.8 MI E JCT SR 118, Marion, AL

Built 1926 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 380

SR 17

Fair

Over: YANTLEY CREEK

1 MI.S.OF JACHIN, Choctaw, AL

Built 1939 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 1,160

SR21 / US231

Fair

Over: WEOGUFKA CREEK

0.5 MI S STEWARTVILLE, Coosa, AL

Built 1939 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 3,500

AL 17

Fair

Over: SUCARNOOCHEE CRK REL.

5.7 MI. N. of I-59/20, Sumter, AL

Built 1940 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 926

AL 17

Fair

Over: HATCHET CREEK

2.3 MI. N. OF S.R.116, Sumter, AL

Built 1940 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 868

SR 10 MP 218.457

Fair

Over: VAN MILL CREEK

IN ABBEVILLE, Henry, AL

Built 1941 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 4,030

SR 10 MP 220.077

Fair

Over: ABBIE CREEK

1.5 MI. E. OF ABBEVILLE, Henry, AL

Built 1941 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 2,290

SR 10 MP 225.379

Fair

Over: PETERMAN CREEK

.3 MI.E.HENRY 59, Henry, AL

Built 1941 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 1,710

SR 17

Fair

Over: LITTLE MILL CREEK

GILBERTOWN, Choctaw, AL

Built 1941 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 3,850

OLD HWY 43

Fair

Over: BEAVER DAM CREEK

1.3 MI N MILITARY ROAD, Mobile, AL

Built 1942 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 345

CAROLINE STREET

Fair

Over: BEAVER DAM CREEK

ELBA, Coffee, AL

Built 1951 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 540

MT PLEASANT CH RD

Fair

Over: COOPER CREEK

3.5 MI. E. HWY. 17, Lamar, AL

Built 1955 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 150

CO RD 80

Fair

Over: MUD CREEK

2.7 MI W CO 80 CO 99 JCT, Franklin, AL

Built 1957 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 330

HWY 59

Fair

Over: BIG CREEK

SEC-10 T-5-N R-25-E, Dale, AL

Built 1958 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 1,400

CO RD 67

Fair

Over: I - 65

1 . 1 MI N CHILTON CO LN, Shelby, AL

Built 1960 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 100

I - 65 SOUTH

Fair

Over: SOU RR

I 65 * SOU RR, Shelby, AL

Built 1960 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 20,220

US 31

Fair

Over: I-65

2.0 MI S CLANTON, Chilton, AL

Built 1960 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 880

Showing 3,951-4,000 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.