State profile · Below median Poor share

Arkansas 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 Arkansas.

12,974
Public bridges
45.8%
Good condition
5.4%
Poor condition

Arkansas holds 12,974 public highway bridges (#23 of 52 by inventory) with a 5.43% Poor share (#30 of 52 by Poor share).

That is 5.4% 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 23 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

12,974

Public highway bridges in Arkansas

Good Condition

45.8%

5,940 bridges rated 7-9

-4.2pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

5.4%

704 bridges whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

-2.1pp vs national avg 7.5%

Arkansas vs national bridge condition

Arkansas - Good condition share 45.8%
National avg

Share of bridges rated 7-9 on the FHWA 0-9 scale (deck, superstructure, substructure all good).

Arkansas - Poor-condition share 18.1%
National avg

Lower is better. Bar maxes at 30% (worst-state ceiling). National average sits at 7.5%.

Arkansas 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: Arkansas has 12,974 bridges and a 5.4% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #23 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 (%) AR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.43%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%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: Arkansas has 12,974 bridges and a 5.4% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #23 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.

Arkansas 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

12,974 23rd of 54 higher than 31 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 Arkansas

The highlighted point is Arkansas: 12,974 bridges and 5.43% in Poor condition, rank #23 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The five jurisdictions immediately above and below Arkansas on that same Poor-share ordering:

  • Indiana: 19,495 bridges · 5.22% Poor
  • Kansas: 24,894 bridges · 5.26% Poor
  • Arkansas: 12,974 bridges · 5.43% Poor
  • Washington: 8,474 bridges · 5.45% Poor
  • California: 25,848 bridges · 5.91% Poor

The full national sortable table lives on the rankings page.

Material families in Arkansas

Exclusive FHWA material families across all 12,974 bridges in this state; continuous variants fold into the parent family. Orthogonal to the Poor-share scatter above.

Who maintains Arkansas’s inventory

State agency holds 57.1% of the 12,974 public highway bridges filed under Arkansas in the 2024 NBI, the agency-of-record split for this state, not a condition verdict.

When Arkansas’s bridges were built

Pre-1950 construction accounts for 13.5% of the 12,974 bridges with a recorded original year in Arkansas. Era bands are orthogonal to the Poor-share ranking above.

Condition Distribution

Arkansas45.8%48.8%GoodFairPoor
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix - Arkansas (FHWA NBI)

Counties (75)

Arkansas 154 Ashley 106 Baxter 91 Benton 410 Boone 98 Bradley 105 Calhoun 114 Carroll 119 Chicot 88 Clark 202 Clay 200 Cleburne 53 Cleveland 79 Columbia 131 Conway 122 Craighead 442 Crawford 248 Crittenden 235 Cross 129 Dallas 103 Desha 83 Drew 149 Faulkner 219 Franklin 143 Fulton 105 Garland 319 Grant 119 Greene 251 Hempstead 174 Hot Spring 222 Howard 116 Independence 184 Izard 105 Jackson 136 Jefferson 336 Johnson 162 Lafayette 72 Lawrence 126 Lee 94 Lincoln 110 Little River 83 Logan 152 Lonoke 187 Madison 149 Marion 65 Miller 216 Mississippi 309 Monroe 85 Montgomery 199 Nevada 133 Newton 65 Ouachita 162 Perry 118 Phillips 101 Pike 95 Poinsett 194 Polk 221 Pope 188 Prairie 88 Pulaski 721 Randolph 151 Saline 231 Scott 198 Searcy 65 Sebastian 331 Sevier 164 Sharp 110 St. Francis 202 Stone 73 Union 289 Van Buren 98 Washington 449 White 322 Woodruff 79 Yell 227

Arkansas 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 Arkansas on the same metric.

IN

Indiana

5.22% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$19,495

KS

Kansas

5.26% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$24,894
Selected

AR

Arkansas

5.43% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$12,974

WA

Washington

5.45% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$8,474

CA

California

5.91% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$25,848

Bridges Needing Most Attention in Arkansas

Six lowest-condition bridges in Arkansas, ranked by the portal's composite display score. Inspection intervals are risk-based under current NBIS rules.

CR 870-H OLD US 63

Poor

Over: DITCH 123

.10 MI E JCT SH 14, Poinsett, AR

Built 1933 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 667

SH 140-02- LM 9.08

Poor

Over: NATIONAL DITCH

1.7 MI E JCT SH 77, Mississippi, AR

Built 1967 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 2,900

Bucklake/Z-Ew/3.10

Poor

Over: Ditch Number 21

3.1 Miles West Of Sh 50, Crittenden, AR

Built 1955 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 360

CR20 -G 911- 108

Poor

Over: Union Pacific Railroad

0.91 M E Jct. SH 349, Craighead, AR

Built 1957 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 174

Cr74/Fulton Co.

Poor

Over: SPRING RIVER

2 M SE MAMMOTH SPRINGS, Fulton, AR

Built 1916 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 779

BOWEN BR. C.R. 244

Poor

Over: LITTLE MO RIVER

.75 M S SH 301, Hempstead, AR

Built 1944 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 9

All Bridges in Arkansas

State Highway 109

Good

Over: Russ Creek-Logan Co.

3.26 MI S JOHNSON CO LINE, Logan, AR

Built 1976 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,300

Dutch Mills Road

Good

Over: Dutch Mills Creek Wash.

SIDE DRAIN ON SH 59-6.58, Washington, AR

Built 1976 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 136

SH 135-02- LM 9.15

Good

Over: COCKLEBURR DITCH

1.9MI SO JCT SH 18, Craighead, AR

Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,000

SH 148-05- LM 2.59

Good

Over: COCKLE BURR CREEK

.9 MI E OF JCT 135-148, Craighead, AR

Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 310

US278 S-8 LM 12.56

Good

Over: TWO BAYOU RELIEF

0.3 MI N JCT SH 376, Ouachita, AR

Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,500

SH 41 SEC. 01-0.34

Good

Over: D&E RR

SO EDGE OF DEQUEEN, Sevier, AR

Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,100

SH 112-Wash. Co.

Good

Over: I 49 MN LNS

4 MI N US 62 & 71 INTCH, Washington, AR

Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 13,359

SH 46-05 LM 0.07

Good

Over: Union Pacific R/R

0.07 Mi E SH365-WhiteBluf, Jefferson, AR

Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 650

SH 46-05 LM 0.54

Good

Over: White Bluff R/R Spur

0.54 Mi E SH365-WhiteBluf, Jefferson, AR

Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 650

SH 41- 03 - 8.56

Good

Over: CHOCTAW BAYOU

6.5MI SO JCT SH 32, Little River, AR

Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,800

SH 41 -03- 8.38

Good

Over: CHOCTAW BAYOU RELIEF

6.38MI SO JCT SH 32, Little River, AR

Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,800

SH 41- 03 - 5.11

Good

Over: WALNUT BAYOU RELIEF

3.1MI SO JCT SH 32, Little River, AR

Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,800

SH 41- 03 - 4.32

Good

Over: WALNUT BAYOU

2.43 SO JCT SH 32, Little River, AR

Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,800

US 412-06B-LM 0.89

Good

Over: RUNNING WATER CREEK

.89 MI E US 63, Lawrence, AR

Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,900

US 412-06B-LM 2.18

Good

Over: SWAN POND DITCH

2.18 MI E US 63, Lawrence, AR

Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,900

SOUTH CASH RD

Good

Over: WADLEIGH BRANCH

0.75 MI S JCT US 278B, Ouachita, AR

Built 1981 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 8,200

US 82 S-7 LM1.06

Good

Over: OUACHITA RR COMPANY

1.06 E OF STRONG, Union, AR

Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,600

CR 37/US79 sd dr

Good

Over: BRUSHY CREEK

@JCT US 79, Ouachita, AR

Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 449

SH 980 SEC.25-0.25

Good

Over: DODSON CREEK

.25 MI N JCT SH 278, Howard, AR

Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 3,500

Sh147/Sec-1/L10.23

Good

Over: Ten Mile Bayou

5.1 South Of Jct Us 70, Crittenden, AR

Built 1979 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,397

SH 328-01- LM 1.36

Good

Over: BIG CREEK

1.5 E OF MAYNARD, Randolph, AR

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 520

US 270-6 Log 4.39

Good

Over: GULPHA CR

.2 mi E JCT US 70 & 270 B, Garland, AR

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 19,000

US 270- 6 Log 4.93

Good

Over: WESTINGHOUSE RD RR

4.85MI SE JCT US 70, Garland, AR

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 19,000

SH 15 S-1 LM 12.42

Good

Over: CURTIS CREEK

19.4 SW JCT OF US 82, Union, AR

Built 1979 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,700

SH 15 S-1 LM 13.67

Good

Over: BEECH CREEK

9.15 SW JCT OF US 82, Union, AR

Built 1979 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,700

SH 15 S-1 LM 14.74

Good

Over: DRY DITCH

8.10 SW JCT US 82, Union, AR

Built 1979 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,700

Sh-149/Sec-2/L4.06

Good

Over: Blackfish Bayou

4.06 Mi North Jct Sh 50, St. Francis, AR

Built 1979 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 270

SH15 SEC1 LM 20.94

Good

Over: US 82-SEC 5

1.4 MI E JCT US 82 & 82B, Union, AR

Built 1979 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,200

PARNELL ROAD

Good

Over: US 82-SEC 5

0.5 MI W TIMBERLANE DR, Union, AR

Built 1979 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,081

US82 S-5 WB LM17.0

Good

Over: US 82-S-5BLM17.05

@ JCT US 82B (W EL DORADO, Union, AR

Built 1979 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,800

WESTINGHOUSE DRIVE

Good

Over: EAST GULPHA CREEK

.23 N SH 270, Garland, AR

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,500

US 371 SEC.01-0.56

Good

Over: BIG BELLVILLE CR

EAST EDGE OF LOCKSBURG, Sevier, AR

Built 1979 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,400

SH 227 Log 3.81

Good

Over: CLEAR CREEK

3.8MI NO JCT US 270, Garland, AR

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,800

SH 46-03 LM 6.36

Good

Over: Mud Creek

6.36 Mi N US 270-Sheridan, Grant, AR

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 870

SH 309

Good

Over: Cedar Creek

2.9MI SO JCT SH 10, Yell, AR

Built 1979 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 560

SH 309

Good

Over: Rock Creek

1MI SO JCT SH 309 & 10, Yell, AR

Built 1979 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 560

SH 309

Good

Over: Rock Creek

.2MI SO JCT SH 10, Yell, AR

Built 1979 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 560

SH 300 Log 12.80

Good

Over: MILL BAYOU

7.5 MI NO SH 10 JCT, Pulaski, AR

Built 1981 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,900

US 71 SEC.01-9.24

Good

Over: SULPHUR RIVER

3.9 N OF DODDRIDGE, Miller, AR

Built 1982 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 680

SH 229 Log 4.16

Good

Over: HOLLY CREEK

1.0 M N CR 291, Saline, AR

Built 1997 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,800

SH 229 Log 5.70

Good

Over: CLIFT CREEK

2.7 MI N JCT SH 291&229, Saline, AR

Built 1997 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,800

SH 229 Log 7.31

Good

Over: TRACE CREEK

3.8 M NO CR 291, Saline, AR

Built 1997 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,800

SH 278-16 LM 2.62

Good

Over: Black Pond Slough

2.62 Mi E DrewCo-McGehee, Desha, AR

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 5,350

CR 315/Jackson Co.

Good

Over: US 67-SEC 14

JCT CR 315&US 67, Jackson, AR

Built 1986 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 140

SH 293-03 LM 1.45

Good

Over: Prairie Creek

1.45 M S LincolnCo-PineHi, Drew, AR

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 120

SH 293-02 LM 5.46

Good

Over: Ables Creek

4.1 Mi N SH 277-Gourd, Lincoln, AR

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 120

Sh-1/Sec-6/L-1.24

Good

Over: White River Relief

1.63 Mi E Of White River, Monroe, AR

Built 1981 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 940

SH 69/Indepen Co.

Good

Over: MO. & NO. AR. RR

2.0 WEST OF SULPHUR ROCK, Independence, AR

Built 1991 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 7,000

SH 381 Log 10.98

Good

Over: BIG DITCH

11 SO JCT US 70 & SH 381, Lonoke, AR

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 210

SH 308-03- LM 0.55

Good

Over: DITCH NO 4

.55 MI E OF JCT SH 77, Mississippi, AR

Built 1980 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 20

Showing 9,951-10,000 of 12,974 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 Arkansas's inventory picture to drill to a county or a specific span.

  • Browse counties in Arkansas 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. Arkansas 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.