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)

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.

All Bridges in Arkansas

CR 3566

Good

Over: Spadra Creek

0.90 M E Jct CR 77 & 74, Johnson, AR

Built 2018 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 74

CR 704-C(White Rd)

Good

Over: Ditch 10

.4m W of Stacy Ln, Poinsett, AR

Built 2018 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 40

CR 26/ Liberty Rd.

Good

Over: Smith Creek

8.60 E. of jct. S.H. 8, Montgomery, AR

Built 2018 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 250

Rocky Creek Rd.

Good

Over: ROCKY CREEK

.30 miles west of SH 237, Miller, AR

Built 2019 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 128

C.R.29-C(PROVO RD)

Good

Over: SPRING BRANCH

5 MI. N.E. OF LOCKSBURG, Sevier, AR

Built 2019 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,324

Pleasant Grove Rd

Good

Over: Osage Creek

0.31 mi E of Hwy 112, Benton, AR

Built 2017 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 12,000

Grant 42 - CR

Good

Over: Herbert Creek

0.8 Mi S US270-Prattsvile, Grant, AR

Built 1990 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 69

Union CR 9 Z-D

Good

Over: Flat Creek

.10 Mi E SH 167, Union, AR

Built 2018 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 170

Avilla East

Good

Over: Creek

.71 E of Congo Rd, Saline, AR

Built 2019 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,200

Geyer Springs Road

Good

Over: Union Pacific Rail Road

0.2 Miles N of W 65 St, Pulaski, AR

Built 2020 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 9,300

W Wade Avenue MH

Good

Over: Dodd Creek

0.24 Mi W of College St., Baxter, AR

Built 1978 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,800

Clark Rd

Good

Over: Little Willet Creek

0.88 M W Jct Crawford Rd, Johnson, AR

Built 2018 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 2,700

Broomfield Rd.

Good

Over: Creek

2.7 mi E of SH 7, Pope, AR

Built 2018 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 977

Ft. Smith Blvd.

Good

Over: Flat Rock Creek BR 019

0.52 Mi. E of Hwy. 96 - 2, Sebastian, AR

Built 2019 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

Brush Cr Rd -CR 60

Good

Over: Brush Creek - Wash. Co.

1.38 Mi N of US 412, Washington, AR

Built 2019 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 571

Caney Valley Rd.

Good

Over: Caney Creek

3.3 mi E. Jct. SH 92, Conway, AR

Built 2019 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 230

N. Elizabeth St.

Good

Over: N. Fork Cypress Bayou

.08 Mi N Jct US 64, Faulkner, AR

Built 2019 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50

Creekside Drive

Good

Over: Creek

0.6 miles NE from HWY 5, Saline, AR

Built 2017 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

CR 985 - C

Good

Over: Ditch #7

1 M NE of Bowman, Craighead, AR

Built 2019 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 63

Union CR 312 Z-D

Good

Over: Amason Creek

0.47 E of Jct US167&CR312, Union, AR

Built 2019 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 518

Calhoun CR # 131

Good

Over: Creek

.89 M from Jct. of 30&131, Calhoun, AR

Built 2019 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 173

CR 69

Good

Over: Overflow Creek

4.5Mi S US 278-Snyder, Ashley, AR

Built 2019 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 192

CO RD 41 - E -1.85

Good

Over: CHICKEN CREEK

1 M S JCT CO RD 43, Miller, AR

Built 2019 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 187

CR 114 - G

Good

Over: Drainage Ditch

Sunrise Rd/G, Craighead, AR

Built 2019 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 1,600

CR 619

Good

Over: Yocum Creek

0.16 mi East of SH 103, Carroll, AR

Built 2000 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 20

CR43 /Spanker Rd

Good

Over: Spanker creek

.05 MI N JCT C R 40, Benton, AR

Built 2019 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 600

Bryant Parkway

Good

Over: creek

0.85 miles N of Shobe Rd., Saline, AR

Built 2019 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4,900

CR 7

Good

Over: Bear Creek

3 MI NO JCT SH 24, Sevier, AR

Built 2019 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 90

CR 7 BEAR CREEK CU

Good

Over: BRANCH OF BEAR CREEK

3.65 MI N JCT SH 24, Sevier, AR

Built 2019 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 90

CR3020

Good

Over: Creek

3.03 Mi W of Jct. SH 164, Johnson, AR

Built 2020 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 400

Young Gravelly Rd

Good

Over: Rock Creek

4.3 M NE Gravelly, Yell, AR

Built 2020 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 100

CR 705

Good

Over: OSAGE CREEK

3.17 mi SW of jct SH 103, Carroll, AR

Built 2020 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 125

Cr. 43-E-4.51

Good

Over: Mill Creek

1.5 M W JCT US 71, Miller, AR

Built 2020 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 176

CR7 BEAR CRK CTOFF

Good

Over: BRANCH OF BEAR CREEK

4 M SW DEQUEEN, Sevier, AR

Built 2020 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 80

Smith Rd CR46

Good

Over: Panther Creek

2.1 Mi. W of SH16, White, AR

Built 2019 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 450

CR 250

Good

Over: Lateral #4/Angle Ditch

.50 N & 1.5 E of RISHER, Craighead, AR

Built 2020 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 4

Old Hwy 17-CR

Good

Over: Bass Creek

0.7 Mi S SH 1-St. Charles, Arkansas, AR

Built 2020 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 283

Rte. 28780(J ST.)

Good

Over: creek

0.39 MI E JCT J ST& LANG, Cross, AR

Built 2020 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 50

C.R. 271

Good

Over: Hale Creek

.04 MI JCT CO RD 47, Sevier, AR

Built 2020 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 14

Par Drive

Good

Over: ditch

.1 Mi W Of I55 Serv Rd, Crittenden, AR

Built 1994 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 20

Cow face Rd

Good

Over: Hickory Creek

3 mi East of Springdale, Benton, AR

Built 2019 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 26

CR 664 - I

Good

Over: Ditch No. 4

2 MI N of Bay, Craighead, AR

Built 2020 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 114

Union CoRd 13

Good

Over: Holly Creek

1.25 M N JCT CR 411, Union, AR

Built 2020 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 547

Vineyard Creek Rd

Good

Over: Vineyard Branch-Seb. Co.

0.25 Mi East of US 71, Sebastian, AR

Built 2020 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 44

CR 360

Good

Over: Ten Mile Creek

1.4 MI W JCT SH172, Bradley, AR

Built 2020 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 247

Jenny Lind Road

Good

Over: Mill Creek

0.10 MI N I-540, Sebastian, AR

Built 2020 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 8,613

Dollar Junction Rd

Good

Over: Spring Creek

1.2 MI E JCT CR 40, Union, AR

Built 2020 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 110

Little TX Rd. CR24

Good

Over: Weaver Creek

0.5 Mi. W. Of County Line, Scott, AR

Built 2016 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 250

Sims Loop Rd

Good

Over: Rainy Creek

0.2 M E Jct CR 65, Montgomery, AR

Built 2020 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 200

Rogers Ln. - CR134

Good

Over: Johnson Creek

0.08 Mi. N. Jct. Hwy. 71, Scott, AR

Built 2015 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 30

Showing 11,451-11,500 of 12,974 bridges

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.

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.