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

CR180 White County

Poor

Over: OATS CREEK

.70MI NW US 67, White, AR

Built 1940 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 200

CR 74 Mt.Ida Road

Poor

Over: ALUM FORK RELIEF

9.44 W JCT SH 9, Saline, AR

Built 1960 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 10

CR 508 - A

Poor

Over: POST OAK CREEK

1 MI S. of RECTOR, Clay, AR

Built 1991 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 312

CR 22-D-WEINER CUT

Poor

Over: LANGUILLE RIVER

.4 M W JCT CO RD 22&808, Poinsett, AR

Built 1993 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 40

KinionLk.Rd-WashCo

Poor

Over: Muddy Fork Illinois Rvr.

.42 MI W CO RD 37, Washington, AR

Built 1998 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 199

US 64B-Crawford Co

Poor

Over: Little Frog Bayou

0.2 MI N JCT SH 162 & 64, Crawford, AR

Built 1929 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 1,900

Us70/Sec-18/L17.39

Poor

Over: Drainage Ditch

0.65 Mi West Of Sh 1 Jct, St. Francis, AR

Built 1931 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 3,300

Us-49/Sec10/L17.99

Poor

Over: Ar Delta Heritage Trail

0.6 Mi E Of Walnut Corner, Phillips, AR

Built 1948 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 8,056

SH 56 Izard County

Poor

Over: CALICO CR; Randhill Rd.

.04 MI E JCT SH 5, Izard, AR

Built 1941 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 4,101

SH 181-01- LM 1.99

Poor

Over: DITCH NO 5

.36 M E I-55, Mississippi, AR

Built 1950 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 600

SH 37 / Jackson Co

Poor

Over: EIGHT MILE CREEK

2.80 MI S JCT SH 145, Jackson, AR

Built 1951 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 400

SH 25-06- LM 13.27

Poor

Over: CYPRESS CREEK

13.46 M NE INDEPENDENCE C, Lawrence, AR

Built 1953 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 1,800

Sh316/Sec-1/L10.97

Poor

Over: Creek

3.01 Mi So Of Jct Us 49, Phillips, AR

Built 1972 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 350

CR13/Cleburne Co.

Poor

Over: TAYLOR CREEK

.10 M S CORD 230 & CORD13, Cleburne, AR

Built 1930 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 66

CR 837 - A

Poor

Over: COCKLE BURR SLOUGH

.5 MI N & 1 M W MANGRUM, Craighead, AR

Built 1976 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 40

Stacy/Z-Dn/L-0.32

Poor

Over: Ditch

.32 No Jct Sh 77 & Cr 30, Crittenden, AR

Built 1940 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 97

CR 74 Mt Ida Rd

Poor

Over: ALUM FORK SALINE RVR

9.3 M W JCT CO RD 48, Saline, AR

Built 1969 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 10

Lake Frances Road

Poor

Over: Alex Branch-Wash. Co.

0.65MI W SH 59, Washington, AR

Built 1965 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 250

E. 8th Street

Poor

Over: Booneville Creek-Logan

0.25 E SH 23, Logan, AR

Built 1960 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 781

Brush Creek Rd.

Poor

Over: Brush Creek- Elm Springs

1.5 MI SW SH 112, Washington, AR

Built 1980 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 1,520

Sulpher Springs RD

Poor

Over: MIDDLE FK SALINE RIVER

JCT CR 57 & 59, Saline, AR

Built 1992 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 90

CR19/Indepen. Co.

Poor

Over: POWERS CREEK

0.10 M S OF CO RD 6&19, Independence, AR

Built 1992 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 123

CO RD 7 ZONE G

Poor

Over: Creek Sebastian County

0.35 MI N CO RD 9, Sebastian, AR

Built 1939 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 78

CR 480 - I

Poor

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

1.5 NW HARGRAVES COR, Clay, AR

Built 1995 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 22

CR 279-I 911=418

Poor

Over: CREEK

1.5 MI SE BOYDSVILLE, Clay, AR

Built 1996 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 50

CR 15-G/Wildwood

Poor

Over: POWERS DITCH

3MI.S JCT CO RD15&ZONEG, Poinsett, AR

Built 1997 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 39

I-630 EB Log 2.10

Poor

Over: RICE THAYER STS UPRR

5.47 M E OF I-430, Pulaski, AR

Built 1969 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 55,000

Sh-17/Sec-1/L11.1

Poor

Over: Dials Creek

11.1 Miles North Of Sh 1, Monroe, AR

Built 1955 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 430

SH 141-05- LM 5.23

Poor

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

2.37 MI N OF KNOB, Clay, AR

Built 1972 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 350

Pvt Ent-Rt-SH163

Poor

Over: HWY RD DITCH

0.30 MI SO JCT SH 1B, Craighead, AR

Built 1989 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 3,866

SH 22-Logan Co.

Poor

Over: Six Mile Creek Relief

3.54 MI E OF FRANKLIN CO, Logan, AR

Built 1928 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 4,800

US 62-18- LM 0.35

Poor

Over: Spring River & BNSF RR

0.15 MI NE JCT US 63, Lawrence, AR

Built 1937 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 3,400

SH 77-02- LM 7.16

Poor

Over: DITCH NO. 1

1.1 MI N JCT OF SH 158, Mississippi, AR

Built 1954 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 2,035

US Highway 270

Poor

Over: Turner Creek-Scott Co.

5.53 MI E OF Y CITY, Scott, AR

Built 1928 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 1,000

Madison CR 43-D

Poor

Over: CLIFTY CREEK

.01 MI. Nrth of SH 12, Madison, AR

Built 1941 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 100

Us-70/Sec-19/L8.84

Poor

Over: Fishing Lake

8.84 Miles Ne Jct Sh1, St. Francis, AR

Built 1959 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 940

SH 118-02- LM 1.24

Poor

Over: TYRONZA RIVER

.8MI E JCT SH 135, Poinsett, AR

Built 1960 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 780

SH 25-06- LM 10.50

Poor

Over: MORGAN CREEK

.2 M SW OF SH 361, Lawrence, AR

Built 1949 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 1,500

SH 170 - Wash Co.

Poor

Over: So. Frk Farmington Brnch

4.56 NE JCT US 62 & 170, Washington, AR

Built 1923 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 4,170

SH 214-01-LM 3.14

Poor

Over: BRUSHY CREEK

3.1 MI E US 49, Poinsett, AR

Built 1963 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 220

Sh-260/Sec-2/L1.94

Poor

Over: Ditch

1.9 Miles East Jct Sh 17, Woodruff, AR

Built 1948 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 90

SH 72 Benton 1

Poor

Over: DITCH

0.1 MI E JCT SH 72- 94, Benton, AR

Built 1932 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 2,600

MCCOY ROAD

Poor

Over: TULLEY CREEK

PINE BLUFF ARSENAL, Jefferson, AR

Built 1955 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 50

US 63 Log 8.51

Poor

Over: LAGRUE CREEK

1.5 M S OF SH 86 EAST, Prairie, AR

Built 1934 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 3,700

SH 77-02- LM 0.71

Poor

Over: DITCH NO 13

.70 MI S JCT SH 18, Mississippi, AR

Built 1952 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 1,700

SH 77-02-LM 1.9

Poor

Over: DITCH NO 20

1.9 Mi S of Hwy 18, Mississippi, AR

Built 1952 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 1,700

SH 37 / Jackson Co

Poor

Over: CREEK

.80 MI S JCT OF SH 14, Jackson, AR

Built 1951 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 290

State Highway 88

Poor

Over: Loftis Creek Polk Co.

8 MI E US 71, Polk, AR

Built 1952 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 1,400

State Highway 88

Poor

Over: Irons Fork Creek Polk Co

3.97 MI E JCT US 71, Polk, AR

Built 1955 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 2,250

SH 43 Benton 2

Poor

Over: FLINT CREEK

3.50 MI S JCT SH 12-SH 43, Benton, AR

Built 1958 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 2,799

Showing 12,601-12,650 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.