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

Poor

Over: Cane Creek Logan Co.

0.50 MI S OF SCRANTON, Logan, AR

Built 1960 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 1,400

US 278-SEC 2- 4.55

Poor

Over: COSSATOT RIVER

7.69 MI W JCT 84 & 278, Howard, AR

Built 1965 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 620

Reynolds Rd-CR 114

Poor

Over: S Fork Simpson Creek

0.99 Mi S SH365-Jefferson, Jefferson, AR

Built 1927 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 239

Cr-508/Z-C/L-2.38

Poor

Over: Blackfish Bayou

0.6 M W Co Rd 39 & Sh 149, St. Francis, AR

Built 1980 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 20

JoeT.HensleeRd-CR

Poor

Over: Plum Bayou

2.2 Mi W SH 15-Tucker, Jefferson, AR

Built 1973 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 283

1ST STREET

Poor

Over: DITCH (CITY)

.04 MI W OF US 70, Howard, AR

Built 1930 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 220

Calhoun CR 40 Z-E

Poor

Over: Jacks Creek

3.48 mi. NE of Jct. US278, Calhoun, AR

Built 2004 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 316

CR 22 Rice Rd.

Poor

Over: Crane Creek

2.60 MI NE JCT US 63, Bradley, AR

Built 2022 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 164

US 62

Poor

Over: St. Francis River

AR/MO Border, Clay, AR

Built 1953 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 1,400

SH 35 S-4 LM 9.18

Poor

Over: HARRISON CREEK

.51 MI W JCT US 79, Cleveland, AR

Built 1956 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 630

SH 134 SEC.01-5.49

Poor

Over: OLD CHANNEL MCKINNEY BAY

5.5 MI E JCT SH 134 & 71, Miller, AR

Built 1956 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 410

SH 323 White Co

Poor

Over: CREEK

1.1 MI N JCT US 67 & 323, White, AR

Built 1940 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 1,300

SH 323 White Co.

Poor

Over: CREEK

2.45 MI N JCT US 67 & 323, White, AR

Built 1940 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 940

State Highway 28

Poor

Over: Six Mile Creek-Scott Co.

6.2 MI W JCT SH 80 & 28, Scott, AR

Built 1968 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 763

SH 395/Fulton Co.

Poor

Over: PINE HILL CREEK

3.1 MI N JCT SH 9 & 395, Fulton, AR

Built 1960 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 1,200

C.R. 410- D - 3.79

Poor

Over: CREEK

3.75 MI S ARKINDA, Little River, AR

Built 1938 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 210

SH 141-05-LM 3.52

Poor

Over: JOHNSON CREEK

0.67 NE OF KNOB ARK., Clay, AR

Built 1980 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 350

SH 98 S-1 LM 5.21

Poor

Over: BIG CREEK

2.76 MI W JCT OF US 79, Columbia, AR

Built 1936 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 1,100

SH 23-Franklin Co

Poor

Over: Mulberry River

1.20 MI S OF CASS, Franklin, AR

Built 1935 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 1,700

SH 77-02- LM 10.42

Poor

Over: Little Rvr Lt Hand Chute

1.8 MI N JCT SH 140, Mississippi, AR

Built 1952 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 1,800

SH 16

Poor

Over: PEE DEE CREEK

2.6 M NE OF CLINTON, Van Buren, AR

Built 1940 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 1,500

SH 56 Izard County

Poor

Over: PINEY CREEK

2.8 M E OF SH 223, Izard, AR

Built 1949 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 2,000

SH 234 SEC.1-17.38

Poor

Over: LICK CREEK

WEST EDGE OF WILTON, Little River, AR

Built 1964 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 1,200

SH 162-Crawford Co

Poor

Over: Frog Bayou

2.2 MI S JCT US 64, Crawford, AR

Built 1966 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 1,700

Pond Creek Road

Poor

Over: Pond Creek-Franklin Co.

0.21 MI S US 64, Franklin, AR

Built 1930 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 241

East Huntsville Rd

Poor

Over: Spout Spring Br. - Fay.

0.2 MI S EAST ROCK ST, Washington, AR

Built 1940 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 13,000

CO RD 280 - E

Poor

Over: Barren Creek-Polk County

0.5 MI NO US 71, Polk, AR

Built 1981 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 82

CR 876 - A

Poor

Over: Ditch Number 5

1.5 M W & 2 M S Caraway, Craighead, AR

Built 1984 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 48

CR 4425 Madison Co

Poor

Over: FLEMING CREEK

1.0 MI EAST JCT S H 23, Madison, AR

Built 2005 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 217

SH 148-02- LM 7.12

Poor

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH NO. 28

4.1 MI W JCT I 55, Mississippi, AR

Built 1960 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 200

FDR 76

Poor

Over: IRONS FORK

10.617 MI S OF HWY 270, Polk, AR

Built 1936 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 50

FDR 76

Poor

Over: IRONS FORK

7.957 MI SW OF HWY 270, Polk, AR

Built 1936 Load: 21.4 t ADT: 50

SH 21 Madison

Poor

Over: MAXWELL CREEK

N OUTSKIRTS OF KINGSTON, Madison, AR

Built 1934 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 1,600

SH 5/Stone County

Poor

Over: SYLAMORE CREEK

.3 MI N JCT SH 14 W, Stone, AR

Built 1938 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 2,500

SH 14/Indepen. Co.

Poor

Over: SALADO CREEK

5.97 E JCT US 167, Independence, AR

Built 1961 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 1,900

Us-79/Sec15/L13.33

Poor

Over: Cat Creek

.30 Mi East Sh 121 Sec 3, Lee, AR

Built 1949 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 2,200

SH 26-SEC.03-16.63

Poor

Over: ANTOINE RIVER

EAST EDGE OF ANTOINE, Pike, AR

Built 1953 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 1,227

State Highway 88

Poor

Over: Ouachita River - Polk Co

3.26 MI E JCT US 71, Polk, AR

Built 1955 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 3,700

SH 74 Madison Co.

Poor

Over: HOLMAN CREEK

2 MI W HUNTSVILLE, Madison, AR

Built 1960 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 2,100

SH 29 SEC.06- 2.58

Poor

Over: WOLF CREEK

1.5 MI SW ANTOINE, Pike, AR

Built 1961 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 410

SH 107

Poor

Over: Cadron Creek

2.0 MI N OF BARNEY, Faulkner, AR

Built 1963 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 639

State Highway 38

Poor

Over: White River-Prairie Co.

1.0 MI E JCT SH 11 & 38, Prairie, AR

Built 1970 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 1,500

SH 170-Washington

Poor

Over: West Fork White River

0.29 MI NW JCT US 71 &170, Washington, AR

Built 1966 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 4,300

CR 5 Boone

Poor

Over: LICK BRANCH CREEK

5.5MI N JCT US HWY 62, Boone, AR

Built 1940 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 284

Roy Franks Ln.

Poor

Over: Racoon Creek-Logan Co.

0.77 MI S SH 10, Logan, AR

Built 1976 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 106

CO RD 1 - F - 2.67

Poor

Over: BRANCH

2.67 M SE JCT CR RAVANNA, Miller, AR

Built 1969 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 412

Cr-604/Z-G/L-0.42

Poor

Over: Little Cypress

.5 Miles East Jct Sh 39, Phillips, AR

Built 1977 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 24

Decatur Roller St

Poor

Over: Decatur Branch

0.12 mi. W of Jct SH 59, Benton, AR

Built 1941 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 1,338

Mud Line/Z-B/L-4.6

Poor

Over: Ditch Number 20

0.50 Miles East of Us 79, Crittenden, AR

Built 1999 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 195

SH 388-01 LM 1.70

Poor

Over: Big Canal (Canal #19)

1.70 Mi E US 65-Varner, Lincoln, AR

Built 1965 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 1,200

Showing 12,651-12,700 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.