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

Hwy 23 - Franklin

Fair

Over: Branch of Mulberry River

1.3 Mi S. Mulberry River, Franklin, AR

Built 2010 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 1,700

SH 90-02- LM 7.63

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

1.4 MI SE OF BOYDSVILLE, Clay, AR

Built 2004 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 930

SH 549 Seb. Co.

Fair

Over: Branch Ltl Vache Grasse

0.15 MI S SH 22, Sebastian, AR

Built 2007 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 3,096

SH 18 LM 17.96

Fair

Over: Cane Island Slough Ditch

1.5 MI East of Lake City, Craighead, AR

Built 2013 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 8,100

US 71 Crawford Co.

Fair

Over: Clear Creek Relief

2.95 N JCT HWYS 71 & 282, Crawford, AR

Built 1928 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 2,399

Us-70/Sec-20/L2.56

Fair

Over: Drainage Ditch

2.56 Miles East Jct Sh 50, Crittenden, AR

Built 1929 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 3,903

Us-70/Sec-20/L4.58

Fair

Over: Drainage Ditch

4.58 Miles East Jct Sh 50, Crittenden, AR

Built 1929 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 4,400

Us-70/Sec-20/L5.59

Fair

Over: Ditch Number 14

5.59 Miles East Jct Sh 50, Crittenden, AR

Built 1929 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 1,700

U.S. 67 SERVICE RD

Fair

Over: PAUPS SPUR BAYOU

0.37 MI. SO. OF S.H. 108, Miller, AR

Built 1929 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 384

US.67 SEC.01-15.28

Fair

Over: GILLESPIE DITCH

3.35 MI SE HEMPSTEAD CO, Miller, AR

Built 1929 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 4,300

US 61-02- LM 19.72

Fair

Over: SANDY BAYOU

0.2 MI N GRIDER, Mississippi, AR

Built 1952 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 2,711

US 67 SEC.03- 3.93

Fair

Over: PINE CREEK

2.40 MI SW OF PRESCOTT, Nevada, AR

Built 1934 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 2,400

SH 7-10 Log 12.58

Fair

Over: BAILEY CREEK

4.91 MI SE OF PERRY CO, Garland, AR

Built 1933 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 1,851

SH 8

Fair

Over: Caddo River

6.26 M. E of Polk Co Line, Montgomery, AR

Built 1940 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 680

State Highway 8

Fair

Over: Powell Creek

6.84 M E OKLAHOMA SL., Polk, AR

Built 1951 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 1,168

US 278 - 05 -17.92

Fair

Over: TOWN CREEK

1.25 M S OF WASHINGTON CL, Hempstead, AR

Built 1950 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 2,700

US 63/Sharp County

Fair

Over: HUMPHREY CR

.6 MI W JCT SH 58 & US 63, Sharp, AR

Built 1950 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 6,106

State Highway 28

Fair

Over: Thompson Creek

1.39 M E US 71, Scott, AR

Built 1950 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 680

SH 122/Indepen Co.

Fair

Over: DOTA CREEK

3.3 MI N JCT SH 69, Independence, AR

Built 1959 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 752

SH 115-01-LM 12.81

Fair

Over: FOURCHE CRK

1.10 MI S OF STOKES, Randolph, AR

Built 1951 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 2,900

State Highway 8

Fair

Over: Red Creek

3.3 MI E OKLAHOMA ST LN, Polk, AR

Built 1951 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 1,168

State Highway 8

Fair

Over: Queen Creek-Polk Co.

3.68 MI E OKLAHOMA ST LN, Polk, AR

Built 1951 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 1,168

State Highway 8

Fair

Over: Mill Creek

4.64 MI E OKLAHOMA ST LN, Polk, AR

Built 1951 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 1,168

SH 31Log 6.02

Fair

Over: CROSS BAYOU

.80 MI N JCT OF SH 165, Lonoke, AR

Built 1954 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 770

SH 31 Log 6.21

Fair

Over: SLOUGH 78

1 MI N OF JCT US 165, Lonoke, AR

Built 1954 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 770

SH 31 Log 7.68

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

2.50 MI N JCT OF US 165, Lonoke, AR

Built 1954 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 770

SH 31 Log 11.13

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

1.7 MI N JCT SH 232, Lonoke, AR

Built 1954 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 781

SH 31 Log 13.14

Fair

Over: CANEY CREEK

PETTUS, Lonoke, AR

Built 1952 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 781

SH 14/Stone County

Fair

Over: ROCKY BAYOU

2.5 MI E JCT SH 5 SO, Stone, AR

Built 1951 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 2,536

Sh-86/Sec-3/L18.95

Fair

Over: Dead Man Slough

1.1 Mi West Jct Of Us 49, Monroe, AR

Built 1951 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 300

SH 8-16 LM 6.87

Fair

Over: Boeuf River

5.7 Mi W US 65-Eudora, Chicot, AR

Built 1955 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 496

SH 154

Fair

Over: Petit Jean River

On Conway & Yell Co Line, Yell, AR

Built 1956 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 573

SH 135-04- LM 3.10

Fair

Over: 8 MILE CREEK

3.10 MI N CRAIGHEAD CO L, Greene, AR

Built 1958 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 1,400

SH 118-01-LM 12.42

Fair

Over: DITCH 13

1.0 MI W JCT I 55, Mississippi, AR

Built 1958 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 770

SH 14-16- LM 6.18

Fair

Over: DITCH 40

3.55 MI W JCT OF I - 55, Mississippi, AR

Built 1959 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 1,200

SH 16/Cleburne Co

Fair

Over: CADRON CREEK

1.30 MI NW JCT SH16-25, Cleburne, AR

Built 1961 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 1,967

SH 54-03 LM 16.27

Fair

Over: Boyd Creek

7.6 Mi E US 425-Garnett, Lincoln, AR

Built 1961 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 640

Sh-149/Sec-2/L2.82

Fair

Over: Drainage Ditch Number 6

2.8 Mi North Jct Of Sh 50, St. Francis, AR

Built 1961 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 270

SH 46-02 LM 8.75

Fair

Over: Big Slough

1.0 Mi N SalineRvr-JenkFr, Grant, AR

Built 1966 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 1,700

SH 35-09 LM 5.95

Fair

Over: Black Pond Slough

1.3 Mi E US 65-Halley, Chicot, AR

Built 1962 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 360

CR 32 Z-D LM 1.15

Fair

Over: I 30 S-14 LM 74.59

JCT I-30 & CO.RD. 32, Clark, AR

Built 1965 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 3,800

Sh-218/Sec-1/L3.35

Fair

Over: Drainage Ditch Number 18

1.60 Mi W Jct Sh 218 & 50, Crittenden, AR

Built 1964 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 369

SH 293-01 LM 0.45

Fair

Over: Bayou Bartholomew

0.45 Mi S SH 11-Meroney, Lincoln, AR

Built 1964 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 130

SH 52-03 LM 4.31

Fair

Over: Boeuf River

4.31 Mi E Ashley Co Line, Chicot, AR

Built 1964 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 130

South Morningside

Fair

Over: Town Creek - Wash. Co.

0.23 SO JCT SH 16, Washington, AR

Built 1974 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 1,100

CR 546 - B

Fair

Over: RHYNE DITCH

.75 Mi E of SH 139, Clay, AR

Built 1975 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 213

SH 21 Madison Co.

Fair

Over: DRY FORK CREEK

2 MI SE JCT SH 21-74, Madison, AR

Built 1969 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 920

Sh-284/Sec-1/L2.53

Fair

Over: Drainage Ditch

2.52 Mi E Woodruff Co Lin, Cross, AR

Built 1969 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 310

US 79

Fair

Over: OUACHITA RIVER

2.1 MI E JCT SH 7, Ouachita, AR

Built 1976 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 10,000

Sh316/Sec-1/L13.65

Fair

Over: Ditch

0.25 Mi So Of Jct Us 49, Phillips, AR

Built 1972 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 350

Showing 1,551-1,600 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.