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

Ashley Road-CR 6

Fair

Over: Lower Derrieusseaux Crk

1.25 Mi N US 270-Clrwater, Jefferson, AR

Built 1999 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 520

CR 1311 Sundown

Fair

Over: Mt. Carmel Creek

.14 M E SH 128, Garland, AR

Built 2001 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 19,000

County Road 20

Fair

Over: Buffalo Creek Polk Co.

0.78 Mi. S. Of Hwy 4, Polk, AR

Built 2002 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 272

McEntire Road-CR

Fair

Over: Creek

2.59 Mi S US 425-Ladd, Jefferson, AR

Built 2001 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 40

CR 604 Baxter

Fair

Over: BIG CREEK

.25 MI W of SH 201s, Baxter, AR

Built 2001 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 44

CR 180 Madison Co.

Fair

Over: DRAKES CREEK

0.1 MI N JAPTON, Madison, AR

Built 2001 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 78

Granny Gap Rd - D

Fair

Over: N FK Illinois Bayou

2 MI.NE JCT CO RDS 19&20, Pope, AR

Built 1987 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 232

CR 1/Longview Road

Fair

Over: Brown Creek

2.08 Mi S SH 172-Valley, Drew, AR

Built 2002 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 110

Gib Anderson Rd-CR

Fair

Over: Bayou Bartholomew

3.50 Mi E US63-Pinebergen, Jefferson, AR

Built 2003 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 11

E. North St.

Fair

Over: Moores Creek - Lincoln

0.3 M W. S. Wdngtn Blktp, Washington, AR

Built 2003 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 735

CR 809 Benton

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1 MI. N of SH 72, Benton, AR

Built 2005 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 562

CR 860-A

Fair

Over: Asher Ditch

.5 M. S. of Caraway, Craighead, AR

Built 2009 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 10

CR 481-D (911=745)

Fair

Over: Creek

1.4 MI S OF SCHOOL ST, Craighead, AR

Built 2012 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 579

Blue Point Rd.

Fair

Over: Flat Cypress Creek

3.0M SW JCT CR 6 & SH 154, Conway, AR

Built 2004 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 49

Calhoun CR 20

Fair

Over: Slough

2 Mi. South CR 29, Calhoun, AR

Built 2017 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 668

State Highway 10

Fair

Over: Pigeon Creek-Sebastian

13.13 MI E GREENWOOD ARK, Sebastian, AR

Built 1928 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 2,900

US 278 S-12 LM9.85

Fair

Over: CAMP CREEK

6.38 MI W JCT US 63, Bradley, AR

Built 1954 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 1,500

US 278 S-12 LM 8.2

Fair

Over: STEEP BANK EAGLE CREEK

8.23 MI NE CALHOUN CO LIN, Bradley, AR

Built 1954 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 1,500

US 278 S-12 LM 5.7

Fair

Over: EAGLE CREEK

2.75 MI EAST OF BANKS, Bradley, AR

Built 1954 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 1,500

US 65 Searcy

Fair

Over: LITTLE RED RIVER

1.2 MI SE JCT 66 LESLIE, Searcy, AR

Built 1931 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 4,500

US 79-10 LM 5.20

Fair

Over: Wabbaseka Bayou

SE of Wabbaseka limits, Jefferson, AR

Built 1952 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 3,800

US 278 S-12LM12.01

Fair

Over: BEECH CREEK

12.02 MI E CALHOUN CO LIN, Bradley, AR

Built 1954 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 1,500

SH 7-8 Log 1.48

Fair

Over: HOLLY CREEK

1.48 MI NO CLARK CO LINE, Hot Spring, AR

Built 1928 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 4,906

US 64 White County

Fair

Over: LITTLE MINGO CREEK

3.89 MI E JCT US 67, White, AR

Built 1930 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 5,200

US 64 West Bound

Fair

Over: Frog Bayou Crawford Co.

1.05 W JCT US 71, Crawford, AR

Built 1950 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 7,000

US 412 WB Bent CO

Fair

Over: ILLINOIS RIVER

11.6 MI E OF OKLAHOMA LN, Benton, AR

Built 1995 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 10,000

SH440 SB Log 12.01

Fair

Over: INK BAYOU

1.6 MI N I-40 (I-6), Pulaski, AR

Built 1999 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 9,500

E B FRONTAGE RD

Fair

Over: GULPHA CREEK

1.94 MI E OF SH 7 HOT SPR, Garland, AR

Built 1958 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 500

US 70-B FR RD EB

Fair

Over: Br. Gulpha Creek

3.52 MI E OF SH 7 HOT SPR, Garland, AR

Built 1958 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 500

CR 74 Glen Rose

Fair

Over: I-30 EB Log 101.80

3.81 MI E US 270, Hot Spring, AR

Built 1964 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 580

SH 412 EB Benton 2

Fair

Over: ILLINOIS RIVER

Benton Co 8.17 W OKLINE, Benton, AR

Built 1995 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 10,000

SH440 NB Log 12.01

Fair

Over: INK BAYOU

1.6 M N I-40 (I-6), Pulaski, AR

Built 1999 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 9,500

US 70-WB FRONTAGE

Fair

Over: GULPHA CREEK

1.94 MI EAST OF SH 7, Garland, AR

Built 1958 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 1,451

US 70B WB FR RD

Fair

Over: Br. Gulpha Creek

3.52 MI EAST OF SH 7, Garland, AR

Built 1958 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 1,451

US 278 SEC.2-12.88

Fair

Over: CREEK

SO CITY LIMITS OF UMPIRE, Howard, AR

Built 1960 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 740

SH53 S-0 LM 7.44

Fair

Over: HOLLYWOOD CREEK

.5 MI S JCT SH 26, Clark, AR

Built 1964 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 380

SH 58 SHARP CO.

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.6 MI N JCT SH 56 & 58, Sharp, AR

Built 1956 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 270

SH 146-01 LM 6.32

Fair

Over: Canal

6.32 Mi E US 79-Stuttgart, Arkansas, AR

Built 1980 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 690

Sh-306/Sec-5/L-1.0

Fair

Over: St Francis Ditch

5.3 Miles West Of Sh 75, Cross, AR

Built 1960 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 80

Sh-334/Sec-3/L2.46

Fair

Over: Otter Slough

2.46 Mi E Jct Us 79 & 334, Lee, AR

Built 1960 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 40

SH 190-03 LM 2.40

Fair

Over: Polk Creek

2.0 Mi S US270-Prattsvile, Grant, AR

Built 1967 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 220

SH 160-12 LM 3.60

Fair

Over: Ditch

8.2 Mi W US 65-Chicot Jct, Chicot, AR

Built 1968 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 388

SH 189 S-1 LM 6.76

Fair

Over: CREEK

6.99 MI SE JCT 97, Cleveland, AR

Built 1967 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 240

SH 189 S-1 LM13.36

Fair

Over: SIXTEENTH CREEK

3.93 MI NW BRADLEY CO LN, Cleveland, AR

Built 1967 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 440

Lake Fort Smith Rd

Fair

Over: Warloop Creek-Crawford

0.49 MI E US 71, Crawford, AR

Built 1930 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 134

SH 256 Log 1.73

Fair

Over: Black Bayou

3.5 MI S JCT SH 165, Lonoke, AR

Built 1949 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 140

Sh-243/Sec-3/L3.75

Fair

Over: Ditch

3.75 Mi North Jct Sh 121, Lee, AR

Built 1975 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 250

Sh-20/Sec-00/L2.49

Fair

Over: Cypress Ditch

0.40 Mi East Jct Sh 318, Phillips, AR

Built 1975 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 440

SH 160-10 LM 2.59

Fair

Over: Flat Creek Relief

2.59 Mi E SH 8-Longview, Ashley, AR

Built 1978 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 80

SH 160-10 LM 2.82

Fair

Over: Flat Creek

2.82 Mi E SH 8-Longview, Ashley, AR

Built 1978 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 80

Showing 3,651-3,700 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.