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

CR 8167 Newton

Fair

Over: PANTHER CREEK

.36 W JCT SH 327 &CR 8167, Newton, AR

Built 1978 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 70

Cr-328/Z-E/L-3.97

Fair

Over: Big Cypress Drainage

0.8 Mi West Jct Cr 3 & 18, Lee, AR

Built 1977 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 107

Pleasent View Rd-E

Fair

Over: Illinios Bayou Lk Dardnl

0.63 M. W. SH 7, Pope, AR

Built 1981 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 1,500

CR 2 ZONE -E-8.65

Fair

Over: I-30 SEC 12 LM28.63

JCT I-30 & CO.RD.2, Hempstead, AR

Built 1967 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 610

Trace Branch Road

Fair

Over: M.F. White River-Wash

1 MI S OF SULFUR CITY, Washington, AR

Built 1966 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 499

Cato Springs Road

Fair

Over: Cato Spr. - Fayetteville

0.4 MI W71B, Washington, AR

Built 1967 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 3,100

State Highway 219

Fair

Over: I 40-SEC 12-Franklin Co.

@ JCT I 40 & 219, Franklin, AR

Built 1969 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 8,810

State Highway 186

Fair

Over: Interstate 40 - Franklin

@ JCT I 40 & 186, Franklin, AR

Built 1971 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 398

SH 35-10 LM 3.28

Fair

Over: Bayou Macon

1.80 Mi E SH159-Halley, Desha, AR

Built 1969 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 117

SH 115-02-LM 14.13

Fair

Over: COOPER CREEK

2 MI S SMITHVILLE, Lawrence, AR

Built 1969 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 1,600

SHACKLEFORD ROAD

Fair

Over: I 430-LOG 5.33

0.95 MI S OF I-630, Pulaski, AR

Built 1973 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 37,623

SH 355 - 04 - 8.05

Fair

Over: BODCAW RELIEF

.25 MI W NEVADA CO.LINE, Hempstead, AR

Built 1970 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 280

SH 164

Fair

Over: Patsy Creek

2.5 M N Jct Hwy 64 & 164, Johnson, AR

Built 1972 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 640

SH 305 Log 0.080

Fair

Over: FOUR MILE CREEK

0.1 MI NO JCT SH 367, Lonoke, AR

Built 1970 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 8,600

State Highway 217

Fair

Over: Onion Creek - Frank. Co.

1.3 MI W OF VESTA, Franklin, AR

Built 1973 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 221

SH 172-03 LM 15.46

Fair

Over: Clear Creek

2.1 Mi W US 425-ShadyGrov, Drew, AR

Built 1975 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 367

SH 122/Independ Co

Fair

Over: WHITE RIVER

0.3 MI N JCT OF SH 14, Independence, AR

Built 1975 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 2,100

SH 123 Newton

Fair

Over: BUFFALO RIVER

0.5 MI North of CARVER, Newton, AR

Built 1976 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 730

SH 379

Fair

Over: Ouachita River

.6 Mi S Jct SH 88 @ Oden, Montgomery, AR

Built 1976 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 360

SH 87/Fulton Co.

Fair

Over: LITTLE CREEK

7.7 MI N US 62, Fulton, AR

Built 1977 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 360

SH 258 White Co.

Fair

Over: US 67

JCT 258 & US 67, White, AR

Built 1978 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 220

Sh306/Sec-2/L10.61

Fair

Over: Languille River

4.1 Mi W Jct Sh 1&306, St. Francis, AR

Built 1979 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 958

Sh306/Sec-2/L10.89

Fair

Over: Languille River Relief

3.8 Mi W Jct Sh 1&306, St. Francis, AR

Built 1979 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 958

Sh306/Sec-2/L11.23

Fair

Over: Languille River Relief

3.5 Mi W Jct Sh 1&306, St. Francis, AR

Built 1979 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 958

SH 74 Searcy

Fair

Over: BIG CREEK

9.07 MI E JCT SH 27-74, Searcy, AR

Built 1979 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 380

SH 307

Fair

Over: Fourche LaFave River

2.5 MI S Jct SH307&28, Yell, AR

Built 1984 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 130

SH 16

Fair

Over: WEAVER CREEK

.5 MI SO OF SHIRLEY, Van Buren, AR

Built 1990 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 1,700

SH 69/Independ Co.

Fair

Over: MUD CREEK

0.8 MI. E JCT. SH 122&69, Independence, AR

Built 2005 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 3,727

CR 442 Benton Co.

Fair

Over: BUTLER CREEK

.5 M NW SULPHUR SPRINGS, Benton, AR

Built 1940 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 144

CR 86-B (911=540)

Fair

Over: DITCH

5 Mi N of Holly Island, Clay, AR

Built 1940 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 94

Evergreen Rd. - C

Fair

Over: Hogans Creek

5M NE Center Ridge, Conway, AR

Built 1983 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 136

CR 31-E(Duncan Rd)

Fair

Over: BIG CREEK

4.25 M N JONESBORO, Craighead, AR

Built 1978 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 1,898

Cr-814/Z-A/L-7.11

Fair

Over: St.Francis River Divert

1.0 Mi East Jct Cr 82 &92, Cross, AR

Built 1952 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 20

CR 83C Mill Creek

Fair

Over: GULPHA CREEK

7.02 MI W CO RD 83&HWY128, Garland, AR

Built 1938 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 240

CR 104G Caddo Gap

Fair

Over: BRANCH MAZARN CR

3.34 MONTGOMERY CO.LINE, Garland, AR

Built 1965 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 1,182

CR 584F Gillham Rd

Fair

Over: ROYAL CREEK

.1 N US 270, Garland, AR

Built 1975 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 183

CR S309 - D

Fair

Over: NATIONAL DITCH

4 Mi SW of Victoria, Mississippi, AR

Built 1978 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 50

CR 270-C-Cottonwoo

Fair

Over: Ditch # 35

.86 MI. E. Jct. CR. 297, Poinsett, AR

Built 1932 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 122

Victor Rd.- D

Fair

Over: N Fk Illinois Bayou

4.9 E SH 7, Pope, AR

Built 1952 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 62

Granny Gap Rd. 1

Fair

Over: Mill Creek

4.05 M from end of SH 164, Pope, AR

Built 1940 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 232

Pless School Rd

Fair

Over: Cedar Creek

.45 N Co Rd 79, Pope, AR

Built 1940 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 168

CR 44 BARRETT

Fair

Over: Nowlin Creek

1.7 MI W OF SH 300 ZONE F, Pulaski, AR

Built 1975 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 1,265

CR 62 Mitchell Rd

Fair

Over: LITTLE CREEK

.2 MI W of Fortson Rd, Pulaski, AR

Built 1970 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 301

Cr-414/Z-B/L-3.09

Fair

Over: St Francis River Cut Off

3.09 Mi E Cr 414& Sh 38, St. Francis, AR

Built 1958 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 30

CR 60/Indepen Co.

Fair

Over: BIG CREEK

1.31 MI W SH 69, Independence, AR

Built 1978 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 30

Cr-621/Z-B/L-0.22

Fair

Over: Alligator Bayou

.2 Miles North Of Sh 131, Lee, AR

Built 1950 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 108

County Road 63

Fair

Over: Big Creek Sebastian Co.

1.4 Mi East Jct Hwy 253, Sebastian, AR

Built 1976 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 101

CR 706C Mulberry

Fair

Over: MIDDLE BR GULPHA CREEK

.63MI N CR 705, Garland, AR

Built 1970 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 10

CR 79 D VAUGHAN

Fair

Over: NORTH FORK CREEK

0.3 MI NW of Danville Rd, Garland, AR

Built 1973 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 328

CR 106G Old Dallas

Fair

Over: MEYERS CREEK

JCT OF CO RDS 106 & 103, Garland, AR

Built 1968 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 730

Showing 3,751-3,800 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.