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

SH51 S-1 LM 21.78

Fair

Over: BRADSHAW CREEK

2 MI E JCT SH 51 & 53, Clark, AR

Built 1973 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 310

SH 35-10 LM 5.69

Fair

Over: Clay Bayou

0.4 Mi W Chicot Co-Halley, Desha, AR

Built 1969 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 117

SH 369 - 01-11.10

Fair

Over: WEST BR FALLEN CREEK

.20 MI S PIKE CO LINE, Howard, AR

Built 1971 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 860

SH 301 SEC.01-1.58

Fair

Over: PRAIRIE CREEK

1.65 MI S JCT SH 27, Pike, AR

Built 1970 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 1,200

SH 11 Log 3.88

Fair

Over: BAYOU WATTENSAW

1.MI N OF JCT SH 249, Prairie, AR

Built 1971 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 2,000

SH 74 Madison Co

Fair

Over: WHARTON CREEK

6.5 MI E JCT SH 23 & 74, Madison, AR

Built 1974 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 540

State Highway 253

Fair

Over: Mackenay Creek Seb. Co.

5.45 MI S JCT SH 10 & 253, Sebastian, AR

Built 1977 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 1,000

Sh145/Sec-4/L11.42

Fair

Over: Bayou Deview

5.3 Mi West Of Sh 39 Jct, Woodruff, AR

Built 1977 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 160

BANKHEAD DRIVE

Fair

Over: I440 LR PORT RR FOURCHE

I-440 Log 3.24 Airport Ex, Pulaski, AR

Built 1976 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 2,900

SH 89

Fair

Over: Bridge Creek

0.82 MI E PULASKI CO LINE, Faulkner, AR

Built 1979 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 2,700

E NETTLETON-C

Fair

Over: TURTLE CREEK DITCH

Jct Matthews & Nettleton, Craighead, AR

Built 1979 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 11,000

SH 141-01- LM 0.00

Fair

Over: Un Pac - Burl No RRs

.1 MI S of Hwy 91, Craighead, AR

Built 1981 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 6,906

Sh-260/Sec-1/L5.86

Fair

Over: Creeek

5.86 Mile East Of Sh 33, Woodruff, AR

Built 1981 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 370

SH 287

Fair

Over: Point Remove Creek

1.76 M N SH 9, Conway, AR

Built 1981 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 660

Us-79/Sec-16/L9.44

Fair

Over: St Francis River

2 Miles Sw Jct Sh 131, Lee, AR

Built 1984 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 1,900

SH 172-03 LM 10.28

Fair

Over: Clear Creek Relief

2.8 Mi W CR 7-New Hope, Drew, AR

Built 1983 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 180

I-40E/I-49N RAMP

Fair

Over: I-40 I-49 Frog Bayou

I-40/I-49 @ FROG BAYOU, Crawford, AR

Built 1989 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 27,000

Clark CR 40 Z-A

Fair

Over: WOLF CREEK

1.3 MI E CO RD JCT 191, Clark, AR

Built 1938 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 108

CR 73 D / BEAUDRY

Fair

Over: BR OF ANGLING CR

JCT CR 73 & 1404, Garland, AR

Built 1970 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 32

CR 3390

Fair

Over: Spadra Creek

3.56 M E CORD 76 & SH 103, Johnson, AR

Built 1941 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 1,143

Southside Rd

Fair

Over: Caney Creek

10.91 W Jct SH 379, Montgomery, AR

Built 1974 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 80

Cr-419/Z-D/L-2.0

Fair

Over: St Francis River Cut Off

2.03 Miles North Of Cr, St. Francis, AR

Built 1958 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 90

Greasy Valley Road

Fair

Over: Fly Creek-Washington Co.

0.15 MI N CO RD 10, Washington, AR

Built 1974 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 69

S. Cove Creek Road

Fair

Over: Hog Head Creek - Wash.

0.02 MI SO OF CO RD 21, Washington, AR

Built 1977 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 31

N. Hughmount Road

Fair

Over: Clabber Creek - Wash. Co

0.12 MI N CO RD 84, Washington, AR

Built 1986 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 1,128

CR 25 Baxter

Fair

Over: CREEK

0.27 mi East of SH 5, Baxter, AR

Built 1986 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 2,711

EAST SCOTT STREET

Fair

Over: TOWN BRANCH-Crawford Co.

0.16 MI E SH 59 JCT, Crawford, AR

Built 1987 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 105

S 6TH ST/Kerr

Fair

Over: TOWN BRANCH-Crawford Co.

0.22 MI EAST JCT SH 59, Crawford, AR

Built 1987 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 105

Harrison Goblin Dr

Fair

Over: DRY JORDAN CREEK

1 MI North of SH 392, Boone, AR

Built 1985 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 1,368

Hamestring Road

Fair

Over: Hamestring Creek - Wash

1.15 N JCT SH 16, Washington, AR

Built 1981 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 320

CR 66 Baxter

Fair

Over: Barren Fork

1.3 MI North of SH 177, Baxter, AR

Built 1984 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 108

Tucker Mtn Rd.- F

Fair

Over: Cypress Creek

0.2 mi. W of Jct. SH 9, Conway, AR

Built 1985 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 103

Rennic Road

Fair

Over: Wedington Creek - Wash.

1.51 MI S JCT SH 244, Washington, AR

Built 1987 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 103

Sprgdle40TH ST. S.

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

.69 MI S. Jct Wagon Wheel, Benton, AR

Built 1986 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 311

Township Avenue

Fair

Over: Niokaska Creek-Wash

0.18 MI EAST OLD WIRE RD, Washington, AR

Built 1988 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 9,000

Highland Church Rd

Fair

Over: Creek - Wash. Co.

150 FT E CO RD 659, Washington, AR

Built 1988 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 280

CR 518-B

Fair

Over: JACKS CREEK

1.75 MI SO HALLIDAY, Greene, AR

Built 1988 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 83

Delight Road

Fair

Over: Sulphur Fork-Washington

0.1 MI EAST CO RD 21, Washington, AR

Built 1988 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 273

CR 718 Baxter

Fair

Over: LITHIA CREEK

.64 Mi East of SH 126N, Baxter, AR

Built 1989 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 195

CR 73 Baxter

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

1.62 MI W STONE CO LINE, Baxter, AR

Built 1989 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 598

Co Rd 47 Wash Co

Fair

Over: Middle Fork White River

1 MI NE CO RD 119 JCT, Washington, AR

Built 1989 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 814

Summers Road

Fair

Over: Price Creek - Wash. Co.

0.47 MI SOUTH OF SUMMERS, Washington, AR

Built 1990 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 141

Ball Road-Wash. Co

Fair

Over: Sinking Creek

0.1 MI S OF JCT CO RD 332, Washington, AR

Built 1990 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 787

Hale Road

Fair

Over: Dry Creek

2.18 MI SE CO RD 328, Washington, AR

Built 1990 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 67

CR 603 - H

Fair

Over: OLD SUGAR CREEK

1.2 miles E of Hwy 141, Greene, AR

Built 1990 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 134

CR 74-D-Field Ent

Fair

Over: CREEK

.33 MI E CO RD 497, Craighead, AR

Built 1990 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 10

North O Street

Fair

Over: Creek - Sebastian Co.

JCT O & 52ND STREETS, Sebastian, AR

Built 1990 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 1,119

Clark CR 11 Z-F

Fair

Over: LOVE CREEK

1.5 MI N JCT SH 51&CR 11, Clark, AR

Built 1991 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 144

Ouachita CR9 Z-H

Fair

Over: SMACKOVER CREEK RELIEF

1.91 MI SO JCT CR 2, Ouachita, AR

Built 1991 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 40

CR 862 A

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

1 MI SO & .5 MI E MANGRUM, Craighead, AR

Built 1992 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 144

Showing 4,101-4,150 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.