State profile · Near median Poor share

Kentucky 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 Kentucky.

14,548
Public bridges
26.6%
Good condition
7.4%
Poor condition

Kentucky holds 14,548 public highway bridges (#18 of 52 by inventory) with a 7.37% Poor share (#19 of 52 by Poor share).

That is 7.4% 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 34 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

14,548

Public highway bridges in Kentucky

Good Condition

26.6%

3,866 bridges rated 7-9

-23.4pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

7.4%

1,072 bridges whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

-0.1pp vs national avg 7.5%

Kentucky vs national bridge condition

Kentucky - Good condition share 26.6%
National avg

Share of bridges rated 7-9 on the FHWA 0-9 scale (deck, superstructure, substructure all good).

Kentucky - Poor-condition share 24.6%
National avg

Lower is better. Bar maxes at 30% (worst-state ceiling). National average sits at 7.5%.

Kentucky 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: Kentucky has 14,548 bridges and a 7.4% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #34 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 (%) KY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.37%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%AR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.43%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%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: Kentucky has 14,548 bridges and a 7.4% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #34 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.

Kentucky 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

14,548 18th of 54 higher than 36 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 Kentucky

The highlighted point is Kentucky: 14,548 bridges and 7.37% in Poor condition, rank #34 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The five jurisdictions immediately above and below Kentucky on that same Poor-share ordering:

  • North Carolina: 19,210 bridges · 6.76% Poor
  • Montana: 5,224 bridges · 6.81% Poor
  • Kentucky: 14,548 bridges · 7.37% Poor
  • New Hampshire: 2,542 bridges · 7.51% Poor
  • Oklahoma: 22,917 bridges · 7.70% Poor

The full national sortable table lives on the rankings page.

Material families in Kentucky

Exclusive FHWA material families across all 14,548 bridges in this state; continuous variants fold into the parent family. Orthogonal to the Poor-share scatter above.

Who maintains Kentucky’s inventory

State agency holds 62.6% of the 14,548 public highway bridges filed under Kentucky in the 2024 NBI, the agency-of-record split for this state, not a condition verdict.

When Kentucky’s bridges were built

Pre-1950 construction accounts for 13.8% of the 14,548 bridges with a recorded original year in Kentucky. Era bands are orthogonal to the Poor-share ranking above.

Condition Distribution

Kentucky26.6%66.1%GoodFairPoor
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix - Kentucky (FHWA NBI)

Counties (120)

Adair 143 Allen 88 Anderson 84 Ballard 85 Barren 147 Bath 89 Bell 205 Boone 138 Bourbon 112 Boyd 89 Boyle 89 Bracken 49 Breathitt 124 Breckinridge 91 Bullitt 99 Butler 98 Caldwell 116 Calloway 210 Campbell 130 Carlisle 74 Carroll 68 Carter 189 Casey 143 Christian 300 Clark 117 Clay 160 Clinton 41 Crittenden 89 Cumberland 93 Daviess 282 Edmonson 39 Elliott 53 Estill 56 Fayette 200 Fleming 117 Floyd 161 Franklin 117 Fulton 95 Gallatin 55 Garrard 67 Grant 79 Graves 380 Grayson 119 Green 57 Greenup 161 Hancock 70 Hardin 223 Harlan 252 Harrison 153 Hart 57 Henderson 184 Henry 94 Hickman 123 Hopkins 251 Jackson 51 Jefferson 662 Jessamine 58 Johnson 99 Kenton 142 Knott 134 Knox 127 Larue 54 Laurel 131 Lawrence 103 Lee 42 Leslie 112 Letcher 179 Lewis 149 Lincoln 136 Livingston 104 Logan 135 Lyon 78 Madison 154 Magoffin 107 Marion 149 Marshall 208 Martin 70 Mason 97 McCracken 201 McCreary 39 McLean 75 Meade 24 Menifee 49 Mercer 75 Metcalfe 78 Monroe 70 Montgomery 74 Morgan 114 Muhlenberg 152 Nelson 151 Nicholas 82 Ohio 227 Oldham 66 Owen 54 Owsley 55 Pendleton 94 Perry 176 Pike 331 Powell 110 Pulaski 182 Robertson 24 Rockcastle 87 Rowan 130 Russell 46 Scott 183 Shelby 137 Simpson 50 Spencer 58 Taylor 92 Todd 80 Trigg 109 Trimble 44 Union 127 Warren 106 Washington 104 Wayne 76 Webster 144 Whitley 149 Wolfe 77 Woodford 60

Kentucky 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 Kentucky on the same metric.

NC

North Carolina

6.76% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$19,210

MT

Montana

6.81% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$5,224
Selected

KY

Kentucky

7.37% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$14,548

NH

New Hampshire

7.51% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$2,542

OK

Oklahoma

7.70% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$22,917

Bridges Needing Most Attention in Kentucky

Six lowest-condition bridges in Kentucky, ranked by the portal's composite display score. Inspection intervals are risk-based under current NBIS rules.

WIDS ROAD

Poor

Over: WHITE OAK CREEK

100 NE OF JCT CR 5156, Adair, KY

Built 1971 Load: 0.1 t ADT: 10

PETROLEUM RD

Poor

Over: LITTLE TRAMMEL CREEK

0.2 MI. E JCT US 31E, Allen, KY

Built 1975 Load: 0.1 t ADT: 164

DEERFIELD ROAD

Poor

Over: STOVALL CREEK

.7 MI W OF JCT KY 802, Ballard, KY

Built 1988 Load: 0.1 t ADT: 40

KY-3042

Poor

Over: DIX RVR-HERRINGTON LAKE

.05 MI EAST OF KY34, Boyle, KY

Built 1924 Load: 0.1 t ADT: 630

KY-1951

Poor

Over: SNAG CREEK

2.4 MI. S.E KY 1019, Bracken, KY

Built 1988 Load: 0.1 t ADT: 36

Jones Branch

Poor

Over: South Fk Quicksand Creek

100 S of KY 1098 MP 9.23, Breathitt, KY

Built 2013 Load: 0.1 t ADT: 55

All Bridges in Kentucky

CRANEY CREEK-Bridg

Fair

Over: UPPER LICK FORK

NATIONAL FOREST, Rowan, KY

Built 1954 ADT: 100

INDIAN CREEK-Bridg

Fair

Over: INDIAN CREEK

NATIONAL FOREST, Menifee, KY

Built 1961 ADT: 10

MIDDLE FORK CANE

Fair

Over: CANE CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Laurel, KY

Built 1975 ADT: 5

LBL ROAD 134

Fair

Over: CROOKED CREEK

LBL, Trigg, KY

Built 1983 ADT: 150

LBL ROAD 134

Fair

Over: LONG CREEK

LBL, Trigg, KY

Built 1983 ADT: 60

LBL ROAD 165

Fair

Over: ELBOW CREEK

LBL, Trigg, KY

Built 1983 ADT: 150

LBL ROAD 165

Fair

Over: LICK CREEK

LBL, Trigg, KY

Built 1983 ADT: 150

LBL ROAD 165

Fair

Over: LICK CREEK BRANCH

LBL, Trigg, KY

Built 1983 ADT: 150

Stone Road

Fair

Over: Dry Creek

.9 MI west KY 139, Trigg, KY

Built 1950 Load: 0.1 t ADT: 835

17TH STREET

Fair

Over: YELLOW CREEK

.25 MI N OF JCT KY 74, Bell, KY

Built 1956 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 67

CR-1355C

Fair

Over: BEECH FORK

0.1 MI S. US 421, Harlan, KY

Built 1955 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 30

Cockrells Trace Rd

Fair

Over: Clear Creek

0.04 MI SW of JCT KY 721, Knott, KY

Built 1955 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 172

Golf Course Lane

Fair

Over: Old RR Bed

0.05 MI S of JCT US 119, Letcher, KY

Built 1950 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 71

SIMMONS RD CR-1250

Fair

Over: CABIN CREEK

4.1 MI NORTH OF 1237, Lewis, KY

Built 2013 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 123

Black Pike Road

Fair

Over: BAUGHMAN CREEK

1.35 MI N OF JCT KY 78, Lincoln, KY

Built 1940 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 217

Preachersville RD

Fair

Over: BR TO DIX RVR

.993 MI W OF JCT KY 39, Lincoln, KY

Built 1967 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 249

SOUTH 28TH ST

Fair

Over: BRANCH-SMITH CREEK

0.2 MI SE OF JCT US 60&45, McCracken, KY

Built 1977 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 3,120

NEW HOPE RD.

Fair

Over: ELENDER CREEK

0.15 E. OF KY 1396, Marshall, KY

Built 1990 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 195

KY 2021

Fair

Over: Big Willard Creek

At KY 2021/Briar Fk. Cir., Perry, KY

Built 2014 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 303

KY-664

Fair

Over: NEELEY BRANCH

1.2 MI. W. -JCT. KY 383, Simpson, KY

Built 1940 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 753

KY-3110

Fair

Over: SAND LICK CREEK

.10 MI EAST OF JCT KY 32, Fleming, KY

Built 1880 Load: 2.8 t ADT: 97

NAPIER LANE

Fair

Over: CATRON CREEK

.1 MI W OF JCT KY 72, Harlan, KY

Built 1965 Load: 2.8 t ADT: 35

CHAD LEWIS RD

Fair

Over: GREASY CREEK

0.1 MI. W. OF KY 221, Harlan, KY

Built 1982 Load: 2.8 t ADT: 100

KY-1826

Fair

Over: TOWN CREEK (IN CLINTON)

NTX BLAIR&DEPOT ST-CLINTO, Hickman, KY

Built 1979 Load: 2.8 t ADT: 480

PLEASANT VIEW RD

Fair

Over: CSX RR @ P VIEW CEM RD

0.2 MI. E.OF US 25W, Whitley, KY

Built 1950 Load: 2.8 t ADT: 160

KY-1862

Fair

Over: NORTH FORK KY RIVER

0.3 MI. E. JCT. US 119, Letcher, KY

Built 1926 Load: 2.9 t ADT: 2,028

_CR-1213

Fair

Over: _MIDDLE FORK

_OFF 1780, Leslie, KY

Built 1901 Load: 3.3 t ADT: 37

BRIDGE RD

Fair

Over: LEATHERWOOD CREEK

@ JCT KY 699 -25 W, Perry, KY

Built 1990 Load: 3.3 t ADT: 40

Morning Meadows LN

Fair

Over: King Creek

.1 MI E JCT US 60, Ballard, KY

Built 1950 Load: 3.4 t ADT: 109

DANNY TUGGLE RD

Fair

Over: GAP CREEK

125 SOUTH JCT KY 696, Wayne, KY

Built 2001 Load: 3.7 t ADT: 30

Hurts Br

Fair

Over: Johns Creek

0.1 MI W of JCT KY 194, Pike, KY

Built 1991 Load: 3.9 t ADT: 52

CR-1129

Fair

Over: CLOVER FORK

23-24 38 AT MINE LOAD OU, Harlan, KY

Built 1995 Load: 4.2 t ADT: 25

TAR LICK ROAD

Fair

Over: NO.ROLLING FORK RIVER

100 FT S @JCT KY 37, Boyle, KY

Built 1935 Load: 4.5 t ADT: 20

E W MILLER RD

Fair

Over: BRUSHY CREEK

.7 MI NW OF US 641, Calloway, KY

Built 1986 Load: 4.5 t ADT: 35

CR1270 Jewell Road

Fair

Over: S Fork Knoblick Creek

0.7 MI S JCT KY 56, Daviess, KY

Built 1957 Load: 4.5 t

MCLIN LN

Fair

Over: COLDWEATHER CREEK

0.9 MI E JCT KY 2993, Pulaski, KY

Built 2002 Load: 4.5 t ADT: 20

ROLLIN COOMER RD

Fair

Over: PETTYS FORK

.5 MI FROM CR 1175, Adair, KY

Built 1981 Load: 4.6 t ADT: 10

CR-1026B

Fair

Over: STRAIGHT CR

100 E OF JCT KY 221, Bell, KY

Built 1987 Load: 5.0 t ADT: 30

JAKE FARRIS RD

Fair

Over: N.PRONG-INDIAN CAMP CREE

.45 MI EAST KY 2713, Butler, KY

Built 1990 Load: 5.2 t ADT: 35

WELLS STATION BR

Fair

Over: CANEY CREEK

.2 MI E JCT KY 191, Morgan, KY

Built 1994 Load: 5.2 t ADT: 30

MARTIN-BAULCUMB RD

Fair

Over: SANDY CREEK

1000' W JCT KY 2267, Butler, KY

Built 1991 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 10

CR-1161TRIPLE J LN

Fair

Over: TRACE FORK

.05 MI S OF JCT CR 1120, Leslie, KY

Built 1981 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 50

Deskins Rd

Fair

Over: Johns Creek

0.05 MI S of JCT KY 1426, Pike, KY

Built 2001 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 78

CR-1333A

Fair

Over: FOUR MILE CREEK

.1 MI- E JCT KY 2014, Bell, KY

Built 1990 Load: 5.8 t ADT: 40

McFarland Rd.

Fair

Over: Left Fork Licking River

0.5 Mile S of Ky 30, Magoffin, KY

Built 2017 Load: 6.0 t ADT: 20

GOBBLE WALLIN RD

Fair

Over: OPEN FORK PAINT CREEK

.1 MI S JCT KY 172, Morgan, KY

Built 1995 Load: 6.0 t ADT: 30

GUSTY BRANCH RD

Fair

Over: BIG SOUTH FORK

0.07 MILE SE OF KY 78, Casey, KY

Built 1970 Load: 6.1 t ADT: 40

Bradley Circle Con

Fair

Over: Right Frk Beaver Crk

500 SE of JCT KY 7, Floyd, KY

Built 2004 Load: 6.1 t ADT: 50

CR-1082 PAYTON Rd

Fair

Over: McDowell Creek

222ft from jct of CR-1082, Lewis, KY

Built 1980 Load: 6.1 t ADT: 33

KY-339

Fair

Over: FELTS CREEK

.64 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 168, Graves, KY

Built 1962 Load: 6.4 t ADT: 363

Showing 1-50 of 14,548 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 Kentucky's inventory picture to drill to a county or a specific span.

  • Browse counties in Kentucky 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. Kentucky 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.