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

KY-1241

Fair

Over: CAMP CREEK OVERFLOW

.09 MI NOR. OF GRAVES CL, McCracken, KY

Built 1929 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,184

KY-3520

Fair

Over: MASSAC CREEK OVERFLOW

.16 MI EAST OF JCT KY 996, McCracken, KY

Built 1929 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 787

KY-786

Fair

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

.20 MI EAST OF JCT KY 724, McCracken, KY

Built 1954 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 396

WAYNE SULLIVAN DRI

Fair

Over: ISLAND CREEK

0.067 MI. SE OF BRIDGE ST, McCracken, KY

Built 1981 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 10,621

US-60

Fair

Over: Perkins Creek

0.2 MI. E. KY 731, McCracken, KY

Built 1981 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 19,491

US-60

Fair

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

.9 MI E OF JCT KY. 996, McCracken, KY

Built 2000 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 9,489

HANSEN RD

Fair

Over: PERKINS CREEK

1.1 MI E. JCT KY 998, McCracken, KY

Built 1990 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 333

KY-1044

Fair

Over: BR OF PLEASANT RUN

.40 MI WEST OF WHITLEY CL, McCreary, KY

Built 1932 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 2,137

KY-896

Fair

Over: EAGLE CREEK

2.5 MI N.E. OF JCT KY 90, McCreary, KY

Built 1950 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 272

KY-250

Fair

Over: HAINER CREEK

.75 MI EAST OF JCT KY1046, McLean, KY

Built 1941 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 560

KY-250

Fair

Over: BR OF BUCK CREEK

.40 MI WEST OF JCT US 431, McLean, KY

Built 1941 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 641

KY-140

Fair

Over: BR OFF LONG FALLS CREEK

.50 MI WEST OF JCT KY 815, McLean, KY

Built 1941 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 368

BARRETT HILL RD

Fair

Over: BUCK CREEK

0.3 MILE E. JCT U.S. 431, McLean, KY

Built 1955 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 422

ATHERTON ROAD

Fair

Over: BUCK CREEK

.1 MI W US 431, McLean, KY

Built 1991 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 25

KY. 388

Fair

Over: DREAMING CREEK

1.4MI N-MAIN ST-US 25&421, Madison, KY

Built 1927 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 3,228

US-421

Fair

Over: BR OF HAYS FORK

0.4MI S OF KY 3376, Madison, KY

Built 1929 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 5,629

KY-21

Fair

Over: BR. OF PAINT LICK

2.5 MI E. OF JCT KY 52, Madison, KY

Built 1930 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 474

KY-977

Fair

Over: FALLING BRANCH

150 N OF JCT KY 52 @WACO, Madison, KY

Built 1965 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 2,098

KY-1986

Fair

Over: DREAMING CREEK

1.2 MI N OF JCT KY 388, Madison, KY

Built 1968 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 2,748

KY-21

Fair

Over: BR OF PAINT LICK

3.6 MILES EAST OF 52, Madison, KY

Built 1948 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 474

KY-1090

Fair

Over: STINSON CREEK

.60 MI S.W. OF JCT KY 867, Magoffin, KY

Built 1952 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 156

KY-1766

Fair

Over: PUNCHEON CAMP CREEK

.50 MI EAST OF JCT KY 7, Magoffin, KY

Built 1959 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 349

KY-3047

Fair

Over: JOHNSON FORK

.01 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 134, Magoffin, KY

Built 1963 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 46

KY-3333

Fair

Over: PRICY CREEK

2.3 MI NW OF JCT KY 1081, Magoffin, KY

Built 1958 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 108

KY-49

Fair

Over: WHITE OAK CREEK

3.0 MI S.E. OF JCT KY 337, Marion, KY

Built 1930 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 520

KY-52

Fair

Over: RYANS CREEK

1.2 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 49, Marion, KY

Built 1928 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 570

KY-429

Fair

Over: SHEPHERDS RUN BRANCH

.6 MI S OF WASHINGTON CL, Marion, KY

Built 1941 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 865

US-68

Fair

Over: BUCKHORN CREEK

.6 MI S OF JCT KY 289, Marion, KY

Built 1982 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 6,746

KY-2741

Fair

Over: STEWARTS CREEK

2.1 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 84, Marion, KY

Built 1969 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 84

RILEY RD

Fair

Over: TRIB OF GOOSE CREEK

1.3 MI S OF JCT US 68, Marion, KY

Built 1950 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 252

RILEY RD

Fair

Over: TRIB OF GOOSE CREEK

0.9 MI S OF JCT US 68, Marion, KY

Built 1950 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 252

US-641

Fair

Over: CHESTNUT CREEK

.60 MI SOU. OF JCT US 68E, Marshall, KY

Built 1929 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 6,011

US-68

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

.40 MI N.W. OF JCT KY 962, Marshall, KY

Built 1948 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 4,773

KY-94

Fair

Over: COOL CREEK

1.0 MI SOU. OF JCT US 68, Marshall, KY

Built 1942 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 632

KY-402

Fair

Over: SO FK OF SOLDIERS CREEK

.80 MI WEST OF JCT KY 783, Marshall, KY

Built 1932 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 995

KY-402

Fair

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

.40 MI WEST OF JCT KY 962, Marshall, KY

Built 1933 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 2,228

US-641

Fair

Over: STICE CREEK

.70 MI N.E. OF JCT KY 142, Marshall, KY

Built 1946 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 3,774

JC-9003

Fair

Over: LITTLE JOHN CREEK

.05 MI SOU. OF I-24 NTRCH, Marshall, KY

Built 1967 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 2,270

JC-9003

Fair

Over: MIDDLE FORK CREEK

.01 MI NOR. OF KY 1949 UP, Marshall, KY

Built 1967 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 7,974

KY-1422

Fair

Over: LITTLE BEAR CREEK

.30 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 963, Marshall, KY

Built 1950 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 797

KY-1364

Fair

Over: OLIVE BRANCH

1.8 MI SOU. OF JCT US 68, Marshall, KY

Built 1975 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 427

US-641

Fair

Over: MYERS CREEK

.80 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 80, Marshall, KY

Built 1977 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 10,183

KY-348

Fair

Over: HARRISON CREEK

2.2 MI. EAST GRAVES CO., Marshall, KY

Built 1984 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,310

KY-0080

Fair

Over: OVER COOL CREEK

.74 MI NE MARSHALL C.LINE, Marshall, KY

Built 2004 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 3,628

KY-40

Fair

Over: Buck Creek

0.02 MI NE of JCT KY 2031, Martin, KY

Built 1930 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 3,221

KY-908

Fair

Over: BLACKLOG FORK

100 S of JCT KY 40, Martin, KY

Built 1987 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 3,852

KY-3

Fair

Over: MID.FK-ROCKCASTLE CREEK

350SOUTH JCT SAWMILL RD, Martin, KY

Built 1988 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 2,742

KY-3

Fair

Over: MUDLICK BRANCH

.2 MI.S JCT OLD KY 3, Martin, KY

Built 1988 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 2,742

KY-3

Fair

Over: Mudlick Branch

0.1 MI S of Davella Rd, Martin, KY

Built 1988 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 2,742

KY-8

Fair

Over: LEES CREEK

.75 MI E OF JCT KY 1235, Mason, KY

Built 1955 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 933

Showing 5,501-5,550 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.