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

5TH ST

Fair

Over: N FK CANOE CREEK

0.8 MI S JCT U.S. 60, Henderson, KY

Built 1979 Load: 52.8 t ADT: 3,041

US-41A

Fair

Over: ROSE CREEK

.35 MI EAST JCT. KY 502, Hopkins, KY

Built 1984 Load: 52.8 t ADT: 4,532

KY 2861

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK

0.9 MI S OF US 60, Shelby, KY

Built 1971 Load: 52.8 t ADT: 1,277

KY-622

Fair

Over: W. FORK DRAKES CREEK

.5 MI S OF JCT KY 240, Warren, KY

Built 1981 Load: 52.8 t ADT: 968

CS-2184

Fair

Over: YELLOW CREEK

.3 MI WEST - US 25E, Bell, KY

Built 1965 Load: 52.9 t ADT: 1,178

PRINCETON-OLNEY RD

Fair

Over: PRATT CREEK

1.8 MI EAST OF KY. 293, Caldwell, KY

Built 1965 Load: 52.9 t ADT: 196

BOONE SMITH RD

Fair

Over: BR OF PHILLIPS CREEK

.4 MI W OF JCT KY 1936, Campbell, KY

Built 1970 Load: 52.9 t ADT: 440

WEST MARKSBERRY RD

Fair

Over: RHODES CREEK

1.7 MI.W. JCT US 231, Daviess, KY

Built 1990 Load: 52.9 t ADT: 299

KY-1971

Fair

Over: SUGAR CREEK

.2 MI.S. JCT KY 563, Garrard, KY

Built 2001 Load: 52.9 t ADT: 174

JULIAN M CAROLL PA

Fair

Over: US 45

SBL @N-NTRCH US 45 BYPASS, Graves, KY

Built 1967 Load: 52.9 t ADT: 5,468

JC-9003

Fair

Over: US 45

NBL @N-NTRCH US 45 BYPASS, Graves, KY

Built 1967 Load: 52.9 t ADT: 4,086

BOYD ROAD

Fair

Over: BRUSH CREEK

1.9 MI E. OF US 45, Graves, KY

Built 1988 Load: 52.9 t ADT: 30

KY-38

Fair

Over: NEW DIVERSION-CLOVER FOR

.9 MI. E. JCT US 421, Harlan, KY

Built 1988 Load: 52.9 t ADT: 5,754

KY 3263

Fair

Over: LN9008/I-66

0.258 MI. W. OF KY 3261, Pulaski, KY

Built 2008 Load: 52.9 t ADT: 688

BROWNS MILL RD

Fair

Over: SOUTH ELKHORN CREEK

.35 MI N JCT KY 1681, Woodford, KY

Built 2001 Load: 52.9 t ADT: 196

US-23

Fair

Over: CSX RAILROAD

.11 MI S - NLL -ASHLAND, Boyd, KY

Built 1990 Load: 53.0 t ADT: 10,795

KY-854

Fair

Over: WILLIAMS CREEK

.1 MI SE-US 60-@BOYD CL, Carter, KY

Built 1978 Load: 53.0 t ADT: 1,482

HOPKINS PARK RD

Fair

Over: TRADEWATER RIVER

.2 MIE. OF JCT KY 109, Christian, KY

Built 1989 Load: 53.0 t ADT: 79

KY-32

Fair

Over: NEWCOMBE CREEK

.4 MI. E. OF WEST JCT 706, Elliott, KY

Built 2000 Load: 53.0 t ADT: 688

US-62

Fair

Over: LICK CREEK

2 MI W OF E-JCT KY 733, Nelson, KY

Built 1934 Load: 53.0 t ADT: 1,871

US-41A

Fair

Over: BULL CREEK

1.0 SOU. JCT. KY 270, Webster, KY

Built 1984 Load: 53.0 t ADT: 2,198

KY 1494

Fair

Over: LONG LICK CREEK

2.4 MI S OF N JCT KY 61, Bullitt, KY

Built 2010 Load: 53.1 t ADT: 608

SALYERS BR RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE FORK

.1 MI W. JCT KY 486, Elliott, KY

Built 2000 Load: 53.1 t ADT: 23

US-45

Fair

Over: Unknown Stream

.5 mi South KY 1763, Graves, KY

Built 2019 Load: 53.1 t ADT: 1,211

Bloomington Road

Fair

Over: Miller Fork

1.1 MI N of Jct KY 259, Grayson, KY

Built 2014 Load: 53.1 t ADT: 108

I-264 WB ON RAMP

Fair

Over: US 31W (DIXIE HWY)

1.6 MI W OF KY 1865, Jefferson, KY

Built 1974 Load: 53.1 t ADT: 81,002

KY-32

Fair

Over: Yatesville Lake Headwtrs

1.2 MI NE JCT KY 1760, Lawrence, KY

Built 1989 Load: 53.1 t ADT: 1,096

BREATHITT STREET

Fair

Over: TOWN BRANCH

.3 MI N OF JCT US 431, Logan, KY

Built 1976 Load: 53.1 t ADT: 1,290

T MCREYNOLDS RD

Fair

Over: DUNCAN CREEK

1.0 MI E OF JCT KY 2377, Logan, KY

Built 1987 Load: 53.1 t ADT: 46

CORDER FLATS RD

Fair

Over: MARSH CREEK

0.05 MILE EAST OF KY 1470, McCreary, KY

Built 1975 Load: 53.1 t ADT: 40

TRACE FORK

Fair

Over: ROCKHOUSE FORK

150 W of JCT KY 1224, Martin, KY

Built 1987 Load: 53.1 t ADT: 258

WHITE OAK RD

Fair

Over: EMILY CREEK

.1 MI SE JCT KY 3407, Martin, KY

Built 1998 Load: 53.1 t ADT: 200

STEPSTONE RD

Fair

Over: STEPSTONE CREEK

3.8 MI.E.- KY 1331, Montgomery, KY

Built 1982 Load: 53.1 t ADT: 370

ORVILLE HENRY RD

Fair

Over: UPPER LONG BRANCH

1.7 MI N US 460, Morgan, KY

Built 1960 Load: 53.1 t ADT: 279

JOHNSON RD

Fair

Over: POND CREEK

1.0 MI. N.W.-JCT KY 181, Muhlenberg, KY

Built 1983 Load: 53.1 t ADT: 10

CR-1161 Brad Land

Fair

Over: Unnamed Stream

.15 Mi. W of Elm Street, Muhlenberg, KY

Built 1983 Load: 53.1 t ADT: 100

ROUTE 1

Fair

Over: SPILLWAY LAKE VEGA

NORTH OF BLD 854, Madison, KY

Built 1962 Load: 53.1 t ADT: 70

KY-980

Fair

Over: W BAYS FORK CREEK

.02 MI E OF JCT KY 1386, Allen, KY

Built 1960 Load: 53.2 t ADT: 7,604

US-150

Fair

Over: SALT RIVER

.6 MI E OF JCT KY 1822, Boyle, KY

Built 1964 Load: 53.2 t ADT: 7,818

KY-690

Fair

Over: BLUE FORK CREEK

2.3 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 86, Breckinridge, KY

Built 1951 Load: 53.2 t ADT: 523

Butchertown Road

Fair

Over: Carpenter Fork

0.8 MI S BOYLE CO LINE, Casey, KY

Built 2001 Load: 53.2 t ADT: 50

TRACE CREEK CHURCH

Fair

Over: TRACE CREEK

.3 MI E OF E-TERM KY 1374, Graves, KY

Built 1968 Load: 53.2 t ADT: 170

KY-70

Fair

Over: BARTEN CREEK

1.0 MI EAST OF JCT KY 85, Hopkins, KY

Built 1977 Load: 53.2 t ADT: 1,680

I-64 WB

Fair

Over: BEALS BRANCH RD

2.0 MI E OF CANNONS LN, Jefferson, KY

Built 1970 Load: 53.2 t ADT: 41,497

SHORT CREEK RD

Fair

Over: SHORT CREEK

0.2 MI. W. OF US 421, Leslie, KY

Built 1983 Load: 53.2 t ADT: 150

I-64 NC

Fair

Over: PREWITT-GRASSY LICK RD

WBL 1.2 MI E OF CLARK CL, Montgomery, KY

Built 1960 Load: 53.2 t ADT: 12,764

US-127

Fair

Over: SEVERN CREEK

.5 MI. N. JCT KY 845, Owen, KY

Built 1999 Load: 53.2 t ADT: 2,935

KY-2024

Fair

Over: POLETOWN FK OF MEADOW CR

.1 MI W OF JCT KY 30, Owsley, KY

Built 1976 Load: 53.2 t ADT: 78

Sunshine Ln

Fair

Over: Johns Creek

30 ft. West of KY 194, Pike, KY

Built 1982 Load: 53.2 t ADT: 720

KY 623

Fair

Over: SALT RIVER

1 MI S OF KY 44, Spencer, KY

Built 1984 Load: 53.2 t ADT: 711

Showing 8,301-8,350 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.