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-698

Fair

Over: MCKINNEY CREEK

1.1 MI NE OF JCT KY 1778, Lincoln, KY

Built 2021 Load: 59.3 t ADT: 1,094

KY-713

Fair

Over: WEST FORK SLATE CREEK

1.3 MI. W. US 460, Menifee, KY

Built 1991 Load: 59.3 t ADT: 373

KY-61

Fair

Over: HARRODS FORK

1.89 MI. N. OF JCT KY 533, Adair, KY

Built 2001 Load: 59.4 t ADT: 2,273

I-75

Fair

Over: KY 18 RAMP

I75 RMP TO US 42, Boone, KY

Built 1990 Load: 59.4 t ADT: 123,552

I-275 WB

Fair

Over: HORSEBRANCH ROAD

WBL .75 WEST OF KY 17 OP, Kenton, KY

Built 1974 Load: 59.4 t ADT: 45,976

I-275 EB

Fair

Over: HORSEBRANCH ROAD

EBL .75 WEST OF KY 17 OP, Kenton, KY

Built 1974 Load: 59.4 t ADT: 45,976

SMITH BREWER RD

Fair

Over: LICK CREEK

0.1 MI NE OF JCT KY 229, Laurel, KY

Built 1967 Load: 59.4 t ADT: 245

US-23

Fair

Over: KY-32

1.5 MI S of JCT KY-3 N, Lawrence, KY

Built 1989 Load: 59.4 t ADT: 8,133

KY-806

Fair

Over: FRANKS CREEK

3.1 MI S JCT US 119, Letcher, KY

Built 1977 Load: 59.4 t ADT: 390

KY-867

Fair

Over: LICKING RIVER

.1 MI E OF JCT KY 1635, Magoffin, KY

Built 1978 Load: 59.4 t ADT: 707

US-27

Fair

Over: HARRIS CREEK @BOSTON

2.0 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 177, Pendleton, KY

Built 1941 Load: 59.4 t ADT: 6,161

KY-227

Fair

Over: WHITES RUN

.05 MI N OF JCT KY 1112, Carroll, KY

Built 1974 Load: 59.5 t ADT: 13,906

US 127

Fair

Over: LONG BRANCH

1.35 MI S OF OWEN CL, Franklin, KY

Built 1995 Load: 59.5 t ADT: 3,126

KY-3410

Fair

Over: Bottom Fork

0.3 MI SE of JCT KY 1862, Letcher, KY

Built 2002 Load: 59.5 t ADT: 213

WAGONER FERRY RD

Fair

Over: BR TO LICKING RVR

.4 MI S OF JCT KY 22, Pendleton, KY

Built 1930 Load: 59.5 t ADT: 188

KY 480

Fair

Over: LICKSKILLET CREEK

240 FT E OF KY 1442, Bullitt, KY

Built 2018 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 5,180

KY-1682-10 NC

Fair

Over: CSX RAILROAD

WBL .15 MI W OF PENYRL PW, Christian, KY

Built 1969 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 4,729

Ky-1682

Fair

Over: CSX RAILROAD

EBL .15 MI W OF PENYRL PW, Christian, KY

Built 1969 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 4,729

KY 2919

Fair

Over: PLEASANT BRANCH

100 FT N OF KY 1707, Franklin, KY

Built 2012 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 183

US-60 NC

Fair

Over: YELLOW CREEK

.5 MI. E OF JCT. KY 657, Hancock, KY

Built 1983 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 5,222

US-60

Fair

Over: YELLOW CREEK

EBL .5 MI E OF JCT KY 657, Hancock, KY

Built 1978 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 5,222

US 62

Fair

Over: VALLEY CREEK

0.7 MI. SW OF 31W BYPASS, Hardin, KY

Built 1988 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 12,797

US-62

Fair

Over: VALLEY CREEK

0.7 MI. SW OF 31W BYPASS, Hardin, KY

Built 1988 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 12,797

KY-812

Fair

Over: PENNYRILE PARKWAY

.5 MI SE OF JCT US 41, Henderson, KY

Built 1968 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 4,130

Cairo-Hickory Gr

Fair

Over: Unnamed Ditch

0.2 miles W of jct KY-443, Henderson, KY

Built 2019 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 62

US 60

Fair

Over: RJ CORMAN RAILROAD

0.95 MI W OF KY 1848, Shelby, KY

Built 2005 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 6,888

WARCO RD

Fair

Over: RT. FRK.-BEAVER CREEK

0.1 W. OF NEW KY 80, Floyd, KY

Built 1979 Load: 59.7 t ADT: 234

1083

Fair

Over: CLOVER FK CUMBERLAND RVR

.1 MI W OF JCT KY 38, Harlan, KY

Built 1976 Load: 59.7 t ADT: 100

WINSTON AVENUE

Fair

Over: BANKLICK CREEK

.80 MI SW OF JCT KY 177, Kenton, KY

Built 1985 Load: 59.7 t ADT: 19,473

KY-28

Fair

Over: NORTH FORK KY.RIVER

.25 MI. N.E. JCT KY 451, Perry, KY

Built 1983 Load: 59.7 t ADT: 2,065

KY-1426

Fair

Over: Johns Creek

@ W JCT of KY 194, Pike, KY

Built 1989 Load: 59.7 t ADT: 2,937

I-64 EB

Fair

Over: BZRD RST RD & JEPTHA CRK

1.1 MI W OF KY 395, Shelby, KY

Built 2007 Load: 59.7 t ADT: 21,992

KY-1945

Fair

Over: JACK BRANCH

1.5 MI S.- JCT KY 854, Boyd, KY

Built 1987 Load: 59.8 t ADT: 140

JONES LN

Fair

Over: SYCAMORE CREEK

.05 MI E OF JCT US 62, Harrison, KY

Built 1979 Load: 59.8 t ADT: 160

KY-425

Fair

Over: Abandoned RR bed no tra

1.0 MI EAST US 60, Henderson, KY

Built 1985 Load: 59.8 t ADT: 5,970

KY-1640

Fair

Over: GREEN RIVER

.45 MI N.W. OF JCT US 127, Casey, KY

Built 1972 Load: 59.9 t ADT: 1,019

KY-422

Fair

Over: BEAVER DAM CREEK

1.4 MI.N-JCT. US 31W, Edmonson, KY

Built 1940 Load: 59.9 t ADT: 457

Rocky Knob Branch

Fair

Over: Mudlick Creek

@ JCT of KY 172, Johnson, KY

Built 1986 Load: 59.9 t ADT: 257

KY-1565

Fair

Over: BLACK CREEK

.20 MI EAST OF JCT KY 305, McCracken, KY

Built 1932 Load: 59.9 t ADT: 91

KY-1355

Fair

Over: WEST FORK-SUGAR CREEK -

1.6 MI E OF JCT KY 1971, Garrard, KY

Built 1974 Load: 60.0 t ADT: 255

KY 362

Fair

Over: FLOYDS FORK

AT SHELBY CL, Oldham, KY

Built 1971 Load: 60.0 t ADT: 2,456

KY-805

Fair

Over: Shelby Creek

@ JCT KY 610 & Dorton, Pike, KY

Built 1983 Load: 60.0 t ADT: 2,291

KY-33

Fair

Over: EAST FORK CLEAR CREEK

1 MI S OF KY 1267 @TROY, Woodford, KY

Built 1967 Load: 60.0 t ADT: 440

GRAYS RUN RD

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

0.9 MILES EAST OF KY 1842, Harrison, KY

Built 2002 Load: 60.1 t ADT: 152

US-460

Fair

Over: Paint Creek

0.5 MI W of Jct US 23, Johnson, KY

Built 1978 Load: 60.1 t ADT: 4,749

US 42

Fair

Over: MILLERS BRANCH

1.9 MI W OF CARROLL CL, Trimble, KY

Built 1985 Load: 60.1 t ADT: 1,424

US-231

Fair

Over: SALT LICK CREEK

.60 MI SOUTH JCT KY 626, Warren, KY

Built 1984 Load: 60.1 t ADT: 2,413

US-127B

Fair

Over: CLARKS RUN CREEK

.20 MI S OF JCT KY 34, Boyle, KY

Built 1969 Load: 60.2 t ADT: 23,134

DURBINTOWN ROAD

Fair

Over: CROOKED CREEK

@Harrison-Pendleton, Harrison, KY

Built 2009 Load: 60.3 t ADT: 78

I-264

Fair

Over: 34TH ST

0.65 MI W OF VIRGINIA AVE, Jefferson, KY

Built 2003 Load: 60.3 t ADT: 41,925

Showing 8,901-8,950 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.