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

OLD ROUTT RD

Fair

Over: TRIB TO FLOYDS FORK

1.2 MI N OF KY 1531, Jefferson, KY

Built 2003 Load: 83.6 t ADT: 3,023

N Old Ottenheim RD

Fair

Over: Branch of Neals Creek

E at JCT KY-1247, Lincoln, KY

Built 1930 Load: 83.6 t ADT: 256

Northbound on Ramp

Fair

Over: PENNYRILE PARKWAY

.2 MI NE OF JCT US 41A, Hopkins, KY

Built 1968 Load: 83.8 t ADT: 10,562

KY 2053

Fair

Over: CEDAR CREEK

0.5 MI E OF KY 864, Jefferson, KY

Built 1971 Load: 83.9 t ADT: 2,296

HR-9006

Fair

Over: Bull Creek

.25 MI EAST OF JCT KY 118, Leslie, KY

Built 1974 Load: 84.1 t ADT: 5,265

KY 43

Fair

Over: DUTCH FORK

1.5 MI N OF KY 241, Shelby, KY

Built 1932 Load: 84.3 t ADT: 477

KY-1312

Fair

Over: BECK HOLLOW BRANCH

.50 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 90, Cumberland, KY

Built 1952 Load: 84.6 t ADT: 208

CR-1169

Fair

Over: CLEAR FORK

_, Bell, KY

Built 2014 Load: 84.8 t ADT: 140

ECHO TRL

Fair

Over: BRUSH RUN

200 FT N OF KY 1819, Jefferson, KY

Built 2010 Load: 84.9 t ADT: 696

STEPHENSON MILL RD

Fair

Over: MCCOYS FORK

1.8 MI NW OF JCT KY 14/16, Boone, KY

Built 1940 Load: 85.2 t ADT: 219

KY-389

Fair

Over: MAJORS RUN

.10 MI S.E. OF JCT KY 55, Carroll, KY

Built 1932 Load: 85.5 t ADT: 1,159

KY-790

Fair

Over: LITTLE SINKING CREEK

1.3 MI SOU. OF PULASKI CL, Wayne, KY

Built 1960 Load: 85.9 t ADT: 258

KY-3174

Fair

Over: KY-3226 Ramp

3.0 MI E of US 23, Pike, KY

Built 2013 Load: 86.4 t ADT: 2,356

US 150

Fair

Over: Unnamed Creek

0.9 M E of Lincoln Co., Rockcastle, KY

Built 2009 Load: 86.8 t ADT: 4,495

KY-85

Fair

Over: UNNAME STREAM

.80 MI WEST OF MCLEAN CL, Hopkins, KY

Built 1929 Load: 87.2 t ADT: 1,339

US-62

Fair

Over: FORK-EAST FORK CREEK

.1 MI W- HOPKINS CO LINE, Caldwell, KY

Built 1991 Load: 87.3 t ADT: 892

KY 1526

Fair

Over: BR OF BROOKS RUN

0.3 MI E OF I-65, Bullitt, KY

Built 1997 Load: 88.2 t ADT: 14,176

BLUE LN

Fair

Over: PATH FK OF PUCKETT CREEK

W @JCT KY 2005, Harlan, KY

Built 1979 Load: 88.5 t ADT: 200

I-64

Fair

Over: DRY RUN

0.20 MI E OF KY 55, Shelby, KY

Built 1960 Load: 89.2 t ADT: 48,476

HR-9006

Fair

Over: KY 1482

2.1 MI EAST OF CLAY CL, Leslie, KY

Built 1973 Load: 89.3 t ADT: 3,701

SLOAN FORK RD

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK CREEK

200 S OF JCT CR 5122, Casey, KY

Built 1974 Load: 89.4 t ADT: 603

LN-9008

Fair

Over: HUGGINS BRANCH

1.4 MI W OF US31E NTRCHNG, Barren, KY

Built 1972 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 11,578

US 68

Fair

Over: TRIB. OF BEAVER CREEK

0.58 MI. E. OF US 68/80, Barren, KY

Built 2002 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 9,133

US-25E

Fair

Over: TURKEY CREEK SLOUGH

2.0 MI NW OF JCT KY 2015, Bell, KY

Built 1942 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 11,358

I-71

Fair

Over: MCCOYS FORK

1.5 MI N.E. OF KY 14 NTRC, Boone, KY

Built 1967 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 43,403

KY-8

Fair

Over: BR OF TURTLE CREEK

1.1 MI WEST OF JCT KY 19, Bracken, KY

Built 1961 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 1,056

I-69

Fair

Over: WARD CREEK

2.5 MI EAST OF KY 293 OP, Caldwell, KY

Built 1963 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 11,063

FULTZ RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE SINKING CREEK

1.8 MI- W JCT KY 1661, Carter, KY

Built 1930 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 179

I-64

Fair

Over: STRODES CREEK

.2 MI W OF KY 1958 INTRCH, Clark, KY

Built 1962 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 40,128

E RAMP TO MT PKWY

Fair

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

.1MI E OF KY-974, Clark, KY

Built 2012 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 12,665

HR-9006

Fair

Over: GRANNYS BRANCH ROAD

1.1 MI WEST OF LESLIE CL, Clay, KY

Built 1973 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 3,701

KY-90

Fair

Over: NORRIS BRANCH

.70 MI N.W. OF JCT KY 691, Cumberland, KY

Built 1942 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 3,335

AU-9005

Fair

Over: RHODES CK

1.0 MI WEST OF KY 279 OP, Daviess, KY

Built 1970 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 7,541

KY 1747 & HOUNZ LN

Fair

Over: GOOSE CREEK

0.5 MI N OF KY 146, Jefferson, KY

Built 1968 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 23,290

KY-80

Fair

Over: PINE CREEK

1.45 MI. E.-PULASKI-CO., Laurel, KY

Built 1979 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 7,603

CS 1031

Fair

Over: Crystal Creek

.14 miles W of JCT KY11, Lee, KY

Built 1936 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 7,580

LN-9008

Fair

Over: DRY FORK CREEK

0.42 MI W OF JCT. W/US 68, Metcalfe, KY

Built 1973 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 6,947

Cindas creek road

Fair

Over: Open fork paint creek

0.1 miles south of ky 172, Morgan, KY

Built 2013 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 130

KY-613

Fair

Over: SPAAS CREEK

.05 MI SE OF JCT KY 1067, Powell, KY

Built 1953 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 49

LN-9008

Fair

Over: WOLF CREEK

.65 MI EAST OF KY 837 OP, Pulaski, KY

Built 1973 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 7,371

LN-9008

Fair

Over: HOUSE FORK CREEK

1.1 MI EAST OF RUSSELL CL, Pulaski, KY

Built 1974 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 7,371

KY-80

Fair

Over: SINKING VALLEY

2.9 MI. EAST KY 1003, Pulaski, KY

Built 1983 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 6,885

KY-914

Fair

Over: SINKING CREEK

1.95 MI NE. JCT US 27, Pulaski, KY

Built 1996 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 7,400

KY-90

Fair

Over: CUMBERLAND RIVER

ON MCCREARY - WHITLEY CL, Whitley, KY

Built 1954 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 970

I-75

Fair

Over: BRIER CREEK

.40 MI NOR. OF KY 92 NTRC, Whitley, KY

Built 1966 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 37,542

I-75

Fair

Over: BLAKE FORK CREEK

1.6 MI N OF S-NTRCH US25W, Whitley, KY

Built 1967 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 38,213

EB-9004

Fair

Over: KY.2629 QUARRY ROAD

.4 MI S OF US 68 NTRCH, Christian, KY

Built 1968 Load: 90.0 t ADT: 16,182

US 431

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF HAZEL CREEK

1.6 MI SOUTH HWY 246, Muhlenberg, KY

Built 2006 Load: 90.3 t ADT: 2,611

Smith Br Rd-CR1202

Fair

Over: LITTLE CLEAR CREEK

.05 MI- S.JCT CR 1201, Bell, KY

Built 1992 Load: 90.4 t ADT: 12

NOE RD

Fair

Over: FLAT RUN

0.5 MI NE OF KY 210, Taylor, KY

Built 1977 Load: 90.7 t ADT: 201

Showing 9,401-9,450 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.