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

NORTH CAMPBELL RD

Fair

Over: TRIB OF RAYS BR.

1.6 MI W OF JCT KY 185, Warren, KY

Built 1974 Load: 91.3 t ADT: 192

KY-463

Fair

Over: LEATHERWOOD CREEK

2.0 MI S.E. OF JCT KY 699, Perry, KY

Built 1952 Load: 91.6 t ADT: 796

KY-920

Fair

Over: CLIFTY CREEK

1.3 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 720, Grayson, KY

Built 1976 Load: 91.7 t ADT: 1,173

Bear Fork Rd

Fair

Over: Bear Branch

.1 MI SE JCT KY 550, Knott, KY

Built 2001 Load: 91.8 t ADT: 100

BROCK RD

Fair

Over: GLADE FORK CREEK

1.2 MI- S JCT KY 3244, Lincoln, KY

Built 1994 Load: 92.5 t ADT: 36

P and M Haul Rd

Fair

Over: Pond Creek

2.0 MI W of JCT KY 176, Muhlenberg, KY

Built 1965 Load: 92.9 t ADT: 100

BUFFALO BR RD

Fair

Over: LINE CREEK

500 E. JCT CR 5027, Pulaski, KY

Built 1978 Load: 93.3 t ADT: 20

KY 864

Fair

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

1.1 MI N OF I-264, Jefferson, KY

Built 1963 Load: 94.1 t ADT: 13,252

US-23

Fair

Over: Caney Creek

1.0 MI S of JCT KY 1469, Pike, KY

Built 1979 Load: 94.3 t ADT: 8,764

MUDDY BRANCH 1147

Fair

Over: OVER INDIAN RUN

70 SOUTH OF 1458, Greenup, KY

Built 2013 Load: 94.9 t ADT: 460

STEELES RANGE RD

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

1 KM W. OF MAIN RANGE RD, Hardin, KY

Built 1959 Load: 94.9 t ADT: 30

LN-9008

Fair

Over: SLICK ROCK ROAD

2.8 MI WEST OF METCALFE C, Barren, KY

Built 1973 Load: 95.0 t ADT: 6,947

US-62

Fair

Over: HURRICANE CREEK

.40 MI EAST OF JCT KY 109, Hopkins, KY

Built 1975 Load: 95.0 t ADT: 2,034

KY-2063

Fair

Over: HAYES CREEK @ UPCHURCH

1 MI E OF JCT KY 558, Clinton, KY

Built 1938 Load: 95.1 t ADT: 493

KY-259

Fair

Over: UNAMED STREAM

.2 MI N OF JCT ARTHUR RD., Edmonson, KY

Built 2001 Load: 95.6 t ADT: 6,209

LN-9008 & CR-1320

Fair

Over: RICHARDS BRANCH

2.8 MI EAST OF KY 80 OP, Adair, KY

Built 1971 Load: 96.3 t ADT: 4,857

KY-91

Fair

Over: EASLEY CREEK

0.8 MI SE JCT KY 70, Caldwell, KY

Built 2002 Load: 96.3 t ADT: 2,306

KY-383

Fair

Over: RED RIVER

.20 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 591, Simpson, KY

Built 1978 Load: 97.1 t ADT: 406

KY-3499

Fair

Over: CUSHENBERRY BRANCH

1.5 MI N OF JCT KY 89, Allen, KY

Built 1982 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 1,404

KY-20

Fair

Over: TAYLOR CREEK

3.5 MI WEST OF JCT KY 338, Boone, KY

Built 1958 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 1,526

KY-338

Fair

Over: BR OF WOOLPER CREEK

2 MI NW OF N-JCT KY 18, Boone, KY

Built 1982 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 792

SHADY HOLLOW LN

Fair

Over: TRIB TO ALLEN CREEK

50 FOOT W 0F KY 18, Boone, KY

Built 2001 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 108

KY-1879

Fair

Over: LAYSONS BRANCH

1.4 MI N OF JCT US 68, Bourbon, KY

Built 1969 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 999

KY-504

Fair

Over: BIG CANEY CREEK

.10 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 649, Elliott, KY

Built 1966 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 919

US 127

Fair

Over: OLD RAILROAD TUNNEL

0.2 MI S OF HOLMES ST, Franklin, KY

Built 1976 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 13,665

KY-79

Fair

Over: DOG CREEK

3.3 MI S - W KY PKWY, Grayson, KY

Built 1993 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 1,325

BG-9002

Fair

Over: MILLER ROAD

5.0 MI EAST OF I-65 NTRCH, Hardin, KY

Built 1964 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 10,954

KY-313

Fair

Over: UNKNOWN CREEK

1.9 MI W JCT I-65, Hardin, KY

Built 1996 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 8,380

Veterans Way

Fair

Over: Shaw Creek

0.5 MI S of JCT US 31W, Hardin, KY

Built 2003 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 7,259

KY-1092

Fair

Over: UPPER LAUREL CREEK

1.2 MI NW OF W-JCT KY 689, Johnson, KY

Built 1958 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 583

Caudill Town Rd

Fair

Over: Sandlick Creek

150 FT W of JCT KY 931, Letcher, KY

Built 2020 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 270

KY-93

Fair

Over: CREVASSE CREEK

BETWEEN JCTS KY 917 N&amp, Livingston, KY

Built 1972 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 264

KY-1366

Fair

Over: WHITE OAK BRANCH

4.0 MI WEST OF JCT KY 63, Monroe, KY

Built 1952 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 1,230

KY-1366

Fair

Over: TRIB-E.FK. BARREN RVR

3.7 MI W OF JCT KY 100, Monroe, KY

Built 1971 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 1,230

PAIGE ST

Fair

Over: TOWN CREEK

.1 MI E OF KY 163, Monroe, KY

Built 1963 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 752

Soards Rd.

Fair

Over: PETER CREEK

2.35 miles East of Ky 249, Monroe, KY

Built 2002 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 31

McGrady Creek Rd.

Fair

Over: McGrady Creek

_, Ohio, KY

Built 2012 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 5

KY 3552 EAST

Fair

Over: I-75 RAMP TO REST AREA

.525 MI E OF KY 32, Scott, KY

Built 2016 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 12,409

KY 2861

Fair

Over: MEADOW RUN

3.2 MI N OF KY 148, Shelby, KY

Built 1975 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 915

OLD 68/80 -CR1107

Fair

Over: VICKS BRANCH

.4 MI W JCT KY 1309, Todd, KY

Built 1969 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 409

HALL CHAPEL ROAD

Fair

Over: STALL CREEK

1.7 MI E OF JCT KY 1435, Warren, KY

Built 1970 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 55

KY-1009

Fair

Over: GAP CREEK

.05 MI S.E. OF JCT KY 696, Wayne, KY

Built 1979 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 656

DUCKERS RD

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF ELKHORN CREEK

.1 MI N OF JCT KY 1681, Woodford, KY

Built 1984 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 396

ROUTE 114

Fair

Over: VINY FORK

W OF ROUTE 10, Madison, KY

Built 1943 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 30

POORMAN RANGE RD

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

1.6 KM W OF MAIN RANGE RD, Hardin, KY

Built 1959 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 30

BRUMFIELD RANGE RD

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

1.5 KM E OF MAIN RANGE RD, Hardin, KY

Built 1953 Load: 97.2 t ADT: 30

OLD RAILRD ROAD

Fair

Over: HARRIS FORK

1.5 MI W JCT KY 629, Breckinridge, KY

Built 2000 Load: 98.5 t ADT: 45

KY-254

Fair

Over: POND RIVER

ON MCLEAN - HOPKINS CL, Hopkins, KY

Built 1978 Load: 98.9 t ADT: 1,064

FULLER BRANCH

Fair

Over: CLARKSBURG BRANCH

107 W OF JCT. KY 59, Lewis, KY

Built 2001 Load: 98.9 t ADT: 177

KY 43

Fair

Over: E CLEAR CREEK

1.2 MI N OF KY 12, Shelby, KY

Built 1970 Load: 98.9 t ADT: 1,966

Showing 9,451-9,500 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.