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-1214

Good

Over: GRINDSTONE FORK CREEK

1.5 MI NW OF JCT KY 1356, Grayson, KY

Built 1962 Load: 18.2 t ADT: 575

CR 1027

Good

Over: LOVINS BRANCH

2.216 MI. N. OF KY 1956, Pulaski, KY

Built 2011 Load: 18.2 t ADT: 69

Beefhide Creek

Good

Over: Beefhide Creek

1.1 MI S of JCT KY 610, Pike, KY

Built 1989 Load: 18.4 t ADT: 452

TEXAS-MACKVILLE RD

Good

Over: PRATHER CREEK

3.8 Miles South of KY 152, Washington, KY

Built 1999 Load: 18.6 t ADT: 66

Neff Road

Good

Over: Red River

.05 MI S OF JCT KY 191, Wolfe, KY

Built 1975 Load: 18.6 t ADT: 85

US-62

Good

Over: RELIEF @ TYRONE BRIDGE

.05 MI E OF ANDERSON CL, Woodford, KY

Built 1938 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 3,629

Pine Grove Church

Good

Over: Puncheon Camp Creek

0.01 MI W of Ky 1766, Magoffin, KY

Built 2019 Load: 19.2 t ADT: 20

CR 1533 RUBEN ROAD

Good

Over: CHRISTY CREEK

153S JCT.KY32, Rowan, KY

Built 2006 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 10

Roye Lane

Good

Over: Traces Creek

1 MI E OF JCT KY 53, Washington, KY

Built 2015 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 30

KY-1120

Good

Over: LICKING RIVER CSX RR-LOW

1.0 MI E. JCT I 75, Kenton, KY

Built 2001 Load: 19.6 t ADT: 14,549

KAHLER-MILL ROAD

Good

Over: HURRICANE CREEK

0.4 MI N JCT KY 131, Graves, KY

Built 1989 Load: 19.7 t ADT: 145

KY-3680

Good

Over: Drift Rd/LFrk Beaver Crk

KY 122 at Minnie, Floyd, KY

Built 2013 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 576

VILLAGE DRIVE

Good

Over: WALNUT MEADOW BRANCH

200 FT W. OF KY 595, Madison, KY

Built 2003 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 367

KY-772

Good

Over: LICKING RIVER

3.5 MI SW OF JCT KY 519, Morgan, KY

Built 1979 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 330

KY-1114

Good

Over: SHORT FK OF TURKEY CREEK

3.7 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 30, Breathitt, KY

Built 1953 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 54

MOOCK ROAD

Good

Over: THREE MILE CREEK

1 MI NE OF JCT KY 9, Campbell, KY

Built 1956 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 4,984

KY-1372

Good

Over: UNNAME STREAM

.30 MI EAST OF JCT KY 118, Carlisle, KY

Built 1953 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 192

KY-577

Good

Over: GRASSY BRANCH

.10 MI E OF E-JCT KY1350, Clay, KY

Built 1954 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 123

KY-135

Good

Over: SPRING BRANCH

.30 MI EAST OF JCT KY 297, Crittenden, KY

Built 1953 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 112

KY-855

Good

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

.45 MI SOU. OF JCT US 60, Crittenden, KY

Built 1952 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 353

KY-902

Good

Over: LARPIN BRANCH

1.5 MI EAST OF JCT KY 70, Crittenden, KY

Built 1954 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 139

KY-89

Good

Over: MIDDLE FK.STATION CAMP C

1.2 MI SW OF JCT KY 1209, Estill, KY

Built 1953 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 378

KY-1139

Good

Over: CROOKED CREEK

2.5 MI S.W. OF JCT KY 594, Estill, KY

Built 1956 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 535

KY-559

Good

Over: ROSE HOLLOW BRANCH

2.7 MI W OF JCT KY 1013, Fleming, KY

Built 1953 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 362

KY-597

Good

Over: INDIAN RUN CREEK

AT MASON - FLEMING CL, Fleming, KY

Built 1969 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 348

KY-404

Good

Over: BUCKEYE BRANCH

0.10 MI N of JCT KY 1210, Floyd, KY

Built 1942 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 1,742

KY-777

Good

Over: Turkey Creek

0.6 MI N of JCT KY 680, Floyd, KY

Built 1956 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 187

KY-184

Good

Over: BR OF LICK CREEK

1.0 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 47, Gallatin, KY

Built 1956 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 115

KY-221

Good

Over: BIG LAUREL CREEK

.10 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 510, Harlan, KY

Built 1955 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 221

KY-1092

Good

Over: KEATON FORK

.10 MI S.E. OF JCT KY 469, Johnson, KY

Built 1958 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 583

KY-1498

Good

Over: ARNOLD FORK

@ JCT KY 7, Knott, KY

Built 1958 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 395

KY-1189

Good

Over: CANE CREEK

1.2 MI N.E. OF JCT KY 830, Laurel, KY

Built 1953 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 261

KY-715

Good

Over: WOLFPEN CREEK

1.35 MI. S. JCT KY 77, Menifee, KY

Built 1930 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 207

KY-158

Good

Over: LITTLE BRUSHY CREEK

.10 MI WEST OF JCT KY 32, Rowan, KY

Built 1934 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 2,335

KY-904

Good

Over: COALSTONE BRANCH

.30 MI W OF E-JCT KY 92, Whitley, KY

Built 1957 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 474

CR-1809

Good

Over: Brushy Creek

78 S OF JCT BRUSHY R, Greenup, KY

Built 2005 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 18

CR1401 Ford Ln

Good

Over: Drainage Ditch

0.1 MI SOU JCT KY 175, Muhlenberg, KY

Built 2013 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 50

KY-965

Good

Over: ROSE RUN CREEK

.05 MI SOU. OF JCT US 60, Bath, KY

Built 1962 Load: 20.3 t ADT: 533

KY-1244

Good

Over: SUGAR CREEK

3.0 MI WEST OF N-JCT US 6, Nicholas, KY

Built 1952 Load: 20.3 t ADT: 80

GRACE LOOP RD

Good

Over: ROUNDSTONE CREEK

.05 MI. W. OF JCT US 25, Rockcastle, KY

Built 2003 Load: 20.3 t ADT: 38

KY-1659

Good

Over: GLENS CREEK

1.4 MI S. OF JCT KY 2331, Woodford, KY

Built 1952 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 344

KY-11

Good

Over: CAT CREEK

.6 MI S OF JCT KY 1184, Powell, KY

Built 1923 Load: 20.6 t ADT: 1,930

KY-1128

Good

Over: MUD CREEK

.60 MI EAST OF JCT KY 112, Fulton, KY

Built 1968 Load: 20.7 t ADT: 52

GOOSE CRK RD

Good

Over: GOOSE CREEK

.45 MI-SW JCT CR 5011, Marion, KY

Built 1997 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 69

KY-55

Good

Over: GREEN RIVER

1.7 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 565, Taylor, KY

Built 1960 Load: 21.2 t ADT: 7,250

MUD LICK BR RD

Good

Over: CREEK

.02 MI W - KY 2011, Bell, KY

Built 1990 Load: 21.3 t ADT: 70

INDIAN CREEK-Bridg

Good

Over: EAST FORK INDIAN CR.

NATIONAL FOREST, Menifee, KY

Built 2009 Load: 21.4 t ADT: 100

PEACOCK ROAD

Good

Over: STONER CREEK

2 MI E JCT US 27, Bourbon, KY

Built 2009 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 68

Little Sulphur Rd.

Good

Over: Salt Lick Creek

771 ft. S. of KY 9, Lewis, KY

Built 2015 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 26

NICHOLS RD

Good

Over: SUGAR CREEK

1.6 MI EAST JCT KY 293, Caldwell, KY

Built 1990 Load: 21.9 t ADT: 93

Showing 9,701-9,750 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.