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

HALL HILL ROAD

Good

Over: SOUTH FK RED RIVER

.7 MI S JCT KY 1639, Powell, KY

Built 1994 Load: 21.9 t ADT: 220

HARDISON RD

Good

Over: VICKS BRANCH

1.0 MI W JCT KY 1309, Todd, KY

Built 1994 Load: 21.9 t ADT: 48

SMITH RD.(CR1464)

Good

Over: OVER SMITH BRANCH

.15 MI N. OF CR 1461, Calloway, KY

Built 2015 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 21

JACKSON FERRY RD

Good

Over: MUDDY CREEK

2.5 MI S JCT KY 974, Clark, KY

Built 1996 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 123

ELSOME CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: ELSOME CREEK

.4 MI W OF JCT KY 315, Breathitt, KY

Built 1975 Load: 22.1 t ADT: 30

Billy Ball Hollow

Good

Over: Pond Creek

0.01 MI E of JCT KY 199, Pike, KY

Built 2023 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 100

CAREY MILL ROAD

Good

Over: BLUEGRASS PARKWAY

.2 MI S OF JCT KY 1291, Anderson, KY

Built 1965 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 23

GREEN SPRINGER RD

Good

Over: WILLIAMS CREEK

45 EAST JCT KY 5, Boyd, KY

Built 1997 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 203

CULP CRK RD

Good

Over: CULP CREEK

.85 MI E. JCT KY 1, Greenup, KY

Built 1995 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 326

CS-1204

Good

Over: CSX RAILROAD

200 EAST JCT KY 9, Campbell, KY

Built 1989 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 1,609

CR-1009

Good

Over: LAUREL FORK

21 FT. E of Jct. KY 1068, Lewis, KY

Built 2011 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 32

KY 916

Good

Over: McDougal Creek

0.1 Miles NE of KY 210, Larue, KY

Built 1997 Load: 22.8 t ADT: 96

GREEN CHAPEL RD

Good

Over: TIMBER CREEK

0.8 Miles N JCT US 62, Nelson, KY

Built 1996 Load: 22.8 t ADT: 319

WALTON PK

Good

Over: TRIB- BRACKEN CREEK

1 MI N JCT KY 9, Bracken, KY

Built 1994 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 124

KY-777

Good

Over: Right Fork Beaver Creek

Garrett Park, Floyd, KY

Built 1944 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 796

MYERS CHAPEL RD

Good

Over: NORMAN BRANCH

1.6 MI SW JCT US 431, Muhlenberg, KY

Built 1994 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 147

KY-26

Good

Over: WATTS CREEK

2.8 MI. NOR JCT KY 511, Whitley, KY

Built 1984 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 2,590

KY-169

Good

Over: JESSAMINE CREEK

.60 MI S OF JCT US 68, Jessamine, KY

Built 1950 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 10,658

US 460

Good

Over: SLATE CREEK

.01 MI E of KY 1050, Montgomery, KY

Built 2019 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 5,205

Leatherwood Ch. Rd

Good

Over: Leatherwood Creek

1.0 M SW of KY 768, Adair, KY

Built 2013 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 38

KY-2014

Good

Over: CUMBERLAND RIVER

1.6 MI.E JCT US 25E, Bell, KY

Built 1993 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 462

KY-531

Good

Over: Sulphur Creek

2.0 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 206, Adair, KY

Built 1953 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 207

KY 1287

Good

Over: STEVENS CREEK

2.0 MILES SOUTH JCT KY 22, Owen, KY

Built 2017 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 169

BLUEGRASS PARKWAY

Good

Over: CHAPLIN RIVER

WBL 0.5 MI E OF KY555 NTR, Washington, KY

Built 1965 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 7,469

KY-730

Good

Over: EDDY CREEK

1.4 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 293, Lyon, KY

Built 1964 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 142

KY-217

Good

Over: CLEAR FORK CREEK

1.2 MI S.E. OF JCT KY 988, Bell, KY

Built 1967 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 624

US-119

Good

Over: Poor Frk of Cumberland

0.7 MI NE of JCT KY 2564, Letcher, KY

Built 2017 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 1,459

KY-3328

Good

Over: CROOKED CREEK

.6 MI S OF JCT KY 499, Estill, KY

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 650

Walters Branch Rd

Good

Over: Greasy Creek

0.01 MI S of JCT KY 2040, Johnson, KY

Built 2001 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 60

LONE STAR RD

Good

Over: BRANCH-POND RIVER

1.8 MI SW JCT KY 853, Muhlenberg, KY

Built 1995 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 100

KY 61 SB

Good

Over: BLUE LICK CREEK

1.3 MI N OF KY 1020, Bullitt, KY

Built 2017 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 4,247

KY 61 NB

Good

Over: BLUE LICK CREEK

1.3 MI N OF KY 1020, Bullitt, KY

Built 2017 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 4,247

KISSEY BRANCH RD

Good

Over: RED LICK CREEK

.2 MI S OF JCT KY 594, Estill, KY

Built 1969 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 71

RIGHT FORK BUFFALO

Good

Over: LEFT FORK-BUFFALO CREEK

.6 MI W JCT KY 2024, Owsley, KY

Built 1960 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 67

KY-84

Good

Over: POUND RUN CREEK

1.2 MI EAST OF NELSON CL, Marion, KY

Built 1934 Load: 25.0 t ADT: 479

THREE SPRINGS ROAD

Good

Over: I-165

2 MI S OF JCT US 231, Warren, KY

Built 1972 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 9,678

CRAINTOWN ROAD

Good

Over: BEGLEY BRANCH

1.3 MI S JCT W/OLD US 150, Boyle, KY

Built 1996 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 143

I-64 EB ON RAMP 2A

Good

Over: TRIMARC & PARKING

150 FT N OF US 31W, Jefferson, KY

Built 1975 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 87,355

I-64 EB ON RAMP 2

Good

Over: 9TH & WASHINGTON ST

1.2 MI W OF I-65, Jefferson, KY

Built 1975 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 87,355

LBL ROAD 130

Good

Over: SMITH CREEK

LBL, Lyon, KY

Built 2014 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 50

KY-541

Good

Over: NORTH FORK KY RIVER

1.2 MI W OF JCT KY 15, Breathitt, KY

Built 1986 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 628

South Copeland Rd.

Good

Over: North Fork KY River

At Jct. with 1110, Breathitt, KY

Built 2010 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 190

KY-3195

Good

Over: LEATHERWOOD CREEK

W @JCT KY 699, Perry, KY

Built 1946 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 495

Broad Bottom Rd

Good

Over: Levisa Fork

@ JCT US 23 Mossy Bottom, Pike, KY

Built 1986 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 2,644

KY-52

Good

Over: WEST FORK OF BACK CREEK

4.8 MI EAST OF JCT. US 27, Garrard, KY

Built 2003 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 3,621

KY-434

Good

Over: MUD CREEK

.5 MI NE OF JCT CR 1054, Hardin, KY

Built 1943 Load: 25.8 t ADT: 1,291

Anderson Rd.

Good

Over: Slate Creek

667' S. of KY 111, Bath, KY

Built 2014 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 110

GABBARD RD

Good

Over: CRANE BRANCH

.35 MI NORTH ROCKCASTLE L, Garrard, KY

Built 1994 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 126

TERRIL SCHOOL RD

Good

Over: BRUSH CREEK

1.0 MI N OF KY 61, Green, KY

Built 2005 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 10

Ramp L

Good

Over: I-69

1.5 mi N of JCT US 41, Hopkins, KY

Built 2014 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 20,471

Showing 9,751-9,800 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.