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

WATSON CEMETERY RD

Good

Over: FLATLICK CREEK

.25 MI SW CR 5285, Crittenden, KY

Built 1991 Load: 38.3 t ADT: 29

KY-185

Good

Over: WESTERN KENTUCKY PARKWAY

0.9 MI SE JCT. US 62, Grayson, KY

Built 1962 Load: 38.3 t ADT: 1,590

BOONE BR RD

Good

Over: THREE PRONG BRUSHY

10 SOUTH JCT KY 784, Greenup, KY

Built 1994 Load: 38.3 t ADT: 91

FLAT ROCK ROAD

Good

Over: CANE RUN CREEK

1.2 MI NW JCT KY 88, Hart, KY

Built 1992 Load: 38.3 t ADT: 239

COAL BRANCH RD

Good

Over: LYNAM CREEK

.1 MI W KY 708, Lee, KY

Built 1991 Load: 38.3 t ADT: 84

KY-113

Good

Over: North Fork KY River

.10 MI N.W. JCT KY 805, Letcher, KY

Built 2007 Load: 38.3 t ADT: 816

US 25 NC

Good

Over: KY 388 CSX RR DREAMING C

.2 MI.S JCT KY 1986, Madison, KY

Built 1996 Load: 38.3 t ADT: 11,101

US 25

Good

Over: KY 388 CSX RR DREAMING C

.2 MI. S. JCT KY 1986, Madison, KY

Built 1996 Load: 38.3 t ADT: 11,101

White Oak Crk Rd.

Good

Over: White Oak Creek

0.2 Mi E of Jct KY 49, Marion, KY

Built 2018 Load: 38.3 t ADT: 55

KY-70

Good

Over: CNO/TP RR/CITY ACCESS ST

.10 MI WEST JCT KY 1247, Pulaski, KY

Built 2005 Load: 38.3 t ADT: 1,179

KY-871

Good

Over: BR OF SIBLEY CREEK

.25 MI W OF KY 360, Union, KY

Built 1986 Load: 38.3 t ADT: 66

VALLEY HILL RD

Good

Over: TRIB-CARTWRIGHT CREEK

.1 MI W JCT KY 55, Washington, KY

Built 1991 Load: 38.3 t ADT: 242

I-75

Good

Over: KY 536 (MT ZION RD)

1.8 MI S JCT US 42 NBL, Boone, KY

Built 1992 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 70,241

HR-9006

Good

Over: HORSE CREEK

.25 MI EAST OF KY 80 NTRC, Clay, KY

Built 1973 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 4,924

KY-780

Good

Over: CANADIAN NATIONAL RAIL

.4 MI. S. JCT US 51, Hickman, KY

Built 1999 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 151

KY-80

Good

Over: MID FK KY RIVER

.01 MI EAST OF JCT US 421, Leslie, KY

Built 1986 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 1,883

GLEN CHAPEL ROAD

Good

Over: CRAB CREEK

.5 MI W JCT KY 373, Lyon, KY

Built 1990 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 89

LICK BRANCH OF MID

Good

Over: RIGHT FK FRITZ LICK CK

.05 MI S JCT KY 378, Magoffin, KY

Built 1994 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 176

DUSTY TRL RD

Good

Over: MALCOLM CREEK

1.0 MI- N JCT US 58, Marshall, KY

Built 1995 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 150

SULLIVAN LN

Good

Over: FROMAN CREEK

1.2 MI- W JCT US 31E, Nelson, KY

Built 1995 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 277

MCKINNEYSBURG RD

Good

Over: LICKING RIVER

2.6 MI S&E OF JCT CR 5127, Pendleton, KY

Built 2005 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 305

WHITAKER CEM ROAD

Good

Over: LACY FORK

0.1 M S of JCT KY 1956, Pulaski, KY

Built 2012 Load: 38.4 t ADT: 20

SMITH BRANCH RD

Good

Over: SMITH BRANCH

1 MI W - US 23, Greenup, KY

Built 1992 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 473

FRAZER BR RD

Good

Over: CANE CREEK

.75 MI W - KY 207, Greenup, KY

Built 1991 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 127

I-65

Good

Over: COLESBURG ROAD

3 MI S OF BULLITT CL, Hardin, KY

Built 1982 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 25,853

KY 62

Good

Over: S FORK LICKING RIV & CSX

.1MI W of JCT US 27, Harrison, KY

Built 2011 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 2,871

STRATTON PK

Good

Over: STRATTON CREEK

2.5 MI SW JCT KY 1032, Harrison, KY

Built 1993 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 86

SYLVANDELL

Good

Over: BRUSHY CREEK

.3 MI E. JCT CRO 5106, Harrison, KY

Built 1997 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 83

TOLLER BRANCH ROAD

Good

Over: TOLLER BRANCH

.2 MI S JCT KY 989, Lewis, KY

Built 1993 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 112

SCHMIDT RD

Good

Over: BRANCH-CHAMPION CREEK

.35 MI W JCT KY 994, McCracken, KY

Built 1993 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 184

EAST PRONG ROAD

Good

Over: E. FK. OTTER CREEK

1 MI E OF JCT KY 388, Madison, KY

Built 1966 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 16

VICTOR DARNELL RD.

Good

Over: CAP SPRING CREEK

.08 MI N OF CAPP SPGS RD, Marshall, KY

Built 1996 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 50

US-62

Good

Over: BR OF LICK CREEK

.20 MI EAST OF JCT KY 61-, Nelson, KY

Built 1941 Load: 38.5 t ADT: 3,233

MUD LICK ROAD

Good

Over: MUDLICK CREEK

.5 MI E JCT HYATT RD, Anderson, KY

Built 1991 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 12

WALKER LN

Good

Over: GARNER CREEK

.28 MI N - KY 854, Boyd, KY

Built 1992 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 67

Devon Lane|CR 1294

Good

Over: Frozen Creek

30 S of KY-397 at MP 5.2, Breathitt, KY

Built 2023 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 30

US 641

Good

Over: Colburn Branch

1 MI south of KY 94, Calloway, KY

Built 2019 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 6,834

KY-89

Good

Over: KINGS FORK

1.5 MI N OF S-JCT KY 974, Clark, KY

Built 2013 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 1,874

PILOT VIEW RD

Good

Over: DRY FORK

.5 MI E -JCT KY 89, Clark, KY

Built 1990 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 222

KY-456

Good

Over: PANTHER CREEK

.7 MI. E KY 500, Daviess, KY

Built 1983 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 506

I-64

Good

Over: KY 1665

2.0 MI E OF KY 151, Franklin, KY

Built 2023 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 40,748

OLD LITTLE BARREN

Good

Over: GREASY CREEK

50 SOUTH- HAND ROAD, Green, KY

Built 1993 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 94

WHITSON RD

Good

Over: S.FORK RAVEN CREEK

1.3 MI SW - KY 356, Harrison, KY

Built 1991 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 60

REYNOLDS LANE

Good

Over: BACON CREEK

.1 MI S JCT KY 728, Hart, KY

Built 1991 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 40

MAGNOLIA GAS STORA

Good

Over: LYNN CAMP CREEK

2 MI W JCT CR 5042, Hart, KY

Built 1992 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 35

Gaddie Cemetary Rd

Good

Over: Bacon Creek

0.05 Mi South of KY 728, Hart, KY

Built 2016 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 108

JOES BRANCH RD

Good

Over: JOES BRANCH

1.0 MI E OF KY 22, Henry, KY

Built 1992 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 70

I-64 WB & RAMPS

Good

Over: WITHERSPOON & CSX RR

0.85 MI W OF US 42 WB, Jefferson, KY

Built 2016 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 144,000

Honeycutt Rd

Good

Over: Carr Fork

JCT of KY 582, Knott, KY

Built 2022 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 110

Elk Creek Rd

Good

Over: Elk Lick

515ft N Tincher hill, Lee, KY

Built 2014 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 80

Showing 10,551-10,600 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.