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

CR-1057J1

Good

Over: ALLEN FORK

0.5 MI. S. OF KY 18, Boone, KY

Built 2003 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 108

Heights BLVD

Good

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

.1 MI N JCT US 42, Boone, KY

Built 2015 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 10,643

CS-2081

Good

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

.1 MI S OF KY-3060, Boone, KY

Built 2006 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 270

KY-1951

Good

Over: BIG RUN

1.2 MI N JCT KY 1159, Bracken, KY

Built 1954 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 83

KY-1278

Good

Over: LEATHERWOOD CREEK

0.7 MI. S. KY 0015 JCT., Breathitt, KY

Built 2005 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 430

KY 476

Good

Over: Caney Creek

7.2Mi S of KY 15 INT, Breathitt, KY

Built 2016 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 560

KY-261

Good

Over: HARDIN CREEK

0.3 Mi South of US 60, Breckinridge, KY

Built 1934 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 2,846

KY-121

Good

Over: GROGAN BRANCH

.40 MI EAST OF JCT KY 893, Calloway, KY

Built 1932 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 3,080

KY-2924

Good

Over: TRIB. TO RIFFLE CR.

2.3 MILES W JCT US 27, Campbell, KY

Built 2003 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 241

KY-10

Good

Over: FLAGG SPRING CREEK

0.7 MI NOR OF JCT KY-735, Campbell, KY

Built 2010 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 211

E 6TH ST

Good

Over: TAYLOR CREEK

0.05 MILE N-E.OF OAK ST., Campbell, KY

Built 1977 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 5,690

MALLARD DRIVE

Good

Over: POND CREEK

300 WEST JCT KY 915, Campbell, KY

Built 1997 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 130

East Cabin 1374

Good

Over: TRIBUTARY TO OWL CREEK

100 FT. EAST JCT KY 2925, Campbell, KY

Built 1995 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 118

BLANGEY RD

Good

Over: UNKNOWN TRIBUTARY

BLANGEY RD WEST OF KY 8, Campbell, KY

Built 1974 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 118

CR-1316

Good

Over: DUCK CREEK

.3 MI S OF JCT KY 1998, Campbell, KY

Built 2010 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 721

KY-1628

Good

Over: WILSON CREEK

2.4 MI W. US 62, Carlisle, KY

Built 1992 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 133

KY-3297

Good

Over: TRIB. OF LO.STINSON CK.

.815 N OF JCT. US 60, Carter, KY

Built 2003 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 2,982

CS-2065

Good

Over: HENDERSON BRANCH

OVER HENDERSON BRANCH, Carter, KY

Built 1947 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 250

US-68

Good

Over: FORK OF LITTLE RIVER

.30 MI EAST OF JCT KY 168, Christian, KY

Built 1924 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 4,020

ROGERS RD

Good

Over: MIDDLE BRANCH

0.5 MI E JCT KY 1682, Christian, KY

Built 2002 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 100

O DANIELS RD

Good

Over: W FORK OF SINKING FORK

0.2 MI E JCT KY 1026, Christian, KY

Built 2002 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 16

OLD KY-345 RD

Good

Over: BRANCH SINKING FORK CR

0.3 MI S. OF JCT KY 107, Christian, KY

Built 2003 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 50

BRADY LN

Good

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

0.5 MI. E. OF JCT KY 164, Christian, KY

Built 2004 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 93

DOUG COMBS RD

Good

Over: TRIB TO E FORK SINKING C

20 E JCT KY 109, Christian, KY

Built 2004 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 100

TERRY COAL RD

Good

Over: TRIB. OF TRADEWATER RIVE

0.1 MI W JCT KY 1348, Christian, KY

Built 2005 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 50

MILLER MILL RD

Good

Over: UNNAMED DRAINAGE DITCH

130 E JCT KY 345, Christian, KY

Built 2005 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 50

Flat Lick Lane

Good

Over: Unnamed ditch

!.5 mi W jct. KY 107, Christian, KY

Built 2004 Load: 39.9 t

CR1099Johnson Mill

Good

Over: Trib. to Lake Morris

0.7 mi N Jct CR1111, Christian, KY

Built 2006 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 50

COAL CREEK RD. CR-

Good

Over: UNNAMED CREEK

.9 MI. N A. JORDON RD., Christian, KY

Built 2010 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 51

KY-2000

Good

Over: SUGAR CREEK

8.8 M/P, Clay, KY

Built 2009 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 110

KY-2432

Good

Over: HART BRANCH

JUNCTION COTTON BEND, Clay, KY

Built 2018 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 622

COAL HOLLOW

Good

Over: HART BRANCH

JUNTION BEECH CREEK, Clay, KY

Built 2018 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 460

CR1524

Good

Over: Rader creek

Lower Rader road, Clay, KY

Built 2012 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 158

WATSON CEMETERY RD

Good

Over: FLATLICK CREEK

0.15 MI S.CLAUDE BELT RD, Crittenden, KY

Built 1990 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 29

KY-1831

Good

Over: TRIB TO VANBUREN CREEK

.1 MI N JCT KY 405, Daviess, KY

Built 1990 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 964

BEN FORD RD

Good

Over: FORD DITCH

1.0 MI. WEST JCT US 431, Daviess, KY

Built 1985 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 112

J R MILLER BLVD

Good

Over: DRAINAGE DITCH

.1 MI S JCT E BYERS AVE, Daviess, KY

Built 2005 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 8,680

CS1683

Good

Over: Drainage Ditch

0.1 mi. S E. Byers Ave., Daviess, KY

Built 2009 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 50

CS1684

Good

Over: Drainage Ditch

0.1 mi. S. Jct. E. Byers, Daviess, KY

Built 2009 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 50

KY-52

Good

Over: GEO.ABNERS BR. OF COW C

2.2 MI W OF JCT KY 213, Estill, KY

Built 1925 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,078

KY 1927

Good

Over: HICKMEN CREEK

1.05M E of MANOWAR BLV, Fayette, KY

Built 2016 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 12,549

MASTERSON STATION

Good

Over: FORK OF TOWN BRANCH

.2 MI- E JCT US 421, Fayette, KY

Built 1995 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,753

APPOMATTOX ROAD

Good

Over: WOLF RUN

1500 FT E. OF ALEXANDRI, Fayette, KY

Built 2008 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 2,112

OXFORD CIRCLE

Good

Over: VAUGHNS BRANCH

1000 FT N JCT US 60, Fayette, KY

Built 2010 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 8,565

CHANTILLY STREET

Good

Over: VAUGHNS BRANCH

500 FT N JCT CAMBRIDGE, Fayette, KY

Built 2010 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 2,529

PINE MEADOWS RD

Good

Over: VAUGHNS BRANCH

E. OF SUMMERVILLE DR, Fayette, KY

Built 2010 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,746

SUMMERVILLE ROAD

Good

Over: VAUGHNS BRANCH

E. OF BEACON HILL RD., Fayette, KY

Built 2010 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,185

LUCILLE DRIVE

Good

Over: FORK OF TOWN BRANCH

.2 MI E JCT US 421, Fayette, KY

Built 2000 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 4,269

KY 860 KELLEY PIKE

Good

Over: JOHNSON CREEK

.75 mi w of jct. ky 1200, Fleming, KY

Built 2009 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 188

KY-7

Good

Over: Steele Creek

0.1 MI S of JCT KY 1086, Floyd, KY

Built 1938 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,325

Showing 10,751-10,800 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.