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-707

Good

Over: Brushy Fork

0.50 MI S of JCT KY 1937, Lawrence, KY

Built 2001 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 72

KY-399

Good

Over: DUCK FORK CREEK

.30 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 587, Lee, KY

Built 1958 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 425

CS-1008

Good

Over: CREEK

HOSPITAL HYDEN, Leslie, KY

Built 1970 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 300

KY-510

Good

Over: TRACE BR OF LINE FORK

.10 MI WEST OF JCT KY 463, Letcher, KY

Built 1948 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 481

KY-510

Good

Over: KOYLE BR OF LINE FORK

2.8 MI WEST OF JCT KY 463, Letcher, KY

Built 1959 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 481

KY-3408

Good

Over: 0.7 MI N of KY-7 @ELK CR

ELK CREEK, Letcher, KY

Built 2004 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 335

BURDINE RD

Good

Over: Elkhorn Creek

.01 MI N.US 23 @ BURDINE, Letcher, KY

Built 1983 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 941

KY-59

Good

Over: DYER BRANCH

.6 MI N OF JCT KY 1662, Lewis, KY

Built 1950 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 567

KY-344

Good

Over: MUD LICK BRANCH

3.2 MI EAST OF FLEMING CL, Lewis, KY

Built 1948 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 454

KY-344

Good

Over: BLACK LICK BRANCH

3.6 MI WEST OF JCT KY 377, Lewis, KY

Built 1950 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 287

KY-57

Good

Over: BR OF E.FK.CABIN CREEK

.80 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 984, Lewis, KY

Built 1948 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 233

CABIN CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: TRIB -CABIN CREEK

1.7 MI SE JCT KY 984, Lewis, KY

Built 1997 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 114

KY-1194

Good

Over: BLUE LICK CREEK

2.0 MI N.W. OF JCT KY 78, Lincoln, KY

Built 1952 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 798

KY 453_

Good

Over: ECHO SPRING BRANCH_

.10 MI NOR. JCT. KY188_, Livingston, KY

Built 2016 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,226

US-68X

Good

Over: TOWN BRANCH

0.1 MI. W.OF JCT. KY 2146, Logan, KY

Built 1936 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 7,976

I-24

Good

Over: BEE BR OF ISLAND CRK.

.40 MI EAST OF KY 1954 OP, McCracken, KY

Built 1975 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 37,198

US-60

Good

Over: BLACKS BRANCH

.2 MI E. JCT KY 1565, McCracken, KY

Built 1999 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 11,649

PECAN DR. (1487)

Good

Over: CROOKED CREEK

0.4 Mi. N. Jct. US HWY 62, McCracken, KY

Built 2007 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 7,587

McGEE CHAPEL ROAD

Good

Over: UNNAMED STREAM TO GREEN

0.4 MI N. JCT KY 56, McLean, KY

Built 1955 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 30

KY-21

Good

Over: OWSLEY FORK CREEK

.30 MI WEST OF JACKSON CL, Madison, KY

Built 1956 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 128

KY-374

Good

Over: MUDDY CREEK

2.2 MI S OF JCT KY 52, Madison, KY

Built 1940 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,521

US 421

Good

Over: JOE LICK CREEK

1.3 MI. N OF JCT KY 594, Madison, KY

Built 2006 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 3,179

KY 595

Good

Over: JUDYTOWN BRANCH

2.0 MI N EXIT 76 @ I-75, Madison, KY

Built 2006 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 933

KY 52

Good

Over: PAINT LICK CK / CR 1235

600 FT E. OF CL, Madison, KY

Built 2016 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 3,511

CATALPA LOOP ROAD

Good

Over: REBA LAKE RUNOFF

.35 MI S OF W-JCT KY 52, Madison, KY

Built 1938 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 185

Cardinal Drive

Good

Over: Irvine Lick

100ft N of goggins ln., Madison, KY

Built 2019 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 989

US-460

Good

Over: ROCKHOUSE FORK

.1 MI E OF W-JCT KY 1415, Magoffin, KY

Built 1965 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 7,546

KY-364

Good

Over: ROCKHOUSE CREEK

2.4 MI SE. OF MORGAN CO, Magoffin, KY

Built 1958 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 95

KY-1090

Good

Over: STINSON CREEK

.10 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 867, Magoffin, KY

Built 1952 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 436

KY-40

Good

Over: LITTLE PAINT CREEK

1.92 MI E KY 1081, Magoffin, KY

Built 1989 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,324

LICK BRANCH OF MID

Good

Over: RIGHT FORK FRITZ

0.08 MI. W. KY 0007 JCT., Magoffin, KY

Built 1998 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 176

KY-337

Good

Over: CABIN BRANCH

.3 MI S OF W-JCT KY 49, Marion, KY

Built 1934 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 322

KY-412

Good

Over: BR OF STEWARTS CREEK

.10 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 84, Marion, KY

Built 1969 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 724

KY-412

Good

Over: STEWARTS CREEK

1.0 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 84, Marion, KY

Built 1969 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 724

KY-1157

Good

Over: MEDLOCK CREEK

1.8 MI S.W. OF JCT KY 49, Marion, KY

Built 1951 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 205

KY-412

Good

Over: KNOB CREEK

4 MI NW OF JCT KY 289, Marion, KY

Built 1955 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 151

KY-1422

Good

Over: UNNAME STREAM

.25 MI N.W. OF JCT US 641, Marshall, KY

Built 1962 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 739

US-641

Good

Over: BRANCH CYPRESS CREEK

.40 MI S.W. OF JCT KY 142, Marshall, KY

Built 1946 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 5,045

US-641

Good

Over: CYPRESS CREEK

.30 MI S.W. OF JCT KY 142, Marshall, KY

Built 1946 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 5,045

JC-9003

Good

Over: GIBSON CREEK

1.5 MI NOR. OF KY 1949 UP, Marshall, KY

Built 1967 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 7,974

KY-1523

Good

Over: SLOUGH

.10 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 282, Marshall, KY

Built 1954 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,462

KY-1364

Good

Over: FK OF OLIVE BRANCH

2.1 MI SOU. OF JCT US 68, Marshall, KY

Built 1975 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 427

KY-1364

Good

Over: W.FK. RUFF CREEK

2.4 MI SOU. OF JCT US 68, Marshall, KY

Built 1975 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 427

KY 40

Good

Over: Buck Creek

0.5 MI N of JCT KY 292, Martin, KY

Built 1929 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 4,308

Davella Rd

Good

Over: Middle Frk Rockcastle Cr

0.07 MI N of JCT KY 3, Martin, KY

Built 1968 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 107

KY-1234

Good

Over: STONELICK CREEK

.8 MI E OF JCT KY 1449, Mason, KY

Built 1951 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 320

KY-1449

Good

Over: KENNEDY CREEK

.50 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 10, Mason, KY

Built 1955 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 450

Ky-9

Good

Over: LAWRENCE CREEK

.4 MI W OF JCT US62&US68, Mason, KY

Built 1983 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 12,217

KY-1638

Good

Over: DOE RUN

1.0 MI EAST OF JCT KY 448, Meade, KY

Built 1977 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 7,955

KY-36

Good

Over: TRIB-BEAVER CREEK

.1 MI S OF JCT KY 1274, Menifee, KY

Built 1935 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 2,901

Showing 10,851-10,900 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.