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 52

Good

Over: KY 21 AND PAINT LICK CR

W OF MADISON CO LINE, Garrard, KY

Built 2016 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 3,511

FULTON ROAD

Good

Over: RED DUCK CREEK

.60 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 166, Graves, KY

Built 1956 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 2,439

KY-1686

Good

Over: BRANCH OF McCLANE CREEK

.30 MI EAST OF HICKMAN CL, Graves, KY

Built 1958 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 178

KY-1710

Good

Over: UNNAME STREAM

1.1 MI N.W. OF JCT KY 464, Graves, KY

Built 1958 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 684

ALDERDICE ROAD

Good

Over: BR-TERRAPIN CREEK

0.9 MI SW OF KY 97, Graves, KY

Built 1994 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 19

KY-224

Good

Over: SINKING FORK

1.0 MI WEST OF JCT KY 479, Grayson, KY

Built 1944 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 827

KY-54

Good

Over: LITTLE CLIFTY CREEK

.1 MI E OF JCT KY 2193, Grayson, KY

Built 1950 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 2,453

KY-631

Good

Over: ASHCRAFT BRANCH

.6 MI W OF JCT KY 2196, Grayson, KY

Built 1951 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 328

KY 88

Good

Over: Bear Creek

0.1 M E of JCT KY1214, Grayson, KY

Built 2013 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 1,231

KY-3098

Good

Over: MEADOW CREEK

.1 MI N-CR 5019 @CONNIFF, Green, KY

Built 1952 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 160

KY-1913

Good

Over: SUBLETT BRANCH

.70 MI WEST OF TAYLOR CL, Green, KY

Built 1954 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 408

KY-61

Good

Over: BRUSHY CR BRANCH

2.0 MI S OF LARUE CO LN, Green, KY

Built 1988 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 1,519

OLD CEDARTOP SCHOO

Good

Over: CANEY FORK

.03 MI S JCT KY 1913, Green, KY

Built 1996 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 75

KY-2541

Good

Over: TOWN BRANCH

.65 MI NOR OF S-JCT US 23, Greenup, KY

Built 1959 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 1,719

SHORT BR. CR 1005

Good

Over: COAL BRANCH

.06 MI. SOU - KY 827, Greenup, KY

Built 1993 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 107

KY-271

Good

Over: TRIBUTARY OF LEAD CREEK

.80 MI SOU. OF JCT US 60, Hancock, KY

Built 1955 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 594

KY-720

Good

Over: BR OF DORSEY RUN

.50 MI S.W. OF JCT KY 84, Hardin, KY

Built 1954 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 739

KY-720

Good

Over: DORSEY RUN

.70 MI S.W. OF JCT KY 84, Hardin, KY

Built 1954 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 739

KY-220

Good

Over: OTTER CREEK

1.0 MI EAST OF JCT KY1600, Hardin, KY

Built 1953 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 4,113

KY-920

Good

Over: MAYS RUN

.50 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 220, Hardin, KY

Built 1950 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 477

KY 1904

Good

Over: Technograss Creek

0.01 MI S of JCT KY 3005, Hardin, KY

Built 2008 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 1,994

KY 3005

Good

Over: Valley Creek

0.9 Mi South of KY 1904, Hardin, KY

Built 2013 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 6,872

KY 567

Good

Over: Unnamed stream

250 N of Jct KY 210, Hardin, KY

Built 2013 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 4,971

KY 361

Good

Over: Brushy Creek

0.1 mile south of KY 313, Hardin, KY

Built 2013 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 13,357

Par Lane

Good

Over: Nichols Creek

0.01 Mi North of KY 210, Hardin, KY

Built 2015 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 367

Hawkins Drive

Good

Over: Nichols Creek

0.01 Mile North of KY 210, Hardin, KY

Built 2015 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 184

KY-219

Good

Over: WALLINS CREEK

3.0 MI S OF JCT KY 2007, Harlan, KY

Built 1961 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 331

HOWARD DR

Good

Over: CATRONS CREEK

150 WEST OF KY 72, Harlan, KY

Built 2003 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 100

Rasnick Road

Good

Over: Poor Fk Cumberland River

500 SW of JCT US-119, Harlan, KY

Built 2022 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 20

SHADY NOOK RD

Good

Over: INDIAN CREEK

0.6 MILES SW OF SHAW LN, Harrison, KY

Built 2002 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 490

DIXON RD

Good

Over: N FK RAVEN CREEK

1 MI NE OF JCT CR5333, Harrison, KY

Built 2021 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 65

KY-359

Good

Over: UNNAME STREAM

2.0 MI S.W. OF JCT KY 136, Henderson, KY

Built 1952 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 1,504

KY-123

Good

Over: LASTER BRANCH

.60 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 182, Hickman, KY

Built 1934 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 336

KY-123

Good

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

1.7 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 608, Hickman, KY

Built 1932 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 323

KY-1300

Good

Over: TRIBUTARY OF OBION CREEK

1.1 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 58, Hickman, KY

Built 1952 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 91

ROSCOE RD(CR-1015)

Good

Over: LITTLE JOE CREEK

.48 MI S. OF KY 1748, Hickman, KY

Built 2012 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 58

US-62

Good

Over: BRANCH OF DRAKE CREEK

1.5 MI EAST OF JCT US 41, Hopkins, KY

Built 1934 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 3,070

KY 22

Good

Over: LITTLE GOOSE CREEK

0.5 MI E OF GOOSE CR RD, Jefferson, KY

Built 2016 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 9,024

KY 1694

Good

Over: I-71

0.35 MI N OF KY 22, Jefferson, KY

Built 2022 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 11,187

BELLAVISTA PLACE

Good

Over: LONG RUN

150 FT E OF LONG RUN RD, Jefferson, KY

Built 2008 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 10

SHUN PIKE

Good

Over: TOWN FORK

.9 MI N - KY1268, Jessamine, KY

Built 1993 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 188

KY-2373

Good

Over: PLEASANT RUN CREEK

.5 MI N JCT Anderson RD, Kenton, KY

Built 2022 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 7,404

Upper Mill Creek

Good

Over: Lt Fork Troublesome Ck

@ JCT KY-550 near Leburn, Knott, KY

Built 2022 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 622

Willard Branch

Good

Over: Carr Fork

0.05 M S of JCT KY-582, Knott, KY

Built 2023 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 93

KY-470

Good

Over: MCDOUGAL CREEK

.30 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 916, Larue, KY

Built 1951 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 1,307

KY-1803

Good

Over: LAUREL RIVER

0.7 MI. S. OF KY 80, Laurel, KY

Built 2005 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 419

KY-707

Good

Over: RT. FORK OF BEAR CREEK

.10 MI S OF JCT KY 1937, Lawrence, KY

Built 1953 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 72

KY 1411

Good

Over: Pawpaw creek

2.93 MI S of KY 11, Lee, KY

Built 2014 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 248

US 421

Good

Over: HONEY SUCKLE BRANCH

NEAR STINNETT SCHOOL, Leslie, KY

Built 2009 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 1,529

US-421

Good

Over: Stinnet Creek

0.1 M S of JCT KY-406, Leslie, KY

Built 2022 Load: 40.8 t ADT: 1,529

Showing 11,151-11,200 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.