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

US 25

Good

Over: CANE RUN CREEK

1 MI NOR OF FAYETTE CL, Scott, KY

Built 2013 Load: 49.2 t ADT: 7,965

KY 1169

Good

Over: BUCK CREEK

3.6 MI E OF KY 55, Spencer, KY

Built 2019 Load: 49.2 t ADT: 104

KY-359

Good

Over: Little Mason Creek

.1 MI W OF JCT KY 1179, Union, KY

Built 2019 Load: 49.2 t ADT: 1,088

US-62

Good

Over: FOX CREEK

.9 MI W. JCT KY 513, Anderson, KY

Built 1996 Load: 49.3 t ADT: 2,409

CR-1360

Good

Over: Upper Twin Branch

.05 S of JCT KY 52, Breathitt, KY

Built 2008 Load: 49.3 t ADT: 146

PRINCETON-OLNEY RD

Good

Over: TRADEWATER RIVER

@ HOPKINS CO.LN., Caldwell, KY

Built 1984 Load: 49.3 t ADT: 53

GORE CEMETERY LN

Good

Over: SOUTH FORK SOLDIER CREEK

.9 MI W JCT KY 1311, Marshall, KY

Built 1990 Load: 49.3 t ADT: 20

MATHIA ROAD

Good

Over: CLEAR CREEK

.4 MI SE OF KY 402, Marshall, KY

Built 2000 Load: 49.3 t ADT: 50

WALLER OMER RD

Good

Over: CYPRESS CREEK

1.3 MI N OF JCT KY 109, Union, KY

Built 1977 Load: 49.3 t ADT: 70

US-42

Good

Over: LITTLE SOUTH FORK

.3 MI NE OF GALLATIN CL, Boone, KY

Built 1986 Load: 49.4 t ADT: 4,209

KY-1278

Good

Over: LOST CREEK

.01 Miles west of KY 15, Breathitt, KY

Built 1997 Load: 49.4 t ADT: 430

KY 57

Good

Over: BR OF NO.FK.ELKHORN CREE

.75 MI N OF JCT KY 1973, Fayette, KY

Built 1981 Load: 49.4 t ADT: 1,106

US-27

Good

Over: NORTH ELKHORN CREEK

3.5 MI N JCT I-75 + I-64, Fayette, KY

Built 2004 Load: 49.4 t ADT: 6,810

BOBTOWN ROAD

Good

Over: TRIB. TO MUD LICK CREEK

1.4 MI SE of JCT KY-392, Harrison, KY

Built 2014 Load: 49.4 t ADT: 103

HOGREFFE RD

Good

Over: TRIB TO BANKLICK CREEK

.1 MI S OF JCT KY 536, Kenton, KY

Built 2002 Load: 49.4 t ADT: 204

KY. 646

Good

Over: SPENCER CREEK

150 FT S OF JCT KY 713, Montgomery, KY

Built 2005 Load: 49.4 t ADT: 342

KY-1963

Good

Over: CANE RUN CREEK

.8 MI N OF JCT US 25, Scott, KY

Built 1985 Load: 49.4 t ADT: 1,438

US-68

Good

Over: LITTLE RIVER

.7 MI.W JCT KY 139, Trigg, KY

Built 1993 Load: 49.4 t ADT: 6,920

ROLLING HILLS LANE

Good

Over: CSX RR

100 E Rockwell Rd., Clark, KY

Built 2008 Load: 49.5 t ADT: 3,061

US 127

Good

Over: SPRING CREEK

0.3 MILES NORTH OF KY 969, Clinton, KY

Built 2013 Load: 49.5 t ADT: 4,130

KY-0578

Good

Over: POND CREEK

0.2 MI. S. KY 3034, Jackson, KY

Built 2006 Load: 49.5 t ADT: 391

TANGLETOWN RD

Good

Over: TWO LICK CREEK

.2 MI E OF JCT KY 2512, Mason, KY

Built 1968 Load: 49.5 t ADT: 58

FLOUR CREEK RD

Good

Over: FLOUR CREEK

1.3 MI E OF JCT CR 5021, Pendleton, KY

Built 1979 Load: 49.5 t ADT: 142

KY-616

Good

Over: JOHNSON CREEK

.2 MI NW OF JCT KY 1029, Robertson, KY

Built 1987 Load: 49.5 t ADT: 84

CHANEY PIKE RD

Good

Over: BIG PITMAN CREEK

1.95 MI NW JCT KY 744, Taylor, KY

Built 1999 Load: 49.5 t ADT: 118

KY-3356

Good

Over: RED RIVER

0.15 MI. S. KY. 1010 JCT, Wolfe, KY

Built 2000 Load: 49.5 t ADT: 114

KY 2011

Good

Over: RED BIRD CREEK

0.5 MILE S OF JCT KY66, Bell, KY

Built 2017 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 86

Kelly Road

Good

Over: Wades Creek

0.8 M W Robert Jackson, Calloway, KY

Built 2020 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 21

Hooker branch road

Good

Over: Little Goose creek

.10mi S of ky687, Clay, KY

Built 2014 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 101

_KY-129

Good

Over: _UNNAME STREAM

_100 FT E OF CLEVELAND ST, Fulton, KY

Built 2023 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 2,407

KY 534

Good

Over: Fork of Mayfield Creek

.6 MI south of KY 348, Graves, KY

Built 2021 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 377

SHAW-BOAZ ROAD

Good

Over: OVER ICRR

1.2 MILES WEST OF KY. 339, Graves, KY

Built 2006 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 47

KY 222

Good

Over: Western KY Parkway

1.3 Mi SE of Jct US 62, Hardin, KY

Built 1962 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 764

I-71 RAMP TO I-65

Good

Over: I-64 WB

1.85 MI S OF ZORN, Jefferson, KY

Built 2016 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 85,117

Sly Branch

Good

Over: Right Frk Beaver Crk

E @ JCT KY 7, Knott, KY

Built 2020 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 60

Henry Ison Hollow

Good

Over: Cowan Creek

0.1 M N of JCT KY 931, Letcher, KY

Built 2021 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 111

KY-994

Good

Over: Branch of Bottom Ditch

.60MI NOR. JCT KY 348, McCracken, KY

Built 2019 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 1,233

KY-700

Good

Over: Indian Creek

2.3 MI E OF JCT KY 1045, McCreary, KY

Built 2021 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 247

KY 9009

Good

Over: Over KY7

At exit 75 on mnt prk way, Magoffin, KY

Built 2017 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 7,026

KY 1635

Good

Over: Oakley Creek

0.1 M S OF JCT KY 867, Magoffin, KY

Built 2021 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 165

KY 49

Good

Over: Hamilton Branch

2 Miles NW of KY 84, Marion, KY

Built 2016 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 2,601

Buck Evans Br. Rd.

Good

Over: Caney Creek

0.2 M W of KY 2498, Morgan, KY

Built 2014 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 279

KY-85

Good

Over: BR of W FK Lewis Creek

1.5 MI MOR. OF JCT US 62, Ohio, KY

Built 2019 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 1,458

KY 362

Good

Over: JUNKINS RUN

2.15 MI W OF KY 1848, Shelby, KY

Built 2011 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 944

CR-1165

Good

Over: SKINNER CREEK

1 MI N. OF KY 164, Trigg, KY

Built 2013 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 66

KY 9009

Good

Over: State Road Fork Creek

E Ramp To HWY 205, Wolfe, KY

Built 2018 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 502

CLAYS MILL ROAD

Good

Over: SOUTH ELKHORN CREEK

.05MI N-JCT MAN OWAR BLV, Fayette, KY

Built 1983 Load: 49.7 t ADT: 12,953

KY-680

Good

Over: Mud Creek

4th Bridge from US 23, Floyd, KY

Built 2003 Load: 49.7 t ADT: 2,999

KY-94

Good

Over: BLUE LINE CREEK

.95 MI W KY 112, Fulton, KY

Built 1988 Load: 49.7 t ADT: 1,976

KY-408

Good

Over: WILSON CREEK

.16 MI.E. JCT KY 945, Graves, KY

Built 1998 Load: 49.7 t ADT: 824

Showing 12,201-12,250 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.