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 2386

Good

Over: BRIER CREEK

0.27 MILE N OF KY92, Whitley, KY

Built 2015 Load: 51.5 t ADT: 6,208

KY-1960

Good

Over: BRANCH OF GEORGE CREEK

6.4 MI E OF JCT W/KY 1958, Clark, KY

Built 1977 Load: 51.6 t ADT: 248

FREE SILVER RD

Good

Over: BRANCH OF PUP CREEK

2.4 MI SE OF JCT KY 1389, Daviess, KY

Built 1987 Load: 51.6 t ADT: 280

GILLILAND RD

Good

Over: I-64

0.9 MI S OF US 60, Jefferson, KY

Built 2010 Load: 51.6 t ADT: 1,130

Stallon Rd

Good

Over: Hawkins Branch Creek

1.3Mi on 713 from 460, Menifee, KY

Built 2017 Load: 51.6 t ADT: 30

KY-3174

Good

Over: KY-3174 over KY-195 Ramp

7.1 MI E JCTUS-23 US-460, Pike, KY

Built 2008 Load: 51.6 t ADT: 1,178

KY-764

Good

Over: DESERTER CREEK

1.1 MI E. OHIO CO. LINE, Daviess, KY

Built 2004 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 590

ARNOLDS CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: ARNOLDS CREEK

1.0 MI E OF JCT CR-01330, Grant, KY

Built 2023 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 138

CR-1739

Good

Over: OVER LOST CREEK

19 S OF JCT.KY 784, Greenup, KY

Built 2005 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 10

KY-661

Good

Over: BLACKFORD CREEK

ON DAVIESS-HANCOCK CO. LN, Hancock, KY

Built 2003 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 156

DIXIE HIGHWAY

Good

Over: I-75 @ 187.72

1.2 MI. NE JCT KY 371, Kenton, KY

Built 1999 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 14,478

HillCityRd CS1200

Good

Over: BR of Limestone Creek

0.2 miles S. US 62X, Mason, KY

Built 1985 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 114

PARADISE LN

Good

Over: ELK FORK OF LICKING RI.

0.2 MI. E. KY 172 JCT., Morgan, KY

Built 2004 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 30

BUSH ROAD

Good

Over: OVER LONG POND BRANCH

.3 MI NE OF KY. 139, Trigg, KY

Built 2012 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 78

KY-310

Good

Over: FRAZIER CREEK

.06 MI. N. JCT US 60, Ballard, KY

Built 1999 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 297

MASON SIPPLE ROAD

Good

Over: I-75 SB @ 150.650

.2 MI W OF JCT US 25, Grant, KY

Built 2007 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 296

_KY-945

Good

Over: _CHALK BRANCH

_1.1 MI NOR OF JCT KY 440, Graves, KY

Built 2023 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 119

Musketeer LA1001

Good

Over: Slash Branch

280 W. of US-23 Junc., Greenup, KY

Built 2019 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 200

Williams Ave.

Good

Over: Pond Run

250 West Pond Run Rd, Greenup, KY

Built 2019 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 350

Coy Road

Good

Over: Straight Creek

0.1 MI S OF KY 221, Harlan, KY

Built 2020 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 50

US-60

Good

Over: IPSOM DITCH & CSX RR

0.2 MI N JCT CR 5027, Henderson, KY

Built 2002 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 1,461

US 421

Good

Over: TRIB TO DRENNON CREEK

1.0 MI S OF KY 22, Henry, KY

Built 2010 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 2,332

KY 3209

Good

Over: Balls Fork

0.3 NW of JCT KY 80, Knott, KY

Built 2021 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 314

Worley Lane

Good

Over: Thornton Creek

S at JCT KY-1862, Letcher, KY

Built 2023 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 40

BRUSHY FORK OF LIC

Good

Over: LICKING RIVER

.02 MI E KY 7, Magoffin, KY

Built 1991 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 149

US-0062

Good

Over: WITHROW CREEK

0.7 MI W JCT US 31E, Nelson, KY

Built 2006 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 4,793

KY-355

Good

Over: LITTLE TWIN CREEK

.15 MI SOU OF JCT KY-355, Owen, KY

Built 2014 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 1,059

KY 0011

Good

Over: Middle Fork Red River

_, Powell, KY

Built 2007 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 1,135

Little Perry Rd

Good

Over: Triplett Creek

0.2 MI N OF JCT US 60, Rowan, KY

Built 2020 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 462

PUMP HOLLOW RD

Good

Over: CARPENTER CREEK

200 FT -W. JCT KY 200, Wayne, KY

Built 1996 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 10

US-150

Good

Over: DOCTORS FORK

1.8 mi E Washington co, Boyle, KY

Built 2001 Load: 51.9 t ADT: 3,365

WARDS BRANCH ROAD

Good

Over: HOT WATER CREEK

150 FT S JCT US 68, Boyle, KY

Built 2010 Load: 51.9 t ADT: 171

KY-1039

Good

Over: I-71

0.5 MILES N. OF KY 465, Gallatin, KY

Built 2002 Load: 51.9 t ADT: 5,965

US-421

Good

Over: KY 1556 & BOBS CREEK

8.123 MI NW VA.ST LINE, Harlan, KY

Built 2004 Load: 51.9 t ADT: 2,750

PENICK TATUM LOOP

Good

Over: LICK RUN CREEK

4 MI E OF JCT KY 1195, Marion, KY

Built 1979 Load: 51.9 t ADT: 79

US 460

Good

Over: Dog Trot Fork

Cornwell / Slate Creek, Menifee, KY

Built 2009 Load: 51.9 t ADT: 3,192

Jerry Wright Rd.

Good

Over: Brush Creek

.2 Miles West of KY 1120, Campbell, KY

Built 2006 Load: 52.0 t ADT: 440

KY-327

Good

Over: HARDINS CREEK

.2 MI S OF JCT KY 49, Marion, KY

Built 1977 Load: 52.0 t ADT: 587

US-62

Good

Over: STEVENSON BRANCH

3.583 E. OF JCT KY324, Mason, KY

Built 2002 Load: 52.0 t ADT: 594

US-119

Good

Over: KY-1426 Ramp

Burning Fork, Pike, KY

Built 2005 Load: 52.0 t ADT: 7,600

RUSSELLVILLE RD NC

Good

Over: TRIB-ELK FORK CREEK

8.5 MI.E.CHRISTIAN CO LNE, Todd, KY

Built 1998 Load: 52.0 t ADT: 2,110

DENISON WAY

Good

Over: S BENSON CREEK

0.2 MI W OF KY 1665, Franklin, KY

Built 2005 Load: 52.1 t ADT: 270

KY 2206

Good

Over: Branch of Brush Creek

2.1 miles North of KY 703, Hickman, KY

Built 2009 Load: 52.1 t ADT: 97

KY-726

Good

Over: WEST FK OF MASSAC CREEK

0.5 MI SOU. US 60, McCracken, KY

Built 1984 Load: 52.1 t ADT: 1,387

JC-9003

Good

Over: CLARKS RIVER RELIEF

NBL .70 MI N OF KY 348 TP, Marshall, KY

Built 1967 Load: 52.1 t ADT: 9,336

I 24 NON CARDINAL

Good

Over: KY-282/GILBERTSVILLE HWY

WBL .50 WEST OF TENN RV B, Marshall, KY

Built 1976 Load: 52.1 t ADT: 16,918

KY-205

Good

Over: ROSE FORK RED RIVER

1-3 MI. S. JCT KY 1094, Wolfe, KY

Built 1996 Load: 52.1 t ADT: 1,606

KY-205

Good

Over: ROSE FORK RED RIVER

1.06MI. S. JCT KY 1094, Wolfe, KY

Built 1996 Load: 52.1 t ADT: 1,606

CR-1260

Good

Over: CLEAR CREEK

.1 MI S - KY 190, Bell, KY

Built 1990 Load: 52.2 t ADT: 1

KY-36

Good

Over: LOCUST CREEK

.3 MI NW OF JCT KY 1492, Carroll, KY

Built 2012 Load: 52.2 t ADT: 3,677

Showing 12,451-12,500 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.