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 55

Good

Over: Stone Quarry Creek

.747 MI E OF JCT KY 210, Taylor, KY

Built 2022 Load: 53.8 t ADT: 11,615

MERRIMAC RD

Good

Over: TALLOW CREEK

.1 MI E. KY 337, Taylor, KY

Built 1993 Load: 53.8 t ADT: 448

KY-55

Good

Over: SEIBERT CREEK

1.1 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 438, Washington, KY

Built 1933 Load: 53.8 t ADT: 1,312

KY-992

Good

Over: TAR FORK CREEK

4.3 Mi SE of KY 144, Breckinridge, KY

Built 2001 Load: 53.9 t ADT: 138

KY-1996

Good

Over: STEVENS BRANCH CREEK

0.40 MI WEST OF JCT KY 10, Campbell, KY

Built 2003 Load: 53.9 t ADT: 169

KY. 80

Good

Over: MAYFIELD CREEK OVERFLOW

.34 MI E OF JCT KY. 97, Graves, KY

Built 2008 Load: 53.9 t ADT: 6,030

KY. 80

Good

Over: MAYFIELD CREEK OVERFLOW

.3 MI E OF JCT KY 97, Graves, KY

Built 2008 Load: 53.9 t ADT: 6,030

KY-920

Good

Over: LITTLE MEETING CREEK

1.2 MI S JCT KY 84, Hardin, KY

Built 1996 Load: 53.9 t ADT: 422

BEWLEY HOLLOW RD

Good

Over: MILL CREEK

1.2 MI S OF JCT KY 434, Hardin, KY

Built 1972 Load: 53.9 t ADT: 1,401

Spankem Cat Fork

Good

Over: Cat Fork

0.05 MI S of JCT KY 3, Lawrence, KY

Built 2012 Load: 53.9 t ADT: 52

KY-205

Good

Over: ROSE FK- RED RIVER

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

Built 1996 Load: 53.9 t ADT: 1,606

KY-131

Good

Over: SPRING CREEK OVERFLOW

SPRING CRK BOTTOM, Graves, KY

Built 1982 Load: 54.0 t ADT: 2,249

CR1160 Brush Ck. R

Good

Over: Brush Creek

.986 mi E. of Jct. KY 67, Greenup, KY

Built 2013 Load: 54.0 t ADT: 237

I-275 EB

Good

Over: ERLANGER SERVICE ROAD

EBL @ BOONE CO. LN., Kenton, KY

Built 1970 Load: 54.0 t ADT: 40,651

KY-899

Good

Over: RT FK TROUBLESOME CRK

@ JCT KY 160 & KY 899, Knott, KY

Built 1998 Load: 54.0 t ADT: 4,811

KY-11

Good

Over: LIMESTONE CREEK

.5 MI SE OF JCT US 62&68, Mason, KY

Built 1960 Load: 54.0 t ADT: 4,119

HALE ROAD

Good

Over: FLOUR CREEK

.4 MI N OF JCT FLOUR CR R, Pendleton, KY

Built 2016 Load: 54.0 t ADT: 60

N. CENTRAL AVE.

Good

Over: TRACE FORK

.90 MI NOR OF JCT US 68, Taylor, KY

Built 1986 Load: 54.0 t ADT: 4,112

CLAYLICK CREEK RD

Good

Over: CLAYLICK CREEK

.4 MI S JCT CR 5259, Crittenden, KY

Built 1992 Load: 54.1 t ADT: 38

KY 3175

Good

Over: WHITE SULPHUR FORK

365 FT N OF KY 157, Henry, KY

Built 2020 Load: 54.1 t ADT: 217

STONESTREET RD

Good

Over: POND CREEK

0.85 MI S OF KY 907, Jefferson, KY

Built 2003 Load: 54.1 t ADT: 16,078

KY-708

Good

Over: MID.FORK KY RIVER

0.5 MI. SOUTH JCT KY 52, Lee, KY

Built 1988 Load: 54.1 t ADT: 263

KY-80

Good

Over: WOOTON CREEK

6.0 MI. N.E. JCT. US 421, Leslie, KY

Built 2002 Load: 54.1 t ADT: 2,052

JULIAN M CARROLL P

Good

Over: Abandoned RR

SBL .15 MI N OF KY 348 TP, Marshall, KY

Built 1967 Load: 54.1 t ADT: 9,336

JC-9003

Good

Over: Abandoned RR

NBL .15 MI N OF KY 348 TP, Marshall, KY

Built 1967 Load: 54.1 t ADT: 9,336

CLARKTOWN RD

Good

Over: MONKS CREEK

1:1 MI N JCT KY 457, Nelson, KY

Built 1991 Load: 54.1 t ADT: 231

PLUM RUN RD

Good

Over: CANEY FORK CREEK

1.3 MI NE JCT CR 5063, Nelson, KY

Built 2001 Load: 54.1 t ADT: 823

Toms Branch Road

Good

Over: Troublesome Creek

0.1 M S of JCT KY-476, Perry, KY

Built 2022 Load: 54.1 t ADT: 50

KY-100

Good

Over: SULPHUR SPRING CREEK

5.1 MI. W JCT US 31W, Simpson, KY

Built 1996 Load: 54.1 t ADT: 2,063

1-64 E/B OFF RAMP

Good

Over: LITTLE SANDY

185 EXIT RAMP, Boyd, KY

Built 2007 Load: 54.2 t ADT: 14,937

KY-80

Good

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

1 MI. East of U.S. 641, Calloway, KY

Built 2004 Load: 54.2 t ADT: 2,498

KY-80

Good

Over: BRIDGE OVER UNNAM CREEK

1 MI E. U.S. 641, Calloway, KY

Built 2004 Load: 54.2 t ADT: 2,498

STRAIGHT FORK ROAD

Good

Over: STRAIGHT FORK CREEK

.9 MI SW - KY 59, Lewis, KY

Built 1992 Load: 54.2 t ADT: 120

US-150

Good

Over: LOGAN BRANCH

.7 MI.E JCT US 27, Lincoln, KY

Built 1993 Load: 54.2 t ADT: 6,308

KY-7

Good

Over: ELK FORK / LICKING RIVER

0.2 MI.S. KY 519 JCT., Morgan, KY

Built 2005 Load: 54.2 t ADT: 5,800

BRIDGE ST

Good

Over: TRIPLETT CREEK

.2 MI S OF JCT US 60, Rowan, KY

Built 1976 Load: 54.2 t ADT: 988

KY 108

Good

Over: Long Lick Creek

_, Breckinridge, KY

Built 2006 Load: 54.3 t ADT: 189

GUM LICK RD

Good

Over: TRIB-CASEY CREEK

.6 MI N JCT KY 70, Casey, KY

Built 1991 Load: 54.3 t ADT: 116

KY-1991

Good

Over: HINKSTON CREEK

.70 MI N OF I-64 OP, Montgomery, KY

Built 1969 Load: 54.3 t ADT: 747

Waterworks Rd.

Good

Over: Taylor Creek

.9 M West of KY 1120, Campbell, KY

Built 2016 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 1,609

Ky 603/Pleasnt Val

Good

Over: US 60

2.3 mi. W jct. Ky 144 OP, Daviess, KY

Built 2011 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 7,100

North Jackson Rd

Good

Over: Rhodes Creek

1.2 MI N JCT KY140, Daviess, KY

Built 2021 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 149

Prestonsburg Elem.

Good

Over: Middle Creek

0.3 MI W JCT KY 404, Floyd, KY

Built 2000 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 2,004

KY-1972

Good

Over: Gilberts Creek

1.4 MI EAST OF JCT KY 39, Garrard, KY

Built 2020 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 544

JC-9003

Good

Over: OBION CREEK

NBL .10 NOR. OF KY 58 OP, Graves, KY

Built 1967 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 5,762

KY 313

Good

Over: P&L Railroad

1.8 MI NW Jct KY 144, Hardin, KY

Built 2019 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 6,893

KY-1032

Good

Over: MUDLICK CREEK

1.5 MI. E JCT KY 1054, Harrison, KY

Built 1998 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 593

WATER ST. (CS-1035

Good

Over: CANE CREEK

0.08 MI S. OF KY 1826, Hickman, KY

Built 2012 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 545

I-64 WB RAMP

Good

Over: I-64 WB

0.1 MI W OF KENNEDY BR, Jefferson, KY

Built 2016 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 2,063

Coon Creek Road

Good

Over: Raccoon Creek

.1 MI SW of JCT CR 1104, Leslie, KY

Built 2022 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 88

Showing 12,651-12,700 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.