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 22

Good

Over: CURRYS FORK

0.5 MI E OF KY 329B, Oldham, KY

Built 2016 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 11,270

KY 1096

Good

Over: Big Creek

3.55 MI W of KY 80 MP 2.3, Perry, KY

Built 2015 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 699

KY-211

Good

Over: SALT LICK CREEK

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

Built 1975 Load: 54.5 t ADT: 1,718

RAY RD

Good

Over: FK-DONALDSON CREEK

.5 MI-NE JCT KY 139, Caldwell, KY

Built 2001 Load: 54.5 t ADT: 32

U.S. 62

Good

Over: WEST RHUDES CREEK

.70 MI W - KY 86, Hardin, KY

Built 1992 Load: 54.5 t ADT: 2,728

I-75 NC

Good

Over: KY 2373 (CRESCENT SPRING

941 WEST JCT (NO &TP RR, Kenton, KY

Built 1993 Load: 54.5 t ADT: 54,191

I-75

Good

Over: KY 2373 (CRESCENT SP. RD

941 WEST JCT (NO &TP RR, Kenton, KY

Built 1993 Load: 54.5 t ADT: 54,191

KY-52

Good

Over: BIG SINKING CREEK

.2 MI W OF JCT KY 2453, Lee, KY

Built 1985 Load: 54.5 t ADT: 998

KY-713

Good

Over: SLATE CREEK

0.5 MI. E. US 460 W-JCT., Menifee, KY

Built 2002 Load: 54.5 t ADT: 311

CR 1330

Good

Over: LITTLE WHITE OAK CREEK

400 S.OF JCT 1323, Greenup, KY

Built 2008 Load: 54.6 t ADT: 34

Stovall Road

Good

Over: Red River

.16 mi E Ky 191, Wolfe, KY

Built 2007 Load: 54.6 t ADT: 42

BATON ROUGE RD.

Good

Over: I-75 @ 156.647 MM

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

Built 2005 Load: 54.7 t ADT: 399

Hawk Rd CR-1475

Good

Over: Beechy Creek

90 ft S of jct w/ CR-1377, Greenup, KY

Built 2017 Load: 54.7 t ADT: 30

KY-914 NC

Good

Over: SOUTHERN RAILROAD

2.4 MI. E JCT US 27, Pulaski, KY

Built 1995 Load: 54.7 t ADT: 3,700

KY-2

Good

Over: JORDAN FORK

0.941 MI S. JCT KY182, Carter, KY

Built 2016 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 601

KY-2310

Good

Over: Luttrell Creek

.25 MI E OF ADAIR CO.LN., Casey, KY

Built 2020 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 395

KY-97

Good

Over: LEACH CREEK_

1.2 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 94, Graves, KY

Built 2016 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 1,090

KY-1890

Good

Over: Little Mayfield Creek

.1 MI WEST OF JCT KY 121, Graves, KY

Built 2019 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 379

Miller Road

Good

Over: Trib. of Youngers Creek

2.8 Mi SW of jct KY 583, Hardin, KY

Built 2021 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 127

KY-219

Good

Over: Wallins Creek

3.6 MI S OF JCT KY 2007, Harlan, KY

Built 2020 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 331

KY-312

Good

Over: Craig Creek

1.8 MI S.E. OF JCT KY 192, Laurel, KY

Built 2018 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 794

KY-343

Good

Over: WRIGHT FORK

1.6 MI N.E. OF JCT KY317, Letcher, KY

Built 2016 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 1,324

George B Branch

Good

Over: Cowan Creek

.1 MI SW OF JCT KY 931, Letcher, KY

Built 2021 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 173

Sid Darnell Rd

Good

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

.17 MI E. OF US 641, Marshall, KY

Built 2020 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 83

KY-70

Good

Over: ROBINSON CREEK

.10 MI WEST OF JCT KY 659, Taylor, KY

Built 1977 Load: 54.8 t ADT: 1,190

KY-131

Good

Over: SUGAR CREEK

1.3 MI NW JCT KY 849, Graves, KY

Built 1989 Load: 54.9 t ADT: 2,189

CR-1335G

Good

Over: SHOPE CREEK

.1 MI S OF JCT KY 538, Boyd, KY

Built 1980 Load: 55.0 t ADT: 1,162

US-60

Good

Over: OVER FLEMING FORK

2.078 MI E. JCT KY 3296, Carter, KY

Built 2004 Load: 55.0 t ADT: 2,402

LYNE-JOHNSON RD

Good

Over: VICKS BRANCH

1.6 MI. W. JCT. US 79, Logan, KY

Built 1980 Load: 55.0 t ADT: 191

KY-1812

Good

Over: Johnson Fork

.75 MI NW OF N-JCT KY 205, Breathitt, KY

Built 2019 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 125

KY 293

Good

Over: Tradewater River

On Caldwell - Hopkins CL, Caldwell, KY

Built 2017 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 484

TREVATHAN ROAD

Good

Over: BRANCH-CANEY CREEK

0.8 MI.E. JCT. US 51, Carlisle, KY

Built 1980 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 100

KY-729

Good

Over: GREASY CREEK

2.3 MI S.E. OF JCT KY 218, Green, KY

Built 1967 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 117

Pierce CmRd CR1730

Good

Over: CRANE CREEK

30 S. of Jct. CR1277, Greenup, KY

Built 2010 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 47

S WATTERSON TRL

Good

Over: FERN CREEK

0.7 MI S OF KY 150, Jefferson, KY

Built 2021 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 4,334

KY-300

Good

Over: BR. OF HARRIS CREEK

.3 MI. SE. OF BOYLE CO LN, Lincoln, KY

Built 1997 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 744

KY 509 Samuels Rd.

Good

Over: Froman Creek

0.85 MI W OF JCT US 31E, Nelson, KY

Built 2020 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 1,332

Dorsey Ave

Good

Over: Brush Fork

0.1 MI S KY 36, Nicholas, KY

Built 2019 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 1,548

KY874

Good

Over: Fork of Fredericks Ditch

0.9 mi NW jct KY 270, Webster, KY

Built 2013 Load: 55.1 t ADT: 134

KY-1437

Good

Over: LITTERAL FORK

0.22 MI. S. KY 1081 JCT., Magoffin, KY

Built 1998 Load: 55.2 t ADT: 438

CROOKED CREEK RD

Good

Over: CROOKED CREEK

1.7 MI NW OF JCT KY 1054, Pendleton, KY

Built 2004 Load: 55.2 t ADT: 102

HARDSHELL FUGATE F

Good

Over: TROUBLESOME CREEK

0.1 MI. E. KY. 476 JCT., Breathitt, KY

Built 2004 Load: 55.3 t ADT: 79

Coon Hollow Rd.

Good

Over: Caney Creek

0.7 mi South of US 62, Grayson, KY

Built 2007 Load: 55.3 t ADT: 19

WHITEWOOD ROAD

Good

Over: LITTLE MEADOW CREEK

1.7 Miles South of US 68, Green, KY

Built 1979 Load: 55.3 t ADT: 133

WHITEWOOD RD

Good

Over: BR. LITTLE MEADOW CREEK

1.8 MI S OF JCT KY 70, Green, KY

Built 1979 Load: 55.3 t ADT: 133

KY-227

Good

Over: NORTH ELKHORN CK

.25 MI. N JCT US 460, Scott, KY

Built 1999 Load: 55.3 t ADT: 3,844

KY 55

Good

Over: Majors Run Creek

1.0 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 389, Carroll, KY

Built 2019 Load: 55.4 t ADT: 566

KY 61

Good

Over: Lewis Creek

1.45 M. S. of JCT KY 3140, Cumberland, KY

Built 2012 Load: 55.4 t ADT: 2,510

KY 379

Good

Over: Big Willis Creek

3.2 M N OF JCT KY 1880, Cumberland, KY

Built 2022 Load: 55.4 t ADT: 130

KY-466

Good

Over: Left Fk of Beaver Creek

1.5 MI S of JCT KY-122, Floyd, KY

Built 2022 Load: 55.4 t ADT: 856

Showing 12,701-12,750 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.