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-51

Good

Over: TRUMANS CREEK

.4 MI.N.JCT US 62, Carlisle, KY

Built 1989 Load: 56.4 t ADT: 2,367

WAR ADMIRAL BLVD

Good

Over: Cane Run

100 ft from roundabout, Fayette, KY

Built 1980 Load: 56.4 t ADT: 541

_US-68

Good

Over: _GREASY CREEK

_1.5 MI S.W.OF JCT KY 487, Green, KY

Built 2020 Load: 56.4 t ADT: 784

Hugh Paxton Rd.

Good

Over: DRY BRANCH

0.1 MI S OF US 68, Green, KY

Built 1978 Load: 56.4 t ADT: 121

KY-3392

Good

Over: TROUBLESOME CRK @ CARRIE

LOWER MILL CREEK RD, Knott, KY

Built 2007 Load: 56.4 t ADT: 464

KY 49

Good

Over: Caney Creek

3.1 Mi N of Jct KY 1157, Marion, KY

Built 2015 Load: 56.4 t ADT: 1,372

US-641S

Good

Over: Jullian M. Carroll PW

.34 MI. N JCT KY 58, Marshall, KY

Built 1999 Load: 56.4 t ADT: 4,133

US-79

Good

Over: Elk Fork Creek

1.0 M S OF JCT KY-102, Todd, KY

Built 2023 Load: 56.4 t ADT: 3,384

KY1519

Good

Over: LOUIE B. NUNN PKWY

1.1 MILES S. OF KY68/80, Barren, KY

Built 2011 Load: 56.5 t ADT: 5,693

KY-1993

Good

Over: I-75 SB @ 149.054

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

Built 2007 Load: 56.5 t ADT: 362

Whitesides Rd.

Good

Over: Kimberly Creek

0.8 Miles E. of U.S. 31E, Nelson, KY

Built 2010 Load: 56.5 t ADT: 177

CR-1158

Good

Over: FOX CREEK

.339 MI WEST KY 32, Fleming, KY

Built 2003 Load: 56.6 t ADT: 156

South 2nd Street

Good

Over: Clarks Run

0.7 MI S OF JCT US 150, Boyle, KY

Built 2019 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 5,780

KY-539

Good

Over: NORTH FORK LICKING RIVER

.5 MI W-JCT KY19 @MILFORD, Bracken, KY

Built 1983 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 144

HELMS ROAD(CR1221)

Good

Over: RUNNING SLOUGH

.25 MI NW OF JCT KY 1282, Fulton, KY

Built 1979 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 6

KY-805

Good

Over: Potters Fork

0.05 MI SW of JCT KY 317, Letcher, KY

Built 2020 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 2,922

ROCK CRK RD

Good

Over: ROCK CREEK

2.0 MI. S. OF JCT KY 1363, McCreary, KY

Built 2004 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 30

Texas-Mackville

Good

Over: Prather Creek

3.9 Mi S of Jct KY 152, Washington, KY

Built 2020 Load: 56.7 t ADT: 91

KY-1820

Good

Over: OVER WILSON CREEK

1.9 MI N. OF JCT U.S. 62, Carlisle, KY

Built 2004 Load: 56.8 t ADT: 132

KY 2206

Good

Over: Brush Creek

2.508 miles S. KY HWY 288, Hickman, KY

Built 2009 Load: 56.8 t ADT: 97

GODDARD RD

Good

Over: SAND LICK CREEK

45 FT FROM JCT KY 32, Fleming, KY

Built 1999 Load: 56.9 t ADT: 109

KY-645

Good

Over: Becca Liz Ln

Near JCT of KY 40, Martin, KY

Built 2005 Load: 56.9 t ADT: 4,537

KY-165

Good

Over: JOHNSON CREEK

.03mi north of Jct. KY617, Robertson, KY

Built 2006 Load: 56.9 t ADT: 569

KY4 (NEW CIRCLE)

Good

Over: RJ CORMAN RR

0.5 MI SOUTH JCT W/US 421, Fayette, KY

Built 2016 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 67,261

KY-381

Good

Over: BACON CREEK

1.2 MI.S. JCT KY 97, Graves, KY

Built 1998 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 962

KY-413

Good

Over: Old Cumberland River

0.01 M N of JCT KY-840, Harlan, KY

Built 2015 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 959

_KY-6

Good

Over: _LYNN CAMP

WOODBINE, Knox, KY

Built 2014 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 1,239

KY-2034

Good

Over: Crafts Colly Creek

2.4 MI N OF JCT US119, Letcher, KY

Built 2020 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 1,357

KY 3376

Good

Over: Terrill Branch

.3 MI E OF JCT W/KY 1016, Madison, KY

Built 2019 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 2,140

Tranquility Lane

Good

Over: Grapevine Creek

0.01 M. North Ky28, Perry, KY

Built 2023 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 60

KY 1319

Good

Over: PLUM CREEK

AT BULLITT CL, Spencer, KY

Built 2023 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 1,353

KY-1585_

Good

Over: SINKING FORK_

.3 MI. N OF HWY. 272 JCT_, Trigg, KY

Built 2017 Load: 57.0 t ADT: 196

BJ Daniels Rd

Good

Over: Right Fork Greasy Crk

0.01 MI W of JCT KY 1596, Johnson, KY

Built 2010 Load: 57.1 t ADT: 40

KY100

Good

Over: MARROWBONE CREEK

0.2 MI. SW. OF JCT KY 90, Cumberland, KY

Built 2006 Load: 57.2 t ADT: 760

GRADE LN CONNECTOR

Good

Over: I-65

0.8 MI N OF KY 1747, Jefferson, KY

Built 2007 Load: 57.2 t ADT: 100

GUM BRANCH RD.

Good

Over: GUM BRANCH

_, Boone, KY

Built 2015 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 40

KY-94

Good

Over: CLAYTON CREEK

.75 MI. E. JCT KY 2594, Calloway, KY

Built 1983 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 7,679

Spring Road

Good

Over: W. Fork Rockhouse Creek

.4 MI S. of KY 464, Calloway, KY

Built 2020 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 32

KY-47

Good

Over: MCCOOLS BRANCH CREEK

.5 MI S OF JCT KY-1112, Carroll, KY

Built 2005 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 195

KY 97

Good

Over: Torian Creek

1 Mile N of KY 1890, Graves, KY

Built 2014 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 3,182

US 45

Good

Over: I-69

.8 miles south of KY 80, Graves, KY

Built 2015 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 6,207

KY-827

Good

Over: COAL BRANCH

2.5 MI.E. JCT KY 7, Greenup, KY

Built 1998 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 721

KY-2280

Good

Over: Rose Creek

1 MI S OF US 41A, Hopkins, KY

Built 2022 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 169

KY 1832

Good

Over: Castleman Creek

0.5 Mi East of KY 1607, Larue, KY

Built 2014 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 97

Wildie Rd.

Good

Over: Clear Creek

0.2 Mi. S of Jct. KY-1787, Rockcastle, KY

Built 2015 Load: 57.3 t ADT: 106

US-31W

Good

Over: CHAFFEE AVENUE

1.1 MI N OF BULLION BLVD, Hardin, KY

Built 1973 Load: 57.4 t ADT: 12,066

WILKINS RD

Good

Over: PATTY CREEK

1.1 MI. N.- KY 80, Marshall, KY

Built 1979 Load: 57.4 t ADT: 101

BETHEL CHAPEL RD

Good

Over: STACY FORK

50 E OF JCT KY 844, Morgan, KY

Built 1980 Load: 57.5 t ADT: 57

CS-4009

Good

Over: NS (CNO&TP) SYSTEM

200 FT E of JCT. US25, Grant, KY

Built 2012 Load: 57.6 t ADT: 278

BARK HOLLOW CR1787

Good

Over: THREE PRONG BRANCH

200' EAST OF 784, Greenup, KY

Built 2015 Load: 57.6 t ADT: 28

Showing 12,801-12,850 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.