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-337

Good

Over: SAVAGE BRANCH

1.8 MI S.W. OF JCT KY 243, Marion, KY

Built 1949 Load: 58.6 t ADT: 163

Spaulding Lane

Good

Over: Unnamed stream

0.94 Mi NE of Jct KY 555, Washington, KY

Built 2020 Load: 58.6 t ADT: 70

KY. 80

Good

Over: MINNOW BRANCH

.51 MI WEST OF KY. 1124, Graves, KY

Built 2007 Load: 58.7 t ADT: 3,117

KY. 80

Good

Over: MINNOW BRANCH

.51 MI WEST OF KY 1124, Graves, KY

Built 2007 Load: 58.7 t ADT: 3,117

US-23 NC

Good

Over: KY-825/Lick Fork

@ JCT KY 825, Johnson, KY

Built 1996 Load: 58.7 t ADT: 4,687

US-31E

Good

Over: KNOB CREEK

6.8 MI. E JCT ECC H.VILL, Larue, KY

Built 1997 Load: 58.7 t ADT: 2,105

U.S. 62

Good

Over: P&L RAILWAY

.5 MILES EAST KY DAM, Livingston, KY

Built 2006 Load: 58.7 t ADT: 6,439

LASLEY RD

Good

Over: BRUSH CREEK

0.3 MI. E OF JCT KY 61, Adair, KY

Built 2010 Load: 58.8 t ADT: 38

KY-1993

Good

Over: EAGLE CREEK

2.0 MI E OF JCT KY 22, Grant, KY

Built 1983 Load: 58.8 t ADT: 334

KY-113

Good

Over: Left Fork Millstone Crk

1.5 MI N of JCT KY 803, Letcher, KY

Built 1935 Load: 58.8 t ADT: 359

MALONE RD OTHER

Good

Over: STONER CREEK

.3 MI S JCT KY 1798, Taylor, KY

Built 1999 Load: 58.8 t ADT: 10

TICK CREEK RD

Good

Over: BEECH FORK RIVER

3.0 MI E OF JCT KY 152, Washington, KY

Built 1976 Load: 58.8 t ADT: 65

KY-1321

Good

Over: BRUSHY CREEK

.25 MI South KY-358, McCracken, KY

Built 2010 Load: 58.9 t ADT: 82

KY 163

Good

Over: SKAGGS CREEK

0.75 MI S. OF KY 678, Monroe, KY

Built 2011 Load: 58.9 t ADT: 3,272

CR 1004

Good

Over: STONEY CREEK

90 S OF JCT CR 1020, Nicholas, KY

Built 2002 Load: 58.9 t ADT: 98

KY 1742

Good

Over: BULL RUN CREEK

.121 MI. N.OF JCT KY 70 W, Casey, KY

Built 2008 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 156

KY-979

Good

Over: Tackett Br Rd/Mud Creek

Near JCT KY 979 & KY 680, Floyd, KY

Built 2013 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 3,065

KY-1427

Good

Over: Abbott Creek

50 W of JCT KY 1750, Floyd, KY

Built 2021 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 300

BRADSHAW RD

Good

Over: BACK CREEK

100 E TEATERSVILLE RD, Garrard, KY

Built 2019 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 30

Church Dr

Good

Over: Toms Creek

0.1 MI E of JCT KY 1559, Johnson, KY

Built 2012 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 249

KY-899

Good

Over: RT FRK BEAVER CREEK

@ JCT KY 7, Knott, KY

Built 1988 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 427

KY-1288

Good

Over: BILIZZARD PONDS DRAINGE

.35 M. EAST OF KY-1014_, McCracken, KY

Built 2016 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 240

KY-1991

Good

Over: HINKSTON CR.

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

Built 1972 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 1,340

KY-1166

Good

Over: Rt. Fork of Maces Creek

.1 MI S OF JCT CR 5229, Perry, KY

Built 2020 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 678

KY-610

Good

Over: Shelby Creek

2.0 M S of JCT KY-1469, Pike, KY

Built 2023 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 1,873

Texas-Mackville Rd

Good

Over: Long Lick Creek

0.5 MI SOU. JCT KY 152, Washington, KY

Built 2019 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 87

KY-1064

Good

Over: CUMBERLAND RIVER

.1 MI. S JCT KY 92, Whitley, KY

Built 1999 Load: 59.0 t ADT: 283

US-127B

Good

Over: NORFOLK SOUTHERN

.9 MI N JCT 127 & US 150B, Boyle, KY

Built 1991 Load: 59.1 t ADT: 11,567

BURNS RD

Good

Over: UN-NAMED RDWY DITCH

20 WEST JCT US 431, Daviess, KY

Built 2003 Load: 59.1 t ADT: 109

KY-86

Good

Over: BLACK BRANCH

1.4 MI NW JCT US 62, Hardin, KY

Built 1993 Load: 59.1 t ADT: 3,843

Dry Fork Rd

Good

Over: Dry Fork Creek

1.5 Mi SE Jed Gaddie Rd, Marion, KY

Built 2012 Load: 59.1 t ADT: 27

KY-32

Good

Over: BR OF BRUSHY FORK

.8 MI NW OF JCT KY 36, Nicholas, KY

Built 1976 Load: 59.1 t ADT: 1,234

Casey Creek Rd.

Good

Over: Branch of Casey Creek

0.5 Mi W of Ky 1547, Casey, KY

Built 2023 Load: 59.2 t ADT: 90

PW 9004 Breathitt

Good

Over: Beverly Branch

0.7 mi. S of Mas.-Bev. Rd, Christian, KY

Built 2010 Load: 59.2 t ADT: 6,118

KY 80

Good

Over: Kess Creek

West of KY 97 intersect., Graves, KY

Built 2012 Load: 59.2 t ADT: 3,242

AUBURN RD

Good

Over: POOR FORK-CUMBERLAND R.

.3 MI N.KY 1254 & US119, Harlan, KY

Built 1990 Load: 59.2 t ADT: 100

HANCOCK RD

Good

Over: EAGLE CREEK

.8 MI N OF JCT KY 1176, Union, KY

Built 1984 Load: 59.2 t ADT: 40

KY-211

Good

Over: Cow Creek

1 MI N OF W-JCT US 60, Bath, KY

Built 2020 Load: 59.3 t ADT: 650

CRAB ORCHARD RD

Good

Over: BENSON CREEK

200 FT N OF KY 151, Franklin, KY

Built 2019 Load: 59.3 t ADT: 69

Bloomington Ch Rd

Good

Over: Taylor Fork Creek

0.1 Mi E of Jct KY 259, Grayson, KY

Built 2017 Load: 59.3 t ADT: 740

KY-1639

Good

Over: SOUTH FORK RED RIVER

0.05 MI. S. KY. 1057 JCT., Powell, KY

Built 2002 Load: 59.3 t ADT: 376

KY-204

Good

Over: Youngs Creek

1.5 M W OF JCT US-25W, Whitley, KY

Built 1970 Load: 59.3 t ADT: 1,189

KY 2491

Good

Over: Swango Fork

1 MI W of KY 1812, Wolfe, KY

Built 2015 Load: 59.3 t ADT: 118

US-31E

Good

Over: NEVIT CREEK

1.2 MI NE OF N-JCT KY 52, Nelson, KY

Built 1940 Load: 59.4 t ADT: 3,381

KY-3419

Good

Over: SMITH FORK

.25 MI SE JCT KY 632, Pike, KY

Built 2002 Load: 59.4 t ADT: 895

KY 3115

Good

Over: MARROWBONE CREEK

0.516 MI. S. OF JCT KY 90, Cumberland, KY

Built 2007 Load: 59.5 t ADT: 254

KY-801

Good

Over: N FORK TRIPLETT CK

.48 MI. N JCT US 60, Rowan, KY

Built 1997 Load: 59.5 t ADT: 4,996

KY-704

Good

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

.85 MI S. JCT KY 55, Adair, KY

Built 1940 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 1,174

HOOVER BRIDGE ROAD

Good

Over: FROZEN CREEK

.05 MI. W. KY. 1812 JCT., Breathitt, KY

Built 2004 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 241

LOCK 5 RD

Good

Over: Unnamed Stream

0.6 N of Jnt KY 185, Butler, KY

Built 2016 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 150

Showing 12,901-12,950 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.