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

V T CRAWLEY RD

Fair

Over: CLEMENTS BRANCH

0.9 MI SE JCT KY 360, Union, KY

Built 1970 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 30

KY-508

Fair

Over: South Fork Little River

3.9 MI EAST OF JCT KY 507, Christian, KY

Built 1925 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 278

TATTLERS BRANCH RO

Fair

Over: TATES CREEK

.1 MI E JCT KY 169, Madison, KY

Built 1999 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 33

CR 1335

Fair

Over: Sugar Camp Creek

0.2 mi. S Jct. KY 2838, Webster, KY

Built 1970 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 50

CR-1258

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK

.2 MI S KY 190, Bell, KY

Built 1988 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 60

REYNOLDS CREEK RD

Fair

Over: BRUSH CREEK

175 NORTH JCT CR 5006, Casey, KY

Built 1994 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 215

CR-1275

Fair

Over: LITTLE GOOSE CREEK

.1 MI S OF JCT KY 687, Clay, KY

Built 1953 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 194

ATHENS WALNUT HILL

Fair

Over: I 75

1 MI W OF JCT KY 1973, Fayette, KY

Built 1963 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 259

KY-1375

Fair

Over: NOLIN RIVER AT STAR MILL

.30 MI SOU. OF WKYPW OP, Hardin, KY

Built 1967 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 802

CR-1355

Fair

Over: BEECH FORK

0.1 MI.WEST OF US 421, Harlan, KY

Built 1984 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 10

KY-112

Fair

Over: UNNAME STREAM

1.5 MI S.W. OF JCT US 41A, Hopkins, KY

Built 1924 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 1,739

BLACK ROAD

Fair

Over: MUDDY CREEK

0.6 MI. N. JCT.KY 1986, Madison, KY

Built 1961 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 90

MOUNT MORIAH RD

Fair

Over: BR. LITTLE CYPRESS CREEK

.4 MI W OF JCT KY 1610, Marshall, KY

Built 1972 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 20

KY-3313

Fair

Over: N.FK LICKING RIVER

2.1 MI S OF JCT KY 1448, Mason, KY

Built 1970 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 126

BRANDYWINE RD

Fair

Over: POMMEL CREEK

.2 MI NE OF JCT KY 596, Mason, KY

Built 1978 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 109

Campbell Road

Fair

Over: Meadow Creek

700 FT from KY 30, Owsley, KY

Built 2009 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 13

KY-785

Fair

Over: BIG BRUSHY CREEK

1.2 MI N.E. OF JCT KY 32, Rowan, KY

Built 1967 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 720

CR 1141

Fair

Over: Dyson Creek

0.7 mi. NE KY 1177, Union, KY

Built 2013 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 100

WATKINS SEBREE ROA

Fair

Over: MOCK ROY CREEK

AT N.C.L. OF SEBREE, Webster, KY

Built 1965 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 856

US-25W

Fair

Over: I-75 S-NTRCHNGE

1.4 MI NW OF JCT KY 26, Whitley, KY

Built 1966 Load: 21.0 t ADT: 6,299

KY-921

Fair

Over: TRACE CREEK

.40 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 98, Allen, KY

Built 1963 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 125

KY-921

Fair

Over: GLOVER CREEK

ON BARREN - ALLEN CL, Allen, KY

Built 1963 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 125

CRAWFORD ROAD

Fair

Over: BENSON CREEK

.4 MI N OF AVENSTOKE, Anderson, KY

Built 1987 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 29

4th Street

Fair

Over: CSX Railroad

EB .25 MI W OF Jct KY 212, Daviess, KY

Built 1954 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 6,645

HORSESHOE BND RD

Fair

Over: DORSEY RUN

0.5 MI. W.OF JCT KY 720, Hardin, KY

Built 1980 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 414

I-64 WB OFF RAMP 4

Fair

Over: US 31W I-64 & RAMPS

1.3 MI W OF I-65, Jefferson, KY

Built 1975 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 58,404

KY-742

Fair

Over: ROARING PAUNCH CREEK

1.3 MI S.W. OF JCT KY 741, McCreary, KY

Built 1962 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 414

KY-69

Fair

Over: HALLS CREEK

2.5 MI WEST OF JCT KY 878, Ohio, KY

Built 1926 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 2,027

LOUIE B. NUNN CUMB

Fair

Over: FISHING CREEK

WBL 4.0 MI W OF JCT US 27, Pulaski, KY

Built 1973 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 4,188

LN-9008

Fair

Over: FISHING CREEK

EBL 4.0 MI W OF JCT US 27, Pulaski, KY

Built 1973 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 4,188

SMOKEY ROAD

Fair

Over: BR OF BONE BRANCH

.1 MI SE OF JCT KY 1105, Ballard, KY

Built 1969 Load: 21.2 t ADT: 80

CLAY RIDGE RD

Fair

Over: PHILLIPS CREEK

.2 MI N OF JCT CR 5216, Campbell, KY

Built 1954 Load: 21.2 t ADT: 204

CR-1641

Fair

Over: STINSON CREEK

317FT SW OF CR1030, Carter, KY

Built 2009 Load: 21.2 t ADT: 88

CANEY FORK RD

Fair

Over: BR OF CANEY FORK

.05 MI W OF Cane ValleyRD, Green, KY

Built 1965 Load: 21.2 t ADT: 63

US-31W

Fair

Over: COX CREEK

150' South of KY 1517, Hardin, KY

Built 1943 Load: 21.2 t ADT: 2,594

KY 573

Fair

Over: TOWN CREEK

0.5 MI E OF US 421, Henry, KY

Built 1975 Load: 21.2 t ADT: 940

LYNDON LN

Fair

Over: MID FORK BEARGRASS CREEK

0.2 MI N OF WHIPPS MILL, Jefferson, KY

Built 1940 Load: 21.2 t ADT: 5,248

LITTLE BULL CK RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE BULL CREEK

.7 MI NW OF JCT KY 11, Knox, KY

Built 1971 Load: 21.2 t ADT: 318

KY-270

Fair

Over: CRAB ORCHARD CREEK

2.5 MI S.E. OF JCT KY 132, Webster, KY

Built 1922 Load: 21.2 t ADT: 173

HOLLOWAY LANDING R

Fair

Over: FISH LAKE

.05 MI E OF JCT CR 5228, Ballard, KY

Built 1968 Load: 21.3 t ADT: 32

CR 1672A

Fair

Over: BARRETT CREEK

440 ft N of Jct 1947, Carter, KY

Built 1995 Load: 21.3 t ADT: 440

KY-117

Fair

Over: Sinking Fork Creek

.40 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 272, Christian, KY

Built 1963 Load: 21.3 t ADT: 537

KY-11

Fair

Over: GODDARD BRANCH

1.4 MI EAST OF JCT US 421, Clay, KY

Built 1936 Load: 21.3 t ADT: 2,283

CLAY CARPET RD

Fair

Over: LAUREL CREEK

.1 MI W US 421, Clay, KY

Built 1989 Load: 21.3 t ADT: 10

CR 1347

Fair

Over: Branch of Wilson Branch

1.1 Mi. S. Jct. CR1348, Henderson, KY

Built 2010 Load: 21.3 t ADT: 129

CR 1220

Fair

Over: Camp Creek

1.9 Mi. SW Jct. KY 145, Henderson, KY

Built 2010 Load: 21.3 t ADT: 37

CR1232 (OLD US25)

Fair

Over: E FK LYNN CAMP CREEK

.75 MI EAST OF JCT KY 233, Knox, KY

Built 1924 Load: 21.3 t ADT: 762

CLORE JACKSON RD

Fair

Over: BULLSKIN CREEK

100 FT E OF KY 322, Shelby, KY

Built 1975 Load: 21.3 t ADT: 234

PRETTY RUN RD

Fair

Over: PRETTY RUN CREEK

3.2 MI N JCT KY 627, Clark, KY

Built 1989 Load: 21.4 t ADT: 201

PINE KNOB RD

Fair

Over: PINE KNOB CREEK

1.7 MI. NW JCT CR 5396, Grayson, KY

Built 1985 Load: 21.4 t ADT: 69

Showing 1,251-1,300 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.