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-2925

Good

Over: OWL CREEK

.5 MI N OF JCT CR 5306, Campbell, KY

Built 2004 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 684

US-51

Good

Over: IC (SOU) RAILROAD

.05 MI N OF JCT KY 94, Fulton, KY

Built 1985 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 2,747

KY303_

Good

Over: UNNAMED STREAM_

1. MI. NORTH JCT. KY 385_, Graves, KY

Built 2022 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 250

Ramp C to I-69

Good

Over: Flat Creek

Junction of Ky. 813, Hopkins, KY

Built 2015 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 1,885

KY 1044

Good

Over: Marsh Creek

2 M NW OF JCT EKY 92, McCreary, KY

Built 2020 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 544

KY-1712

Good

Over: ELENDER CREEK

.8 MI.S. JCT US 68, Marshall, KY

Built 1993 Load: 59.6 t ADT: 217

CR-1745

Good

Over: LOST CREEK

200 SOUTH OF 784, Greenup, KY

Built 2014 Load: 59.7 t ADT: 7

Beech Fork Rd.

Good

Over: Beech Fork

2 Miles North of US 68, Marion, KY

Built 2018 Load: 59.7 t ADT: 87

HR-9006

Good

Over: HURRICANE BRANCH ROAD

2.5 MI WEST OF KY 451 NTR, Perry, KY

Built 1971 Load: 59.7 t ADT: 5,265

MT. VERNON RD

Good

Over: SAND LICK CREEK

.05 MI SW JCT KY 32, Fleming, KY

Built 1998 Load: 59.8 t ADT: 237

WELLS RD

Good

Over: LONG CREEK

1.2 MI. N. OF JCT. KY 853, Muhlenberg, KY

Built 1981 Load: 59.8 t ADT: 50

LENOXBURG RD

Good

Over: KINCAID CREEK

3.4 MI NE of JCT KY 159, Pendleton, KY

Built 2008 Load: 59.8 t ADT: 213

US-60

Good

Over: WINLOW CREEK

3.0 MI NE JCT KY 120, Crittenden, KY

Built 1989 Load: 59.9 t ADT: 2,721

EIBECK LANE

Good

Over: I-75 @ 152.921

0.4 mile west of JCT US25, Grant, KY

Built 2006 Load: 59.9 t

KY 1954

Good

Over: Bottom Ditch

.6 MI N. of Jct KY 348, McCracken, KY

Built 2019 Load: 59.9 t ADT: 1,471

KY-1987

Good

Over: TRIB OF LYONS BRANCH

.8 MI E OF JCT KY 1160, Mercer, KY

Built 2008 Load: 59.9 t ADT: 244

KY-80

Good

Over: W FORK OF CLARKS RIVER

WEST OF MURRAY, Calloway, KY

Built 2009 Load: 60.0 t ADT: 2,930

KY-80

Good

Over: WEST FORK OF CLARKS RIVR

WEST OF MURRAY, Calloway, KY

Built 2009 Load: 60.0 t ADT: 2,930

KY-144

Good

Over: BRUSHY FORK

2.3 MI.SW JCT HS 31W, Hardin, KY

Built 1997 Load: 60.0 t ADT: 4,425

US-150

Good

Over: NEGRO CREEK

75 EAST JCT KY 70, Rockcastle, KY

Built 2011 Load: 60.1 t ADT: 7,523

Raikes Hill Rd.

Good

Over: Robinson Creek

0.3 Mi S of Merrimac-Peck, Taylor, KY

Built 2012 Load: 60.1 t ADT: 18

Merrimac-Peck Rd.

Good

Over: Murrell Branch

0.3 Mi E of Merrimac Rd., Taylor, KY

Built 2012 Load: 60.1 t ADT: 56

KY-55

Good

Over: LN 9008

0.481 MI. S. OF JCT KY 61, Adair, KY

Built 2008 Load: 60.2 t ADT: 1,485

I-64

Good

Over: KY 1531

3.05 MI E OF I-265, Jefferson, KY

Built 2010 Load: 60.2 t ADT: 62,024

KY-707

Good

Over: NEWCOMB CREEK

. @ JCT KY 3399, Lawrence, KY

Built 1997 Load: 60.2 t ADT: 72

KY-1722

Good

Over: TRIPLETT CREEK

0.5 MI. NORTH -JCT.US 60, Rowan, KY

Built 1980 Load: 60.2 t ADT: 309

KY 146

Good

Over: BARTLETT FORK

2.2 MI W OF KY 1606, Henry, KY

Built 1987 Load: 60.3 t ADT: 3,229

I-65 NB

Good

Over: I-64 WB & I-65 SB RAMPS

0.12 MI S OF LINCOLN BR, Jefferson, KY

Built 2016 Load: 60.3 t ADT: 60,500

Johns Farm Road

Good

Over: Millstone Creek

0.01 M W of JCT KY-113, Letcher, KY

Built 2022 Load: 60.3 t ADT: 60

KY-1261

Good

Over: SPRING BRANCH

.80 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 15, Wolfe, KY

Built 1960 Load: 60.3 t ADT: 264

Ramp D1 @ Lovers L

Good

Over: Ramp B1 of 9004 @ Lovers

0.2 mi. N Lovers Lane, Christian, KY

Built 2007 Load: 60.4 t ADT: 10,441

KY-2005

Good

Over: PUCKETT CREEK

.02 MI.S JCT KY 72, Harlan, KY

Built 1998 Load: 60.4 t ADT: 72

US-68

Good

Over: CANEY CREEK

.5 MI.W JCT KY 139, Trigg, KY

Built 1993 Load: 60.4 t ADT: 6,531

HAYES SCHOOL RD.

Good

Over: OVER LITTLE MAYFIELD CR.

.3 MI S. OF KY 121 / 80, Graves, KY

Built 2008 Load: 60.5 t ADT: 204

LITTLE FLAT-LEDFOR

Good

Over: BR. OF LITTLE FLAT CREEK

2.5 mi s-w of jct. ky 11, Bath, KY

Built 2010 Load: 60.6 t ADT: 131

JETTS CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: JETTS CREEK

@N-TERM. KY 1202, Breathitt, KY

Built 1978 Load: 60.6 t ADT: 63

KY-1972

Good

Over: BR OF TURKEY CREEK

.50MI EAST OF JCT KY 39, Garrard, KY

Built 2017 Load: 60.6 t ADT: 544

KY-1460

Good

Over: Lower Chloe Creek

0.5 MI E of JCT KY 1426, Pike, KY

Built 1996 Load: 60.6 t ADT: 3,966

KY-1989

Good

Over: SALT RIVER

1.6 MI.W JCT US 127, Mercer, KY

Built 1994 Load: 60.7 t ADT: 1,054

KY-358

Good

Over: FORK OF HUMPHREY CREEK

.85 MI SE OF JCT US 60, Ballard, KY

Built 2002 Load: 60.9 t ADT: 263

Ky 340

Good

Over: E Prong Indian Cmp Crk

1.0 MI N of Jct Ky 79, Butler, KY

Built 2016 Load: 60.9 t ADT: 361

Wilson Downing Rd

Good

Over: West Hickman creek

.1 MI W OF JCT KY 1974, Fayette, KY

Built 2019 Load: 60.9 t ADT: 9,297

KY 1128

Good

Over: Fork of Mud Creek

.8 MI East of JCT KY 112, Fulton, KY

Built 2020 Load: 60.9 t ADT: 52

Tousey Rd

Good

Over: Spring Fork

0.7 Mi SW of KY 54, Grayson, KY

Built 2014 Load: 60.9 t ADT: 35

ky 2124

Good

Over: SOUTH FORK OF PANTHER CR

2.4 MI NOR. OF JCT KY261, Hancock, KY

Built 2017 Load: 60.9 t ADT: 96

_KY 351

Good

Over: _Drainage Ditch

1.0 mi. W. Jct KY1078, Henderson, KY

Built 2015 Load: 60.9 t ADT: 2,645

KY-1098

Good

Over: Middle Frk Quicksand Crk

@ JCT of KY 1098/1516, Knott, KY

Built 2011 Load: 60.9 t ADT: 93

KY-3376

Good

Over: Hays Fork

0.1 MI W of 421-3376 JCT, Madison, KY

Built 2017 Load: 60.9 t ADT: 746

KY-84

Good

Over: ROLLING FORK RIVER SLOUG

.20 MI EAST OF LARUE CL, Nelson, KY

Built 1979 Load: 60.9 t ADT: 630

COUNTRYSIDE DRIVE

Good

Over: BR OF KNOBLICK CREEK

0.7 MI N JCT 132, Webster, KY

Built 2019 Load: 60.9 t ADT: 49

Showing 12,951-13,000 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.