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

CYNTHIANA ROAD

Good

Over: COOPERTOWN CREEK

2.3 MI SE OF JCT KY 22, Grant, KY

Built 2019 Load: 62.2 t ADT: 694

KG ESTATES RD

Good

Over: ROCKCASTLE CREEK

.034 MI W JCT KY-3, Lawrence, KY

Built 2015 Load: 62.2 t ADT: 50

CR 1214

Good

Over: BEECH FORK

200 FT W OF US421, Leslie, KY

Built 2016 Load: 62.2 t ADT: 80

Cassel Crk Hollow

Good

Over: Little Cowan Creek

0.05 M SE of JCT KY-2035, Letcher, KY

Built 2023 Load: 62.2 t ADT: 50

KY-3049

Good

Over: Johnson Creek

.1 MI S OF JCT KY 134, Magoffin, KY

Built 2019 Load: 62.2 t ADT: 36

KY-3351

Good

Over: TROUBLESOME CREEK

.1 MI SW OF JCT KY 476, Perry, KY

Built 1960 Load: 62.2 t ADT: 89

PECAN DR (1487)

Good

Over: PERKINS CREEK

.5 MI W. OF BUCKNER LN, McCracken, KY

Built 2008 Load: 62.3 t ADT: 10,952

I-75 NC

Good

Over: BEECHWOOD ROAD

.25 MI N JCT KY 371, Kenton, KY

Built 1993 Load: 62.4 t ADT: 50,289

I-75

Good

Over: BEECHWOOD ROAD

.25 MI N JCT KY 371, Kenton, KY

Built 1993 Load: 62.4 t ADT: 50,289

US 62

Good

Over: US 68

1.18 MI. S. of US 68X, Mason, KY

Built 2012 Load: 62.4 t ADT: 1,221

KY-49

Good

Over: BEECH FORK @ GREENWELL F

1.0 MI S BG PKWAY OP, Nelson, KY

Built 1991 Load: 62.4 t ADT: 3,160

US 27

Good

Over: HOUSTON CREEK

.60 MI S JCT US 460, Bourbon, KY

Built 2011 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 7,679

Clay Jack RD

Good

Over: E.FK. Little SANDY RVR

.1 MI W OF JCT KY 3, Boyd, KY

Built 2017 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 87

KY 1959

Good

Over: EVERMAN CREEK

.159 MI N. OF JCT KY. 9, Carter, KY

Built 2010 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 593

HARVIELAND RD

Good

Over: DAVIS BRANCH

1.8 MI S OF KY 12, Franklin, KY

Built 2017 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 206

SAWDRIDGE CREEK W

Good

Over: CEDAR CREEK

.2 MI NE OF JCT US 127, Owen, KY

Built 2022 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 80

KY 1146

Good

Over: Trace fork

20 E of JCT KY 476, Perry, KY

Built 2018 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 670

OLIVE BRANCH RD

Good

Over: WISE RUN

0.5 MI W OF KY 2861, Shelby, KY

Built 2007 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 54

South Jackson St.

Good

Over: Buckhorn Creek

300 SE of jct MLK Blvd, Taylor, KY

Built 2020 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 1,356

Mayfield Lane

Good

Over: Parker Run Creek

150 SW Jct US 150, Washington, KY

Built 2018 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 89

HR-9006

Good

Over: KY 488

2 MI W OF CLAY CO.LN., Laurel, KY

Built 1970 Load: 62.6 t ADT: 8,394

KY 2881

Good

Over: I-75

.741 MI N JCT KY 1983, Madison, KY

Built 2001 Load: 62.6 t ADT: 1,093

Valley Hill Rd

Good

Over: Br of Cartwright Creek

1.4 Mi NE of US 150, Washington, KY

Built 2012 Load: 62.6 t ADT: 70

ASHBY FORK RD

Good

Over: ASHBY FORK

1 MI SE OF JCT KY 20, Boone, KY

Built 2009 Load: 62.7 t ADT: 253

ROSETTA-CORNERS RD

Good

Over: SINKING CREEK

2.2 MI NE JCT KY 86, Breckinridge, KY

Built 1994 Load: 62.7 t ADT: 387

BRAY CREEK ROAD

Good

Over: BURNING SPRING

.2 MI E JCT US 421, Clay, KY

Built 2001 Load: 62.7 t ADT: 246

KY-974

Good

Over: Dry Fork Creek

10 East of CR-1124, Clark, KY

Built 2017 Load: 62.9 t ADT: 55

KY 699

Good

Over: Maggards Branch

4.7M SE OF JCT KY 2057, Leslie, KY

Built 2021 Load: 62.9 t ADT: 914

KY 0030

Good

Over: Little Sturgeon Creek

110ft fm JCT 846, Owsley, KY

Built 2007 Load: 62.9 t ADT: 1,017

US 60

Good

Over: Branch of Casey Creek

2.3 MI E of jct ky 760, Union, KY

Built 2019 Load: 62.9 t ADT: 5,297

KY-1058

Good

Over: MILLERS CREEK

1.8 MI N OF SW-JCT KY 379, Russell, KY

Built 1954 Load: 63.0 t ADT: 167

KY-210

Good

Over: LITTLE BRUSH CREEK

.82 MI.NW JCT KY 569, Taylor, KY

Built 2000 Load: 63.0 t ADT: 4,007

KY-992

Good

Over: HARDING CREEK

0.1 MI FROM WCL-H-BURG, Breckinridge, KY

Built 1995 Load: 63.1 t ADT: 1,329

WEBSTER ROAD

Good

Over: SALT RIVER

1 MI E OF JCT KY 1822, Boyle, KY

Built 2007 Load: 63.2 t ADT: 140

KY 1951

Good

Over: FORK OF SNAG CREEK

1.5 Miles West of Jct KY, Bracken, KY

Built 2005 Load: 63.2 t ADT: 36

Marietta Drive

Good

Over: South Fork Little River

.25 Mi. S of Patrick Dr., Christian, KY

Built 2010 Load: 63.2 t ADT: 620

KY-922

Good

Over: NEW CIRCLE ROAD

0.8M S of JCT Citation, Fayette, KY

Built 2019 Load: 63.2 t ADT: 39,271

PLUMMERS LNDG RD

Good

Over: FOX CREEK

.5 MI EAST OF JCT KY 32, Fleming, KY

Built 2005 Load: 63.2 t ADT: 155

KY-194

Good

Over: Cow Creek

2.0 M E of JCT KY-1428, Floyd, KY

Built 2022 Load: 63.2 t ADT: 802

US-68

Good

Over: RUSSELL CREEK

1 MI SW OF S-JCT KY 61, Green, KY

Built 1980 Load: 63.2 t ADT: 2,380

I-65 SB & RAMP

Good

Over: E LIBERTY ST

0.85 MI S OF KENNEDY BR, Jefferson, KY

Built 2016 Load: 63.2 t ADT: 42,001

INTERSTATE 69

Good

Over: UNAMED GRAVEL ACESS

RAMP 4, Marshall, KY

Built 2016 Load: 63.2 t ADT: 1,226

US 31E

Good

Over: Whitesides Road

2.8 MI S of jct KY 523, Nelson, KY

Built 2017 Load: 63.2 t ADT: 7,690

FAIRVIEW RD

Good

Over: S. FK. GRASSY CREEK

1.7 MI S JCT KY 467, Pendleton, KY

Built 2017 Load: 63.2 t ADT: 124

KY-1426

Good

Over: Bent Branch

0.4 MI E of JCT KY 2169, Pike, KY

Built 2014 Load: 63.2 t ADT: 1,313

LAUREL RD 1283

Good

Over: TYGARTS CREEK

0.2 MI S. OF KY 2, Greenup, KY

Built 2013 Load: 63.3 t ADT: 220

Cat Hollow Rd.

Good

Over: MURRELL BRANCH

0.4 MI S OF Merrimac-Peck, Taylor, KY

Built 2006 Load: 63.3 t ADT: 44

HR-9006

Good

Over: KY 1305

2.5 MI E OF JCT KY 192, Laurel, KY

Built 1970 Load: 63.4 t ADT: 8,394

Lon Dowell Rd

Good

Over: CSX Railroad

0.2 mi N Jct US 60, Breckinridge, KY

Built 2015 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 412

BRUSHY RD.CR 1372

Good

Over: RIVER FORK

4.037 MI W.of KY 7, Greenup, KY

Built 2012 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 73

Showing 13,051-13,100 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.