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

Gibson Road

Good

Over: Cave Creek

0.92 Mi N of Jct KY 79, Grayson, KY

Built 2020 Load: 73.9 t ADT: 35

JOE PRATHER HIGHWA

Good

Over: CSX RAILROAD

.3 MI E. JCT I-65, Hardin, KY

Built 1995 Load: 73.9 t ADT: 4,190

KY-313

Good

Over: CSX RAILROAD

.3 MI E. JCT I-65, Hardin, KY

Built 1995 Load: 73.9 t ADT: 4,190

I-65 & RAMPS

Good

Over: KY 61 NB (JACKSON ST)

0.7 MI S OF KENNEDY BR, Jefferson, KY

Built 2016 Load: 73.9 t ADT: 84,001

RIBOLTEPWORTH 1249

Good

Over: TRIBUTARY OF CABIN CREEK

4MI WEST OF 9, Lewis, KY

Built 2018 Load: 74.0 t ADT: 105

US 421

Good

Over: LITTLE FLAT CREEK

3.9 MI N OF KY 12, Franklin, KY

Built 2016 Load: 74.2 t ADT: 787

US-60

Good

Over: SHAWNEE CREEK

1.5 MI NOR.JCT KY.136, Ballard, KY

Built 1990 Load: 74.4 t ADT: 2,923

TURKEY KNOB(CR1086

Good

Over: CROOKED CREEK

1.7MI N-FORDS FERRY RD, Crittenden, KY

Built 2013 Load: 74.5 t ADT: 27

Sharp-Cal Rd

Good

Over: LITTLE CYPRESS CREEK

1.1 MI NE U.S. 62, Marshall, KY

Built 2017 Load: 74.5 t ADT: 424

Jed Gaddie Road

Good

Over: Dry Fork Creek

3.4 MI NW of JCT KY-527, Marion, KY

Built 2007 Load: 74.6 t ADT: 27

Lonesome Road

Good

Over: Little South Fork River

0.25 SE of JCR CR 5137, Wayne, KY

Built 2021 Load: 74.8 t ADT: 17

BONNIE BROOK

Good

Over: LOWER HOWARDS CREEK

400 N. OF MOCKINGBIR, Clark, KY

Built 2002 Load: 75.0 t ADT: 105

Morris Fork Road

Good

Over: Burton Fork

0.08 MI S JCT KY 28, Breathitt, KY

Built 2019 Load: 75.2 t ADT: 205

KY-1189

Good

Over: ROUGH CREEK

.1 MI. W JCT KY 830, Laurel, KY

Built 1999 Load: 75.2 t ADT: 1,098

KY-599

Good

Over: UPPER SPRUCE CREEK

2.9 MI SOUTH OF US 460, Montgomery, KY

Built 2002 Load: 75.3 t ADT: 219

KY-123

Good

Over: Truman Creek

1.0 ML West of JCT US 51, Carlisle, KY

Built 2010 Load: 75.5 t ADT: 780

KY-181

Good

Over: Elk Fork Creek

.15 MI N of Jct US 68, Todd, KY

Built 2016 Load: 75.5 t ADT: 4,087

KY-850

Good

Over: PRATER FORK

0.4 MI NW of JCT KY 550, Floyd, KY

Built 1958 Load: 75.7 t ADT: 999

COLEMAN RD

Good

Over: P&L RAILWAY

.8 MI N JCT US 60, McCracken, KY

Built 1994 Load: 75.7 t ADT: 4,325

LOWER TUG FORK RD

Good

Over: TUG CREEK

1.5 MI SW OF JCT KY 547, Campbell, KY

Built 1970 Load: 75.8 t ADT: 513

ROBINSON UNION RD

Good

Over: CURRY CREEK

1.6 MI S OF JCT CR 5052, Harrison, KY

Built 2018 Load: 75.8 t ADT: 83

RIDGE RD

Good

Over: CSX RAIL ROAD

.3 MI S JCT KY 70, Muhlenberg, KY

Built 2001 Load: 75.8 t ADT: 300

HUMMEL ROAD

Good

Over: ROUNDSTONE CREEK

2.6 MI. E. OF JCT US 25, Rockcastle, KY

Built 2007 Load: 75.8 t ADT: 74

KY-30

Good

Over: CANE CREEK

.2 MI W OF JCT KY 52, Breathitt, KY

Built 1977 Load: 75.9 t ADT: 2,662

Quicks Run Rd 1306

Good

Over: Martin Fork

5.266 MI. W. of JCT. KY 8, Lewis, KY

Built 2018 Load: 76.0 t ADT: 179

CR1161

Good

Over: Flat Branch

1.3 mi east jct US231, Daviess, KY

Built 2008 Load: 76.1 t ADT: 443

KY-121

Good

Over: CLARKS RIVER OVERFLOW

1.0 MI WEST OF JCT KY 894, Calloway, KY

Built 1956 Load: 76.3 t ADT: 5,929

CR 1060 Ray Road

Good

Over: Blackford Creek

On Hancock Co. Ln., Daviess, KY

Built 2013 Load: 76.4 t ADT: 25

EAGLE TUNNEL RD

Good

Over: CSX RAILROAD

.9 MI W JCT KY 467, Grant, KY

Built 2013 Load: 76.4 t ADT: 49

Rollin Coomer Rd

Good

Over: Pettys Fork

.5 MI FROM CR 1175, Adair, KY

Built 2019 Load: 76.5 t ADT: 10

LN-9008

Good

Over: S FK LITTLE BARREN RIVER

9008 PKY OVER S FK BARREN, Metcalfe, KY

Built 1973 Load: 76.7 t ADT: 2,429

HARLOW HOLLOW

Good

Over: ASH BRANCH

0.468 MI W. of KY-784_, Greenup, KY

Built 2013 Load: 76.8 t ADT: 5

US-119

Good

Over: POOR FK CUMBERLAND RVR

.10 MI E OF SPLINT P.O.RD, Harlan, KY

Built 1973 Load: 76.8 t ADT: 3,117

KY-1326

Good

Over: Little Renfro Creek

0.8 M W of JCT 461, Rockcastle, KY

Built 2019 Load: 76.8 t ADT: 1,066

KY-194

Good

Over: SYCAMORE CREEK

.01 MI E OF SYCAMORE RD, Pike, KY

Built 2000 Load: 76.9 t ADT: 652

BENTGRASS WAY

Good

Over: WOOLPER CREEK

1.37 MI W OF KY-237, Boone, KY

Built 2018 Load: 77.1 t ADT: 5,039

KY-89

Good

Over: INDIAN CREEK

100 S. OF US 421, Jackson, KY

Built 1997 Load: 77.1 t ADT: 323

LINCOLN AVE.

Good

Over: FLAT RUN CREEK

0.1 MI WEST OF JCT. US-27, Harrison, KY

Built 2009 Load: 77.4 t ADT: 207

Roger Q Mill Rd

Good

Over: Red River W Fork Branch

100 FT. S. OF JCT. W/68X, Todd, KY

Built 2019 Load: 77.4 t ADT: 40

CR1523

Good

Over: Laurel Creek

0.1 SOUTH HWY 11, Clay, KY

Built 2013 Load: 77.6 t ADT: 20

KY 279

Good

Over: OLD PANTHER CREEK

4.8 Mi. S of Jct. 56, Daviess, KY

Built 2010 Load: 77.6 t ADT: 201

KY-82

Good

Over: TWIN CREEK

1.5 MI N.E. OF JCT KY 89, Estill, KY

Built 1936 Load: 77.8 t ADT: 3,729

US 421

Good

Over: FLAT CREEK

1.95 MI N OF KY 12, Franklin, KY

Built 2017 Load: 77.8 t ADT: 787

STRATTON RD

Good

Over: BRUSH CREEK

.2 MI N OF JCT KY 1160, Mercer, KY

Built 2020 Load: 78.1 t ADT: 73

US-60

Good

Over: KELLY CREEK

0.4 MI. W. JCT US 231, Daviess, KY

Built 1995 Load: 78.4 t ADT: 12,157

Masonville-Beverly

Good

Over: P-W 9004 Breathitt

0.4 Mi S of Locust Grove, Christian, KY

Built 2010 Load: 78.7 t ADT: 50

KY 849

Good

Over: Branch-Bush Creek

0.12 MI. E. KY 339, Graves, KY

Built 2018 Load: 78.7 t ADT: 386

JONES SCHOOL RD

Good

Over: BRUSH CREEK

.05 MI W OF KY 61, Green, KY

Built 1958 Load: 78.7 t ADT: 29

OLD NEW CUT ACCESS

Good

Over: BIG BEE LICK CREEK

100 FT N OLD NEW CUT RD, Jefferson, KY

Built 2018 Load: 78.7 t ADT: 10

Dents Bridge Road

Good

Over: Sinking Creek

1.3 Mi E of Jct US 60, Breckinridge, KY

Built 2019 Load: 79.1 t ADT: 108

Showing 13,301-13,350 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.