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-190

Good

Over: WHEELER CREEK

1.7 MI S OF JCT KY 1595, Bell, KY

Built 1950 Load: 99.8 t ADT: 348

KY-2469

Good

Over: UPPER TWIN CREEK @LEE CO

.45 MI SE OF JCT KY 52, Breathitt, KY

Built 1953 Load: 99.8 t ADT: 47

Bowling road

Good

Over: Left fork Lick Branch

0.2 miles east of Ky 3237, Breathitt, KY

Built 2022 Load: 99.8 t ADT: 180

NEW CIRCLE ROAD

Good

Over: BR OF WEST HICKMAN CREEK

200FT WEST OF KY 1974 OP, Fayette, KY

Built 1969 Load: 99.8 t ADT: 65,757

CLEARWATER WAY

Good

Over: WEST HICKMAN CREEK

.6 MI WEST OF KY 1974, Fayette, KY

Built 1993 Load: 99.8 t ADT: 5,601

KY-80

Good

Over: CSX RR SPUR @ BUCKS BR

.4 MI N JCT KY 122, Floyd, KY

Built 1987 Load: 99.8 t ADT: 8,843

I-71

Good

Over: BIG SOUTH FORK CREEK

.60 MI S.W. OF BOONE CL, Gallatin, KY

Built 1967 Load: 99.8 t ADT: 37,088

KY-54

Good

Over: BR OF SHORT CREEK

3.2 MI W OF JCT KY 79, Grayson, KY

Built 1947 Load: 99.8 t ADT: 657

I-65

Good

Over: TOWN BRANCH

.40 MI SOU. OF US 62 NTRC, Hardin, KY

Built 1956 Load: 99.8 t ADT: 55,279

I-275

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

.75 MI WEST OF I-75, Kenton, KY

Built 1970 Load: 99.8 t ADT: 81,301

KY 1303

Good

Over: BULLOCK PEN CREEK

0.8 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 236, Kenton, KY

Built 2006 Load: 99.8 t ADT: 24,853

KY-9

Good

Over: BETHEL CREEK

3.4 MI E JCT KY 57, Lewis, KY

Built 1987 Load: 99.8 t ADT: 5,015

KY 956 BEREA BYP

Good

Over: BRANCH OF SILVER CREEK

0.1 MI. WEST OF US 25, Madison, KY

Built 2006 Load: 99.8 t ADT: 5,791

KY-152

Good

Over: HORNS BRANCH

1.4 MI W OF W-JCT US 68, Mercer, KY

Built 1930 Load: 99.8 t ADT: 4,500

Ky 1161

Good

Over: Lick fork creek

0.1 MI E of JCT Ky 7, Morgan, KY

Built 2018 Load: 99.8 t ADT: 171

KY-1057

Good

Over: HARDWICKS CREEK

3.5 MI NW OF JCT KY 213, Powell, KY

Built 1951 Load: 99.8 t ADT: 461

I-75 SOUTHBOUND

Good

Over: SOUTH RAYS FORK

1.5 MI SOU. OF GRANT CL, Scott, KY

Built 1962 Load: 99.8 t ADT: 23,517

I-75 NORTH

Good

Over: SOUTH RAYS FORK

1.5 MI.SOU.-GRANT CO.LINE, Scott, KY

Built 1962 Load: 99.8 t ADT: 23,517

I-64

Good

Over: BEALS RUN

2.2 MI E OF FRNKLN CO LN, Woodford, KY

Built 1972 Load: 99.8 t ADT: 38,908

KY-9

Good

Over: THREE MILE CREEK

.2 MI.S. JCT KY 1632, Campbell, KY

Built 1992 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 9,569

US-150

Good

Over: TRIBUTARY OF DIX RIVER

8.3 MI EAST OF US 27, Lincoln, KY

Built 2003 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 5,892

KY 1438

Good

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

1.9 MI W OF KY 786, McCracken, KY

Built 2007 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 191

KY-21

Good

Over: FRANCIS BRANCH

200 E OF JCT OLD KY 52, Madison, KY

Built 1947 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 474

KY 876

Good

Over: BALL BRANCH

1.6 MI EAST OF JCT KY 595, Madison, KY

Built 2008 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 1,007

KY-95

Good

Over: BR-LITTLE JOHN CREEK

.01 MI S. JCT I- 24, Marshall, KY

Built 1973 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 2,008

KY-646

Good

Over: LULBEGRUD CR @LEVEE

100 S of N Jct KY 11, Montgomery, KY

Built 1969 Load: 99.9 t ADT: 909

NO DATA ENTERED

Poor

Over: BARK CAMP CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Whitley, KY

Built 1961 ADT: 50

LBL ROAD 114

Poor

Over: PISGAH CREEK

LBL, Lyon, KY

Built 1933 ADT: 80

RAILWAY TRESTLE RD

Poor

Over: P&L RAILROAD

0.1 KM E US31W, Meade, KY

Built 1960

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

TOY SPRING SCHOOL

Poor

Over: DALLAM CREEK

0.9 MI EAST OF JCT KY 106, Butler, KY

Built 1950 Load: 0.1 t ADT: 23

SQUIRE HOLLAND RD

Poor

Over: BR OF CLARKS RIVER

1.1 MI. E. US 641, Calloway, KY

Built 1982 Load: 0.1 t ADT: 19

OLD SALEM RD

Poor

Over: EAST FK-CLARKS RIVER

.7 MI S&E OF JCT KY 94, Calloway, KY

Built 1984 Load: 0.1 t ADT: 674

COLEMAN BRANCH RD.

Poor

Over: McCULLOUGH FORK

.05 MI S. STATELINE RD., Calloway, KY

Built 1980 Load: 0.1 t ADT: 4

CR-1086

Poor

Over: CSX RAILROAD

.5 M. E. OF U. S. 41, Christian, KY

Built 1950 Load: 0.1 t ADT: 40

FRANK BOWLING ROAD

Poor

Over: REDBIRD RIVER

N @JCT KY 66 @PEABODY, Clay, KY

Built 1935 Load: 0.1 t ADT: 104

MILL CREEK ROAD

Poor

Over: MILL CREEK

.5 MI S OF JCT KY 1524, Clay, KY

Built 1960 Load: 0.1 t ADT: 52

CR-1150

Poor

Over: RED BIRD

NEAR 28 M/P OF 66, Clay, KY

Built 2010 Load: 0.1 t ADT: 50

CR 1577

Poor

Over: Goose Creek

Oneida, Clay, KY

Built 1950 Load: 0.1 t ADT: 60

KY-415

Poor

Over: SMITH CREEK

.40 MI SE JCT KY 350, Clinton, KY

Built 1985 Load: 0.1 t ADT: 220

Old Blaine Trace

Poor

Over: Lt Fork of Little Sandy

390 S of Jct. Ky 486, Elliott, KY

Built 1950 Load: 0.1 t ADT: 65

DRIFTWOOD DR

Poor

Over: FURNACE FORK

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

Built 1978 Load: 0.1 t ADT: 41

KY-2335

Poor

Over: BRANCH OF ELKHORN CR.

.3 MI NORTH JCT 57 @ AVON, Fayette, KY

Built 1985 Load: 0.1 t ADT: 1,085

KY-1129

Poor

Over: BRUSH CREEK

1.9 MI WEST OF JCT KY 239, Fulton, KY

Built 1963 Load: 0.1 t ADT: 174

CHERRY GROVE ROAD

Poor

Over: NS (CNO&TP) SYSTEM

0.5 MI. EAST OF US. 25, Grant, KY

Built 1920 Load: 0.1 t ADT: 105

Showing 13,451-13,500 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.