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

CAVE BRANCH RD

Poor

Over: HOLLY CREEK

.1 MI W OF JCT KY 1261, Wolfe, KY

Built 1970 Load: 14.9 t ADT: 73

KY-123

Poor

Over: LITTLE CYPRESS CREEK

.35 MI WEST OF JCT KY 307, Hickman, KY

Built 1980 Load: 15.0 t ADT: 257

STONER EPHESUS RD

Poor

Over: GEORGES BR OF STONER CR

.2 MI S OF JCT KY 1960, Clark, KY

Built 1976 Load: 15.1 t ADT: 134

KY-201

Poor

Over: Dry Fork

1.0 MI S of JCT KY 1, Lawrence, KY

Built 1966 Load: 15.1 t ADT: 345

MIDDLE CREEK CHURC

Poor

Over: MIDDLE CREEK

ON HARDIN-LARUE CL, Larue, KY

Built 1974 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 136

MINOR LN

Poor

Over: SOUTHERN DITCH

0.3 MI S OF KY 1065, Jefferson, KY

Built 1970 Load: 15.3 t ADT: 4,028

KY-429

Poor

Over: SHEPHERDS RUN

.2 MI S OF WASHINGTON CL, Marion, KY

Built 1973 Load: 15.3 t ADT: 580

Winns Br

Poor

Over: Raccoon Creek

0.1 MI SE of KY 1426, Pike, KY

Built 1992 Load: 15.3 t ADT: 845

KY-94

Poor

Over: FORD CREEK

1.0 MI WEST OF JCT KY 893, Calloway, KY

Built 1927 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 1,549

HAWKINS ROAD

Poor

Over: WALTERS CREEK

0.4 MI W OF JCT US31E, Larue, KY

Built 1960 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 172

ROBERT CRAIG RD

Poor

Over: MOORE CREEK

20 FT SW Moores Creek Rd, Marion, KY

Built 1992 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 10

KY-195

Poor

Over: Marrowbone Creek

1.6 MI S of JCT US 460, Pike, KY

Built 1966 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 1,534

LEE BR

Poor

Over: CHRISTY CREEK

0.0 MI S OF KY 32, Rowan, KY

Built 1987 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 49

KY-1812

Poor

Over: COPE FK OF FROZEN CREEK

.02 MI EAST OF JCT KY 540, Breathitt, KY

Built 1939 Load: 15.5 t ADT: 199

KY-2192

Poor

Over: Branch of Mayfield Creek

.1 M. EAST OF KY. 945, Graves, KY

Built 1970 Load: 15.5 t ADT: 273

KY-910

Poor

Over: BRANCH- DRY FORK

2.1 MI S -KY 501, Casey, KY

Built 1992 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 2,279

KY-387

Poor

Over: CROOKED CREEK

.60 MI N.E. OF JCT KY 91, Crittenden, KY

Built 1962 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 111

KY-116

Poor

Over: HARRIS FORK CREEK

.46 MI EAST OF JCT US 51B, Fulton, KY

Built 1934 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 5,809

AARON BARNETT ROAD

Poor

Over: WILLOW CREEK

1.3 MI W OF JCT US 62, Anderson, KY

Built 1988 Load: 15.7 t ADT: 38

KY 1665

Poor

Over: S BENSON CREEK

350 FT N OF US 60, Franklin, KY

Built 1966 Load: 15.7 t ADT: 558

GRAMAR LN

Poor

Over: TERRY FORK

.5 m E of KY-219, Harlan, KY

Built 1960 Load: 15.7 t ADT: 300

TURKEY FOOT RD

Poor

Over: HALS FORK

.05 MI N OF US 421&KY, Leslie, KY

Built 1940 Load: 15.7 t ADT: 298

ABRELL RD

Poor

Over: SULPHUR CREEK

.4 MI SE CR 5016, Adair, KY

Built 1991 Load: 15.8 t ADT: 253

KY-3179

Poor

Over: CANEY FORK CREEK

1.9 MI. S-JCT. KY 1318, Barren, KY

Built 1970 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 286

CLARKS CREEK ROAD

Poor

Over: CLARKS CREEK

.5 MI N OF JCT KY 36, Grant, KY

Built 1970 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 93

KY 1689

Poor

Over: TRIB TO N ELKHORN CREEK

0.55 MI W OF KY 1262, Franklin, KY

Built 1967 Load: 16.0 t ADT: 708

Murray Rd

Poor

Over: Coldwater Fork

@ JCT KY 40 S of Inez, Martin, KY

Built 1960 Load: 16.0 t ADT: 153

LOWER CRANEY RD

Poor

Over: CRANEY CREEK

50 SW OF KY 1167, Rowan, KY

Built 1987 Load: 16.0 t ADT: 75

LANE BRANCH RD

Poor

Over: CUTSHIN CREEK

0.1 MI. SOU KY 699, Leslie, KY

Built 1984 Load: 16.1 t ADT: 69

KY-509

Poor

Over: COX CREEK

.35 MI EAST OF JCT US 31E, Nelson, KY

Built 1972 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 820

ARNOLDS LANDING RD

Poor

Over: BR OF CASEY CREEK

.05 MI E OF JCT CR 5067, Adair, KY

Built 1935 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 38

DUNNVILLE RD

Poor

Over: BR OF GUNDY HOLLOW CREEK

1 MI E OF JCT KY 2289, Adair, KY

Built 1936 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 150

15TH STREET

Poor

Over: LITTLE YELLOW CREEK

.30 MI N OF JCT KY 74, Bell, KY

Built 1930 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 3,879

PINNACLE VW RD

Poor

Over: LITTLE YELLOW CREEK

0.4.MI S.E. US 25E, Bell, KY

Built 1962 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 1

KY-539

Poor

Over: WILLOW CREEK

1.1 MI. W. -JCT. KY 19, Bracken, KY

Built 1981 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 92

KY 1319

Poor

Over: BROAD RUN

0.7 MI W OF KY 1531, Bullitt, KY

Built 1975 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 4,114

BARRS BRANCH RD

Poor

Over: BRUSH CREEK

.1 MI S OF JCT KY 10, Campbell, KY

Built 1973 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 325

TACKETTS DR CR1821

Poor

Over: LITTLE PERRY BRANCH

45 WEST OF KY2531, Carter, KY

Built 1990 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 250

BARGER DR

Poor

Over: BARGER BRANCH

0.4 MILE WEST OF US 127, Casey, KY

Built 1925 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 38

HALON YOUNG RD

Poor

Over: PEE DEE CREEK

50 S OF JCT CR 5123, Casey, KY

Built 1972 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 342

CR-1372

Poor

Over: DRY CREEK

50 SE OF JCT KY 1742, Casey, KY

Built 1965 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 30

CR-1363

Poor

Over: SEXTON CREEK

.1 MI S OF JCT KY 1350, Clay, KY

Built 1958 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 179

FORDS FERRY RD

Poor

Over: CROOKED CREEK

1.5 MI N OF JCT US 60, Crittenden, KY

Built 1964 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 412

ELKCHESTER RD

Poor

Over: SOUTH ELKHORN CREEK

.7 MI W OF JCT KY 1969, Fayette, KY

Built 1970 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 119

CENTRE PARKWAY

Poor

Over: W. HICKMAN CREEK

100 S of Greentree Rd, Fayette, KY

Built 1965 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 5,153

SAWMILL RD

Poor

Over: BR OF CANE CREEK

.4 MI. W OF US HWY 51, Fulton, KY

Built 1970 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 52

SOUTH 8TH STREET

Poor

Over: RED DUCK CREEK

45 N. OF WILLOW ST., Graves, KY

Built 1940 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 1,671

SOUTH 9TH STREET

Poor

Over: RED DUCK CREEK

75" N. OF COLLEGE ST., Graves, KY

Built 1920 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 6,394

PIERCE MILL RD

Poor

Over: DRAKES CREEK

2.5 MI N. OF JCT. KY 84, Hardin, KY

Built 1984 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 40

Hamblin Street

Poor

Over: CLOVER FORK

N @ JCT KY 38, Harlan, KY

Built 1965 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 200

Showing 13,851-13,900 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.