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-594

Fair

Over: OWSLEY BRANCH

1.1 MI EAST OF JCT US 421, Madison, KY

Built 1951 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 1,270

HOG BRANCH RD

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

.2 MI S OF JCT KY 1274, Menifee, KY

Built 1970 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 12

HOLLY FORK RD

Fair

Over: HOLLY FORK

1.2 MI E-KY 799, Rowan, KY

Built 1991 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 532

HARDIN MILLS ROAD

Fair

Over: CLOVER CREEK

0.5 MI NE OF JCT KY 105, Breckinridge, KY

Built 1970 Load: 22.1 t ADT: 31

US-62

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK CANEY CREEK

.4 MI E OF JCT KY 2193, Grayson, KY

Built 1927 Load: 22.1 t ADT: 2,811

MEADOWBROOK DR

Fair

Over: TRIB S FK BEARGRASS CRK

0.1 MI S OF US 31E, Jefferson, KY

Built 1986 Load: 22.1 t ADT: 2,667

KY-550

Fair

Over: Jones Fork

2.3 MI S of JCT KY 1087, Knott, KY

Built 1933 Load: 22.1 t ADT: 961

SHOTGUN HOLLOW RD

Fair

Over: SIM LONG BRANCH

.6 MI. NW-KY 460, Menifee, KY

Built 1980 Load: 22.1 t ADT: 41

Gearl Valley Drive

Fair

Over: Lost Creek

400 ft. W of KY 2446, Perry, KY

Built 1993 Load: 22.1 t ADT: 20

KY-1964

Fair

Over: BLUEGRASS PARKWAY

3.5 MI S OF JCT US 62, Woodford, KY

Built 1965 Load: 22.1 t ADT: 1,372

PECK PIKE

Fair

Over: MINERS BRANCH

.24 MI-NE JCT KY 1198, Bath, KY

Built 1936 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 60

ALEX FORKS RD

Fair

Over: WEST FK. ROCKHOUSE CREEK

50" WEST OF KY. 299, Calloway, KY

Built 1970 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 123

KY-7

Fair

Over: STUMPS RUN

5.8 MI NW OF JCT KY 1959, Carter, KY

Built 1934 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 972

US-31E

Fair

Over: GREEN RIVER

1.5 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 566, Hart, KY

Built 1947 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 1,505

KY-123

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF BUGG CRK

1.2 MI WEST OF JCT KY 307, Hickman, KY

Built 1980 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 257

KY-2034

Fair

Over: Crafts Colly Creek

3.0 MI N of JCT US 119, Letcher, KY

Built 1973 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 336

KY-305(Cairo Road)

Fair

Over: PERKINS CREEK

.20 MI WEST OF HCMATHIS D, McCracken, KY

Built 1940 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 9,192

KY-1448

Fair

Over: STONE LICK CREEK

300 FT W.JCT-KY 1449, Mason, KY

Built 1982 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 107

Rattlesnake Br

Fair

Over: Johns Creek

.05 mi North of JCt 632, Pike, KY

Built 2012 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 148

_CR 1009 Country

Fair

Over: _Knoblick Creek

_1.6 mi. N Jct KY 132, Webster, KY

Built 2016 Load: 22.2 t ADT: 49

WHITE LICK RD

Fair

Over: FROG BRANCH

1.1 MI-S JCT KY 52, Garrard, KY

Built 1996 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 247

BELL CITY ROAD

Fair

Over: BR OF TERRAPIN CREEK

.6 M. WEST OF KY. 1485, Graves, KY

Built 1971 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 69

KY-145

Fair

Over: BEAVER DAM CREEK

2.3 MI S.E. OF JCT US 60, Henderson, KY

Built 1978 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 595

CR-1061

Fair

Over: TRACE RUN

1.8 MI NW OF JCT KY 14, Kenton, KY

Built 1970 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 465

KY-1527

Fair

Over: RICHLAND CREEK

.05 MI WEST OF JCT KY 229, Knox, KY

Built 1969 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 316

KY-830

Fair

Over: LITTLE ROBINSON CREEK

.02 MI SW OF JCT KY 1223, Laurel, KY

Built 1968 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 1,214

KY-1021

Fair

Over: BRIERY CREEK

.40 MI S.E. OF JCT KY 10, Lewis, KY

Built 1975 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 160

KY-733

Fair

Over: LICK CREEK

.6 MI S OF W-JCT US 62, Nelson, KY

Built 1974 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 233

STEVE WOOD RD

Fair

Over: DUTCH FORK

0.8 MI S OF KY 395, Shelby, KY

Built 1980 Load: 22.3 t ADT: 60

KY-1524

Fair

Over: MUD LICK CREEK

3.0 MI SE OF JCT KY 2000, Clay, KY

Built 1965 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 486

KY-1295

Fair

Over: PAINT LICK CREEK

W OF MADISON CL, Garrard, KY

Built 1953 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 988

KY-222

Fair

Over: VALLEY CREEK

.4 MI E OF JCT KY 1904, Hardin, KY

Built 1954 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 1,434

KY-2409

Fair

Over: STINKING CREEK

.10 MI S.E. OF JCT KY 223, Knox, KY

Built 1954 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 300

KY-2041

Fair

Over: WOOD CREEK

.15 MI WEST OF I-75 UP, Laurel, KY

Built 1969 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 3,123

KY-160

Fair

Over: NORTH FORK OF KY. RIVER

@JCTS KY 588 & KY 2036, Letcher, KY

Built 1980 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 910

KY-1295

Fair

Over: SILVER CREEK

1.6 MI W OF JCT KY 52, Madison, KY

Built 1953 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 1,278

DEEP CREEK RD

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

.5 MI-W. JCT KY 1941, Mercer, KY

Built 1996 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 75

KY-1366

Fair

Over: ADAMS BRANCH

2.2 MI WEST OF JCT KY 63, Monroe, KY

Built 1953 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 1,643

KY-713

Fair

Over: SLATE CREEK

.4 MI WEST OF JCT KY 213, Montgomery, KY

Built 1953 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 1,009

KY-55

Fair

Over: GLENS FORK

.10 MI WEST OF JCT KY 92, Adair, KY

Built 1932 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 2,367

KY-1837

Fair

Over: SUGAR CREEK

.25 MI W. OF MCCRACKEN CL, Ballard, KY

Built 1970 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 108

KY-903

Fair

Over: EDDY CREEK

.40 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 293, Caldwell, KY

Built 1954 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 414

CR-1838

Fair

Over: TYGART CREEK

303 N OF JCT. US 60, Carter, KY

Built 2003 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 124

KY-1547

Fair

Over: CASEY CREEK

1.4 MI W OF JCT KY 1615, Casey, KY

Built 1949 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 412

REITERS VIEW ROAD

Fair

Over: CLEMENT CREEK

300 E OF JCT MEXICO RD., Crittenden, KY

Built 1975 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 52

LEE RUDY RD

Fair

Over: BRANCH-RHODES CRK

.1 MI. EAST-JCT KY 279, Daviess, KY

Built 1983 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 131

KY-736

Fair

Over: CANEY CREEK

.50 MI NOR. OF JCT US 62, Grayson, KY

Built 1954 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 329

MOUNTIAN MAN DR

Fair

Over: STRAIGHT CREEK

.10 MI S OF JCT KY 221, Harlan, KY

Built 1982 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 50

KY-578

Fair

Over: LITTLE RACCOON CREEK

.10 MI EAST OF JCT KY 30, Laurel, KY

Built 1966 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 518

KY-1943

Fair

Over: SKIN FRAME CREEK

.70 MI N.E. OF JCT KY 373, Lyon, KY

Built 1966 Load: 22.5 t ADT: 134

Showing 1,351-1,400 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.