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-1893

Poor

Over: STONER CREEK

.5 MI W OF JCT KY 1940, Bourbon, KY

Built 1965 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 457

FORDS MILL ROAD

Poor

Over: CLARKS CREEK

1 MI NW OF JCT KY 36, Grant, KY

Built 1970 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 93

I-64

Poor

Over: KY 3077 & BELVEDERE

0.85 MI W OF I-65, Jefferson, KY

Built 1972 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 87,355

BOWMAN HOLLOW RD

Poor

Over: BEAVER CREEK

50 FT. NOR JCT CR 5204, Wayne, KY

Built 1985 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 40

Kingdom Come Crk

Poor

Over: N Fork Kentucky River

0.1 MI E of JCT KY 588, Letcher, KY

Built 1976 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 406

KY-1563

Poor

Over: CLANTON CREEK

.50 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 473, Ballard, KY

Built 1968 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 216

JACKSON STREET

Poor

Over: Unnamed stream

.1 MI S-WINN AVE-KY 15, Clark, KY

Built 1955 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 779

MOLLETT BR

Poor

Over: ROCKHOUSE FORK

.1 MI W OF JCT KY 1224, Martin, KY

Built 1960 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 100

PEPPER ROAD

Poor

Over: TRIBUTARY OF RED RIVER

0.9 MI W OF JCT KY 383, Simpson, KY

Built 1960 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 113

BIG BRANCH ROAD

Poor

Over: BIG BRANCH CREEK

.7 MI SE OF JCT KY 15, Breathitt, KY

Built 1970 Load: 19.3 t ADT: 125

FIELDS FRK RD

Poor

Over: STRATTON FORK

.1 MI W OF KY 1166, Perry, KY

Built 1978 Load: 19.3 t ADT: 85

DIMPLE-SUGAR GROVE

Poor

Over: LITTLE MUDDY CREEK

1.05 MI E OF JCT KY 79, Butler, KY

Built 1988 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 203

HOBBS ROAD

Poor

Over: West Fork Mayfield Creek

1.5 MI N. JCT KY 80, Graves, KY

Built 2000 Load: 19.5 t ADT: 35

CUT OFF PIKE

Poor

Over: LOGAN CREEK

1.0 MI. E. OF US 27, Lincoln, KY

Built 1981 Load: 19.5 t ADT: 126

KY-79

Poor

Over: ROUGH RIVER LAKE

.20 MI S OF ROUGH RVR DAM, Grayson, KY

Built 1960 Load: 19.6 t ADT: 1,801

KY-610

Poor

Over: Shelby Creek

1.0 MI S of JCT KY 1469, Pike, KY

Built 1927 Load: 19.7 t ADT: 1,873

KY-1441

Poor

Over: Raccoon Creek

4.1 MI S of JCT KY 1426, Pike, KY

Built 1983 Load: 19.7 t ADT: 1,072

US-60

Poor

Over: CSX RAILROAD

.30 MI N.E. OF JCT KY 5, Boyd, KY

Built 1951 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 11,713

KY-1923

Poor

Over: TWO MILE CREEK

.90 MI EAST OF JCT KY 627, Clark, KY

Built 1969 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 277

KY-551

Poor

Over: BUTLERS BRANCH

1.3 MI EAST OF 084 C.L., Adair, KY

Built 1955 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 2,008

KY-464

Poor

Over: WEST FORK CLARKS RIVER

.10 MI WEST OF JCT KY 183, Calloway, KY

Built 1966 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 210

KY-915

Poor

Over: SCAFFORD CREEK

.3 MI N OF JCT KY-10, Campbell, KY

Built 1924 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 775

KY-47

Poor

Over: LICK CR @GALLATIN CO.LIN

.20 MI SOU. OF I-71 UP, Carroll, KY

Built 1967 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 294

KY-164

Poor

Over: UNNAMED BRANCH

1.8 MI S.W. OF JCT KY 117, Christian, KY

Built 1935 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 906

KY-272

Poor

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

2.8 MI W JCT KY 164, Christian, KY

Built 1935 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 1,347

KY-66

Poor

Over: JACKS CREEK

1.5 MI SE OF JCT KY 149, Clay, KY

Built 1958 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 564

KY-3478

Poor

Over: ROBINSON CREEK

.1 MI S OF JCT US 421, Clay, KY

Built 1967 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 312

KY-100

Poor

Over: German Branch

2.7 Mi. W of JCT KY-90, Cumberland, KY

Built 1949 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 351

KY-706

Poor

Over: LAUREL BRANCH

2.7MI.S JCT. KY 7, Elliott, KY

Built 1980 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 157

KY-2557

Poor

Over: Levisa Fork & Old US 23

Justell @ JCT US 23, Floyd, KY

Built 1920 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 265

Conley Fork

Poor

Over: Spurlock Creek

15 W of JCT KY-122, Floyd, KY

Built 1901 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 260

KY-563

Poor

Over: SCOTT FORK

.25 MI S OF JCT KY 1971, Garrard, KY

Built 1956 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 77

KY-1407

Poor

Over: COX RUN

.70 MI WEST OF I-65 OP, Hardin, KY

Built 1953 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 221

KY-2425

Poor

Over: CATRON CREEK

.05 MI WEST OF JCT KY 72, Harlan, KY

Built 1953 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 218

KY-2007

Poor

Over: WALLINS CREEK

.1 MI W JCT KY 219, Harlan, KY

Built 1929 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 272

KY 202

Poor

Over: FLAG RUN

5.1 MI N OF US 421, Henry, KY

Built 1951 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 605

KY 1531

Poor

Over: TRIB TO SHECKELS RUN

0.8 MI N OF KY 1819, Jefferson, KY

Built 1955 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 2,098

KY-583

Poor

Over: CRADY CREEK

2.2 MI WEST OF JCT KY 52, Larue, KY

Built 1949 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 891

KY-931

Poor

Over: N Fork Kentucky River

@ JCT of KY 588, Letcher, KY

Built 1968 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 1,962

KY-57

Poor

Over: SYCAMORE CREEK

.75 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 8, Lewis, KY

Built 1948 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 233

KY-1045

Poor

Over: COGUR FK OF INDIAN CREEK

2.5 MI S.W. OF JCT KY 700, McCreary, KY

Built 1957 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 390

KY-594

Poor

Over: STILLHOUSE BRANCH

3.5 MI EAST OF JCT US 421, Madison, KY

Built 1947 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 620

KY-1195

Poor

Over: PLEASANT RUN CREEK

4.3 MI NE OF JCT US 68, Marion, KY

Built 1980 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 329

KY-3407

Poor

Over: Wolf Creek

0.1 MI S of JCT KY 1714, Martin, KY

Built 1981 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 492

KY-599

Poor

Over: LOWER SPRUCE CREEK

3.9 MI SOU. OF JCT US 460, Montgomery, KY

Built 1949 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 219

KY-32

Poor

Over: TRIB-HOOKTOWN BRANCH

.1 MI E OF JCT KY 1298, Nicholas, KY

Built 1929 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 747

KY-1414

Poor

Over: HEDGES RUN

2.5 MI S OF JCT KY 1738, Ohio, KY

Built 1953 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 425

KY-3220

Poor

Over: REED FORK

1.3 MI S.E. OF JCT KY 468, Pike, KY

Built 1923 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 1,236

KY-122

Poor

Over: Turkeypen Branch

2.9 MI W of JCT KY 610, Pike, KY

Built 1932 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 1,267

KY-165

Poor

Over: NORTH FORK OF LICKING RI

ON BRACKEN - ROBERTSON CL, Robertson, KY

Built 1956 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 335

Showing 14,001-14,050 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.