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

US-45

Fair

Over: IC (SOU) RAILROAD

200 FT EAST OF 4TH STREET, Fulton, KY

Built 1954 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 4,571

ROGERS RD

Fair

Over: BR.OF DRY CREEK

0.4MI.S.OF BUTTERMILK PK, Kenton, KY

Built 1975 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 308

KY-2423

Fair

Over: BIG RICHLAND CREEK

.40 MI WEST OF JCT KY 6, Knox, KY

Built 1952 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 581

KY-490

Fair

Over: CSX RAILROAD

.05 MI N.E. OF JCT US 25, Laurel, KY

Built 1941 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 6,513

KY-984

Fair

Over: FREY BRANCH

1.8 MI N.E. OF MASON CL, Lewis, KY

Built 1950 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 105

KY-1245

Fair

Over: P&L RAILWAY NEAR ECHOLS

.20 MI NOR. OF WK PW OP-W, Ohio, KY

Built 1968 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 583

KY-1350

Fair

Over: LEFT FORK ISLAND CREEK

.05 MI S OF JCT KY 1503, Owsley, KY

Built 1969 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 216

KY-177

Fair

Over: GRASSY CREEK

.15 MI SOU. OF KENTON CL, Pendleton, KY

Built 1954 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 515

CR-1191A

Fair

Over: BROWNIES CREEK

100 W OF JCT KY 987, Bell, KY

Built 1987 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 40

KY-39

Fair

Over: BR OF GILBERTS CREEK

2.78 Mi N of Lincoln CL, Garrard, KY

Built 1927 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,242

JULIAN M CAROLL PA

Fair

Over: PANTHER CREEK OVERFLOW

SBL .50 MI E OF KY 301 OP, Graves, KY

Built 1967 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 3,987

HATCHETT MILL RD

Fair

Over: BR OF LICK CREEK

2.0 MI NE JCT KY 351, Henderson, KY

Built 1954 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 157

VINCE ROAD

Fair

Over: MARSHALL BRANCH

.7 MI E OF JCT US 27, Jessamine, KY

Built 1971 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,665

KY-378

Fair

Over: RIGHT FORK LICKING RIVER

1.6 MI W OF JCT KY 30, Magoffin, KY

Built 1968 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 398

Lower Saltwell Rd

Fair

Over: Middle Frk Rockcastle Ck

0.2 MI NE JCT KY 645/KY 3, Martin, KY

Built 1975 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 50

KY-733

Fair

Over: WILSON CREEK

ON BULLITT - NELSON CL, Nelson, KY

Built 1952 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 619

KY-2739

Fair

Over: COX CREEK

1.9 MI NW OF JCT KY 509, Nelson, KY

Built 1979 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 137

KY 1488

Fair

Over: PATTONS CREEK

AT OLDHAM CL, Trimble, KY

Built 1954 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 81

KY-92

Fair

Over: LITTLE SO.FK CMBRLND RVR

ON MCCREARY - WAYNE CL, Wayne, KY

Built 1947 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 530

LITTLE LIMESTONE R

Fair

Over: LIMESTONE BRANCH

1.0 MI. S OF KY 92, Whitley, KY

Built 1983 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 10

Wolford Rd

Fair

Over: No Rolling Fork River

.2MI S OF JCT KY 37, Boyle, KY

Built 2013 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 10

LOVELADY LN

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

.2 MI SE JCT CR 5284, Christian, KY

Built 1995 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 20

CR 1339

Fair

Over: BETHEL CREEK

.053MI S OF JCT.KY 9, Lewis, KY

Built 2008 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 132

Wolfpit Branch Rd

Fair

Over: Wolfpit Branch

1.5 MI NW of JCT KY 195, Pike, KY

Built 1970 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 300

KY-3268

Fair

Over: BRUSHY CREEK

0.5 MILE NW OF KY 461, Pulaski, KY

Built 1954 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 354

KY-1170

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

.75 MI EAST OF JCT KY 103, Simpson, KY

Built 1979 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 187

KY-66

Fair

Over: LEFT FORK STRAIGHT CREEK

7.5 MI NE OF JCT KY 2133, Bell, KY

Built 1938 Load: 23.8 t ADT: 538

KY-92

Fair

Over: INGRAM BRANCH

1.7 MI N.E. OF JCT KY 225, Bell, KY

Built 1933 Load: 23.8 t ADT: 951

BELT LINE ROAD

Fair

Over: POLLY HOLLOW BRANCH

.05 MI E OF JCT KY 2396, Bell, KY

Built 1957 Load: 23.8 t ADT: 1,549

LONGBRANCH RD

Fair

Over: LONEBRANCH CR

2.3 MI-NW JCT US 42, Boone, KY

Built 1994 Load: 23.8 t ADT: 3,176

Dutschke Mill Rd

Fair

Over: Lick Run

100 East of KY 259, Breckinridge, KY

Built 1965 Load: 23.8 t ADT: 50

KY-69

Fair

Over: OHIO RIVER

OHIO RIVER @ HAWESVILLE, Hancock, KY

Built 1966 Load: 23.8 t ADT: 7,411

CR-1322

Fair

Over: CLOVER FK CUMBERLAND RVR

0.1 MI. N. OF KY 38, Harlan, KY

Built 1983 Load: 23.8 t ADT: 30

KY-728

Fair

Over: BACON CREEK

.6 MI S OF JCT KY 1214, Hart, KY

Built 1962 Load: 23.8 t ADT: 1,015

KY-194

Fair

Over: Meathouse Fork

3.1 MI NW of W JCT KY 632, Pike, KY

Built 1955 Load: 23.8 t ADT: 3,207

US-127

Fair

Over: HAMMOND CREEK

.5 MI S OF N-JCT US 127B, Anderson, KY

Built 1950 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 7,384

KY-30

Fair

Over: TURKEY CREEK

.2 MI W OF JCT KY 1114, Breathitt, KY

Built 1938 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 714

MOOK-CENTERVIEW RD

Fair

Over: CLEAR PRONG

1.8 MI N OF JCT KY 401, Breckinridge, KY

Built 1975 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 128

SHOT POUCH CREEK R

Fair

Over: SHOT POUCH CREEK

0.2 MI W OF JCT KY 259, Breckinridge, KY

Built 1970 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 20

N YARNALLTON PIKE

Fair

Over: I 64

1 MI N OF JCT KY 1977, Fayette, KY

Built 1973 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 803

KY-1515

Fair

Over: LOCUST CREEK

.2 MI SE OF JCT KY 2510, Fleming, KY

Built 1954 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 278

KY-1428

Fair

Over: LEVISA FORK

.30 MI SE JCT US 23, Floyd, KY

Built 1984 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 2,472

LEBANON RD

Fair

Over: FLAT CREEK

150 FT W OF US 421, Franklin, KY

Built 1968 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 137

KY-339

Fair

Over: GOOSE CREEK

.10 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 408, Graves, KY

Built 1953 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 910

KY-550

Fair

Over: Jones Fork

1.4 MI SW of Floyd CL, Knott, KY

Built 1932 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 1,104

KY-582

Fair

Over: NEALY BRANCH

2.1 MI E OF JCT KY 1393, Knott, KY

Built 1930 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 1,276

KY-718

Fair

Over: MIDDLE FK STINKING CREEK

.05 MI E OF E-JCT KY 223, Knox, KY

Built 1955 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 340

KY-2392

Fair

Over: HORSE CREEK

.75 MI NE OF S-JCT US 25, Laurel, KY

Built 1924 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 705

WILMINGTON RD

Fair

Over: BRANCH-MASSAC CRK

150 FT SOUTH OF KY 358, McCracken, KY

Built 1989 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 60

KY-56

Fair

Over: DELAWARE CREEK

1.3 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 593, McLean, KY

Built 1926 Load: 23.9 t ADT: 1,203

Showing 1,501-1,550 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.