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 1315

Fair

Over: LICK FORK

0.5 MI N OF SHELBY CL, Oldham, KY

Built 1955 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,252

KY-507

Fair

Over: POND RIVER

2.2 MI S OF JCT KY 181, Todd, KY

Built 1951 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 384

KY-1534

Fair

Over: WILLIAMS BRANCH

1.8 MI SW OF JCT KY 1344, Bell, KY

Built 1972 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 429

OSBORNE RD

Fair

Over: BR.OF MC CULLOUGH FORK

.1 MI N OF JCT CR 5162, Calloway, KY

Built 1952 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 126

HOMINY CREEK RD

Fair

Over: HOMINY CREEK

1.3 MI S. JCT KY 90, Cumberland, KY

Built 1999 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 156

KY-89

Fair

Over: STATION CAMP CREEK

.40 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 52-, Estill, KY

Built 1940 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 2,936

KY-455

Fair

Over: I-71 @ 60.373

1.5 MI W OF JCT US 127, Gallatin, KY

Built 1967 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 888

WALNUT LICK RD

Fair

Over: I-71

.9 MI NW OF JCT KY 2850, Gallatin, KY

Built 1967 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 141

KY-293

Fair

Over: TRADEWATER OVERFLOW

.5 MI S OF JCT KY 1294, Hopkins, KY

Built 1954 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 484

BIG ROCK RD

Fair

Over: CUTSHIN CREEK

150 SW OF KY 699, Leslie, KY

Built 1970 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 355

KY-2692

Fair

Over: WESTERN KENTUCKY PARKWAY

.40 MI N.W. OF JCT US 62, Muhlenberg, KY

Built 1963 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 243

KY-175

Fair

Over: CYPRESS CREEK

1.6 MI WEST OF JCT US 431, Muhlenberg, KY

Built 1954 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 457

US-60

Fair

Over: EAST FORK OF LITTLE SAND

.20 MI WEST OF JCT KY 180, Boyd, KY

Built 1948 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 11,713

KY-968

Fair

Over: KOGER CREEK

.50 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 415, Clinton, KY

Built 1950 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 120

KY-720

Fair

Over: WESTERN KENTUCKY PARKWAY

1 MI SE OF JCT US 62, Grayson, KY

Built 1962 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 253

MARY SUE DR

Fair

Over: LITTLE CEDAR CREEK

0.2 MI S OF KIMBERLY WAY, Jefferson, KY

Built 1960 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 817

BUTTERMILK PIKE

Fair

Over: NS (CNO&TP) SYSTEM

.25 MI N.W. OF I-75 OP, Kenton, KY

Built 1965 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 34,417

Old Garner Road

Fair

Over: Left Frk Troublesome Crk

0.01 MI N of JCT KY 550, Knott, KY

Built 1980 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 714

KY-84

Fair

Over: BARREN RUN CREEK

.7 MI E OF JCT KY 1517, Larue, KY

Built 1953 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 1,212

KY-1164

Fair

Over: HALLS CREEK

2.6 MI W OF JCT KY 1544, Ohio, KY

Built 1955 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 308

KY-3215

Fair

Over: BIG TWIN CREEK

200 FT SW OF JCT KY 1761, Owen, KY

Built 1954 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 20

FINLEY OWENS RD

Fair

Over: CUMBERLAND PARKWAY

1.7 MI EAST OF RUSSELL CL, Pulaski, KY

Built 1973 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 30

JAYCEE FARM ROAD

Fair

Over: TRIPLETT CREEK

200 SE jct us 60, Rowan, KY

Built 2007 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 24

CHRISTINE- SANO RD

Fair

Over: SULPHUR CREEK

40 FT NW. OF JCT CR 5032, Adair, KY

Built 2007 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 29

CURT ROAD

Fair

Over: CANE CREEK

.45 MI.W- KY 397, Breathitt, KY

Built 1975 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 43

Glen Dean-McQuady

Fair

Over: Daniels Creek

2.2 mi N jct KY 108, Breckinridge, KY

Built 2008 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 67

SHOEMAKER RD.

Fair

Over: DOG CREEK

.15 M S OF KY. 121, Calloway, KY

Built 1952 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 386

KY-1661

Fair

Over: LITTLE SANDY RIVER

1.2 MI NW OF S-JCT KY 7, Carter, KY

Built 1950 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 457

KY-551

Fair

Over: WOODS CREEK

.1 MI NE OF JCT KY 70, Casey, KY

Built 1952 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 289

KY-70

Fair

Over: DRY FK OF LIVINGSTON CRK

2.4 MI S.W. OF JCT US 641, Crittenden, KY

Built 1937 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 664

KY-116

Fair

Over: IC (NOR) RAILROAD

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

Built 1938 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 4,689

KY-936

Fair

Over: LYNN CAMP CREEK

.05 MI E OF JCT KY 1079, Hart, KY

Built 1955 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 189

BROMLEY-CRESCENT S

Fair

Over: Pleasant Run Creek

.8 miles S of KY 8, Kenton, KY

Built 1960 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 2,210

STEELS BRANCH RD

Fair

Over: CAINS CREEK

0.05 MI W of JCT KY 3394, Lawrence, KY

Built 1995 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 20

JESS WINN RD

Fair

Over: BRANCH-PRYOR CREEK

1.7 MI SE KY 2270, Muhlenberg, KY

Built 1990 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 62

WILL COMBS LN

Fair

Over: CARR FORK

.05 MI S OF JCT KY 15, Perry, KY

Built 1940 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 69

KY-494

Fair

Over: BAILEY DITCH

0.3 MI. E. -JCT. KY 132, Webster, KY

Built 1982 Load: 24.7 t ADT: 373

KY-800

Fair

Over: West Fork Pond River.

1.5 MI S.E. OF JCT KY 191, Christian, KY

Built 1953 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 472

U.S. 45

Fair

Over: P&L RAILWAY

OVER ICRR SOUTH - MAYFIEL, Graves, KY

Built 1938 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 1,992

KY-550

Fair

Over: Left Frk Troublesome Crk

0.2 MI SW of JCT KY 1697, Knott, KY

Built 1932 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 1,529

KY-337

Fair

Over: JONES CREEK

2.0 MI N.E. OF JCT KY 49, Marion, KY

Built 1954 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 307

MAKERS MARK RD

Fair

Over: BURKES SPRINGS

100 NW JCT. CR 5307, Marion, KY

Built 2004 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 117

KY-533

Fair

Over: E FK LITTLE BARREN RIVER

1.46 MI E OF JCT W/KY 496, Metcalfe, KY

Built 1953 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 468

KY-845

Fair

Over: STEVENS CREEK

1.7 MI.N.W. OF JCT. KY 22, Owen, KY

Built 1954 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 239

NATLEE SLATIN RD

Fair

Over: TRIB-EAGLE CREEK

.1 MI SOUTH OF JCT KY-607, Owen, KY

Built 2012 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 61

Beech Creek

Fair

Over: Left Fork Peter Creek

@JCT KY 194, Pike, KY

Built 1978 Load: 24.8 t ADT: 150

TROJAN TRAIL

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK BEAVER CREEK

.15 MI-E JCT US 31E, Barren, KY

Built 1995 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 4,687

GLEN DEAN-FALLS OF

Fair

Over: TRIB-DANIELS CREEK

.4 MI SOU - KY 108, Breckinridge, KY

Built 1993 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 114

KY-106

Fair

Over: DEER LICK CREEK

1.4 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 949, Butler, KY

Built 1951 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 240

KY-269

Fair

Over: THOROUGHFARE CREEK

ON OHIO - BUTLER CL, Butler, KY

Built 1978 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 68

Showing 1,601-1,650 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.