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-672

Fair

Over: MONTGOMERY CREEK

.05 MI SOU. OF JCT US 62, Caldwell, KY

Built 1954 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 874

KY-80

Fair

Over: FORK OF OBION CREEK

2.5 MI EAST OF JCT US 51, Carlisle, KY

Built 1929 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 981

EVERMANS CREEK RD

Fair

Over: EVERMAN CREEK

.1 MI S OF JCT CR 5012, Carter, KY

Built 1970 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 529

BLACKS BRANCH RD

Fair

Over: BLACKS BRANCH

.1 MI N JCT KY 100, Cumberland, KY

Built 1998 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 20

KY-160

Fair

Over: LOONEY CREEK

.50 MI S.E. OF US 119 UP, Harlan, KY

Built 1942 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 2,373

KY-1556

Fair

Over: MARTINS FK CUMBERLAND RV

.10 MI S.W. OF JCT US 421, Harlan, KY

Built 1952 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 68

US-62

Fair

Over: SYCAMORE CREEK

3.0 MI N.E. OF JCT KY 392, Harrison, KY

Built 1928 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 2,066

INDEPENDENCE STATI

Fair

Over: BANKLICK CREEK

1.6 MI NW OF JCT KY 17, Kenton, KY

Built 1970 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 1,978

KY-1149

Fair

Over: TRACE CREEK

AT TANNERY JCT, Lewis, KY

Built 1952 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 225

WHITE OAK RD

Fair

Over: LT. FK. WHITE OAK CREEK

@ WEST TERMINI KY. 1593, Magoffin, KY

Built 2004 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 180

KY-3226

Fair

Over: LEVISA FORK OF BIG SANDY

.01 MI-JCT US 460, Pike, KY

Built 1984 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 1,001

KY-328

Fair

Over: BUCK CREEK

1.2 MI WEST OF JCT KY 865, Pulaski, KY

Built 1959 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 115

KY-56

Fair

Over: OHIO RIVER AT SHAWNEETOW

OHIO RIVER BRIDGE, Union, KY

Built 1956 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 2,618

KY-923

Fair

Over: SMITH DITCH

1.0 MI E OF JCT KY 365, Union, KY

Built 1952 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 108

SMITH LN

Fair

Over: CARTWRIGHT CREEK

300 WEST OF JCT. KY 429, Washington, KY

Built 2001 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 187

KY-370

Fair

Over: DEER CREEK

2.0 MI N.W. OF JCT KY 147, Webster, KY

Built 1959 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 562

KY-1961

Fair

Over: STONER CREEK

2.5 MI N. OF JCT US 60, Clark, KY

Built 1954 Load: 25.0 t ADT: 702

4th St

Fair

Over: LEVISA FK OF BIG SANDY R

AT JCT. KY 1428, Floyd, KY

Built 1986 Load: 25.0 t ADT: 1,118

I-71 NB

Fair

Over: BEARGRASS CREEK

1.4 MI S OF ZORN AVE, Jefferson, KY

Built 1966 Load: 25.0 t ADT: 25,429

KY-699

Fair

Over: Trace Fork

8.0 MI SE OF JCT KY 2057, Leslie, KY

Built 1952 Load: 25.0 t ADT: 444

NEW HOPE CHURCH RD

Fair

Over: BR-MIDDLE FK MASSAC CREE

250" SOUTH OF KY. 1322, McCracken, KY

Built 1956 Load: 25.0 t ADT: 142

KY-276

Fair

Over: MUDDY FORK CREEK

.50 MI WEST OF JCT KY 128, Trigg, KY

Built 1953 Load: 25.0 t ADT: 251

KY-773

Fair

Over: GLANCY FK OF STRAIGHT CR

.1 MI E OF JCT KY 1512, Carter, KY

Built 1979 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 239

KY-449

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

185 FT. S. OF KY 90, Cumberland, KY

Built 1981 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 1,058

Haywood Dr

Fair

Over: BULL CREEK

0.1 MI W KY 302, Floyd, KY

Built 1935 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 182

BEECH GROVE ROAD

Fair

Over: LITTLE MAYFIELD CREEK

.8 M. S. OF JCT. KY. 121, Graves, KY

Built 1973 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 349

STRINGTOWN WEBBER

Fair

Over: MIDDLE FK RAVEN CREEK

.1 MI N OF JCT CR 5331, Harrison, KY

Built 1975 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 63

KY-1338

Fair

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

.5 MI N OF CHRISTIAN CL, Hopkins, KY

Built 1953 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 334

KY-162

Fair

Over: W FORK SIMPSON CREEK

2.8 MI S.W. OF JCT KY 48, Nelson, KY

Built 1972 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 478

KY-26

Fair

Over: BACON CREEK

.80 MI S OF N-JCT US 25W, Whitley, KY

Built 1961 Load: 25.1 t ADT: 4,794

Penns Store Road

Fair

Over: Little South Fork Creek

50 WEST JCT KY 243, Casey, KY

Built 1996 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 50

KY-1351

Fair

Over: ILL WILL CREEK

2.24 MI SW OF JCT KY 1590, Clinton, KY

Built 1952 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 483

KY-1425

Fair

Over: I-75

1 MI SW OF JCT US 60, Fayette, KY

Built 1988 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 9,193

KY 1689

Fair

Over: SEBREE BRANCH

1.2 MI E OF KY 1262, Franklin, KY

Built 1986 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 414

KY-3630

Fair

Over: MOORES CREEK

.05 MI EAST OF JCT KY 577, Jackson, KY

Built 1939 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 611

KY-177

Fair

Over: CRUISES CREEK

1.0 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 14, Kenton, KY

Built 1954 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 861

ERLANGER ROAD N

Fair

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

.1 MI N OF JCT KY 2978, Kenton, KY

Built 1970 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 770

US-127

Fair

Over: BR OF CARPENTER CREEK

MP. 0.14, Lincoln, KY

Built 1969 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 4,623

KY-1309

Fair

Over: WHIPPOORWILL CREEK

2.7 MI S OF JCT KY 79, Logan, KY

Built 1988 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 125

NEW DIXVILLE RD

Fair

Over: DRY FK CHAPLIN RVR

.8 MI E OF JCT KY 1941, Mercer, KY

Built 1988 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 79

KY-80

Fair

Over: BUTLER BRANCH

4.83 MI E JCT W/U.S. 68, Metcalfe, KY

Built 1933 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 348

KY-11

Fair

Over: WHITE OAK CREEK

.1 MI S OF JCT KY 2025, Owsley, KY

Built 1941 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 674

KY-28

Fair

Over: S. FORK OF KENTUCKY RIVE

.20 MI EAST OF JCT KY 11, Owsley, KY

Built 1949 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 4,441

KY-3267

Fair

Over: BEE LICK CREEK

0.45 MI NW OF KY 70, Pulaski, KY

Built 1952 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 69

BELT LINE ROAD

Fair

Over: BEANS FORK

.45 MI N.E. OF JCT KY 74, Bell, KY

Built 1957 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 842

RUE JACKSON BR RD

Fair

Over: BLACK SNAKE CREEK

.1 MI W OF JCT KY 72, Bell, KY

Built 1987 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 20

CASH ROAD

Fair

Over: BR - CHAPLIN CK

.9 MI N OF OLD MTCHBUR, Boyle, KY

Built 1997 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 37

KY-800

Fair

Over: TRADE WATER CREEK

1.8 MI N.E. OF JCT KY 109, Christian, KY

Built 1953 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 279

KY-1524

Fair

Over: RED BIRD RIVER

.1 MI. WEST OF JCT KY 66, Clay, KY

Built 1984 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 116

King Road CR1020

Fair

Over: Caney Creek

0.1 MI W JCT CR1027, Daviess, KY

Built 1970 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 28

Showing 1,651-1,700 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.