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-635

Fair

Over: BUNCOMBE BR.

2.7 MI S.E. OF JCT KY 70, Pulaski, KY

Built 1948 Load: 26.7 t ADT: 700

KY-619

Fair

Over: GREASY CREEK

1.2 MI WEST OF JCT US 127, Russell, KY

Built 1950 Load: 26.7 t ADT: 525

CEMETERY ROAD

Fair

Over: CSX RR @ W-BURG CEMTRY R

.60 MI WEST OF JCT US 25W, Whitley, KY

Built 1952 Load: 26.7 t ADT: 63

KY-3085

Fair

Over: GREASY CREEK

.10 MI N.W. OF JCT KY 92, Bell, KY

Built 1940 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 131

CR-1129

Fair

Over: CLEAR FORK

.1 MI N OF JCT KY 217, Bell, KY

Built 1987 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 104

KY-243

Fair

Over: NORTH ROLLING FORK

@ BOYLE CO. LN., Casey, KY

Built 1983 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 186

KY-89

Fair

Over: CALLOWAY CREEK

1.1 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 794, Estill, KY

Built 1931 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 3,589

CR 1039

Fair

Over: TURKEY RUN

.68 MI N. OF CR 1041, Fleming, KY

Built 2006 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 74

KY-80

Fair

Over: CSX RR & R Frk Beaver Cr

0.1 MI NE of JCT KY 2554, Floyd, KY

Built 1978 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 7,660

Mill Creek Rd

Fair

Over: Right Fork Beaver Creek

0.1 MI SW of JCT KY 7, Floyd, KY

Built 1991 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 255

KY-450

Fair

Over: WEST FORK OF CLARKS RIVE

1.6 MI NOR. OF GRAVES CL, McCracken, KY

Built 1951 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 1,521

KY-87

Fair

Over: BARREN RIVER

.70 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 678, Monroe, KY

Built 1949 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 893

KY 90

Fair

Over: CUMBERLAND RIVER

0.8 MI. W. OF JCT US 27, Pulaski, KY

Built 2005 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 14,040

KY-1912

Fair

Over: BRUSH CREEK

.2 MI SW OF JCT KY 1797, Rockcastle, KY

Built 1977 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 368

I-64

Fair

Over: WOODLAKE ROAD

WBL 2.3MI E-FRANKLIN C.L., Woodford, KY

Built 1972 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 19,454

I-64

Fair

Over: WOODLAKE ROAD

EBL 2.3MI E-FRANKLIN C.L., Woodford, KY

Built 1972 Load: 26.8 t ADT: 19,454

KY-205

Fair

Over: FROZEN CREEK

.1 MI S OF JCT KY 541, Breathitt, KY

Built 1961 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 790

KY-3182

Fair

Over: LITTLE MUDDY CREEK

2.0 MI W OF JCT KY 1083, Butler, KY

Built 1950 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 332

ASBURY CEMETERY LN

Fair

Over: WEST FORK CLARKS RIVER

.15 MI- E.JCT KY 1836, Calloway, KY

Built 1995 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 21

KY-70

Fair

Over: ESTICE BRANCH

2.0 MI N.W. OF JCT KY 837, Casey, KY

Built 1930 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 753

KY-120

Fair

Over: UNNAME STREAM

.10 MI EAST OF JCT KY 654, Crittenden, KY

Built 1931 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 591

KY-1645

Fair

Over: CSX RAILROAD

.05 MI SW-RVR DR-IRVINE, Estill, KY

Built 1983 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 752

KY 1472

Fair

Over: I-64

1.5 MI S OF US 60, Franklin, KY

Built 1960 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 493

US-62

Fair

Over: BUCK CREEK

1.7 MI WEST OF JCT KY 79, Grayson, KY

Built 1929 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 1,077

KY-1138

Fair

Over: CRANKS CREEK

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

Built 1951 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 50

US-41

Fair

Over: OHIO RIVER

NBL OHIO RIVER BRIDGE, Henderson, KY

Built 1932 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 20,688

KY-862

Fair

Over: ELK CREEK

1.1 MI S.E. OF JCT KY 254, Hopkins, KY

Built 1954 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 325

KY-1069

Fair

Over: DEER CREEK

3.3 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 260, Hopkins, KY

Built 1954 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 629

I-265 SB OFF RAMP

Fair

Over: KY 1447 (WESTPORT RD)

0.10 MI S OF I-265, Jefferson, KY

Built 1970 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 69,217

I-71 NB

Fair

Over: EDITH RD

1.75 MI N OF I-64, Jefferson, KY

Built 1966 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 25,429

TRUSTY RD

Fair

Over: GREEN RIVER

.3 MI SE OF JCT KY 698, Lincoln, KY

Built 1978 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 136

KY-3520

Fair

Over: WEST FORK MASSAC CREEK

.29 MI EAST OF JCT KY 996, McCracken, KY

Built 1927 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 787

KY-1824

Fair

Over: ROCKHOUSE CREEK

.72 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 80, Marshall, KY

Built 1929 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 1,054

KY-933

Fair

Over: SPILLWAY-DOE RUN DAM

3.0 MI N.E. OF JCT KY 448, Meade, KY

Built 1962 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 889

KY-175

Fair

Over: BRIAR CREEK

.80 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 423, Muhlenberg, KY

Built 1936 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 227

KY-1379

Fair

Over: NELSON CREEK

.85 MI EAST OF JCT KY 277, Muhlenberg, KY

Built 1952 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 363

HARLEY THOMPSON RD

Fair

Over: GUIST CREEK

0.9 MI N OF KY 1779, Shelby, KY

Built 1991 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 67

KY-138

Fair

Over: SUGAR CAMP CREEK

.4 MI NW OF JCT KY 1835, Webster, KY

Built 1935 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 350

KY-571

Fair

Over: BLUE SPRING CREEK

1.4 MI N. OF JCT KY 740, Barren, KY

Built 1953 Load: 27.0 t ADT: 166

LOUIE B NUNN-CUMBE

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

WBL 2.3 MI E OF KY 685 OP, Barren, KY

Built 1973 Load: 27.0 t ADT: 6,513

LN-9008

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

EBL 2.3 MI E OF KY 685 OP, Barren, KY

Built 1973 Load: 27.0 t ADT: 6,513

MCCOY-ROFF RD

Fair

Over: NORTH FORK ROUGH RIVER

1.7 MI SE OF JCT KY 79, Breckinridge, KY

Built 1966 Load: 27.0 t ADT: 166

MOUNT OLIVE RD

Fair

Over: WEST FORK CLARKS RIVER

.35 M. W. OF KY. 1836, Calloway, KY

Built 1953 Load: 27.0 t ADT: 100

MOCABEE CREEK RD

Fair

Over: JACOBS FORK

.1 MI W OF JCT KY 955, Carter, KY

Built 1954 Load: 27.0 t ADT: 226

COAL CREEK RD

Fair

Over: BUCK CREEK

1.2 MI N - KY 107, Christian, KY

Built 1993 Load: 27.0 t ADT: 166

KY-111

Fair

Over: FOX CREEK

.90 MI N.E. OF JCT KY 211, Fleming, KY

Built 1969 Load: 27.0 t ADT: 632

KY-306

Fair

Over: Left Fork Beaver Creek

@ JCT of KY 122, Floyd, KY

Built 1955 Load: 27.0 t ADT: 1,559

KY-777

Fair

Over: TURKEY CREEK

.5 MI SE OF JCT KY 80, Floyd, KY

Built 1984 Load: 27.0 t ADT: 917

US-62

Fair

Over: LICKING RVR @CLAYSVILLE

.2 MI W OF JCT KY 19, Harrison, KY

Built 1958 Load: 27.0 t ADT: 1,318

KY-1391

Fair

Over: ROUND STONE CREEK

1.2 MI NW OF JCT KY 1656, Hart, KY

Built 1952 Load: 27.0 t ADT: 201

Showing 1,901-1,950 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.