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 79

Fair

Over: OHIO RIVER & CO ROAD

0.5M N JCT KY 228, Meade, KY

Built 1967 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 3,269

KY-152

Fair

Over: CHAPLIN RIVER

1 MI E OF JCT KY 1941, Mercer, KY

Built 1930 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 776

KY-70

Fair

Over: S FK LITTLE BARREN RIVER

0.76 MI E OF JCT W/KY 869, Metcalfe, KY

Built 1949 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 591

KY-15

Fair

Over: KY 402 -MTN PKWY

.5 MI E OF E-JCT KY 11, Powell, KY

Built 1962 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 523

KY-616

Fair

Over: NORTH FK LICKING RIVER

@ MASON CO LINE, Robertson, KY

Built 1968 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 107

KY 1922

Fair

Over: SIXMILE CREEK

2.7 MI S OF HENRY CL, Shelby, KY

Built 1962 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 97

KY-715

Fair

Over: KY 402(MTN PKWAY)

.2 MI NE OF JCT KY 15, Wolfe, KY

Built 1961 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 236

KY-3291

Fair

Over: MARSH RUN

.1 MI N OF JCT CR 5001, Boyd, KY

Built 1923 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 1,339

JERRY WRIGHT RD

Fair

Over: BRUSH CREEK

.5 MI SW OF JCT KY 1121, Campbell, KY

Built 1965 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 440

US 460

Fair

Over: S ELKHORN CREEK

0.1 MI W OF KY 1689, Franklin, KY

Built 1934 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 5,961

MCNIGHT CEMETERY R

Fair

Over: CLOVER LICK CREEK

.1 MI. S.-KY 2006 @ CLOVR, Harlan, KY

Built 1983 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 20

KY-490

Fair

Over: PARKERS CREEK

1.3 MI NW OF JCT KY 1228, Laurel, KY

Built 1976 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 198

KY-21

Fair

Over: SILVER CREEK

.15 MI W OF JCT 1617, Madison, KY

Built 1939 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 4,621

WK-9001

Fair

Over: KY 181

EBL 5 MI W OF US 431 NTRC, Muhlenberg, KY

Built 1963 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 5,130

KY-52

Fair

Over: BEECH FORK RIVER

.70 MI SOU. OF JCT US 62, Nelson, KY

Built 1962 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 2,164

KY-120

Fair

Over: BR OF DEER CREEK

1.0 MI EAST OF JCT KY 630, Webster, KY

Built 1951 Load: 28.3 t ADT: 700

KY-2160

Fair

Over: SNAKE CREEK

2 MI N of CR 5152, Allen, KY

Built 1950 Load: 28.4 t ADT: 422

KY-1307

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK BEAVER CREEK

.60 MI SOU. OF JCT US 68, Barren, KY

Built 1973 Load: 28.4 t ADT: 488

US-31E

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK BEAVER CREEK

NBL .10 MI S OF CMBRLND P, Barren, KY

Built 1972 Load: 28.4 t ADT: 6,420

KY-590

Fair

Over: HANGING FORK

.8 MI SOUTH OF HWY 52, Boyle, KY

Built 1941 Load: 28.4 t ADT: 292

KY 12

Fair

Over: TRIB TO FLAT CREEK

5.1 MI E OF US 421, Franklin, KY

Built 1972 Load: 28.4 t ADT: 212

KY-356

Fair

Over: N FK TWIN CREEK

2.1 MI W OF W-JCT KY 1842, Harrison, KY

Built 1936 Load: 28.4 t ADT: 387

KY-1054

Fair

Over: TWIN CREEK

1.6 MI N.W. OF JCT KY 36, Harrison, KY

Built 1960 Load: 28.4 t ADT: 969

SOUTH GARDEN MILE

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF CANOE CREEK

500 NE OF JCT KY 812, Henderson, KY

Built 1988 Load: 28.4 t ADT: 2,632

KY-2043

Fair

Over: CRUISES CREEK

2.0 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 16, Kenton, KY

Built 1965 Load: 28.4 t ADT: 578

KY-550

Fair

Over: Jones Fork

1 MI S of JCT KY 1087, Knott, KY

Built 1932 Load: 28.4 t ADT: 961

KY-55

Fair

Over: BEECH FORK RIVER

ON WASHINGTON - NELSON CL, Nelson, KY

Built 1947 Load: 28.4 t ADT: 781

DUGAN RD

Fair

Over: W FK SIMPSON CREEK

.1 MI S OF JCT KY 162, Nelson, KY

Built 1935 Load: 28.4 t ADT: 170

DAVIS RD

Fair

Over: W.H. NATCHER PARKWAY

.75 MI NE OF JCT KY 2718, Ohio, KY

Built 1972 Load: 28.4 t ADT: 110

KY-779

Fair

Over: MEADOW CREEK

.10 MI W OF E-JCT KY 1064, Whitley, KY

Built 1976 Load: 28.4 t ADT: 610

SCOTTS FERRY RD

Fair

Over: BLUEGRASS PARKWAY

.75 MI E OF ANDERSON CL, Woodford, KY

Built 1965 Load: 28.4 t ADT: 396

KY-211

Fair

Over: I64

1.8 MI N OF W-JCT US 60, Bath, KY

Built 1967 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 650

CENTER ST

Fair

Over: CSX RAILROAD

100 FT EAST OF FOOTE AVE, Campbell, KY

Built 1996 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 1,609

Banker Pl

Fair

Over: HARRIS FORK CREEK

200" N OF MEARS STRE, Fulton, KY

Built 1970 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 628

KY-61

Fair

Over: CLOVER LICK CREEK

.60 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 565, Green, KY

Built 1927 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 1,785

KY-2009

Fair

Over: LAUREL FORK CREEK

ON LESLIE - HARLAN CL, Harlan, KY

Built 1987 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 157

I-275 EB

Fair

Over: I-75 N&S-RAMPS G-D

EB-275 MAINLINE@I75, Kenton, KY

Built 1971 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 40,651

KY-7

Fair

Over: Elk Creek

@JCT of KY 3408, Letcher, KY

Built 1934 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 807

KY-7

Fair

Over: Rockhouse Creek

0.55 MI W of JCT KY 317, Letcher, KY

Built 1951 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 563

OLD CALVERT CITY R

Fair

Over: UNNAME STREAM

200 FT SOU. OF JCT US 62, McCracken, KY

Built 1951 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 1,241

MARTHA LAYNE COLLI

Fair

Over: BEECH FORK RIVER

WBL 2.8 MI W OF US31E NTR, Nelson, KY

Built 1965 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 7,583

MILLER STATION RD

Fair

Over: BRUSHY FORK

0.867 MI S JCT KY 36, Nicholas, KY

Built 1998 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 100

MORGANTOWN RD

Fair

Over: CARTER DITCH

.45 MI N JCT KY 1414, Ohio, KY

Built 1991 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 105

US 25

Fair

Over: MILE RUN CREEK

1 MI S - KY 608, Scott, KY

Built 1992 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 614

BG-9002

Fair

Over: CHAPLIN RIVER

EBL .50 MI E OF KY555 NTR, Washington, KY

Built 1965 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 7,469

KY-52

Fair

Over: LINDON FK OF CANE CREEK

.20 MI N.W. OF JCT KY 30, Breathitt, KY

Built 1951 Load: 28.6 t ADT: 1,904

KY-1923

Fair

Over: TWO MILE CREEK

1.4 MI E. OF JCT KY 627, Clark, KY

Built 1974 Load: 28.6 t ADT: 277

KY-56

Fair

Over: KNOB LICK CREEK

.10 MI NOR. OF MCLEAN CL, Daviess, KY

Built 1926 Load: 28.6 t ADT: 1,367

DRY FRK RD

Fair

Over: DRY FORK CREEK

.386 MI- W.JCT KY 784, Greenup, KY

Built 1995 Load: 28.6 t ADT: 122

EUREKA CHURCH RD

Fair

Over: White Oak Creek

0.1 MI-N-KY 2070, Greenup, KY

Built 1995 Load: 28.6 t ADT: 23

Showing 2,151-2,200 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.