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

MATTHEWS BR

Fair

Over: MATTHEW BRANCH

30 N OF JT. US 60, Rowan, KY

Built 2003 Load: 29.7 t ADT: 58

KY-1083

Fair

Over: BRUSH FORK CREEK

4.3 MI N OF JCT US 68, Warren, KY

Built 1973 Load: 29.7 t ADT: 240

KY-1595

Fair

Over: LOWER LAUREL FORK

.60 MI N.W. OF JCT KY 190, Whitley, KY

Built 1956 Load: 29.7 t ADT: 321

KY-1064

Fair

Over: CORN CREEK

1.3 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 6, Whitley, KY

Built 1935 Load: 29.7 t ADT: 855

Old KY-61

Fair

Over: Brush Creek

1.5 Mi N of Jct KY 768, Adair, KY

Built 1928 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 231

KY-358

Fair

Over: BRADLEY CREEK

1.0 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 473, Ballard, KY

Built 1941 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 821

HAZELWOOD ROAD

Fair

Over: BRANCH LITTLE HUMPHREY C

.4 MI W. JCT KY 358, Ballard, KY

Built 1997 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 434

KY-90

Fair

Over: CUMBERLAND PARKWAY

1.2 MI EAST OF JCT US 68, Barren, KY

Built 1973 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 9,128

KY-1325

Fair

Over: FLAT CREEK

.75 MI SE OF JCT KY 11, Bath, KY

Built 1977 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 311

CR-1369

Fair

Over: LEFT FORK STRAIGHT CREEK

200E-KY66-.8MI S-CARY, Bell, KY

Built 1950 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 41

POLK LN

Fair

Over: TRIBUTARY OF TAR FORK

1.1 MI S OF JCT US 60, Breckinridge, KY

Built 1977 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 30

I-69

Fair

Over: WILEY CREEK

1.4 MI EAST OF KY 293 OP, Caldwell, KY

Built 1962 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 11,063

INTERSTATE 64

Fair

Over: KY 1662-FLAT FK RD

WBL 3 MI E OF ROWAN CO.LN, Carter, KY

Built 1969 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 6,434

I-64

Fair

Over: KY 1662-FLAT FK RD

EBL 3 MI E OF ROWAN CO.LN, Carter, KY

Built 1969 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 6,434

LOVERS LN

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK OF LITTLE RIV

.60 MI EAST OF JCT KY 107, Christian, KY

Built 1956 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 706

HOOKER ROAD

Fair

Over: LITTLE GOOSE CREEK

100. S. JCT KY 687, Clay, KY

Built 1998 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 101

KY-691

Fair

Over: MARROWBONE CREEK

.55 MI WEST OF JCT KY 90, Cumberland, KY

Built 1957 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 296

KY-90

Fair

Over: Cumberland River

0.1 MI E OF S-JCT KY 61, Cumberland, KY

Built 1951 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 5,495

KY-594

Fair

Over: CROOKED CREEK

.40 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 499, Estill, KY

Built 1956 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 820

S 75 NC

Fair

Over: WB-I64 RMP TO I75-SB

SB I75 @SE NTRCH-I64, Fayette, KY

Built 1981 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 107,297

KY-559

Fair

Over: WILSON RUN CREEK

2.8 MI E OF JCT KY 32BUS., Fleming, KY

Built 1950 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 1,039

KY 1570

Fair

Over: QUIRE BRANCH

1.25 MI N OF KY 1665, Franklin, KY

Built 1995 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 132

KY-465

Fair

Over: I-71 @ 59.433

.5 MI S OF JCT KY 455, Gallatin, KY

Built 1967 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 340

KY-339

Fair

Over: OBION CREEK

2.3 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 58, Graves, KY

Built 1951 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 315

US-31W

Fair

Over: NOLIN RIVER

.5 MI S OF JCT KY 1136, Hardin, KY

Built 1930 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 2,594

HOWELL RD

Fair

Over: PUP RUN

.8 MI W OF JCT KY 1135, Hardin, KY

Built 1981 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 98

KY-36

Fair

Over: NORTH FORK OF RAVEN CREE

1.2 MI S OF JCT KY 1032, Harrison, KY

Built 1932 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 644

US-60

Fair

Over: HIGHLAND CREEK

ON UNION - HENDERSON CL, Henderson, KY

Built 1943 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 5,698

KY-145

Fair

Over: BEAVER DAM CREEK

2.85 MI.SE JCT US 60., Henderson, KY

Built 1982 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 595

KY-1071

Fair

Over: STURGEON CREEK

@ OWSLEY CO. LN., Jackson, KY

Built 1950 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 307

KY 1932

Fair

Over: S FORK BEARGRASS CREEK

0.55 MI S OF HIKES LN, Jefferson, KY

Built 1965 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 28,853

KY-1541

Fair

Over: HICKMAN CREEK

7.05 MI N OF JCT W/KY 39, Jessamine, KY

Built 1964 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 1,238

US-25

Fair

Over: ROCKCASTLE RIVER

ON ROCKCASTLE-LAUREL CL, Laurel, KY

Built 1950 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 942

YEADDISS RD

Fair

Over: TRACE FORK

.25 MI NE OF JCT KY 699, Leslie, KY

Built 1970 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 230

KY-57

Fair

Over: CABIN CREEK

2.3 MI N.E. OF JCT KY 10, Lewis, KY

Built 1947 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 1,082

KY-989

Fair

Over: TOLLER BRANCH

5.4 MI S.W. OF JCT KY 10, Lewis, KY

Built 1970 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 285

KY-300

Fair

Over: HANGING FORK

3.0 MI N.W. OF JCT KY 78, Lincoln, KY

Built 1950 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 312

KY-903

Fair

Over: I 24 @ MP. 51.718

.25 MI N OF JCT KY 93, Lyon, KY

Built 1977 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 333

CEDAR FLAT-CURTIS

Fair

Over: MOCCASIN CREEK

3.2 MI E JCT KY 163, Metcalfe, KY

Built 1999 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 81

KY-191

Fair

Over: CANEY CREEK

.5 MI S OF JCT KY 1162, Morgan, KY

Built 1928 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 603

KY-194

Fair

Over: Johns Creek

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

Built 1955 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 3,207

KY-613

Fair

Over: INDIAN CREEK

1.4 MI NE E-TERM. KY 613, Powell, KY

Built 1959 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 49

KY-635

Fair

Over: FISHING CREEK

1.5 MI SE OF JCT KY 70, Pulaski, KY

Built 1948 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 700

ROBERTS PORT RD

Fair

Over: WHITE OAK CREEK

1.8 MI S JCT KY 196, Pulaski, KY

Built 1998 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 213

KY-270

Fair

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

2.3 MI.NW JCT US 60, Union, KY

Built 1997 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 313

KY-790

Fair

Over: SINKING CREEK

1.16 MI S OF JCT KY 776, Wayne, KY

Built 1950 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 98

KY-90

Fair

Over: OTTER CREEK

1.4 MI SW OF JCT KY 834, Wayne, KY

Built 1979 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 6,123

US-68

Fair

Over: CUMBERLAND PARKWAY

.5 MI W OF JCT KY 685, Barren, KY

Built 1973 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 2,490

I-71

Fair

Over: CSX RR & KY 227

NBL OVER KY 227 INTERCHNG, Carroll, KY

Built 1967 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 15,358

WADES MILL RD

Fair

Over: I-64

2.25 MI N OF JCT US 60, Clark, KY

Built 1959 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 115

Showing 2,401-2,450 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.