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

BRATTON BR

Fair

Over: LOGAN HOLLOW BRANCH

1.5 MI.W.-JCT KY 32, Rowan, KY

Built 1979 Load: 13.8 t ADT: 779

CORBIN RD

Fair

Over: TRIB.OF BRUSH CREEK

.25 MI. S.E. OF JCT.KY 61, Adair, KY

Built 1981 Load: 13.9 t ADT: 19

KY-702

Fair

Over: LITTLE SANDY RIVER

.20 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 7, Elliott, KY

Built 1972 Load: 13.9 t ADT: 179

CAVE HILL ROAD

Fair

Over: BACON CREEK

2.4 MI S OF JCT KY 728, Hart, KY

Built 1970 Load: 13.9 t ADT: 189

I-64

Fair

Over: 22ND ST & NORTHWESTERN

1.45 MI E OF I-264, Jefferson, KY

Built 1971 Load: 13.9 t ADT: 65,180

KY-94

Fair

Over: BUTTERWORTH CREEK

.20 MI EAST OF JCT KY 783, Calloway, KY

Built 1927 Load: 14.0 t ADT: 4,706

US-62

Fair

Over: GREEN RIVER

ON MUHLENBERG - OHIO CL, Ohio, KY

Built 1938 Load: 14.0 t ADT: 1,499

CUTCHIN ROAD

Fair

Over: FROZEN CREEK

300 south of Ky 378 jct., Breathitt, KY

Built 2001 Load: 14.2 t ADT: 50

KY-1942

Fair

Over: TEN MILE CREEK

.6 MI S OF GALLATIN C.L., Grant, KY

Built 1974 Load: 14.2 t ADT: 198

CRUTCHER PIKE

Fair

Over: TATES CREEK

.05 MI W OF JCT KY 169, Madison, KY

Built 1938 Load: 14.2 t ADT: 305

Goose Creek Rd.

Fair

Over: Goose Creek

20 West of Riley Rd., Marion, KY

Built 1996 Load: 14.2 t ADT: 69

Stephens Rd.

Fair

Over: LITTLE CLEAR CREEK

1.8 MI W JCT KY 1617, Rockcastle, KY

Built 1999 Load: 14.2 t ADT: 252

US-51

Fair

Over: OHIO RIVER -IC (SOU) RR

4.0 MI WEST OF JCT US51&6, Ballard, KY

Built 1937 Load: 14.3 t ADT: 5,344

CRISP RD

Fair

Over: W RHUDES CREEK

1.0 MI S OF JCT KY 1357, Hardin, KY

Built 1945 Load: 14.3 t ADT: 100

US 60A (EASTERN)

Fair

Over: CSX RR FLOYD & BROOK ST

0.4 MI E OF S 3RD STREET, Jefferson, KY

Built 1954 Load: 14.4 t ADT: 4,079

KY-92

Fair

Over: S. FORK OF CUMBERLAND RI

.05 MI SE OF JCT KY 1363, McCreary, KY

Built 1941 Load: 14.4 t ADT: 1,329

BULL CRK RD

Fair

Over: BULL CREEK

@ JCT CR 1133, Perry, KY

Built 1992 Load: 14.4 t ADT: 83

KY 2292

Fair

Over: NORFOLK - SOUTHERN R.R.

.91 MI. N. OF JCT KY 2298, Pulaski, KY

Built 2007 Load: 14.4 t ADT: 17,294

MOUNT PLEASANT RD

Fair

Over: REYNOLDS CREEK

1.0 MILE NW OF KY 92, Russell, KY

Built 1974 Load: 14.4 t ADT: 119

KY-52

Fair

Over: PAINT LICK CREEK

.01 Mi W of Madison Cty, Garrard, KY

Built 1948 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 3,381

MCNEW CEMETERY RD

Fair

Over: ROUNDSTONE CREEK

12 N. OF JCT CR 1004, Rockcastle, KY

Built 2002 Load: 14.5 t ADT: 105

CR 1206

Fair

Over: OVER LITTLE SANDY

.39 MI N.OF S.JCT KY 7, Elliott, KY

Built 1930 Load: 14.6 t ADT: 266

RUDD RD

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF ELK CREEK

0.1 MI NOR. KY 862, Hopkins, KY

Built 1984 Load: 14.6 t ADT: 26

I-64

Fair

Over: L&I RR & NORTHWESTERN

0.75 MI E OF US 150, Jefferson, KY

Built 1972 Load: 14.6 t ADT: 58,404

KY-3433

Fair

Over: WEST FK-JESSAMINE CK

.4 MI.W OF JCT W/KY 29, Jessamine, KY

Built 1998 Load: 14.6 t ADT: 3,230

KY-61

Fair

Over: CUMBERLAND RIVER

2.8 MI SO. JCT W/KY 90, Cumberland, KY

Built 1961 Load: 14.7 t ADT: 2,826

CR-1083

Fair

Over: POLLS CREEK

1.5 M/P 2057, Leslie, KY

Built 1983 Load: 14.7 t ADT: 78

US-127 X

Fair

Over: GREASY CREEK

1.2 MI S OF W-JCT KY 619, Russell, KY

Built 1949 Load: 14.8 t ADT: 620

KY-1685

Fair

Over: SOUTH ELKHORN CREEK

.25 MI S OF FRNKLN CO LN, Woodford, KY

Built 1972 Load: 14.8 t ADT: 1,228

BOND HOLW

Fair

Over: TYGART CREEK

142 N OF JCT.US 60, Carter, KY

Built 2003 Load: 14.9 t ADT: 60

KY-1296

Fair

Over: CASTLEBERRY CREEK

.20 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 134, Christian, KY

Built 1952 Load: 14.9 t ADT: 123

KY-1296

Fair

Over: UNNAME STREAM

.30 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 134, Christian, KY

Built 1952 Load: 14.9 t ADT: 123

MATTHEWS MILL RD

Fair

Over: SKAGGS CREEK

1.8 MI S OF JCT US 31E, Barren, KY

Built 1962 Load: 15.0 t ADT: 280

County road

Fair

Over: Goose Creek

.10 mi north of ky1524, Clay, KY

Built 2014 Load: 15.0 t ADT: 76

FRYE ST

Fair

Over: CATRON CREEK

.05 MI NW OF JCT KY 22, Harlan, KY

Built 1936 Load: 15.0 t ADT: 300

MILFORD RD

Fair

Over: LITTLE WILLOW CREEK

2.9 MI SE OF JCT KY 22, Pendleton, KY

Built 1983 Load: 15.0 t ADT: 67

PELLYTON EAST RD

Fair

Over: SPRUCE PINE CREEK

0.7 MI. WEST JCT KY-206, Adair, KY

Built 2004 Load: 15.1 t ADT: 48

CR-1109

Fair

Over: HINKSTON CREEK

2.2 MI N OF JCT W/KY 1198, Bourbon, KY

Built 1951 Load: 15.1 t ADT: 19

ESCONDIDA ROAD

Fair

Over: GREEN CREEK

.3 MI W OF JCT KY 627, Bourbon, KY

Built 1970 Load: 15.1 t ADT: 171

BEULAH-MILBURN ROA

Fair

Over: BRANCH LITTLE CREEK

1.7 MI S OF JCT KY 80, Carlisle, KY

Built 1986 Load: 15.1 t ADT: 80

US-45

Fair

Over: OPOSSUM CREEK

.80 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 174, Graves, KY

Built 1956 Load: 15.1 t ADT: 5,212

MT. ZION CHURCH RD

Fair

Over: SOUTH FK-ROCKCASTLE RIVE

.4 MI-N .JCT MONEY RD, Laurel, KY

Built 1994 Load: 15.1 t ADT: 315

GRAY FARM ROAD

Fair

Over: PILFER CREEK

.8 MI E OF JCT KY 730, Lyon, KY

Built 1976 Load: 15.1 t ADT: 74

KY-3118

Fair

Over: HINKSTON CREEK

1 MI EAST KY 1893, Bourbon, KY

Built 2001 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 103

Pine Tree Rd

Fair

Over: Coldwater Fork

3.1 MI S of JCT KY 645, Martin, KY

Built 1970 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 241

KY-34

Fair

Over: HERRINGTON LAKE

WEST / GARRARD CO LINE, Boyle, KY

Built 1990 Load: 15.3 t ADT: 12,188

KY-1212

Fair

Over: FORK OF MUD CREEK

.10 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 112, Fulton, KY

Built 1938 Load: 15.3 t ADT: 45

Perkins Branch

Fair

Over: Rockhouse Creek

.1 MI SE OF JCT KY 7, Letcher, KY

Built 2018 Load: 15.3 t ADT: 64

Gurney Lane

Fair

Over: Troublesome Creek

75 FT E OF KY 476, Perry, KY

Built 2000 Load: 15.3 t ADT: 50

BETHLEHEM CHURCH R

Fair

Over: SHELTON CREEK

1.0 MI E OF JCT KY 121, Ballard, KY

Built 1986 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 228

Showing 251-300 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.