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

I-265 NB

Fair

Over: KY 1447 (WESTPORT RD)

1.5 MI S OF KY 22, Jefferson, KY

Built 1976 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 34,609

KY 841 WB

Fair

Over: I-65 & RAMPS

2.6 MI E OF KY 1020, Jefferson, KY

Built 1981 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 32,617

KY-580

Fair

Over: Little Paint Creek

0.20 MI S of JCT KY 1409, Johnson, KY

Built 1953 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 523

KY-11

Fair

Over: LITTLE POPLAR CREEK

1.1 MI SW OF JCT KY 1809, Knox, KY

Built 1932 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 484

COLES BRANCH RD

Fair

Over: COLES BRANCH

.1 MI W KY 223, Knox, KY

Built 1991 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 96

KY-233

Fair

Over: LITTLE ROBINSON CREEK

.05 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 830, Laurel, KY

Built 1973 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 347

ELAM LN

Fair

Over: LITTLE CANEY CREEK

50 E OF JCT US 460, Morgan, KY

Built 1975 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 102

ADAMS FORK RD

Fair

Over: SMITH CREEK

.5 MI E KY 69, Ohio, KY

Built 1991 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 58

KY-15

Fair

Over: CSX RAILROAD & KY 7

@JCT WITH KY 7, Perry, KY

Built 1969 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 6,773

US-60

Fair

Over: EAGLE CREEK

.10 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 492, Union, KY

Built 1970 Load: 33.2 t ADT: 5,469

KY-314

Fair

Over: STRADERS BRANCH

.10 MI E. OF JCT KY 70, Barren, KY

Built 1935 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 802

KY-114 NC

Fair

Over: CSX RR & Levisa Fork

0.1 MI SW of JCT KY1428, Floyd, KY

Built 1963 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 4,309

KY-114

Fair

Over: CSX RR & Levisa Fork

0.1 MI SW of JCT KY1428, Floyd, KY

Built 1963 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 4,309

MACKEY RD

Fair

Over: JACKSON BRANCH

0.3 MI EAST JCT US 31W, Hardin, KY

Built 1981 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 140

I-69

Fair

Over: KENTUCKY 70

SBL 1.9 MI S-KY 281 NTRCH, Hopkins, KY

Built 1961 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 12,374

EB-9004

Fair

Over: KENTUCKY 70

NBL 1.9 MI S-KY 281 NTRCH, Hopkins, KY

Built 1961 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 12,374

ALEX CREEK RD

Fair

Over: PIGEON FORK CREEK

.1 MI- E JCT KY 718, Knox, KY

Built 1995 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 30

KY-58

Fair

Over: SOLDIERS CREEK

1.2 MI N.E. OF JCT KY 80, Marshall, KY

Built 1932 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 1,343

Mullet Br

Fair

Over: Coldwater Fork

100 W of JCT KY 908, Martin, KY

Built 1970 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 140

BICKETT RD

Fair

Over: N.FORK PANTHER CREEK

.3 MI E JCT CR 5058, Ohio, KY

Built 1994 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 52

ADERHOLT ROAD

Fair

Over: MAYFIELD BRANCH

2.15 M S of JCT KY 790, Pulaski, KY

Built 2013 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 254

KY-32

Fair

Over: MCCONNELL RUN

5. MI.E US 25, Scott, KY

Built 1985 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 1,994

T L Bishop Road

Fair

Over: Fork of Highland Creek

0.3 mi. east of KY141, Union, KY

Built 1993 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 40

SIMMS LN

Fair

Over: MAYS CREEK

.01 MI S JCT KY 438, Washington, KY

Built 2005 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 61

KY-2666

Fair

Over: I 69

.65 MI E OF JCT US 41, Webster, KY

Built 1968 Load: 33.3 t ADT: 118

KNIGHT ROAD

Fair

Over: SHAWNEE CREEK

1 MI WEST- KY 802, Ballard, KY

Built 1993 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 54

KY-79

Fair

Over: NORTH FORK OF ROUGH RIVE

.8 MI W OF S-JCT KY 259, Breckinridge, KY

Built 1960 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 1,440

KY 603

Fair

Over: CSX RR & ALSOP LANE

SBL .35 MI S JCT US 60, Daviess, KY

Built 1970 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 2,021

KY-2029

Fair

Over: RACCOON BRANCH

150 SE of JCT KY 7, Floyd, KY

Built 1982 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 595

US-51

Fair

Over: JACKSON PURCHASE PARKWAY

OVER JACKSON PURCHASE PKW, Fulton, KY

Built 1968 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 2,695

KY-1995

Fair

Over: GRASSY RUN

.6 MI N OF JCT KY 1993, Grant, KY

Built 1974 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 163

WK-9001

Fair

Over: PENNYRILLE PARKWAY

EBL @ US 41 NTRCH, Hopkins, KY

Built 1963 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 5,255

KY 1934 NB

Fair

Over: US 31W (DIXIE HWY)

4.4 MI S OF KY 1931, Jefferson, KY

Built 1998 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 3,776

KY-899

Fair

Over: CANEY FORK

0.25 MI SW OF JCT KY 7, Knott, KY

Built 1950 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 427

US-25

Fair

Over: LITTLE LAUREL RIVER

.50 MI S OF S-JCT KY 1006, Laurel, KY

Built 1942 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 10,976

KY-1308

Fair

Over: RED RIVER

1.6 MI. N. JCT KY 591, Logan, KY

Built 1996 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 88

I 24 NC

Fair

Over: KY 1954 (HUSBAND RD)

WBL 4.5 MI SE-US 45 NTRCH, McCracken, KY

Built 1975 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 18,599

I-24

Fair

Over: KY 1954 (HUSBAND RD)

EBL 4.5 MI SE-US45 NTRCH, McCracken, KY

Built 1975 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 18,599

KY-2768

Fair

Over: E FK BARREN RIVER

1.51 MI EAST JCT KY 839, Monroe, KY

Built 1929 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 676

BRYANT FORK RD

Fair

Over: GREASY FORK

.05 MI E OF JCT US 460, Morgan, KY

Built 1970 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 186

US-68

Fair

Over: LICKING RIVER

1 MI NE OF NE-JCT KY 1244, Nicholas, KY

Built 1969 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 4,100

KY-368

Fair

Over: MORGADORE BRANCH

.40 MI EAST OF JCT US 127, Owen, KY

Built 1940 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 272

SOUTH MAIN STREET

Fair

Over: CSX RR & N.FK.KY. RIVER

.1MI SE-MAIN ST-KY 451, Perry, KY

Built 1969 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 7,467

Church House Holw

Fair

Over: Pond Creek

.1m E of JCT US119, Pike, KY

Built 2011 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 553

KY-200

Fair

Over: TUGGLE HOLLOW BRANCH

1.6 MI. S.-JCT. KY 1009, Wayne, KY

Built 1982 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 254

KY-670

Fair

Over: Abandoned RR

.8 MI E OF JCT KY 109, Webster, KY

Built 1979 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 1,842

BURKESVILLE LOOP

Fair

Over: Pettys Fork

.830 MI JCT KY 61, Adair, KY

Built 1927 Load: 33.5 t ADT: 48

TALLNER RD

Fair

Over: TRIB- OHIO RIVER

.1 MI- S JCT KY 8, Bracken, KY

Built 1997 Load: 33.5 t ADT: 59

PIONEER DR

Fair

Over: I-65

0.15 MI E OF KY 61, Bullitt, KY

Built 1986 Load: 33.5 t ADT: 322

Upper Brush Creek

Fair

Over: BRUSH CREEK

1.7 MI. N. OF JCT KY 1552, Casey, KY

Built 2008 Load: 33.5 t ADT: 230

Showing 3,301-3,350 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.