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-189

Fair

Over: BUCK FORK

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

Built 1959 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 474

KY-2181

Fair

Over: CANEY CREEK

.2 MI N OF JCT CR 5004, Hancock, KY

Built 1965 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 396

HUFF SETTLEMENT RD

Fair

Over: CLOVER FK CUMBERLAND RVR

W @ JCT KY 38, Harlan, KY

Built 1975 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 150

CR-1248

Fair

Over: WALLINS CREEK

300' W OF KY 219, Harlan, KY

Built 1986 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 50

KY-551

Fair

Over: BUTLERS BRANCH

.50 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 901, Adair, KY

Built 1955 Load: 15.5 t ADT: 2,008

SEAY GRAVE YARD RD

Fair

Over: BRANCH-CALDWELL CREEK

.2 MI SW OF JCT KY 381, Graves, KY

Built 1984 Load: 15.5 t ADT: 83

HICKORY ROAD

Fair

Over: GILBERT CREEK

.8 MI E. OF KY 945, Graves, KY

Built 1984 Load: 15.5 t ADT: 151

Barnetts Creek Rd

Fair

Over: Barnetts Creek

@ JCT KY 40, Johnson, KY

Built 1970 Load: 15.5 t ADT: 231

BOYD ROAD

Fair

Over: BARN CREEK

2.0 MI NE OF US 45, Graves, KY

Built 1988 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 30

Salisbury Br

Fair

Over: RT.FRK. BEAVER CREEK

SALISBURY BRANCH, Knott, KY

Built 2010 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 233

EDINGTON BRANCH

Fair

Over: LAUREL CREEK

260ft E. OF JCT CR 1122, Lewis, KY

Built 2001 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 18

FRIENDSHIP RD.

Fair

Over: OVER BELLS CREEK

1.2 MI S. OF JCT KY 6018, Lyon, KY

Built 1980 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 165

KY-1836

Fair

Over: DUNCAN CREEK

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

Built 1972 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 132

LBL ROAD 174

Fair

Over: PRYOR CREEK

LBL, Trigg, KY

Built 1959 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 20

Cager Branch

Fair

Over: Troublesome Creek

.11 E of 476 @ MP 18.8, Perry, KY

Built 2003 Load: 15.6 t ADT: 14

ROBEY ROAD

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF HUMPHREY CREEK

0.4 MI.EAST OF JCT KY 473, Ballard, KY

Built 1987 Load: 15.7 t ADT: 77

KY-338

Fair

Over: GUNPOWDER CREEK

2.7 MI W OF JCT KY 1925, Boone, KY

Built 1953 Load: 15.7 t ADT: 763

Camp Nathanael Rd

Fair

Over: Troublesome Crk

@JCT KY 550 Near Emmalena, Knott, KY

Built 1935 Load: 15.7 t ADT: 55

KY-233

Fair

Over: HAZEL FORK CREEK

1.6 MI NOR. OF JCT US 25E, Knox, KY

Built 1951 Load: 15.7 t ADT: 347

KY-358

Fair

Over: NASTY CREEK

.50 MI WEST OF JCT KY 725, McCracken, KY

Built 1968 Load: 15.7 t ADT: 608

HIFNER RD

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK

1.2 MI E JCT KY 1964, Woodford, KY

Built 1999 Load: 15.7 t ADT: 231

CR 1136

Fair

Over: FOX CREEK

187 ft N. of JCT. KY 3304, Fleming, KY

Built 1999 Load: 15.8 t ADT: 106

CLYDE BANKS RD

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

.25 MI S JCT KY 1274, Menifee, KY

Built 1994 Load: 15.8 t ADT: 52

BEE HIVE RD

Fair

Over: LEATHERWOOD CREEK

0.7 MI S .KY 699, Perry, KY

Built 1988 Load: 15.8 t ADT: 121

SHELBY ROAD

Fair

Over: BR OF HUMPHREY CR

.1 MI S OF TERRILL-SHELBY, Ballard, KY

Built 1988 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 48

KY-3062

Fair

Over: INDIAN CREEK

1.45 MI NE OF JCT KY 734, Clinton, KY

Built 1972 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 100

MILLERS CHAPLE RD.

Fair

Over: RILEY BRANCH

1.9 MI S. OF JCT KY 58, Graves, KY

Built 1983 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 345

KY-3451

Fair

Over: CUMBERLAND RIVER

.1 MI S OF JCT US 119, Harlan, KY

Built 1973 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 194

RUTLAND

Fair

Over: S FK RAVEN CREEK

1 MI SW OF JCT KY 36, Harrison, KY

Built 1970 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 78

RESIN ROAD

Fair

Over: BOWLES CREEK

2.0 MI NE OF JCT KY 58, Hickman, KY

Built 1988 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 42

OLD TRACE CREEK

Fair

Over: TRACE CREEK

2.6 MI W. OF JCT.KY 59, Lewis, KY

Built 2002 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 96

ROBERT SPALDING RD

Fair

Over: CLOYD CREEK

.5 MI W JCT KY 208, Marion, KY

Built 1999 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 42

KY-1110

Fair

Over: N. FORK OF KENTUCKY RIVE

.10 MI WEST OF JCT KY 15, Breathitt, KY

Built 1959 Load: 16.0 t ADT: 1,160

Carroll Rd.

Fair

Over: TROUBLESOME CREEK

.1 MI-W JCT KY 476, Perry, KY

Built 1992 Load: 16.0 t ADT: 92

CR-1246

Fair

Over: COLLINS FORK

.05 MI NW OF JCT KY 11, Clay, KY

Built 1945 Load: 16.1 t ADT: 10

UPPER BOTTOM RD

Fair

Over: BAYOU DE CHIEN CREEK

1 MI. N OF KY 94, Fulton, KY

Built 1959 Load: 16.1 t ADT: 207

US-62

Fair

Over: CLIFTY BRANCH

3.0 MI WEST OF JCT KY 736, Grayson, KY

Built 1929 Load: 16.1 t ADT: 550

Ebenezer Rd.

Fair

Over: Unnamed Stream

0.63 Mi W of Ky 100, Monroe, KY

Built 2019 Load: 16.1 t ADT: 150

FUQUA LN

Fair

Over: HARRIS CREEK

.2 MI S OF JCT CR 5008, Pendleton, KY

Built 1935 Load: 16.1 t ADT: 14

Gingerbread Lane

Fair

Over: Montgomery Creek

30 W of KY 1095 MP 1.9, Perry, KY

Built 1989 Load: 16.1 t ADT: 30

Thacker Rd

Fair

Over: Big Creek

0.01 MI SW of JCT KY 468, Pike, KY

Built 2011 Load: 16.1 t ADT: 40

KY-1175

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF LITTLE RIVER

.60 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 272, Trigg, KY

Built 1953 Load: 16.1 t ADT: 600

KY-1177

Fair

Over: SMITHS DITCH

.90 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 270, Union, KY

Built 1940 Load: 16.1 t ADT: 137

KY 746

Fair

Over: Stillwater Creek

4.0 MI N.E. OF JCT KY 191, Wolfe, KY

Built 1950 Load: 16.1 t ADT: 279

HIGHLAND AVE

Fair

Over: HILAND AVE OVR I-471 @MP

.2 MI E -JCT US 27, Campbell, KY

Built 1977 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 7,103

KY-687

Fair

Over: BIG DOG BRANCH

9.9 MI WEST OF JCT US 421, Clay, KY

Built 1955 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 210

US 23

Fair

Over: OHIO RIVER

N Terminus of US 23, Greenup, KY

Built 2006 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 8,891

KY 1500

Fair

Over: BRUSHY FORK

1.5 MI W OF JCT KY 447, Hardin, KY

Built 1954 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 2,601

SOUTHBROOK DRIVE

Fair

Over: TOWN FORK

.5 MI E JCT US 27X, Jessamine, KY

Built 1994 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 305

DUNNVILLE RD

Fair

Over: GUNDY HOLLOW CREEK

1.75 MI E OF JCT KY 2289, Adair, KY

Built 1936 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 150

Showing 301-350 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.