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

ECG RD

Fair

Over: BLUE SPRING CREEK

.6 MI S KY 70, Metcalfe, KY

Built 1990 Load: 33.9 t ADT: 86

KY-1414

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF STOVERS CR

3.5 MI S OF JCT KY 1738, Ohio, KY

Built 1988 Load: 33.9 t ADT: 425

JESSE SMITH BRIDGE

Fair

Over: HALLS CREEK

.2 MI SW OF JCT CR 5067, Ohio, KY

Built 1965 Load: 33.9 t ADT: 32

KY-185

Fair

Over: BARREN RIVER

2.23 MI N OF JCT US 68-80, Warren, KY

Built 1960 Load: 33.9 t ADT: 7,142

KY-61

Fair

Over: Branch of Brush Creek

0.6 Miles N of JCT KY-768, Adair, KY

Built 2012 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 2,921

US-25E-10

Fair

Over: CSX RAILROAD

SB .7 MI N OF JCT KY 188, Bell, KY

Built 1973 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 7,250

US-25E

Fair

Over: CSX RAILROAD

NB .7 MI N OF JCT KY 188, Bell, KY

Built 1973 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 7,250

BINGHAM HOLW RD.

Fair

Over: GREASY CREEK

90' N. OF KY 92, Bell, KY

Built 1990 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 50

KY-70

Fair

Over: WELCH CREEK

1 MI E OF JCT KY 340, Butler, KY

Built 1947 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 1,262

KY-106

Fair

Over: MEFFORDS BRANCH

.50 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 70, Butler, KY

Built 1953 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 399

I-165

Fair

Over: KY 70

SBL 1 MI N-S/NTRCH US 231, Butler, KY

Built 1972 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 4,762

I-165

Fair

Over: KY 70

NBL 1 MI NORH OF US 231, Butler, KY

Built 1972 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 4,762

Mooney Ln(CR-1267)

Fair

Over: McCullough Fork

160 N. OF KY 893, Calloway, KY

Built 1970 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 10

JENNINGS (1202)

Fair

Over: BRANCH-CANEY CREEK

300 N. JCT CR-1235, Carlisle, KY

Built 1999 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 30

I-71

Fair

Over: KY 1112 & WHITES RUN CRK

NBL 2.4 MI E OF KY227 NTR, Carroll, KY

Built 1967 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 15,358

LEE GRAHAM RD

Fair

Over: FREY CREEK

320 FT S. OF JCT KY 906, Casey, KY

Built 2005 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 20

NOLAND CREEK RD

Fair

Over: NOLAND CREEK

1.5 MI W OF JCT KY 89, Estill, KY

Built 1977 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 50

Sweet Lick road

Fair

Over: Sweet lick branch

0.6 Mile west of ky 2455, Estill, KY

Built 2017 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 247

McCalls Mill Rd

Fair

Over: Boggs Fork

0.6 M S of JCT KY418, Fayette, KY

Built 2021 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 70

LEATHERWOOD RD

Fair

Over: LEATHERWOOD BRANCH

5 MI W - KY 7, Greenup, KY

Built 1992 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 111

KY-2247

Fair

Over: AUDUBON PKWY

.75 MI N OF JCT KY 812, Henderson, KY

Built 1970 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 119

KY 1065

Fair

Over: I-65

1.15 MI W OF KY 61, Jefferson, KY

Built 1981 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 30,583

US-641

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF SKINFRAME CREE

1.9 MI NOR. OF JCT US 62, Lyon, KY

Built 1932 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 2,957

KY-3

Fair

Over: Coldwater Fork

.09 MI S of JCT KY 40, Martin, KY

Built 1965 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 1,264

KY-706

Fair

Over: FANNINS FORK CREEK

.2 MI N OF JCT KY 172, Morgan, KY

Built 1960 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 301

BG-9002

Fair

Over: BEECH FORK RIVER

EBL 2.8 MI W OF US31E NTR, Nelson, KY

Built 1964 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 7,583

KY-1657

Fair

Over: SO.FK. GRASSY CREEK

4.0 MI WEST OF JCT US 27, Pendleton, KY

Built 1965 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 457

ROUTE 3-23

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE TO VINY FORK

EAST OF ROUTE 6, Madison, KY

Built 1943 Load: 34.0 t ADT: 30

KY-44

Fair

Over: WOLF CREEK

.10 MI WEST OF JCT KY 53-, Anderson, KY

Built 1933 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 666

KY-1105

Fair

Over: HUMPHREY CREEK

1.7 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 310, Ballard, KY

Built 1958 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 343

D B SMITH RD

Fair

Over: SHOAL CREEK

.001 MI E. JCT KY 63, Barren, KY

Built 1994 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 52

SILAS ROAD

Fair

Over: SILAS CREEK

.9 MI W JCT KY 353, Bourbon, KY

Built 1995 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 359

CRAINTOWN ROAD

Fair

Over: BEGLEY CREEK

.4MI S JCT OLD US 150, Boyle, KY

Built 1997 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 195

KY-70

Fair

Over: STEPHENSON CREEK

1.0 MI WEST OF JCT KY 139, Caldwell, KY

Built 1947 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 479

KY-70

Fair

Over: DONALDSON CREEK

.70 MI WEST OF JCT KY 139, Caldwell, KY

Built 1947 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 479

KY-307

Fair

Over: OVERFLOW STRUCTURE

1.1 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 80, Carlisle, KY

Built 1948 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 1,009

KY-1371

Fair

Over: WEST FORK OF MAYFIELD CR

.10 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 193, Carlisle, KY

Built 1962 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 264

MATHERLY RD 1176

Fair

Over: JONATHAN CR

.1 MI S OF JONATHAN FORK, Casey, KY

Built 1987 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 183

US-68

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK LITTLE RIVER

.33 MI WEST OF JCT KY 102, Christian, KY

Built 2002 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 3,029

KY-723

Fair

Over: COEFIELD CREEK

2.6 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 297, Crittenden, KY

Built 1960 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 288

KY-140

Fair

Over: BRANCH-RHODES CREEK

1.8 MI.W JCT US 431, Daviess, KY

Built 1994 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 351

KY-301

Fair

Over: TRACE CREEK

.40 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 483, Graves, KY

Built 1963 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 338

WATKINS ROAD

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF W. FORK CREEK

0.1 MILE N. OF KY. 849, Graves, KY

Built 2001 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 131

KY-307

Fair

Over: CYPRESS CREEK

1.4 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 703, Hickman, KY

Built 1948 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 1,009

KY-307

Fair

Over: OBION CREEK

1.8 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 703, Hickman, KY

Built 1948 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 1,009

KY-307

Fair

Over: OBION CREEK OVERFLOW

2.1 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 703, Hickman, KY

Built 1948 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 1,009

KY-1772

Fair

Over: BOWLES CREEK

1.1 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 58, Hickman, KY

Built 1959 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 159

KY-123

Fair

Over: CANE CREEK

2.2 MI EAST OF JCT US 51, Hickman, KY

Built 1961 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 371

KY-813

Fair

Over: DRAKES CREEK OVERFLOW

2.9 MI N.W. OF JCT US 62, Hopkins, KY

Built 1950 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 219

KY-813

Fair

Over: DRAKES CREEK

2.6 MI N.W. OF JCT US 62, Hopkins, KY

Built 1950 Load: 34.1 t ADT: 219

Showing 3,501-3,550 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.