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

BIG BEECH BRANCH R

Fair

Over: MIDDLE FORK CREEK

.1 MI N. KY 223, Knox, KY

Built 1989 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 27

HAMMONS LN

Fair

Over: LITTLE RICHLAND CREEK

.1 MI W - KY 11, Knox, KY

Built 1992 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 259

KY-32

Fair

Over: YATESVILLE RESEVOIR

5.3 MI W JCT OLD US 23, Lawrence, KY

Built 1989 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 886

UNNAMED RD

Fair

Over: ELKHORN CREEK

@ JCT KY805-NE JENKINS, Letcher, KY

Built 1993 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 175

US-431

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK OF RED RIVER

.40 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 591, Logan, KY

Built 1933 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 3,029

KY-92

Fair

Over: CNO & TP RR

200 FT E JCT KY 1651, McCreary, KY

Built 1989 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 4,150

KY-136

Fair

Over: PORTERS DITCH

0.5 MI E JCT KY 140, McLean, KY

Built 2002 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 981

KY-81

Fair

Over: Slough

.60 MI S OF JCT KY 85, McLean, KY

Built 2020 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 1,621

KY 3221

Fair

Over: HARDINS CREEK

100WEST JCT KY 49, Marion, KY

Built 1974 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 5,302

COLE LANE

Fair

Over: SMITH CREEK

.3 MI N. OF KY 58, Marshall, KY

Built 2001 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 50

KY-100

Fair

Over: TOWN CREEK

.30 MI E. OF JCT KY 163, Monroe, KY

Built 1929 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 5,110

KY-87

Fair

Over: INDIAN CREEK

.90 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 678, Monroe, KY

Built 1935 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 618

MURPHY LN

Fair

Over: JESSIE RUN

.2 MI NW JCT KY 458, Nelson, KY

Built 1991 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 280

WESTERN KENTUCKY P

Fair

Over: NATCHER PARKWAY

@ JCT W.H. NATCHER PKWAY, Ohio, KY

Built 1972 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 3,786

WK-9001

Fair

Over: NATCHER PARKWAY

@ JCT W.H. NATCHER PKWAY, Ohio, KY

Built 1972 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 3,786

KY-69

Fair

Over: BENS LICK

1.0 MI WEST OF JCT KY 273, Ohio, KY

Built 1975 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 2,228

CR 1113 Old House

Fair

Over: CHRISTY CREEK

123SE of Jct KY 32, Rowan, KY

Built 2006 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 391

OLD SUMMERSVILLE R

Fair

Over: LITTLE PITMAN CREEK

.30 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 883, Taylor, KY

Built 1962 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 272

KY-92

Fair

Over: CABIN FORK OF RUSSELL CR

.60 MI EAST OF JCT KY 768, Adair, KY

Built 1959 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 465

KY 2982

Fair

Over: CUMBERLAND PARKWAY

.1 MI S OF JCT KY 80, Adair, KY

Built 1972 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 161

SHOOTING HILL ROAD

Fair

Over: LITTLE TRAMMEL FORK

.01 MI E. JCT KY 3521, Allen, KY

Built 1997 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 318

US-62

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

.1 MI W OF E-JCT KY 53, Anderson, KY

Built 1930 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 1,172

ENTERPRISE ROAD

Fair

Over: HAMMONDS CREEK

50 WEST OF HAMMOND CK RD, Anderson, KY

Built 1991 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 30

KY-1837

Fair

Over: BUCKLER CREEK

1.8 MI WEST OF JCT US 62, Ballard, KY

Built 1960 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 213

KY-1837

Fair

Over: BILLINGTON CREEK

4.3 MI WEST OF JCT US 62, Ballard, KY

Built 1960 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 213

KY-1297

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

.10 MI SOU. OF CMBRL PW U, Barren, KY

Built 1956 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 1,336

AIRPORT ACCESS RD

Fair

Over: I 275

SBL OVER I-275 INTERCHANG, Boone, KY

Built 1972 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 6,254

STRAIGHT CRK

Fair

Over: STRAIGHT CREEK

1.2 MI W JCT KY 5, Boyd, KY

Built 1993 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 237

KY-1805

Fair

Over: CLARKS RUN CREEK

.40 MI NORTH JCT KY 52, Boyle, KY

Built 1960 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 1,233

KY-15

Fair

Over: QUICKSAND CREEK

.1 MI S OF SE-JCT KY 30, Breathitt, KY

Built 1964 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 8,419

KY-15

Fair

Over: LOST CREEK

1.0 MI S OF JCT KY 476, Breathitt, KY

Built 1966 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 4,371

MARKET ST (Hwy 91)

Fair

Over: I-69

.2 MI NE OF JCT US 62, Caldwell, KY

Built 1962 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 10,804

KY-1828

Fair

Over: PLEASANT GROVE CREEK

1.7 MI WEST OF JCT US 641, Calloway, KY

Built 1960 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 510

KY-299

Fair

Over: WEST FORK CLARKS RIVER

0.8 M. S. OF KY. 121, Calloway, KY

Built 1968 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 500

KY-1492

Fair

Over: LOCUST CREEK

1.1 MI S.W. OF JCT KY 36, Carroll, KY

Built 1970 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 227

DRY RDG

Fair

Over: DRY FORK

.1 MI S KY 1496, Carter, KY

Built 1991 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 151

LOWER BRUSH CREEK

Fair

Over: CANEY FORK CREEK

1.2 MI N-KY 70, Casey, KY

Built 1990 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 115

KY-107

Fair

Over: LITTLE RIVER

1.2 MI NOR. OF JCT KY 168, Christian, KY

Built 1933 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 1,947

NUNN SWITCH RD

Fair

Over: PIGEON ROOST CREEK

4 MI SE OF JCT. US 60, Crittenden, KY

Built 1973 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 66

POPLAR GROVE RD

Fair

Over: KETTLE CREEK

1.3 MI NE KY 214, Cumberland, KY

Built 1990 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 30

WILLIAM H NATCHER

Fair

Over: S FORK PANTHER CK

SB .75 MI S OF KY 142 OP, Daviess, KY

Built 1972 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 5,493

I 165

Fair

Over: S FORK PANTHER CK

NB .75 MI S OF KY 142 OP, Daviess, KY

Built 1972 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 5,493

WILLIAM H NATCHER

Fair

Over: S FORK PANTHER CK

SB .5 MI S OF KY 142 OP, Daviess, KY

Built 1972 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 5,493

I 165

Fair

Over: S FORK PANTHER CK

NB .5 MI S OF KY 142 OP, Daviess, KY

Built 1972 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 5,493

CS-1108

Fair

Over: T0WN BRANCH

.04 MI. SW OF JCT. KY 32X, Fleming, KY

Built 2001 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 373

US-127

Fair

Over: BIG SUGAR CREEK

1.0 MI N.E. OF I-71 NTRCH, Gallatin, KY

Built 1938 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 1,818

TATER ROAD

Fair

Over: JACKSON PURCHASE PARKWAY

.1 MI W OF JCT US 45, Graves, KY

Built 1967 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 9,054

US-31W

Fair

Over: VALLEY CREEK

.10 MI EAST OF COURTHOUSE, Hardin, KY

Built 1936 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 13,890

US-41

Fair

Over: KING CREEK

.2 MI N OF JCT KY 2097, Henderson, KY

Built 1947 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 2,850

KY-812

Fair

Over: ELAM DITCH

3.5 MI SE OF AUDBN PW OP, Henderson, KY

Built 1966 Load: 35.7 t ADT: 944

Showing 4,001-4,050 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.