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

LOCUST FORK RD

Fair

Over: LOCUST FORK

100 FT. S. OF JCT KY 32, Scott, KY

Built 1996 Load: 36.4 t ADT: 160

KY-900

Fair

Over: CROCUS CREEK

3.6 MI SOU OF JCT KY 55, Adair, KY

Built 1959 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 295

KY-1332

Fair

Over: TRAMMEL CREEK

2.1 MI. W.-JCT. US 231, Allen, KY

Built 1981 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 846

CR-1078

Fair

Over: WOLFE PEN BRANCH

20 W KY 2011, Bell, KY

Built 1989 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 30

KY 1442

Fair

Over: CEDAR CREEK

1.4 MI E OF KY 480, Bullitt, KY

Built 1988 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 909

STAVE MILL RD

Fair

Over: CEDAR CREEK

170 FT S OF KY 1116, Bullitt, KY

Built 1982 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 392

KY-949

Fair

Over: MUD RIVER

2.8 MI. SOUTH JCT KY 106, Butler, KY

Built 1998 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 130

HALSTEAD RD.

Fair

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

107 WEST OF KY 1371, Carlisle, KY

Built 2005 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 40

ROUSE BRANCH RD

Fair

Over: TRACE FORK

0.17 MI. EAST -JCT KY 501, Casey, KY

Built 1989 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 60

KY-214

Fair

Over: KETTLE CREEK

.95 MI N.E. OF MONROE CL, Cumberland, KY

Built 1959 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 59

N 75 RAMP

Fair

Over: I 64

EB64 RMP TO NB75 OVR I64, Fayette, KY

Built 1963 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 90,324

US-23 NC

Fair

Over: Levisa Fork

500 N of JCT US 23 &1428, Floyd, KY

Built 1973 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 8,482

US-23

Fair

Over: Levisa Fork

500 N of JCT US 23 &1428, Floyd, KY

Built 1973 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 8,482

KY-2002

Fair

Over: MID.FK.ROCKCASTLE RVR

.05 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 89, Jackson, KY

Built 1957 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 88

KY-15

Fair

Over: Carr Fork Lake

0.1 MI W of JCT KY 1231, Knott, KY

Built 1972 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 4,493

US-127

Fair

Over: BAUGHMAN BRANCH

350 N. OF JCT KY 78, Lincoln, KY

Built 1993 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 6,219

KY-1183

Fair

Over: HARDINS CREEK

ON WASHINGTON - MARION CL, Marion, KY

Built 1958 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 673

KY-70

Fair

Over: POND RIVER OVERFLOW

0.2 MI S HOPKINS CO LINE, Muhlenberg, KY

Built 1948 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 1,680

US-231

Fair

Over: BARNETT CREEK

.1 MI N OF JCT KY 1414, Ohio, KY

Built 1948 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 3,199

KY 1392

Fair

Over: SIMPSON CREEK

2.6 MI S OF KY 55, Spencer, KY

Built 1961 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 295

I-65

Fair

Over: BARREN RIVER

26.44 MI N OF TENN. LINE, Warren, KY

Built 2002 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 68,824

KY-1724

Fair

Over: CARTWRIGHT CREEK

.40 MI WEST OF JCT US 150, Washington, KY

Built 1958 Load: 36.5 t ADT: 118

US-60

Fair

Over: FLAT CREEK

1.2 MI E OF MONTGOMERY CL, Bath, KY

Built 1980 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 1,115

US-25E-10

Fair

Over: SKYLAND DRIVE

.8 MI N TENN.STATE LNE, Bell, KY

Built 1996 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 9,498

US-25E

Fair

Over: SKYLAND DRIVE

.8 MI N TENN.STATE LNE, Bell, KY

Built 1996 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 9,498

KY-542

Fair

Over: SPRING FK-QUICKSAND CRK

4.7 MI NW OF JCT KY 2465, Breathitt, KY

Built 1975 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 17

Penn Branch Road

Fair

Over: Little South Fork Creek

.1 MI S.-KY 243, Casey, KY

Built 1992 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 10

KY-164

Fair

Over: BR-SINKING FK CREEK

1.6 MI SW JCT KY 272, Christian, KY

Built 2001 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 1,060

KY-279

Fair

Over: RHODES CREEK

1.3 MI SOU. OF JCT US 60, Daviess, KY

Built 1971 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 572

NEW HARTFORD RD NC

Fair

Over: HORSE FORK CREEK

0.6 MI. N. JCT US 60B, Daviess, KY

Built 1979 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 6,708

KY-2155

Fair

Over: HORSE FORK CREEK

0.6 MI. N. JCT US 60B, Daviess, KY

Built 1979 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 6,708

BEECH GROVE RD

Fair

Over: MASON BRANCH

.8 MI S -KY 32, Elliott, KY

Built 1992 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 63

SECOND ST

Fair

Over: HARRIS FORK CREEK

150' EAST OF CARR STR, Fulton, KY

Built 1991 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 132

US-45

Fair

Over: OBION CREEK

.50 MI SOU. OF JCT KY 174, Graves, KY

Built 1956 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 3,115

WOODSON ROAD

Fair

Over: BR OF OBION CREEK

100 FT W. KY 129, Graves, KY

Built 1990 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 62

KY-54

Fair

Over: SHORT CREEK

3 MI W OF JCT KY 79, Grayson, KY

Built 1947 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 657

Western KY Parkway

Fair

Over: OVERFLOW STRUCTURE

.10 MI EAST OF KY 1375 UP, Hardin, KY

Built 1962 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 12,575

US-62

Fair

Over: I-65

2 MI E OF JCT US 31W, Hardin, KY

Built 1984 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 4,459

US-119

Fair

Over: POOR FK CUMBERLAND RVR

.10 MI W OF JCT KY 1254, Harlan, KY

Built 1978 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 2,413

KY-6110

Fair

Over: AUDUBON PKWY

.3 MI N OF JCT KY 1078, Henderson, KY

Built 1970 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 100

S POPE LICK RD

Fair

Over: I-265

0.6 MI W OF REHL RD, Jefferson, KY

Built 1969 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 1,893

STAPLETON BRANCH R

Fair

Over: MUDLICK CREEK

.1 MI W. - KY 172, Johnson, KY

Built 1991 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 60

STEEP CREEK RD

Fair

Over: STEEP CREEK

1.7 MI SE JCT KY 2044, Kenton, KY

Built 1994 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 606

KY-550

Fair

Over: LEFT FK TROUBLESOME CRK

.60 MI W OF JCT KY 1098, Knott, KY

Built 1932 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 2,363

ROAD FORK BRANCH

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK ROAD

.1mi w of jct ky 223, Knox, KY

Built 2014 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 119

US 25E NC

Fair

Over: CSX RAILROAD

SBL .35MI E OF I-75 NTRCH, Laurel, KY

Built 1968 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 12,195

US-25E

Fair

Over: CSX RAILROAD

NBL .35MI E OF I-75 NTRCH, Laurel, KY

Built 1968 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 12,195

KY-11

Fair

Over: S. FORK OF KENTUCKY RIVE

.10 MI S.W. OF JCT KY 52, Lee, KY

Built 1956 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 5,683

KY-3403

Fair

Over: LEWIS CREEK

0.65 MI S JCT US 119, Letcher, KY

Built 1991 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 114

PREWITT-GRASSY RD

Fair

Over: GRASSY CREEK

.3 MI S. JCT KY 713, Montgomery, KY

Built 1994 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 331

Showing 4,251-4,300 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.