State profile · Above median Poor share

Louisiana 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 Louisiana.

12,698
Public bridges
38.7%
Good condition
11.5%
Poor condition

Louisiana holds 12,698 public highway bridges (#24 of 52 by inventory) with a 11.48% Poor share (#8 of 52 by Poor share).

That is 11.5% 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 45 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

12,698

Public highway bridges in Louisiana

Good Condition

38.7%

4,919 bridges rated 7-9

-11.3pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

11.5%

1,458 bridges whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

4.0pp vs national avg 7.5%

Louisiana vs national bridge condition

Louisiana - Good condition share 38.7%
National avg

Share of bridges rated 7-9 on the FHWA 0-9 scale (deck, superstructure, substructure all good).

Louisiana - Poor-condition share 38.3%
National avg

Lower is better. Bar maxes at 30% (worst-state ceiling). National average sits at 7.5%.

Louisiana 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: Louisiana has 12,698 bridges and a 11.5% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #45 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 (%) LA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 12.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 11.48%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%KY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.37%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: Louisiana has 12,698 bridges and a 11.5% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #45 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.

Louisiana 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

12,698 24th of 54 higher than 30 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 Louisiana

The highlighted point is Louisiana: 12,698 bridges and 11.48% in Poor condition, rank #45 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The five jurisdictions immediately above and below Louisiana on that same Poor-share ordering:

  • North Dakota: 4,255 bridges · 10.98% Poor
  • Michigan: 11,371 bridges · 11.27% Poor
  • Louisiana: 12,698 bridges · 11.48% Poor
  • Pennsylvania: 23,299 bridges · 12.58% Poor
  • Guam: 47 bridges · 12.77% Poor

The full national sortable table lives on the rankings page.

Material families in Louisiana

Exclusive FHWA material families across all 12,698 bridges in this state; continuous variants fold into the parent family. Orthogonal to the Poor-share scatter above.

Who maintains Louisiana’s inventory

State agency holds 61.0% of the 12,698 public highway bridges filed under Louisiana in the 2024 NBI, the agency-of-record split for this state, not a condition verdict.

When Louisiana’s bridges were built

Pre-1950 construction accounts for 4.2% of the 12,698 bridges with a recorded original year in Louisiana. Era bands are orthogonal to the Poor-share ranking above.

Condition Distribution

Louisiana38.7%49.8%11.5%GoodFairPoor
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix - Louisiana (FHWA NBI)

Louisiana 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 Louisiana on the same metric.

ND

North Dakota

10.98% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$4,255

MI

Michigan

11.27% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$11,371
Selected

LA

Louisiana

11.48% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$12,698

PA

Pennsylvania

12.58% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$23,299

GU

Guam

12.77% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$47

Bridges Needing Most Attention in Louisiana

Six lowest-condition bridges in Louisiana, ranked by the portal's composite display score. Inspection intervals are risk-based under current NBIS rules.

All Bridges in Louisiana

LA0045

Good

Over: 16 TH STREET CANAL

0.8 MI SOUTH OF US 90B, Jefferson, LA

Built 1973 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 28,780

US0090-B

Good

Over: WESTBANK EXPY. EB FR RD

.2 MI WEST OF LA 23, Jefferson, LA

Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,402

US0090-B

Good

Over: KEYHOLE CANAL

2.7 MI EAST OF LA 45, Jefferson, LA

Built 1992 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 67,143

US0090-B

Good

Over: DRAIN

.6 MI EAST OF LA 18, Jefferson, LA

Built 1960 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 67,143

US0090-B

Good

Over: DRAIN

1.4 MI EAST OF LA 18, Jefferson, LA

Built 1957 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 67,143

LA0049

Good

Over: DRAIN

0.009 MI N OF VINTAGE DR, Jefferson, LA

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 36,951

LA0049

Good

Over: DRAIN

1.0 MI NORTH OFI-10, Jefferson, LA

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20,352

LA0049

Good

Over: DRAIN

1.35 MI SOUTH OF I-10, Jefferson, LA

Built 1955 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20,352

LA3134

Good

Over: CANAL

1.2 MI N OF LA 45, Jefferson, LA

Built 1999 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,837

LA3139

Good

Over: ST. PETERS DITCH

.8 MI EAST OF LA 3154, Jefferson, LA

Built 1986 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 55,872

I0010

Good

Over: CANAL NO. 17

.9 MI EAST OF I-310, Jefferson, LA

Built 1971 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 126,119

I0010

Good

Over: CANAL NO. 19

2.4 MI EAST OF I-310, Jefferson, LA

Built 1971 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 126,119

AMES BLVD

Good

Over: EIGHTY ARPENT CANAL

0.6 MI. SOUTH OF LAPALCO, Jefferson, LA

Built 1997 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 18,920

COUSINS BLVD

Good

Over: COUSINS CANAL

0.6 MI E OF LA 45, Jefferson, LA

Built 1996 Load: 32.4 t

LAPALCO BLVD

Good

Over: OAKWOOD CANAL

0.1 MI W. OF LA 23, Jefferson, LA

Built 1977 Load: 32.4 t

LAPALCO BLVD

Good

Over: GRAND CROSS CANAL

0.2 MI. E. OF VICTORY DR., Jefferson, LA

Built 1984 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,000

LAPALCO BLVD

Good

Over: KEYHOLE CANAL

0.5 MI. S. OF W.B. EXPWY., Jefferson, LA

Built 1984 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,000

Carol Sue Ave

Good

Over: CANAL WRIGHT AVE.

0.4M WEST OF HERITAG, Jefferson, LA

Built 1960 Load: 32.4 t

LAPALCO BLVD

Good

Over: LABRANCH CANAL

O.6 MI. E. OF US 90, Jefferson, LA

Built 1980 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,000

PALM ST

Good

Over: METAIRIE RELIEF CANAL

0.01M NORTH OF ORPHEUM, Jefferson, LA

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,000

W. Metairie Ave

Good

Over: CANAL NO 5

0.05 MI E OF CLEARY AVE, Jefferson, LA

Built 1981 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,000

CLEARY AVE

Good

Over: CANAL NUMBER 5

0.4MI.N.OF AIRLINE H, Jefferson, LA

Built 1960 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,675

W. Metairie Ave

Good

Over: CANAL NO 5

0.1 MI WEST OF CLEARY AVE, Jefferson, LA

Built 1981 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,000

CLEARVIEW PKWY

Good

Over: CANAL NO. 5

0.4 MI. N. OF AIRLINE HWY, Jefferson, LA

Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 55,210

TRANSCONTINENTAL

Good

Over: CANAL NUMBER 5

0.4MI.N.OF AIRLINE H, Jefferson, LA

Built 1960 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 18,575

HARING RD

Good

Over: CANAL NO 5

0.5MI.N.OF.US 61, Jefferson, LA

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,000

Elise Ave

Good

Over: CANAL NO. 5

0.0MI.WEST METAIRE A, Jefferson, LA

Built 1960 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,000

David Dr

Good

Over: CANAL NUMBER 5

0.3MI.N.OF AIRLINE H, Jefferson, LA

Built 1960 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20,625

TRUDEAU DR

Good

Over: CANAL NO.5

0.6MI.NORTH OF US 61, Jefferson, LA

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,000

LYNNETTE DR

Good

Over: CANAL NO.5

0.01MI.N.OF W.METAIR, Jefferson, LA

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,000

N. Bengal Rd

Good

Over: CANAL NO 5

0.7MI.NORTH OF US.61, Jefferson, LA

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,000

CLAY ST

Good

Over: CANAL NUMBER 5

0.0 MI. W.METAIRIE, Jefferson, LA

Built 1960 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,000

CAUSEWAY@NAPOLEON

Good

Over: WEST NAP.CANAL NUMBER 4

0.5 MI. NORTH OF US. 61, Jefferson, LA

Built 1980 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 30,300

Severn Ave

Good

Over: CANAL NO 4

1.5 MI W OF CAUSEWAY, Jefferson, LA

Built 1979 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20,000

Clearview PKWY

Good

Over: CANAL NO. 4

0.6 MI S. OF VETERANS HWY, Jefferson, LA

Built 1995 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 55,210

W. Napolean Ave

Good

Over: CANAL NO. 4

0.1 E OF TRANSCONTINENTAL, Jefferson, LA

Built 1995 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20,800

ROOSEVELT BLVD

Good

Over: CANAL NUMBER 4

0.6 MI. S.OF VETERAN, Jefferson, LA

Built 1960 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,000

VETERANS U-TURN

Good

Over: CANAL NO 3

.5 MI. N. OF I.10, Jefferson, LA

Built 1975 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,000

VETERANS X-OVER

Good

Over: CANAL #3

0.2 MI E OF CAUSEWAY BLVD, Jefferson, LA

Built 1975 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,000

VETERAN U-TURN

Good

Over: CANAL NO 3

0.0 MI. VETERANS BLV, Jefferson, LA

Built 1973 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 30,300

EDENBORN AVE

Good

Over: CANAL #3

0.01 MI N OF VETERANS B, Jefferson, LA

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,000

DIVISION STREET

Good

Over: CANAL #3

0.08 MI S OF MARION ST, Jefferson, LA

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,000

VETERANS X-OVER

Good

Over: CANAL #3

0.0 MI VETERANS BLVD., Jefferson, LA

Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20,000

VETERANS X-OVER

Good

Over: CANAL #3

0.0 MI.VETERANS BLVD., Jefferson, LA

Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20,000

CLEARY AVE/VETERAN

Good

Over: CANAL #3

0.0 MI. VETERANS BLV, Jefferson, LA

Built 1960 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 24,000

HOUMA BLVD/VETERAN

Good

Over: CANAL #3

0.0MI.FROM VETERANS, Jefferson, LA

Built 1971 Load: 32.4 t

VETERANS / MALL

Good

Over: CANAL #3

0.1 MI EAST OF CLEARVIEW, Jefferson, LA

Built 1983 Load: 32.4 t

GREEN ACRE/VETERAN

Good

Over: CANAL NO 3

0.4MI.NORTH OF I 10, Jefferson, LA

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t

VETERANS MEMORIAL

Good

Over: DUNCAN CANAL

0.2MI.W.OF WILLIAMS, Jefferson, LA

Built 1977 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,500

Chateau BLVD

Good

Over: CANAL NUMBER 11

0.3 MI N. OF W. ESPLANADE, Jefferson, LA

Built 1964 Load: 32.4 t

Showing 7,551-7,600 of 12,698 bridges

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.

What to do with this

Use Louisiana's inventory picture to drill to a county or a specific span.

  • Browse counties in Louisiana 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. Louisiana 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.