State profile · Near national median SD

North Carolina bridge safety

Condition ratings, load ratings, and structural-deficiency data for every public highway bridge in North Carolina — drawn straight from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory.

18,901
Public bridges
35.8%
Good condition
6.2%
Poor condition
6.2%
Structurally deficient

Total Bridges

18,901

Public highway bridges in North Carolina

Good Condition

35.8%

6,773 bridges rated 7-9

-14.2pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

6.2%

1,165 bridges rated 0-4

Structurally Deficient

6.2%

1,165 bridges flagged for repair priority

-0.8pp vs national avg 7.0%

North Carolina vs national bridge condition

North Carolina — Good condition share 35.8%
National avg

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

North Carolina — Structurally deficient share 20.5%
National avg

Lower is better. Bar maxes at 30% (worst-state ceiling). National average sits at 7.0%.

Condition Distribution

Bridge inventory deck-condition mix — North Carolina (FHWA NBI)

North Carolina35.83408285275912%41.415798105920324%GoodFairPoorStructurally Deficient
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix — North Carolina (FHWA NBI)

Counties (100)

Alamance 21 Alexander 26 Alleghany 117 Anson 162 Ashe 247 Avery 108 Beaufort 154 Bertie 95 Bladen 123 Brunswick 166 Buncombe 555 Burke 231 Cabarrus 236 Caldwell 201 Camden 28 Carteret 55 Caswell 90 Catawba 236 Chatham 241 Cherokee 163 Chowan 38 Clay 63 Cleveland 270 Columbus 226 Craven 147 Cumberland 348 Currituck 22 Dare 40 Davidson 340 Davie 93 Duplin 208 Durham 315 Edgecombe 147 Forsyth 454 Franklin 118 Gaston 232 Gates 41 Graham 94 Granville 149 Greene 62 Guilford 736 Halifax 158 Harnett 134 Haywood 286 Henderson 245 Hertford 58 Hoke 136 Hyde 75 Iredell 335 Jackson 234 Johnston 318 Jones 82 Lee 98 Lenoir 145 Lincoln 169 Macon 223 Madison 244 Martin 124 McDowell 234 Mecklenburg 746 Mitchell 127 Montgomery 151 Moore 178 Nash 261 New Hanover 123 Northampton 83 Onslow 172 Orange 189 Pamlico 45 Pasquotank 54 Pender 112 Perquimans 39 Person 106 Pitt 228 Polk 127 Randolph 401 Richmond 154 Robeson 285 Rockingham 229 Rowan 245 Rutherford 298 Sampson 196 Scotland 101 Stanly 163 Stokes 150 Surry 308 Swain 129 Transylvania 162 Tyrrell 28 Union 353 Vance 75 Wake 760 Warren 84 Washington 59 Watauga 200 Wayne 208 Wilkes 349 Wilson 195 Yadkin 168 Yancey 164

North Carolina vs nearby ranks

Adjacent states on the structurally deficient leaderboard (lower share = better)

States are ranked by share of bridges flagged structurally deficient — the FHWA classification for any span where deck, superstructure, or substructure carries a condition rating of 4 or below. Lower percentages indicate stronger maintenance funding and inspection follow-through. States here sit immediately above and below North Carolina on the same metric.

45

South Carolina

6.10% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$5,396

55

Wisconsin

6.13% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$14,851
Selected

37

North Carolina

6.16% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$18,901

15

Hawaii

6.47% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$1,206

30

Montana

6.70% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$5,122

Bridges Needing Most Attention in North Carolina

Six lowest-condition bridges in North Carolina, ranked by composite NBI rating. Each is inspected at least every 24 months.

SR1216

Structurally Deficient

Over: WEST FORK PIGEON RIVER

100 FT.E.JCT.NC215, Haywood, NC

Built 1920 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 30

TSALI ENOLA ROAD

Structurally Deficient

Over: SOCO CREEK

TSALI ENOLA ROAD, Swain, NC

Built 1960 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 10

HORNBUCKLE CREEKRD

Poor

Over: HORNBUCKLE CREEK

389 HORNBUCKLE CREEK ROAD, Swain, NC

Built 1950 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 5

SR1630

Poor

Over: KIT CREEK

1.8MI.N.JCT.NC55, Wake, NC

Built 1975 Load: 2.7 t ADT: 12,500

SR1340

Poor

Over: NORTH FORK NEW RIVER

.1 MI.N.JCT.NC88, Ashe, NC

Built 1977 Load: 3.6 t ADT: 500

SR1323

Poor

Over: CANAL

0.05 MI.N.JCT.1300, Tyrrell, NC

Built 1961 Load: 3.6 t ADT: 650

All Bridges in North Carolina

SR1856 NBL

Fair

Over: TOMS CREEK

0.2 MI.S.JCT.US52, Surry, NC

Built 1923 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 2,550

US276

Fair

Over: LOOKING GLASS CREEK

6.8MI.N.JCT.US64,NC280, Transylvania, NC

Built 1935 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 1,800

SR1525

Fair

Over: GOOSE CREEK

0.2 MI. S. JCT. SR1004, Union, NC

Built 1955 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 3,900

SR1004

Fair

Over: NORTH FORK CROOKED CREEK

0.4 MI. E. JCT. SR1520, Union, NC

Built 1959 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 12,500

SR2049

Fair

Over: HARRIS CREEK

0.2 MI.N.JCT.SR2223, Wake, NC

Built 1977 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 10,500

SR1649

Fair

Over: RICHLAND CREEK

0.8 MI. W. JCT. SR1664, Wake, NC

Built 1970 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 7,700

SR1125

Fair

Over: KENDRICK CREEK

0.1 MI W. OF JCT SR1127, Washington, NC

Built 1964 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 780

SR1308

Fair

Over: SHARP CREEK

.01 MI.S.JCT.SR1306, Watauga, NC

Built 1979 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 200

SR1123

Fair

Over: LAUREL CREEK

20 FT.S.JCT.SR1156, Watauga, NC

Built 2016 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 260

SR1731

Fair

Over: NEUSE RIVER OVRFLW.

0.6 MI.N. OF JCT.NC55, Wayne, NC

Built 1969 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 1,400

NC581

Fair

Over: NEUSE RIVER

0.4 MI S JCT SR1919, Wayne, NC

Built 1959 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 7,000

SR1311

Fair

Over: NORTH PRONG LEWIS FORK C

.1 MI.E.JCT.SR1307, Wilkes, NC

Built 1957 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 460

SR1570

Fair

Over: WOOTEN CREEK

2.6 MI.W.JCT.NC18, Wilkes, NC

Built 1999 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 370

SR1002

Fair

Over: MULBERRY CREEK

150 FT.S.JCT.SR1706, Wilkes, NC

Built 1968 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 3,100

SR1728

Fair

Over: DUNGEON CREEK

1.1 MI.E.JCT.NC18, Wilkes, NC

Built 1997 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 210

SR1169

Fair

Over: SHELL CREEK

.6 MI.N.JCT.SR1155, Wilkes, NC

Built 1961 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 90

SR1606

Fair

Over: HOMINY SWAMP

0.1 MI. S. OF SR1607, Wilson, NC

Built 1979 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 4,000

US264ALT,NC42

Fair

Over: NORFOLK SOUTHERN RR

1.0 MI N JCT NC42, Wilson, NC

Built 1938 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 12,000

SR1584

Fair

Over: LITTLE FORBUSH CREEK

.5 MI.E.JCT.SR1597, Yadkin, NC

Built 1972 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 410

SR1333

Fair

Over: CRANBERRY CREEK

.1 MI.W.JCT.SR1330, Yadkin, NC

Built 1994 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 1,200

SR1411

Fair

Over: LITTLE CREEK

.4 MI.W.JCT.SR1425, Yancey, NC

Built 1951 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 250

SR1336

Fair

Over: PIG PEN CREEK

.01 MI.W.JCT.SR1335, Yancey, NC

Built 1968 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 800

SR1399

Fair

Over: FOX CREEK

.2 MI.N.JCT.SR1421, Yancey, NC

Built 1968 Load: 28.1 t ADT: 150

SHAWTOWN ROAD (NC

Fair

Over: BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY AND B

1.9 MILES FROM U.S. ROUTE, Alleghany, NC

Built 1972 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 1,347

NC742

Fair

Over: BROWN CREEK

0.1 MI. S. JCT. SR1431, Anson, NC

Built 1977 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 2,100

US221

Fair

Over: DOG CREEK

75 FT.W.JCT.SR1592, Ashe, NC

Built 1922 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 1,100

SR1100

Fair

Over: THREE TOP CREEK

1.8 MI.S.JCT.SR1124, Ashe, NC

Built 1976 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 430

SR1138

Fair

Over: OLD FIELD CREEK

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1141, Ashe, NC

Built 1974 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 450

SR1121

Fair

Over: SQUIRREL CREEK

250 FT.S.JCT.SR1138, Avery, NC

Built 1985 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 1,300

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

Fair

Over: WILSON CREEK

1.62 MILES FROM U.S. ROUT, Avery, NC

Built 1987 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 2,000

NC306

Fair

Over: WHITEHURST CREEK

0.1 MI.N. OF JCT.SR1941, Beaufort, NC

Built 1970 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 2,900

NC99

Fair

Over: INDIAN RUN CREEK

4.8 MI. N. JCT. US264, Beaufort, NC

Built 1961 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 1,400

SR1718

Fair

Over: OLD MILL CREEK

0.1 MI. E. JCT. SR1732, Beaufort, NC

Built 1978 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 550

SR1111

Fair

Over: BR. OF CONIOTT CREEK

0.2 MI S. OF JCT SR1110, Bertie, NC

Built 1959 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 100

NC211BUS

Fair

Over: BRYANT SWAMP

0.2 MI W JCT NC131, Bladen, NC

Built 1922 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 4,400

NC133

Fair

Over: DUTCHMAN'S CREEK

0.2 MI S JCT NC211, Brunswick, NC

Built 1922 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 27,500

SR3142

Fair

Over: CANE CREEK

.01 MI.S.JCT.SR3145, Buncombe, NC

Built 1960 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 580

SR2115

Fair

Over: REEMS CREEK

1.3 MI.E.JCT.SR2116, Buncombe, NC

Built 1945 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 220

SR1394

Fair

Over: SANDYMUSH CREEK

.01 MI.N.JCT.SR1401, Buncombe, NC

Built 1968 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 210

US70

Fair

Over: SWANNANOA RIVER

.05 MI.W.JCT SR2410, Buncombe, NC

Built 1936 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 18,000

SR1220

Fair

Over: POLE CREEK

.4 MI.N.JCT.US19,23, Buncombe, NC

Built 1978 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 4,700

I-40

Fair

Over: SWEETEN CREEK

.05 MI.E.JCT.US25A, Buncombe, NC

Built 1972 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 56,500

SR1439

Fair

Over: UPPER CREEK

0.8 MI.W.JCT.SR1423, Burke, NC

Built 1983 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 550

SR1916

Fair

Over: HENRY FORK CREEK

.3 MI.E.JCT.SR1915, Burke, NC

Built 1980 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 350

SR1916

Fair

Over: LAUREL CREEK

.1 MI.W.JCT.NC18, Burke, NC

Built 1952 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 350

SR2637

Fair

Over: MCALLISTER CREEK

0.1 MI. S. JCT. SR2657, Cabarrus, NC

Built 1961 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 500

SR1809

Fair

Over: GUNPOWDER CREEK

.3 MI.N.JCT.SR1718, Caldwell, NC

Built 1967 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 450

NC12FERRY

Fair

Over: PAMLICO SOUND

CEDAR ISLAND FERRY, Carteret, NC

Built 1990 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 600

NC57

Fair

Over: COUNTRY LINE CREEK

0.4 MI. S. JCT. NC62, Caswell, NC

Built 1984 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 3,000

SR1709

Fair

Over: LYLE CREEK

0.05 MI. S. JCT. SR1711, Catawba, NC

Built 1970 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 2,200

Showing 5,251-5,300 of 18,901 bridges

Related

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Data sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI), latest released cycle. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges Editorial.

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). A "structurally deficient" rating is a repair-priority signal, not a closure or unsafe-to-cross designation. Consult a qualified civil engineer before making decisions based on this data.

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.