State profile · Near median Poor share

North Carolina 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 North Carolina.

19,210
Public bridges
43.8%
Good condition
6.8%
Poor condition

North Carolina holds 19,210 public highway bridges (#12 of 52 by inventory) with a 6.76% Poor share (#21 of 52 by Poor share).

That is 6.8% 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 32 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

19,210

Public highway bridges in North Carolina

Good Condition

43.8%

8,421 bridges rated 7-9

-6.2pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

6.8%

1,298 bridges whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

-0.8pp vs national avg 7.5%

North Carolina vs national bridge condition

North Carolina - Good condition share 43.8%
National avg

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

North Carolina - Poor-condition share 22.5%
National avg

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

North Carolina 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: North Carolina has 19,210 bridges and a 6.8% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #32 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 (%) NC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 19.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.76%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%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%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: North Carolina has 19,210 bridges and a 6.8% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #32 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.

North Carolina 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

19,210 12th of 54 higher than 42 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 North Carolina

The highlighted point is North Carolina: 19,210 bridges and 6.76% in Poor condition, rank #32 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The five jurisdictions immediately above and below North Carolina on that same Poor-share ordering:

  • Wisconsin: 14,446 bridges · 6.52% Poor
  • Hawaii: 1,195 bridges · 6.53% Poor
  • North Carolina: 19,210 bridges · 6.76% Poor
  • Montana: 5,224 bridges · 6.81% Poor
  • Kentucky: 14,548 bridges · 7.37% Poor

The full national sortable table lives on the rankings page.

Material families in North Carolina

Exclusive FHWA material families across all 19,210 bridges in this state; continuous variants fold into the parent family. Orthogonal to the Poor-share scatter above.

Who maintains North Carolina’s inventory

State agency holds 92.6% of the 19,210 public highway bridges filed under North Carolina in the 2024 NBI, the agency-of-record split for this state, not a condition verdict.

When North Carolina’s bridges were built

Pre-1950 construction accounts for 5.0% of the 19,210 bridges with a recorded original year in North Carolina. Era bands are orthogonal to the Poor-share ranking above.

Condition Distribution

North Carolina43.8%49.4%GoodFairPoor
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix - North Carolina (FHWA NBI)

Counties (100)

Alamance 244 Alexander 107 Alleghany 117 Anson 169 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 314 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 235 Mecklenburg 746 Mitchell 127 Montgomery 151 Moore 178 Nash 260 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 163

North Carolina 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 North Carolina on the same metric.

WI

Wisconsin

6.52% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$14,446

HI

Hawaii

6.53% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$1,195
Selected

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

KY

Kentucky

7.37% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$14,548

Bridges Needing Most Attention in North Carolina

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

SR1216

Poor

Over: WEST FORK PIGEON RIVER

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

Built 1920 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 30

TSALI ENOLA ROAD

Poor

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

SR1613

Fair

Over: WOOD FORK CREEK

.5 MI.W.JCT.SR1397, Surry, NC

Built 2000 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 100

SR1149

Fair

Over: ELKIN CREEK

.3 MI.W.JCT.US21BUS., Surry, NC

Built 1973 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 2,400

US74 EBL

Fair

Over: SR1173 SO.RR TUCKASEGEE

2.4 MI.E.JCT.SR1168, Swain, NC

Built 1976 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 7,250

NC200

Fair

Over: SR2100

0.3 MI. S. JCT. NC84, Union, NC

Built 2010 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 11,000

NC39

Fair

Over: US1

0.3 MI. S. JCT. SR1214, Vance, NC

Built 1955 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 18,000

SR2368

Fair

Over: US64 US264

0.07 MI.N JCT SR2369, Wake, NC

Built 1973 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 2,800

SR1127

Fair

Over: WHITEOAK CREEK

0.6 MI. N. JCT. SR1115, Wake, NC

Built 1980 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 6,900

SR2000

Fair

Over: CRABTREE CREEK

0.3 MI S JCT SR1005, Wake, NC

Built 1963 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 28,500

SR1002E

Fair

Over: SR3015W

1.38 MI.W.JCT.I40, Wake, NC

Built 1997 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 14,500

US64E.B US264E I87

Fair

Over: POPLAR CREEK

0.5 MI.W.JCT.SR2233, Wake, NC

Built 2004 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 48,000

US64 BYP W US264W

Fair

Over: POPLAR CREEK

0.5 MI.W.JCT.SR2233, Wake, NC

Built 2004 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 48,000

SR1237

Fair

Over: I85

0.9 MI.N JCT US1, Warren, NC

Built 1957 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 2,000

SR1224

Fair

Over: I85

0.1 MI. W. JCT. SR1236, Warren, NC

Built 1957 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 400

SR1179

Fair

Over: CANAL A

0.4 MI E JCT SR1127, Washington, NC

Built 1965 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 160

SR1522

Fair

Over: MID. FORK S. FORK NEW RV

.1 MI.E.JCT.SR1521, Watauga, NC

Built 2004 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 12,500

US221 421

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK NEW RIVER

25 FT.E.JCT.SR1515, Watauga, NC

Built 1990 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 27,000

SR2474

Fair

Over: HUNTING CREEK

0.1 MI.W.JCT.NC115, Wilkes, NC

Built 2017 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 240

SR1562

Fair

Over: BOWLIN CREEK

.1 MI.N.JCT.SR1564, Wilkes, NC

Built 1964 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 230

SR1170

Fair

Over: STONY FORK CREEK

.3 MI.S.JCT.SR1155, Wilkes, NC

Built 1958 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 70

SR1929

Fair

Over: LITTLE ELKIN CREEK

.4 MI.E.JCT.SR1924, Wilkes, NC

Built 2005 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 100

SR1570

Fair

Over: FORBUSH CREEK

.05 MI.S.JCT.SR1571, Yadkin, NC

Built 1984 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 960

SR1120

Fair

Over: ROCKY BRANCH

.5 MI.W.JCT.SR1119, Yadkin, NC

Built 1960 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 130

SR1335

Fair

Over: PIGPEN CREEK

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1336, Yancey, NC

Built 2017 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 100

CAMPGROUND ENTRANC

Fair

Over: DEEP CREEK

0.9 MILES FROM NPS ROUTE, Swain, NC

Built 1999 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 255

DIRT ACCESS ROAD

Fair

Over: JUNIPER SWAMP CREEK

5.2KM NWOF WILMINGTON HWY, Onslow, NC

Built 1999 Load: 39.1 t ADT: 10

NFSR 4071

Fair

Over: NEW YEARS CREEK

NATIONAL FOREST, Caldwell, NC

Built 1984 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 50

NFSR 477

Fair

Over: AVERY CREEK (COMPLEX)

.9 MI. FROM US 276, Transylvania, NC

Built 2000 Load: 39.5 t ADT: 20

I40 I85

Fair

Over: HAW RIVER

1.4 MI.N. JCT. NC54, Alamance, NC

Built 1958 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 54,000

SR2171

Fair

Over: HAW RIVER

100 FT. S. JCT. SR2158, Alamance, NC

Built 1990 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 3,800

SR1137

Fair

Over: MIDDLE LITTLE RIVER

0.9 MI. W. JCT. SR1151, Alexander, NC

Built 1984 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 3,400

SR1588

Fair

Over: ROAN CREEK

.7 MI.W.JCT.SR1590, Ashe, NC

Built 2013 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 30

US264 NC92

Fair

Over: BROAD CREEK

1.5 MI.W.JCT.NC32, Beaufort, NC

Built 1965 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 15,500

SR1394

Fair

Over: SANDY MUSH CREEK

.3 MI.S.JCT.SR1398, Buncombe, NC

Built 1978 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 250

I-240 EBL

Fair

Over: HOMINY CREEK

0.15 MI. E. JCT. I-40, Buncombe, NC

Built 1966 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 31,750

I-240 WBL

Fair

Over: HOMINY CREEK

0.15 MI. E. JCT. I-40, Buncombe, NC

Built 1966 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 31,750

NC191

Fair

Over: BENT CREEK

.45 MI.S.JCT.SR3484, Buncombe, NC

Built 1978 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 18,000

I-26 WBL

Fair

Over: I-40 WBL

0.27MI.W.JCT. I-40W. RAMP, Buncombe, NC

Built 1966 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 30,000

SR1141

Fair

Over: HOMINY CREEK

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1130, Buncombe, NC

Built 2005 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 580

I26 US19 23

Fair

Over: SR1557 IVY CREEK

0.5 MI.N.JCT.SR2207, Buncombe, NC

Built 1975 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 23,000

I-40

Fair

Over: SR2500

1.5 MI.E.JCT.SR2724, Buncombe, NC

Built 1973 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 35,000

SR1102

Fair

Over: BAILEY FORK CREEK

.55 MI.W.JCT.SR1107, Burke, NC

Built 1978 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,800

SR1102

Fair

Over: I-40

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1159, Burke, NC

Built 1956 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,800

SR1751

Fair

Over: GUNPOWDER CREEK

0.4 MI.S.JCT.SR1850, Caldwell, NC

Built 1987 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 6,400

SR1735

Fair

Over: UT TO UPPER LITTLE RIVER

150 FT.N.JCT.SR1734, Caldwell, NC

Built 1995 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 430

SR1002

Fair

Over: UPPER LITTLE RIVER

50 FT.N.JCT.SR1749, Caldwell, NC

Built 1990 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,750

SR1160

Fair

Over: GUNPOWDER CREEK

.1 MI.S.JCT.US321, Caldwell, NC

Built 1989 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 7,800

SR1933 WBL

Fair

Over: NORFOLK SOUTHERN RR

.2 MI.W.JCT.US321A, Caldwell, NC

Built 1990 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 6,500

SR1933 EBL

Fair

Over: NORFORK SOUTHERN RR

.2 MI.W.JCT.US321A, Caldwell, NC

Built 1990 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 6,500

SR1933 EBL

Fair

Over: SR1164

.3 MI.E.JCT.US321A, Caldwell, NC

Built 1990 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 5,000

US17S

Fair

Over: US17B NC343 DISML.SWP

0.7 MI.S. OF JCT. SR1226, Camden, NC

Built 1982 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 8,000

Showing 5,351-5,400 of 19,210 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 North Carolina's inventory picture to drill to a county or a specific span.

  • Browse counties in North Carolina 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. North Carolina 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.