State profile · Near median Poor share

North Carolina bridge safety

Condition ratings, load ratings, and Poor-condition data for every public highway bridge in North Carolina, based on the FHWA National Bridge Inventory.

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

Data updated May 2026

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 whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

-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 - Poor-condition share 20.5%
National avg

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

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.

SC

South Carolina

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

WI

Wisconsin

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

NC

North Carolina

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

HI

Hawaii

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

MT

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 the portal's composite display score. Inspection intervals are risk-based under current NBIS rules.

All Bridges in North Carolina

NC73

Fair

Over: BIG BEAR CREEK

0.9 MI. E. JCT. SR1234, Stanly, NC

Built 1946 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 6,600

NC24 & NC27

Fair

Over: LITTLE BEAR CREEK

0.2 MI. E. JCT. SR1256, Stanly, NC

Built 1958 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 12,000

NC66

Fair

Over: DOUBLE CREEK

0.7 MI. S. JCT. NC268, Stokes, NC

Built 1957 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 200

SR1908

Fair

Over: NORFOLK & SOUTHERN RR

0.3 MI. S. JCT. SR1921, Stokes, NC

Built 1971 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 1,200

NC89

Fair

Over: WOOD FORK CREEK

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

Built 1934 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 6,800

I-77

Fair

Over: LITTLE FISHER RIVER

.3 MI.N.JCT.NC89, Surry, NC

Built 1975 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 21,500

SR1110

Fair

Over: FRENCH BROAD RIVER

.2 MI.N.JCT.SR1103, Transylvania, NC

Built 1962 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 1,400

US276

Fair

Over: LOOKING GLASS CREEK

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

Built 1935 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 1,800

SR1591

Fair

Over: LITTLE RIVER

.8 MI.N.JCT.SR1594, Transylvania, NC

Built 1971 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 1,500

SR1326

Fair

Over: CREEK

0.2 MI.S.JCT.US64, Tyrrell, NC

Built 1997 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 100

SR2146

Fair

Over: POLECAT CREEK

0.5 MI. S. JCT. SR2166, Union, NC

Built 2002 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 390

SR1329

Fair

Over: EAST FORK TWELVE MILE CK

0.7 MI.S.JCT.SR1315, Union, NC

Built 1984 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 5,000

SR1162

Fair

Over: BEARSKIN CREEK

0.35 MI. N. JCT. NC75, Union, NC

Built 1973 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 2,700

NC39

Fair

Over: CROOKED RUN

0.6 MI. S. JCT. SR1308, Vance, NC

Built 1952 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 5,400

SR1603

Fair

Over: WHITE OAK CREEK

0.82 MI.N.JCT. SR1601, Wake, NC

Built 1994 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 880

US401NBL

Fair

Over: MIDDLE CREEK

0.3 MI S JCT SR2724, Wake, NC

Built 1953 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 27,000

US401S

Fair

Over: SWIFT CREEK

0.3 MI N. OF JCT. SR1446, Wake, NC

Built 1953 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 29,500

US64W.BUS

Fair

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

0.5 MI.W.NC97, Wake, NC

Built 1925 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 8,500

ASHE AVENUE

Fair

Over: NORFORK SOUTHERN RR

0.3 MI.N.JCT.WESTERN BLVD, Wake, NC

Built 1976 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 5,300

SR1670

Fair

Over: CRABTREE CREEK

0.1 MI.N. OF JCT.SR1760, Wake, NC

Built 1967 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 16,000

SR1112

Fair

Over: CREEK

0.5 MI E JCT NC45, Washington, NC

Built 1980 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 240

SR1149

Fair

Over: MOCCASIN CANAL

0.1 MI.W. OF JCT.SR1155, Washington, NC

Built 1978 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 460

NC194

Fair

Over: WATAUGA RIVER

50 FT.N.JCT.SR1116, Watauga, NC

Built 1978 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 2,000

US13N,US117N

Fair

Over: NEUSE RIVER O'FLOW

0.9 MI.N. OF JCT. SR1926, Wayne, NC

Built 1954 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 15,500

SR1300

Fair

Over: LITTLE FORK CREEK

.1 MI.W.JCT.SR1359, Wilkes, NC

Built 1996 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 420

SR1940

Fair

Over: LITTLE SANDY CREEK

.3 MI.E.JCT.SR1002, Wilkes, NC

Built 2004 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 260

SR1990

Fair

Over: ROARING RIVER

150 FT.W.JCT.SR1999, Wilkes, NC

Built 1963 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 1,500

US301

Fair

Over: CONTENTNEA CREEK

0.3 MI.N. OF US117, Wilson, NC

Built 1947 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 26,500

SR1423

Fair

Over: CATTAIL SWAMP

0.5 MI.N.SR1426, Wilson, NC

Built 1993 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 270

SR1184

Fair

Over: HOMINY SWAMP

0.8 MI. E. JCT. US264, Wilson, NC

Built 1988 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 10,500

SR1368

Fair

Over: ROCKY FORK CREEK

0.8MI.S.SR1340, Wilson, NC

Built 1921 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 1,600

SR1109

Fair

Over: BOWLENS CREEK

0.5 MI.W.JCT.SR1198, Yancey, NC

Built 1963 Load: 29.0 t ADT: 950

IRR BIA RTE 1410

Fair

Over: RAVEN FORK

12.2 KM NE OF CHEROKEE NC, Swain, NC

Built 1963 Load: 29.7 t ADT: 3,300

IRR BIA RTE 405

Fair

Over: RAVEN FORK

11.2 KM NE OF CHEROKEE NC, Swain, NC

Built 1988 Load: 29.7 t ADT: 460

SR1404

Fair

Over: S.C.L.R.R.

0.1 MI. W. JCT. SR1403, Anson, NC

Built 1977 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 700

SR1147

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

75 FT.W.JCT.NC163, Ashe, NC

Built 1967 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 650

SR1931

Fair

Over: DURHAM CREEK

0.15 MI.W. OF JCT.SR1927, Beaufort, NC

Built 1994 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 70

US17S.

Fair

Over: JACKEYS CREEK

1.7MI.S.JCT.US74&US76, Brunswick, NC

Built 1922 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 13,250

SR1616

Fair

Over: SLUDER BRANCH

0.2 MI.W.JCT.SR1620, Buncombe, NC

Built 1947 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 2,200

NC112

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RAILROAD

.01 MI.E.JCT.US19,23, Buncombe, NC

Built 1936 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 23,000

SR3448

Fair

Over: POLE CREEK

.2 MI.S.JCT.US19,23, Buncombe, NC

Built 1978 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 1,700

SR1536

Fair

Over: HOWARD CREEK

0.3 MI.S.JCT.SR1512, Burke, NC

Built 1985 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 100

SR1102

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RR

0.50 MI. E. JCT. US64 BYP, Burke, NC

Built 1963 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 3,100

SR1372

Fair

Over: JACKSON CAMP CREEK

1.3 MI.NE.JCT.US321, Caldwell, NC

Built 1957 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 210

SR1372

Fair

Over: YADKIN RIVER

2.8 MI.N.JCT.US321, Caldwell, NC

Built 1976 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 270

SR1733

Fair

Over: MIDDLE LITTLE RIVER

1.0MI.S.JCT.SR1729, Caldwell, NC

Built 2002 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 350

SR1126

Fair

Over: COUNTRY LINE CREEK

0.7 MI. S. JCT. NC150, Caswell, NC

Built 1979 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 450

SR1307

Fair

Over: MOON CREEK

0.7 MI. S. JCT. SR1300, Caswell, NC

Built 1978 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 200

US321 BUS

Fair

Over: MAIDEN CREEK

0.1 MI. S. JCT. SR1880, Catawba, NC

Built 1922 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 8,100

SR1844

Fair

Over: LAKE NORMAN

0.3 MI. N. JCT. SR1950, Catawba, NC

Built 1961 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 8,000

Showing 5,401-5,450 of 18,901 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.

Every figure on PlainBridge is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.