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

SR1147

Fair

Over: SOUTH BEAVER CREEK

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1181, Ashe, NC

Built 1997 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 650

US221

Fair

Over: LINVILLE RIVER

200 FT.W.JCT.SR1349, Avery, NC

Built 1968 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 10,500

SR1607

Fair

Over: SANDYMUSH CREEK

1.9 MI.N.JCT.SR1605, Buncombe, NC

Built 1979 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 690

NC18

Fair

Over: HUNTING CREEK

.1 MI.S.JCT.US70, Burke, NC

Built 1950 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 15,500

SR1405

Fair

Over: UPPER CREEK

.1 MI.E.JCT.NC181, Burke, NC

Built 1969 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 650

I-40 EBL

Fair

Over: BAILEY FORK CREEK

.4 MI.E.JCT.SR1102, Burke, NC

Built 1956 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 17,500

I-40 WBL

Fair

Over: BAILEY FORK CREEK

.4 MI.E.JCT.SR1102, Burke, NC

Built 1956 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 17,500

SR1918

Fair

Over: HENRY FORK CREEK

1 MI.W.JCT.SR1919, Burke, NC

Built 1977 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 240

NC73

Fair

Over: LITTLE COLD WATER CREEK

0.2 MI. E. JCT. SR2642, Cabarrus, NC

Built 1924 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 8,800

SR1706

Fair

Over: LOWER CREEK

0.1 MI.N.JCT.NC18, Caldwell, NC

Built 1960 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 220

US70

Fair

Over: NEWPORT RIVER

6.0MI.E.JCT.NC24, Carteret, NC

Built 1964 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 18,000

SR1774

Fair

Over: PANTHER BRANCH

0.4 MI. E. JCT. NC86, Caswell, NC

Built 1997 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 100

SR1102

Fair

Over: CREEK

0.4 MI. S. JCT. NC18, Catawba, NC

Built 1957 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 400

SR1323

Fair

Over: SHULER CREEK

10 FT.E.JCT.SR1322, Cherokee, NC

Built 1947 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 130

SR1346

Fair

Over: OWL CREEK

75 FT.E.JCT.SR1331, Cherokee, NC

Built 1958 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 50

SR1325

Fair

Over: TUSQUITEE CREEK

70` N.JCT.SR1324, Clay, NC

Built 1968 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 180

SR1665

Fair

Over: MAPLE CREEK

0.05 MI. N. JCT. SR1664, Cleveland, NC

Built 1968 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 200

US701BUS

Fair

Over: MOLLIE BRANCH

0.1 MI.S. OF JCT. SR1953, Columbus, NC

Built 1961 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 11,500

NC905

Fair

Over: BIG CREEK

0.2 MI. S. OF JCT. SR1100, Columbus, NC

Built 1990 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 2,100

SR1213

Fair

Over: WILSON CREEK

0.4 MI.W.JCT.SR1200, Craven, NC

Built 1984 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 4,000

US158E

Fair

Over: CURRITUCK SOUND

.01 MI.E.JCT.SR1187, Currituck, NC

Built 1966 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 21,500

US29,US70,I85B LP

Fair

Over: MICHAEL BRANCH

.5 MI. N. JCT. SR1147, Davidson, NC

Built 1950 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 34,500

SR1755

Fair

Over: RICH FORK

0.5 MI.E.JCT.SR1756, Davidson, NC

Built 1979 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 3,200

I-85BUS,US29,US70

Fair

Over: HUNTS FORK

0.4 MI. N. JCT. NC109, Davidson, NC

Built 1951 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 23,500

SR1101

Fair

Over: DUFF CREEK

0.5MI.E.JCT.SR1137, Duplin, NC

Built 1977 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 700

US15/501S;BUS

Fair

Over: NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY

0.5 MI. S. OF JCT I85, Durham, NC

Built 1956 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 7,600

SR1303

Fair

Over: SANDY CREEK

0.25 MI.E.JCT.SR1310, Durham, NC

Built 1969 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 6,400

SR1004

Fair

Over: FLAT RIVER

0.3 MI. N. JCT. SR1680, Durham, NC

Built 1981 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 3,800

SR1527

Fair

Over: CONETOE CREEK

1.1 MI. W. JCT. NC42, Edgecombe, NC

Built 1927 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 410

NC33

Fair

Over: TAR RIVER

0.7 MI.W.JCT.US64BUS, Edgecombe, NC

Built 1953 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 3,800

SR2983

Fair

Over: LEAK CREEK

0.1 MI. E. JCT. SR2982, Forsyth, NC

Built 1979 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 4,300

NC65

Fair

Over: WEST BELEWS CREEK

0.3 MI. E. JCT. SR1975, Forsyth, NC

Built 1953 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 5,300

SR2278

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RAILROAD

.02 MI.S.JCT.NC7, Gaston, NC

Built 1988 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 5,100

NC143

Fair

Over: WEST BUFFALO CREEK

.05 MI.W.JCT.SR1148, Graham, NC

Built 1971 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 300

SR1426

Fair

Over: LITTLE GRASSY CREEK

1.0 MI.E.SR1428, Granville, NC

Built 1979 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 900

SR2523

Fair

Over: TOWNSEND LAKE

0.5 MI. N. JCT. SR2528, Guilford, NC

Built 1966 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 3,500

I40, I85

Fair

Over: ROCK CREEK

0.6 MI. N. JCT. SR3055, Guilford, NC

Built 1954 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 124,000

I74 EBL, US311 SBL

Fair

Over: OAK HOLLOW LAKE

0.2 MI. W. JCT. NC68, Guilford, NC

Built 1996 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 19,250

NEALTOWN RD

Fair

Over: NORTH BUFFALO CREEK

0.2 MI. N. JCT. WHITE ST, Guilford, NC

Built 2020 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 100

SR1314

Fair

Over: FRENCH BROAD RIVER

.05 MI.S.JCT.SR1317, Henderson, NC

Built 1965 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 4,200

SR1799

Fair

Over: LITTLE HUNGRY RIVER

1.1 MI.E.JCT.SR1800, Henderson, NC

Built 1979 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 100

SR1103

Fair

Over: BOBS CREEK

.2 MI.E.JCT.SR1288, Henderson, NC

Built 1963 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 350

SR1419

Fair

Over: FRENCH BROAD RIVER

.2 MI.N.JCT.SR1690, Henderson, NC

Built 1964 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 1,500

NC191

Fair

Over: FRENCH BROAD RIVER

.5 MI.N.JCT.SR1310, Henderson, NC

Built 1955 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 10,500

SR1111

Fair

Over: CANAL

0.4 MI N JCT SR 1110, Hyde, NC

Built 1993 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 100

SR1124

Fair

Over: CANAL

1.4 MI W JCT SR1121, Hyde, NC

Built 1979 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 210

SR1887

Fair

Over: ROCKY CREEK

0.9 MI. E. JCT. SR1888, Iredell, NC

Built 1975 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 600

SR2139

Fair

Over: KINDER CREEK

0.3 MI. E. JCT. SR2135, Iredell, NC

Built 1966 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 350

SR1544

Fair

Over: MORRISON CREEK

0.7 MI. S. JCT. SR1551, Iredell, NC

Built 1957 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 1,400

SR2130

Fair

Over: LITTLE RIVER

0.1MI.N.JCT.SR2129, Johnston, NC

Built 1963 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 500

Showing 5,701-5,750 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.