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

SR1300

Fair

Over: TRENT RIVER

0.5 MI.E.JCT.SR1129, Jones, NC

Built 1971 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 350

US1/15/501,NC87BUS

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RR

0.1 MI. N. JCT. US421, Lee, NC

Built 1956 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 32,000

SR1529

Fair

Over: UPPER LITTLE RIVER

2.0 MI. S. JCT. US421, Lee, NC

Built 1978 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 1,100

US64 EBL

Fair

Over: CARTOOGECHAYE CREEK

.15 MI.W.JCT.SR1451, Macon, NC

Built 1973 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 3,750

SR1304

Fair

Over: POPLAR COVE CREEK

1.0 MI.W.JCT.SR1306, Macon, NC

Built 1970 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 40

US221,NC226

Fair

Over: CATAWBA RIVER

.2 MI.N.JCT.US70, McDowell, NC

Built 1989 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 14,000

SR2136

Fair

Over: MCDOWELL CREEK

0.75 MI. E. JCT. SR2131, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1965 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 10,500

US74,NC27

Fair

Over: SEABOARD COASTLINE RR

1.13 MI. E. JCT. NC16, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1997 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 107,000

SR2935

Fair

Over: A,C & WESTERN RR

0.1 MI. E. JCT. SR2975, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1937 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 22,000

SR5901

Fair

Over: TAGGART CREEK

1.4 MI. S. JCT. I85, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1981 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 52,500

I485 INNER RAMP

Fair

Over: SUGAR CREEK

2.6 MI. N. JCT. SR4904, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1994 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 36,750

I485 SBL

Fair

Over: MALLARD CREEK

0.2 MI. S. JCT. US29, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1999 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 42,750

NC58

Fair

Over: SAPONY CREEK

1.0 MI.S. JCT.SR1145, Nash, NC

Built 1956 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 5,200

US64BYP.W.

Fair

Over: STONEY CREEK

0.9 MI.E.JCT.I95, Nash, NC

Built 1972 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 22,750

SR1534

Fair

Over: CANNON SWAMP

50' E JCT SR1535, Pitt, NC

Built 1977 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 500

SR1109

Fair

Over: HITCHCOCK CREEK

0.1 MI. S. JCT. SR1117, Richmond, NC

Built 1986 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 1,000

SR1143

Fair

Over: CARTLEDGE CREEK

0.5 MI. W. JCT. SR1005, Richmond, NC

Built 1967 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 250

US70 WBL

Fair

Over: THIRD CREEK

0.1 MI. W. JCT. SR1975, Rowan, NC

Built 2011 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 5,500

NC108

Fair

Over: BROAD RIVER

1 MI.W.JCT.SR1194, Rutherford, NC

Built 1986 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 1,200

US74 BYP EBL

Fair

Over: CLINCHFIELD RAILROAD

.65 MI.E.JCT.US221A, Rutherford, NC

Built 1968 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 11,500

SR1341

Fair

Over: KNOB CREEK

.02 MI.S.JCT.SR1345, Rutherford, NC

Built 1972 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 400

NC79

Fair

Over: GUM SWAMP CREEK

50 FT. W. JCT. SR1321, Scotland, NC

Built 1958 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 4,300

NC89 EBL

Fair

Over: LITTLE FISHER RIVER

.2 MI.E.JCT.I-77, Surry, NC

Built 1975 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 5,500

NC268 BUS.

Fair

Over: TURKEY CREEK

.3 MI.E.JCT.I-77, Surry, NC

Built 1975 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 1,000

SR1798

Fair

Over: BIG CREEK

.4 MI.N.JCT.SR1802, Surry, NC

Built 1961 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 200

SR1614

Fair

Over: LITTLE FISHER RIVER

1.1 MI.N.JCT.SR1397, Surry, NC

Built 1957 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 100

WRIGHTS CREEK ROAD

Fair

Over: WRIGHTS CREEK

WRIGHTS CREEK BAPTIST CH, Swain, NC

Built 1950 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 15

US19,74

Fair

Over: ALARKA CREEK

0.1 MI.SW.JCT.SR1140, Swain, NC

Built 1976 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 4,850

US19,74

Fair

Over: ALARKA CREEK

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1140, Swain, NC

Built 1976 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 5,500

SR1309

Fair

Over: ALARKA CREEK

.1 MI.W.JCT.SR1308, Swain, NC

Built 1973 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 650

IRR SR1362

Fair

Over: COOPER CREEK

.1 MI.E.JCT.SR1355, Swain, NC

Built 1966 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 500

SR1312

Fair

Over: W.FORK FRENCH BROAD RVR

160FT.S. JCT.SR1309, Transylvania, NC

Built 1979 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 40

SR1306

Fair

Over: FLAT CREEK

0.5 MI. N. JCT. SR1305, Vance, NC

Built 2004 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 880

US64E

Fair

Over: D&S RR

0.21 MI. E. JCT. SR1011, Wake, NC

Built 1963 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 20,500

SR1201

Fair

Over: LITTLE BEAVERDAM CREEK

200 FT.W.JCT.SR1221, Watauga, NC

Built 1951 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 380

SR1219

Fair

Over: FALLING CREEK

0.5 MI. E. JCT. SR1216, Wayne, NC

Built 1975 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 1,000

SR1155

Fair

Over: S.PRONG LEWIS FORK CRK.

.1 MI.S.JCT.US421, Wilkes, NC

Built 1981 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 320

SR1725

Fair

Over: HALLS CREEK

.9 MI.N.JCT.SR1726, Wilkes, NC

Built 1995 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 150

SR1326

Fair

Over: TOISNOT SWAMP

0.2 MI N NC42, Wilson, NC

Built 1934 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 4,600

SR1217

Fair

Over: NORTH LITTLE HUNTING CRK

.002 MI.N.JCT.SR1108, Yadkin, NC

Built 1952 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 350

SR1150

Fair

Over: SOUTH DEEP CREEK

.5 MI.S.JCT.SR1140, Yadkin, NC

Built 1956 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 1,500

SR1183

Fair

Over: CANE RIVER

.01 MI.W.JCT.NC197, Yancey, NC

Built 1978 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 100

U.S. ROUTE 17

Fair

Over: DISMAL SWAMP CANAL

SOUTH MILLS, Camden, NC

Built 1934 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 3,200

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: DAVIDSON RIVER

NO DATA ENTERED, Transylvania, NC

Built 2007 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 50

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: RUSSELL CREEK

0.1 MI. W. JCT. SR 1240, Caldwell, NC

Built 1965 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: MULBERRY CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Caldwell, NC

Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 50

MORNINGSIDE DRIVE

Fair

Over: DRY CREEK

.03 MI.E.JCT.OAKDALE CT., Alamance, NC

Built 1955 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 1,000

LANG STREET

Fair

Over: PERENNIAL STREAM

.2MI.N.JCT.WASHINGTON ST., Alamance, NC

Built 2008 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 1,200

SR1306

Fair

Over: LAMBERT FORK

0.1 MI. W. JCT. SR1305, Alexander, NC

Built 1963 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 120

NC18

Fair

Over: MEADOW FORK CREEK

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1145, Alleghany, NC

Built 1950 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 950

Showing 5,751-5,800 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.