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

CHURCH STREET

Fair

Over: SKEWAKEE GUT PERENNIAL S

0.1 MI.W. JCT.ROBERSON ST, Martin, NC

Built 2008 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 250

NC226A

Fair

Over: COX CREEK

100 FT.W.JCT.NC226, McDowell, NC

Built 1964 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 600

US64

Fair

Over: CANE CREEK

0.5 MI.W.JCT.NC226, McDowell, NC

Built 1955 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 3,100

US221

Fair

Over: SCRUB GRASS BRANCH

0.8 MI.S.JCT.SR1781, McDowell, NC

Built 1955 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 5,500

US221

Fair

Over: GOOSE CREEK

.4 MI.S.JCT.SR1152, McDowell, NC

Built 1950 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 7,500

US221B

Fair

Over: YOUNGS FORK CREEK

.4 MI.N.JCT.US221, McDowell, NC

Built 1955 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 10,500

NC226

Fair

Over: YOUNGS FORK CREEK

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1165, McDowell, NC

Built 1950 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 15,000

I-40

Fair

Over: GLADES CREEK

3.3 MI.E.JCT.SR1234, McDowell, NC

Built 1958 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 35,000

US221

Fair

Over: HONEYCUTT CREEK

50 FT.S.JCT.SR1569, McDowell, NC

Built 1952 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 3,900

I40

Fair

Over: BIG CAMP CREEK

1 MI.W.JCT.SR1747, McDowell, NC

Built 1958 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 37,500

I-40

Fair

Over: THOMPSONS FORK CREEK

1.3 MI.E.JCT.SR1760, McDowell, NC

Built 1958 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 37,000

SR1401

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1407, McDowell, NC

Built 1978 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 30

SR1434

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK TOMS CREEK

.6 MI.W.JCT.US221, McDowell, NC

Built 1962 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 1,600

SR1818

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RAILWAY

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

Built 1971 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 100

US74

Fair

Over: IRWIN CREEK

100 FT. S. JCT. NC27, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1954 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 36,500

I85

Fair

Over: PAW CREEK

0.75 MI. N. JCT. SR1625, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1960 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 115,000

I277 RAMP

Fair

Over: LITTLE SUGAR CREEK

0.1 MI. S. JCT. I-277, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1972 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 32,500

NC16

Fair

Over: FOURMILE CREEK

0.46 MI. N. JCT.SR4026, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1931 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 38,000

I485 & NC51

Fair

Over: UT TO CLEAR CREEK

0.33 MI. S. JCT. SR3114, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 2004 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 64,500

SR1606

Fair

Over: LONG CREEK

0.35 MI. E. JCT. NC27, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1974 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 3,100

LA SALLE STREET

Fair

Over: IRWIN CREEK

0.1 MI.E.JCT.I77, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1971 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 18,500

SR2691

Fair

Over: IRWIN CREEK

0.9 MI. S. JCT. I-85, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 2004 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 16,000

NC16

Fair

Over: MCMULLEN CREEK

1.6 MI. S. JCT. SR3585, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1930 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 38,500

US74

Fair

Over: BRIER CREEK

1.0 MI. W. JCT. SR2940, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1949 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 107,000

US21

Fair

Over: CALDWELL STATION CREEK

0.3 MI. N. JCT. SR2145, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1954 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 23,500

I77

Fair

Over: IRWIN CREEK

0.35 MI. N. JCT. US74, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1972 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 122,000

I77

Fair

Over: IRWIN CREEK

0.7 MI.S.JCT I277&NC16, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1972 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 133,000

SR3143

Fair

Over: IRVINS CREEK

0.37 MI. N. JCT. SR4100, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1945 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 7,600

SR3128

Fair

Over: MCALPINE CREEK

0.12 MI. W. JCT. SR4216, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1960 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 17,500

SR2420

Fair

Over: WEST BRANCH ROCKY RIVER

0.5 MI. W. JCT. SR2418, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1960 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 4,000

SR1410

Fair

Over: STEELE CREEK

0.15 MI. E. JCT. SR1452, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1960 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 20,000

SR1785

Fair

Over: GUM BRANCH CREEK

0.4 MI. N. JCT. SR2010, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1950 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 8,800

MATHESON AVE.

Fair

Over: LITTLE SUGAR CREEK

.1 MI.S.JCT.N.TRYON ST., Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1965 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 19,500

SR2693

Fair

Over: S.PRONG W.BRANCH ROCKY R

0.5 MI. W. JCT. SR2429, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1960 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 9,500

I277 NBL,US74 EBL

Fair

Over: LITTLE SUGAR CREEK

0.4 MI. N. JCT. NC16, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1971 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 89,000

I85 & RAMPS

Fair

Over: STONY CREEK

0.25 MI. S. JCT. I485, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1965 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 150,000

I277,NC16

Fair

Over: LITTLE SUGAR CREEK

0.3 MI. N. JCT. US74, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1972 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 89,000

I77

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF IRWIN CREEK

0.6 MI.N.JCT.SR2112, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1974 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 89,000

NC16 NBL

Fair

Over: CATAWBA RIVER

0.87 MI. N. JCT. SR2253, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1956 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 22,250

REMOUNT ROAD

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RAILROAD

.1MI.S.JCT.WILKINSON BLVD, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1952 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 14,500

9942 (W. FIFTH ST)

Fair

Over: IRWIN CREEK

0.1 MI. E. JCT. I77, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1960 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 17,500

SHARON VIEW ROAD

Fair

Over: MCMULLEN CREEK

0.01 MI.W.JCT.COLONY RD., Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1970 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 7,100

DALECREST DRIVE

Fair

Over: IRWIN CREEK

250 FT E JCT VALEVIEW LN., Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1970 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 2,000

ARBORWAY LANE

Fair

Over: MCMULLEN CREEK

0.45 MI N JCT FAIRWAY RD., Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1970 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 500

CRAIGHEAD ROAD

Fair

Over: LITTLE SUGAR CREEK

200FT. S.JCT.W/TRYON RD., Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1960 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 8,100

CENTRAL AVENUE

Fair

Over: BRIAR CREEK

0.1 MI.E.JCT.LOGIE AVENUE, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1950 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 22,500

SHAMROCK DRIVE

Fair

Over: BRIAR CREEK

0.2 MI.E.JCT.EASTWAY DR., Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1970 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 19,500

IDLEWILD ROAD

Fair

Over: CAMPBELL CREEK

.04 MI.W.JCT.IDLEBROOK RD, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1991 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 26,000

COLONY ROAD

Fair

Over: BRIER CREEK

200'E.JCT.PICARDY PLACE, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1950 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 6,500

I77 NBL & RAMP

Fair

Over: CALDWELL STATION CREEK

0.2 MI. N. JCT. SR2145, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1975 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 36,500

Showing 6,451-6,500 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.