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

SR1355

Fair

Over: MOUNTAIN CREEK

.1 MI.N.JCT.SR1373, Rutherford, NC

Built 1960 Load: 36.2 t ADT: 550

US311

Fair

Over: UT TO DAN RIVER

50 FT. N. JCT. SR1917, Stokes, NC

Built 1926 Load: 36.2 t ADT: 3,700

SR1480

Fair

Over: LITTLE FISHER CREEK

100FT.W.JCT.SR1399, Surry, NC

Built 1992 Load: 36.2 t ADT: 400

SR1480

Fair

Over: LITTLE FISHER RIVER

.2 MI.E.JCT.SR1399, Surry, NC

Built 1992 Load: 36.2 t ADT: 400

SR2230

Fair

Over: WEST DOUBLE CREEK

1.4 MI.W.JCT.SR2209, Surry, NC

Built 2005 Load: 36.2 t ADT: 200

SR1603

Fair

Over: AUBERRY CREEK

100 FT.N.JCT.SR1611, Surry, NC

Built 2010 Load: 36.2 t ADT: 450

SR1533

Fair

Over: LITTLE RIVER OVERFLOW

.7 MI.W.JCT.SR1528, Transylvania, NC

Built 1960 Load: 36.2 t ADT: 3,100

SR1520

Fair

Over: N.FORK CROOKED CREEK

0.6 MI. S. JCT. SR1518, Union, NC

Built 2000 Load: 36.2 t ADT: 4,300

US1S

Fair

Over: CSX RR

0.2 MI. N. JCT. SR1001, Vance, NC

Built 1991 Load: 36.2 t ADT: 3,150

SR1321

Fair

Over: BUSHY CREEK

0.1 MI.E. JCT. SR1348, Wake, NC

Built 1973 Load: 36.2 t ADT: 20,500

SR2812

Fair

Over: REEDY BRANCH

0.6MI.W.JCT.SR2710, Wake, NC

Built 1994 Load: 36.2 t ADT: 16,000

NC32

Fair

Over: OLD MILL CREEK

0.5 MI.W. OF JCT.SR1133, Washington, NC

Built 1922 Load: 36.2 t ADT: 1,400

SR1217

Fair

Over: COVE CREEK

40 FT.N.JCT.SR1233, Watauga, NC

Built 1958 Load: 36.2 t ADT: 100

SR1202

Fair

Over: BEAVERDAM CREEK

10 FT.S.JCT.SR1201, Watauga, NC

Built 1963 Load: 36.2 t ADT: 1,100

US13/US117S

Fair

Over: NEUSE RIVER

0.3 MI N JCT SR1926, Wayne, NC

Built 1979 Load: 36.2 t ADT: 12,000

SR1300

Fair

Over: N. PRONG LEWIS FORK CREE

.3 MI.W.JCT.SR1304, Wilkes, NC

Built 1982 Load: 36.2 t ADT: 420

SR1593

Fair

Over: FORBUSH CREEK

.5 MI.N.JCT.SR1597, Yadkin, NC

Built 2004 Load: 36.2 t ADT: 1,300

SR1605

Fair

Over: NORTH DEEP CREEK

.1 MI.W.JCT.SR1509, Yadkin, NC

Built 1993 Load: 36.2 t ADT: 4,100

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

Fair

Over: U.S. ROUTE 221

2.9 MILES TO NC ROUTE 127, Avery, NC

Built 1940 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 5,007

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

Fair

Over: FRENCH BROAD RIVER & NC

1.7 MILES TO I-26, Buncombe, NC

Built 1967 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 5,007

IRR BIA RTE 1236

Fair

Over: OCONALUFTEE RIVER

4.8 KM SW OF CHEROKEE NC, Jackson, NC

Built 1997 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 450

OLD SOCO ROAD

Fair

Over: SOCO CREEK

1372 OLD SOCO ROAD, Swain, NC

Built 1950 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 10

SR1318

Fair

Over: CREEK

0.1 MI. W. JCT. SR1319, Alexander, NC

Built 1952 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 220

US52

Fair

Over: GRINDSTONE BRANCH

1.0 MI. S. JCT. SR1645, Anson, NC

Built 1953 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 4,100

NC742

Fair

Over: BROWN CREEK OVERFLOW

0.3 MI. S. JCT. SR1431, Anson, NC

Built 1980 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 2,400

SR1615

Fair

Over: LANES CREEK

1.3 MI. E. JCT. NC742, Anson, NC

Built 1980 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 250

NC194

Fair

Over: BIG HORSE CREEK

25 FT.S.JCT.SR1514, Ashe, NC

Built 1983 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 5,200

SR1157

Fair

Over: NORTH TOE RIVER

100 FT.W.JCT.SR1163, Avery, NC

Built 2005 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 1,400

SR2500

Fair

Over: SWANNANOA RIVER

.1 MI.E.JCT.US70, Buncombe, NC

Built 1961 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 4,800

OLD LYMAN STREET

Fair

Over: UT TO FRENCH BROAD RIVER

0.3MI.S.JCT.LYMAN ST., Buncombe, NC

Built 1986 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 500

SR1002

Fair

Over: DIX CREEK

.01 MI.W.JCT.SR1302, Buncombe, NC

Built 1935 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 1,100

SR1704

Fair

Over: EAST PRONG HUNTING CREEK

1.0 MI.E.JCT.NC18, Burke, NC

Built 1989 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 2,400

SR1449

Fair

Over: CLARKE CREEK

0.4 MI. S. JCT. SR1394, Cabarrus, NC

Built 2000 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 14,000

SR2448

Fair

Over: LITTLE BUFFALO CREEK

0.3 MI. E. JCT. SR2449, Cabarrus, NC

Built 1957 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 100

SR1356

Fair

Over: JOHNS RIVER

1.7 MI.S.JCT.NC90, Caldwell, NC

Built 1963 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 100

US70

Fair

Over: WILLISTON CREEK

0.4 MI. W OF JCT. SR1411, Carteret, NC

Built 1976 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 2,700

SR1835

Fair

Over: LAKE NORMAN

0.6 MI. N. JCT. SR1837, Catawba, NC

Built 1970 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 1,500

SR1867

Fair

Over: ALLEN CREEK

0.5 MI. S. JCT. SR1874, Catawba, NC

Built 1968 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 650

SR1848

Fair

Over: P&N ACCESS RR

0.1 MI. N. JCT. SR1844, Catawba, NC

Built 1965 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 5,400

US1S.

Fair

Over: DEEP RIVER

0.47 MI. S. JCT. SR1012, Chatham, NC

Built 1998 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 13,750

NC42

Fair

Over: CAPE FEAR RIVER

1.2 MI. W. JCT. SR1916, Chatham, NC

Built 1987 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 2,500

SR2245

Fair

Over: DIXON BRANCH

0.2 MI. N. JCT. SR2283, Cleveland, NC

Built 1964 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 1,000

SR1172

Fair

Over: UT TO SANDY RUN

0.05 MI. S. JCT. SR1180, Cleveland, NC

Built 1953 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 430

US158

Fair

Over: ELISHA CREEK

0.4 MI. W. JCT. SR1400, Davie, NC

Built 1953 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 8,400

NC24 WBL

Fair

Over: N.E.CAPE FEAR R. OVERFLO

1.0 MI. E. JCT. SR1737, Duplin, NC

Built 1996 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 4,350

NC24E

Fair

Over: NE CAPE FEAR RIVER

1.0 MI. E. JCT. SR1737, Duplin, NC

Built 1995 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 4,350

NC54

Fair

Over: NEW HOPE CREEK

0.6 MI W. OF JCT NC751, Durham, NC

Built 1979 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 13,500

NC98

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF LITTLE LICK CK

0.15 MI.W.JCT.SR1910, Durham, NC

Built 1978 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 12,500

NC97

Fair

Over: TAR RIVER OVERFLOW

0.2 MI E JCT US64, Edgecombe, NC

Built 1964 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 3,500

NC97

Fair

Over: MAPLE SWAMP

.3 MI. W. OF JCT. SR1430, Edgecombe, NC

Built 1968 Load: 37.1 t ADT: 2,100

Showing 7,401-7,450 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.