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

I77 SBL

Fair

Over: PATTERSON CREEK

0.8 MI. N. JCT. SR1890, Iredell, NC

Built 1975 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 17,000

NC242

Fair

Over: BR. OF MINGO SWAMP

100' N OF JCT SR1205, Johnston, NC

Built 1986 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 2,900

I40W

Fair

Over: BLACK CREEK

2.7 MI. W. JCT. NC242, Johnston, NC

Built 1987 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 24,000

I40E

Fair

Over: MIDDLE CREEK

0.7 MI.E.JCT.SR1525, Johnston, NC

Built 1987 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 45,500

SR1002

Fair

Over: HUGHES CREEK

0.3 MI. S. JCT. SR1504, Lee, NC

Built 1977 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 500

NC11/55

Fair

Over: NEUSE RIVER OVERFLOW

0.5MI.N.JCT.US70, Lenoir, NC

Built 1985 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 11,500

SR1222

Fair

Over: S. FORK CATAWBA RIVER

0.1 MI. N. JCT. SR1261, Lincoln, NC

Built 1962 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 2,200

SR1200

Fair

Over: UT TO HOWARDS CREEK

0.9 MI. N. JCT. SR1187, Lincoln, NC

Built 1953 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 810

SR1135

Fair

Over: LITTLE PINE CREEK

.01 MI.N.JCT.SR1124, Madison, NC

Built 1951 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 200

SR1144

Fair

Over: BRUSH CREEK

.02 MI.W.JCT.SR1143, Madison, NC

Built 2017 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 450

SR1414

Fair

Over: SHELTON LAUREL CREEK

.05 MI.S.JCT.NC212, Madison, NC

Built 1951 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 250

US64W

Fair

Over: GARDNER CREEK

0.4 MI.E. OF JCT.SR1511, Martin, NC

Built 1956 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 4,150

I-40 EBL

Fair

Over: CATAWBA RIVER

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

Built 1991 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 17,500

I-40 WBL

Fair

Over: CATAWBA RIVER

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

Built 1990 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 17,000

SR1569

Fair

Over: HONEYCUTT CREEK

.1 MI.E.JCT.US221, McDowell, NC

Built 1970 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 100

US221,NC226

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RR

.2 MI.S.JCT.SR1001, McDowell, NC

Built 1989 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 16,000

SR2467

Fair

Over: MALLARD CREEK

0.05 MI. S. JCT. SR2474, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1994 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 23,000

I485 NBL

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RR.

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

Built 2006 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 64,500

I485

Fair

Over: MCKEE CREEK

2.5 MI. N. JCT. NC51, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 2003 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 78,500

US1

Fair

Over: ABERDEEN CREEK

0.2 MI. S. JCT. NC5, Moore, NC

Built 1972 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 27,000

US1S

Fair

Over: LITTLE RIVER

0.6 MI. S. JCT. SR1864, Moore, NC

Built 2006 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 13,000

SR2019

Fair

Over: BUFFALOE CREEK

1.4 MI. E. JCT. SR2018, Moore, NC

Built 1976 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 100

I95S

Fair

Over: TAR RIVER

0.8 MI. N. JCT. NC97, Nash, NC

Built 1977 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 18,000

NC58

Fair

Over: TAR RIVER

0.6 MI. N. JCT. NC97, Nash, NC

Built 1984 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 4,000

SR1745

Fair

Over: TAR RIVER

1.7 MI.W. NC97, Nash, NC

Built 1970 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 1,800

US264WBL

Fair

Over: TURKEY CREEK

0.8 MI E JCT NC231, Nash, NC

Built 1978 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 13,000

NC50

Fair

Over: JUNIPER SWAMP

4.8 MI N JCT US17, Onslow, NC

Built 2001 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 2,900

NC24

Fair

Over: NEW RIVER

0.3 MI.E. OF JCT.SR1232, Onslow, NC

Built 1945 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 9,000

SR1568

Fair

Over: TIDAL DITCH

3.2 MI.E.JCT.NC210, Onslow, NC

Built 1995 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 3,500

HICKORY ROAD

Fair

Over: SEASONAL CREEK

.02MI.S.JCT.RICHLANDS HWY, Onslow, NC

Built 2008 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 1,500

SR1411

Fair

Over: BURGAW CREEK

0.4 MI.S. JCT. SR1509, Pender, NC

Built 1982 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 500

SR1111

Fair

Over: SOUTH FLAT RIVER

0.8 MI.S.JCT.NC49, Person, NC

Built 1950 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 310

SR1109

Fair

Over: SOUTH FLAT RIVER

0.5 MI. N. JCT. NC49, Person, NC

Built 1985 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 510

US264E

Fair

Over: GRINDLE CREEK

0.3MI.E.JCT.SR1561, Pitt, NC

Built 1992 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 8,250

SR1302

Fair

Over: GREEN RIVER

1.1 MI.N.JCT.SR1352, Polk, NC

Built 1996 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 200

NC130

Fair

Over: ASHPOLE SWAMP

0.45 MI.W.JCT.SR2455, Robeson, NC

Built 1991 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 3,000

SR1527

Fair

Over: RAFT SWAMP

0.4 MI S JCT SR1532, Robeson, NC

Built 2012 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 5,100

SR1002

Fair

Over: CRANE CREEK

100 YARDS E. JCT.SR2186, Rowan, NC

Built 1978 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 5,800

SR1915

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RAILWAY

0.1 MI. N. JCT. SR2100, Rowan, NC

Built 1973 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 2,600

SR1762

Fair

Over: WEST FORK SANDY RUN CREE

.05 MI.E.JCT.SR1781, Rutherford, NC

Built 1952 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 950

SR1214

Fair

Over: GREAT COHARIE CREEK

0.5 MI E. SR1309, Sampson, NC

Built 1990 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 1,100

NC138

Fair

Over: LONG CREEK

2.1 MI. S. JCT. SR1935, Stanly, NC

Built 1980 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 2,600

NC24 & NC2

Fair

Over: LONG CREEK

0.4 MI. W. JCT. SR1900, Stanly, NC

Built 1957 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 13,500

SR1428

Fair

Over: BIG BEAR CREEK

50 FT. E. JCT. SR1432, Stanly, NC

Built 1998 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 560

SR1175

Fair

Over: W. PRONG LITTLE YADKIN R

0.3 MI. N. JCT. SR1136, Stokes, NC

Built 1997 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 100

SR1477

Fair

Over: NORTH DOUBLE CREEK

0.6 MI. N. JCT. SR1504, Stokes, NC

Built 1954 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 100

SR1955

Fair

Over: TOWN FORK CREEK

0.1 MI. N. JCT. NC8, Stokes, NC

Built 1959 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 1,100

SR1121

Fair

Over: SNOW CREEK

50 FT.W.JCT.SR1112, Surry, NC

Built 1983 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 1,200

SR2426

Fair

Over: LOVILLS CREEK

100 FT.N.JCT.US52BYPASS, Surry, NC

Built 1993 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 11,000

US52 BYP. SBL

Fair

Over: ARARAT RIVER

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR2116, Surry, NC

Built 1969 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 8,250

Showing 7,701-7,750 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.