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

NC28 NBL

Fair

Over: NANTAHALA RIVER .&GSMR

50 FT.S.JCT.SR1121, Swain, NC

Built 1997 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 2,250

SR1131

Fair

Over: MID.F0RK FRENCH BRD.RVR.

.1 MI.N.JCT.US178, Transylvania, NC

Built 2022 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 420

SR1162

Fair

Over: E.FORK TWELVE MILE CREEK

0.6 MI. N. JCT. SR1334, Union, NC

Built 1998 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 7,000

US64BUS.

Fair

Over: LITTLE RIVER

0.1 MI. EAST OF SR2359, Wake, NC

Built 1986 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 7,000

CENTURY DRIVE

Fair

Over: CRABTREE CREEK

0.2MI.S.JCT.LEADMINE RD., Wake, NC

Built 1975 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 1,000

SR1571

Fair

Over: STONEY CREEK

0.8 MI.E. JCT.NC 111, Wayne, NC

Built 1997 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 2,500

NC268

Fair

Over: MORAVIN CREEK

.1 MI.W.JCT.US421BYP,NC16, Wilkes, NC

Built 1989 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 13,000

SR2334

Fair

Over: MULLBERRY CREEK

.4 MI.S.JCT.NC268, Wilkes, NC

Built 2004 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 180

SR2475

Fair

Over: HUNTING CREEK

1 MI.S.JCT.SR2474, Wilkes, NC

Built 2004 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 240

SR1416

Fair

Over: MINE FORK CREEK

.05 MI.E.JCT.SR1336, Yancey, NC

Built 1996 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 1,100

SR1126

Fair

Over: PINE SWAMP CREEK

150 FT.E.JCT.SR1129, Alleghany, NC

Built 2006 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 20

US74 EBL

Fair

Over: GOULDS FORK CREEK

0.4 MI. E. JCT. SR1207, Anson, NC

Built 1970 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 10,000

US221 SBL

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK NEW RIVER

.8 MI.N.JCT.SR1103, Ashe, NC

Built 2019 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 4,750

US19E

Fair

Over: THREEMILE CREEK

100 FT.S.JCT.NC194, Avery, NC

Built 1978 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 2,100

SR1919

Fair

Over: LITTLE CREEK

0.2 MI.N.JCT.SR1912, Beaufort, NC

Built 2000 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 100

US13N, US17N

Fair

Over: ROANOAKE RIVER OVERFLOW

3.5 MI.S. OF SR1521, Bertie, NC

Built 1990 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 6,000

US13S,US17S

Fair

Over: ROANOKE RIVER OVERFLOW

3.5 MI.S.JCT.SR1521, Bertie, NC

Built 1992 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 6,000

NC87N

Fair

Over: REEDY MEADOW SWAMP

0.4 MI. S. JCT. SR1341, Bladen, NC

Built 2006 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 6,800

SR2727

Fair

Over: SWANNANOA RIVER

.01 MI.N.JCT.US70, Buncombe, NC

Built 1981 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 2,100

SR1653

Fair

Over: DROWNING CREEK

.1 MI.E.JCT.SR1658, Burke, NC

Built 1986 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 2,800

SR1600

Fair

Over: ROCKY RIVER

0.3 MI. S. JCT. SR1843, Cabarrus, NC

Built 1985 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 1,600

SR2453

Fair

Over: BR.LITTLE BEAR CREEK

0.1 MI. S. JCT. SR2444, Cabarrus, NC

Built 2000 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 450

US601

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RAILROAD

0.2 MI. S. JCT. SR1341, Cabarrus, NC

Built 1964 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 17,000

I85 & RAMP

Fair

Over: AFTON RUN CREEK

0.1 MI. N. JCT. SR1430, Cabarrus, NC

Built 1955 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 99,500

SR1552

Fair

Over: KINGS CREEK

200 FT.S.JCT.SR1598, Caldwell, NC

Built 1966 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 1,000

SR1372

Fair

Over: YADKIN RIVER

2.4 MI.NE.JCT.US321, Caldwell, NC

Built 1982 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 210

US70

Fair

Over: SALTERS CREEK

0.3 MI.W. JCT. NC12, Carteret, NC

Built 1982 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 1,800

SR1100

Fair

Over: STONY CREEK

0.25 MI. E. JCT. SR1104, Caswell, NC

Built 2000 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 650

US64

Fair

Over: HIWASSEE RIVER

.1 MI.W.JCT.SR1558, Cherokee, NC

Built 2008 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 13,000

SR1194

Fair

Over: SANDY RUN CREEK

0.5 MI. E. JCT. SR1228, Cleveland, NC

Built 1996 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 650

SR1001

Fair

Over: WHITE MARSH SWAMP

0.9 MI.S. OF JCT.SR1915, Columbus, NC

Built 1999 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 1,500

SR1006

Fair

Over: CAPE FEAR RIVER

.4MI.E.OFI95BUS.LOOPUS301, Cumberland, NC

Built 2006 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 17,500

SR1396

Fair

Over: SWEARING CREEK

150 FT. S. JCT. SR1113, Davidson, NC

Built 2001 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 3,200

US64

Fair

Over: HUNTING CREEK

1.4 MI. E. JCT. NC901, Davie, NC

Built 1996 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 3,100

NC41,NC50

Fair

Over: NORTHEAST CAPE FEAR RIVE

1.3 MI. E. JCT. NC50, Duplin, NC

Built 2003 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 7,200

SR1723

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF CABIN CREEK

0.5 MI N JCT NC24, Duplin, NC

Built 2004 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 450

SR1519

Fair

Over: NE CAPE FEAR RIVER

0.7 MI W JCT NC111, Duplin, NC

Built 1994 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 700

US15,US501

Fair

Over: SANDY CREEK

0.5 MI. N. JCT. SR1116, Durham, NC

Built 1952 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 26,000

NC98

Fair

Over: LAUREL CREEK

0.1 MI.W.JCT.SR1805, Durham, NC

Built 1980 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 17,000

SR1253

Fair

Over: SWIFT CREEK

0.8MI.W. OF JCT.NC33, Edgecombe, NC

Built 1980 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 800

NC67

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

0.1 MI. W. JCT. SR1525, Forsyth, NC

Built 1986 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 18,000

SR2760

Fair

Over: WINSTON SALEM S.B.RR

0.5 MI.E.JCT.SR4205, Forsyth, NC

Built 1969 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 1,700

NC58

Fair

Over: RED BUD CREEK

1.7 MI. S. JCT. SR1425, Franklin, NC

Built 2003 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 850

SR1229

Fair

Over: TAR RIVER

1.2 MI. N. JCT. NC56, Franklin, NC

Built 1976 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 4,500

SR1419

Fair

Over: SYCAMORE CREEK

3.3 MI. E. JCT. NC56, Franklin, NC

Built 2009 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 450

US158

Fair

Over: COLE CREEK

0.6 MI. E. JCT. SR1220, Gates, NC

Built 1967 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 2,200

NC903

Fair

Over: LITTLE CONTENTNEA CREEK

0.2 MI.N.JCT.SR1004, Greene, NC

Built 2001 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 6,700

I85N

Fair

Over: DEEP RIVER

0.1 MI. N. JCT. SR1135, Guilford, NC

Built 1981 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 34,000

SR1839

Fair

Over: BR. EAST FORK DEEP RIVER

0.25 MI. N. JCT. NC68, Guilford, NC

Built 1960 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 100

US220

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RAILROAD

0.5 MI. W. JCT. SR2526, Guilford, NC

Built 1968 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 44,000

Showing 8,301-8,350 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.