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

US64

Fair

Over: N. FORK FRENCH BROAD RVR

.04 MI.W.JCT.NC215, Transylvania, NC

Built 1997 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 6,800

SR1543

Fair

Over: FRENCH BROAD R.OVERFLOW

.1 MI.W.JCT.SR1540, Transylvania, NC

Built 1969 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 2,200

SR1002

Fair

Over: GOURDVINE CREEK

0.5 MI. W. JCT. SR1719, Union, NC

Built 1962 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 600

SR2102

Fair

Over: RICHARDSON CREEK

0.6 MI. S. JCT. SR2181, Union, NC

Built 1997 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 2,100

SR1844 CHURCH RD.

Fair

Over: UPPER BARTON CREEK

1.2 MI.E. NC50, Wake, NC

Built 1994 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 1,700

US1

Fair

Over: SWIFT CREEK

0.4 MI.S. OF JCT.US64, Wake, NC

Built 1980 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 59,000

US401

Fair

Over: FISHING CREEK

1.7 MI S. OF JCT SR1001, Warren, NC

Built 1987 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 1,600

US221,421

Fair

Over: GAP CREEK

150FT.N.JCT.US221,421, Watauga, NC

Built 2004 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 11,000

SR1126

Fair

Over: BEECH CREEK

.6 MI.S.JCT.SR1125, Watauga, NC

Built 1951 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 40

SR1166

Fair

Over: ELK CREEK

1.4 MI.N.JCT.SR1162, Wilkes, NC

Built 1996 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 520

SR2400

Fair

Over: UT N.LITTLE HUNTING CREE

.7 MI.N.JCT.SR2402, Wilkes, NC

Built 1960 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 1,300

NC67

Fair

Over: SANDYBERRY CREEK

.1 MI.E.JCT.SR1403, Yadkin, NC

Built 1930 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 9,900

SR1308

Fair

Over: LITTLE BRUSH CREEK

.01 MI.S.JCT.SR1317, Yancey, NC

Built 2012 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 550

NC18

Fair

Over: LITTLE RIVER

0.3 MI.W.JCT.SR1439, Alleghany, NC

Built 2020 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 1,650

SR1924

Fair

Over: SOUTH CREEK

0.3 MI W. JCT. SR1002, Beaufort, NC

Built 2001 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 330

NC131

Fair

Over: BRYAN MILL POND

0.1 MI.N. OF JCT.SR1101, Bladen, NC

Built 1999 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 2,800

SR1007

Fair

Over: SOUTH RIVER

0.9 MI. E. JCT. NC210, Bladen, NC

Built 1987 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 200

NC133

Fair

Over: TOWN CREEK

0.5 MI. N. JCT. SR1518, Brunswick, NC

Built 2005 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 6,600

US17N,NC87

Fair

Over: TOWN CREEK

0.5 MI. N. OF JCT. SR1406, Brunswick, NC

Built 1979 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 34,000

I-26,US19-23

Fair

Over: FLAT CREEK

0.17 MI.W.JCT.SR2207, Buncombe, NC

Built 1975 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 34,000

NC181

Fair

Over: UPPER CREEK

.05 MI.N.JCT.SR1264, Burke, NC

Built 1974 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 2,200

SR1924

Fair

Over: HENRY FORK RIVER

.6 MI.N.JCT.SR1922, Burke, NC

Built 1997 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 350

SR1168

Fair

Over: REEDY CREEK

0.7 MI. N. JCT. SR1169, Cabarrus, NC

Built 1985 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 6,400

SR1337

Fair

Over: JOHNS RIVER

100 FT.W.JCT.NC90, Caldwell, NC

Built 1983 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 1,000

NC343

Fair

Over: ARENEUSE CREEK

0.2MI.S.JCT.SR1121, Camden, NC

Built 1980 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 2,800

SR1300

Fair

Over: FELTONS CREEK

0.3 MI N. OF JCT SR1163, Carteret, NC

Built 1994 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 1,200

SR1300

Fair

Over: BACK CREEK

5.5 MI.N. OF JCT.SR1163, Carteret, NC

Built 1997 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 890

US19,74,129 SBL

Fair

Over: VALLEY RIVER,SOIL DR

.02 MI.N.JCT.SR1649, Cherokee, NC

Built 1979 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 6,500

US19,74,129 EBL

Fair

Over: VALLEY RIVER

.1 MI.N.JCT.SR1391, Cherokee, NC

Built 1978 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 2,850

US19,74,129 WBL

Fair

Over: VALLEY RIVER

.1 MI.N.JCT.SR1391, Cherokee, NC

Built 1978 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 2,850

US19,74,129 EBL

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RAILROAD

.3 MI.W.JCT.SR1391, Cherokee, NC

Built 1978 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 5,700

US19,74,129 WBL

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RAILROAD

0.46 MI.E.JCT.SR1390, Cherokee, NC

Built 1978 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 5,700

SR1631

Fair

Over: BALD KNOB CREEK

0.4 MI. E. JCT. SR1632, Cleveland, NC

Built 2001 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 50

SR1429

Fair

Over: SOULES SWAMP

0.3 MI. W. OF JCT. SR1428, Columbus, NC

Built 2002 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 3,300

NC43

Fair

Over: LITTLE SWIFT CREEK

1.2 MI. N. OF JCT. SR1400, Craven, NC

Built 1970 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 7,900

NC210

Fair

Over: LOWER LITTLE RIVER

0.3 MI.S. OF JCT. SR1678, Cumberland, NC

Built 1999 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 18,000

US301

Fair

Over: RHODES POND

0.3 MI.S.JCT.SR1804, Cumberland, NC

Built 1996 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 2,400

SR1451

Fair

Over: LITTLE RIVER

0.1 MI E. JCT. NC24,NC87, Cumberland, NC

Built 1967 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 5,400

NC295

Fair

Over: CEDAR FALLS CREEK

.2 MILES E. OF JCT US401, Cumberland, NC

Built 2005 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 24,500

NC168

Fair

Over: COWELLS CREEK

0.1 MI. S OF JCT. NC34, Currituck, NC

Built 1998 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 14,000

SR1441

Fair

Over: REEDY CREEK

0.1 MI. E. JCT. NC150, Davidson, NC

Built 1994 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 750

SR1776

Fair

Over: KENNEDY MILL CREEK

0.2 MI. S. JCT. SR1954, Davidson, NC

Built 2003 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 2,400

HICKORY STREET

Fair

Over: WINSTON-SALEM SBRR

.1MI.W.JCT.EAST 13TH AVE., Davidson, NC

Built 1983 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 2,000

SR1147

Fair

Over: SWEARING CREEK

0.2 MI. N. JCT. SR1221, Davidson, NC

Built 1984 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 13,000

SR1217

Fair

Over: NORTH POTTS CREEK

0.9 MI. E. JCT. SR1215, Davidson, NC

Built 1997 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 670

I85S

Fair

Over: HIGH PT.THOMASV&DENT RR

0.5 MI. S. JCT. NC109, Davidson, NC

Built 1981 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 31,000

SR1170

Fair

Over: ROCKFISH CREEK

0.3 MI N JCT NC41, Duplin, NC

Built 2000 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 1,700

SR1300

Fair

Over: MAPLE RUN

0.5 MI.E. OF JCT.SR1004, Duplin, NC

Built 2002 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 800

SR1632

Fair

Over: ENO RIVER

0.6MI S.JCT SR1794, Durham, NC

Built 1990 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 8,500

US64 BYP.E

Fair

Over: TAR RIVER

0.9 MI.W.US64 BUS, Edgecombe, NC

Built 1967 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 22,500

Showing 8,401-8,450 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.