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

SR2435

Fair

Over: N.FORK SWANNANOA RIVER

0.1 MI.W.JCT.SR2474, Buncombe, NC

Built 1965 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 5,500

SR1919

Fair

Over: HENRY FORK

0.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1918, Burke, NC

Built 1936 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 130

NC181

Fair

Over: UPPER CREEK

0.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1402, Burke, NC

Built 1974 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 2,200

SR1901

Fair

Over: SEELEY CREEK

.6 MI.S.JCT.SR1924, Burke, NC

Built 2013 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 450

SR1299

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RAILROAD

.08 MI.N.JCT.US70, Burke, NC

Built 1972 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 3,800

WEDDINGTON ROAD

Fair

Over: ROCKY RIVER

1.3MI.W.JCT.PITTSCHOOL RD, Cabarrus, NC

Built 2001 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 18,000

US321

Fair

Over: UT TO BLAIR FORK CREEK

150 FT.S.JCT.SR1513, Caldwell, NC

Built 1940 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 16,000

US70 WBL

Fair

Over: NEWPORT RIVER

0.2 MI.W.JCT.SR1140, Carteret, NC

Built 1965 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 13,000

SR1124

Fair

Over: EAST PRONG BROAD CREEK

0.45MI.N.JCT.NC24, Carteret, NC

Built 2008 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 6,300

NC127

Fair

Over: CATAWBA RIVER

0.2 MI. N. JCT. SR1351, Catawba, NC

Built 1968 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 19,500

SR1715

Fair

Over: MULL CREEK

0.1 MI. N. JCT. I40, Catawba, NC

Built 1957 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 4,000

SR1692

Fair

Over: NORFOLK & SOUTHERN RR

0.5 MI. E. JCT. SR1476, Catawba, NC

Built 2002 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 8,600

SR1927

Fair

Over: SCL RR

0.1 MI. S. JCT. SR1101, Chatham, NC

Built 1979 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 440

US64

Fair

Over: BR. OF ROBERSON CREEK

0.7 MI. W. JCT. NC87, Chatham, NC

Built 2000 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 13,500

US19,64,74 SBL

Fair

Over: HIWASSEE RIVER

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1326, Cherokee, NC

Built 1979 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 10,000

SR1232

Fair

Over: STUMPY CREEK

0.8 MI. N. JCT. SR1231, Chowan, NC

Built 2001 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 450

SR1223

Fair

Over: ROCKYHOCK CREEK

0.4 MI.W.JCT NC32, Chowan, NC

Built 1995 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 480

SR1222

Fair

Over: ROCKY HOCK CREEK

0.5MI. W.JCT. NC32, Chowan, NC

Built 2006 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 2,400

US74 EBL

Fair

Over: RR (ABANDONED)

0.2 MI. W. JCT. SR1167, Cleveland, NC

Built 1968 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 10,250

US74 WBL

Fair

Over: R.R. (ABANDONED)

0.2 MI. W. JCT. SR1167, Cleveland, NC

Built 1968 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 9,000

US74 WBL

Fair

Over: FIRST BROAD RIVER

0.1 MI. W. JCT. US74BUS., Cleveland, NC

Built 1963 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 35,000

SR1245

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF CORE CREEK

0.75 MI. E. JCT SR1256, Craven, NC

Built 1996 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 540

I95S

Fair

Over: CAPE FEAR RIVER

0.3 MI. N. JCT. SR2337, Cumberland, NC

Built 1979 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 47,000

NC8

Fair

Over: ABBOTTS CREEK

0.3 MI. N. JCT. SR2476, Davidson, NC

Built 1981 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 2,000

SR1821

Fair

Over: LEONARD'S CREEK

0.5 MI. W. JCT. SR1813, Davidson, NC

Built 1987 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 1,100

US64

Fair

Over: ABBOTT'S CREEK

100 FT. W. JCT. SR2403, Davidson, NC

Built 1998 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 17,000

SR2017

Fair

Over: HAMBY'S CREEK

0.9 MI. S. JCT. SR2020, Davidson, NC

Built 1996 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 340

NC8

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RR

0.2 MI. N. OF JCT. SR2203, Davidson, NC

Built 1971 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 13,500

NC903

Fair

Over: MURPHEYS CREEK

0.5 MI.E.JCT.SR1120, Duplin, NC

Built 1996 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 2,800

SR1129

Fair

Over: DOCTORS CREEK

0.3 MI.S.JCT.SR1128, Duplin, NC

Built 1996 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 340

SR1004

Fair

Over: MAPLE BRANCH

0.1 MI S. JCT. SR1382, Duplin, NC

Built 2016 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 2,500

SR1306

Fair

Over: NE CAPE FEAR RIVER

0.7 MI.N JCT SR1501, Duplin, NC

Built 1996 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 1,400

SR1970

Fair

Over: CYPRESS CREEK

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

Built 1997 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 650

I540

Fair

Over: CREEK

.4 MI. S. OF JCT. I-40, Durham, NC

Built 2005 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 47,000

I285/US52 SBL

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK MUDDY CREEK

0.7 MI. N. JCT. SR4205, Forsyth, NC

Built 1971 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 22,250

US321 SBL

Fair

Over: LONG CREEK

0.8 MI. N. JCT. I85, Gaston, NC

Built 1972 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 22,750

US321 BUS

Fair

Over: S.FORK CATAWBA RIVER

0.3 MI. S. JCT. SR1812, Gaston, NC

Built 1983 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 2,200

US220

Fair

Over: NORTH BUFFALO CREEK

0.65 MI N. JCT. SR1001, Guilford, NC

Built 1968 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 68,000

BRITTON STREET

Fair

Over: S. BUFFALO CREEK

.02 MI.W.JCT.S.SIDE BLVD., Guilford, NC

Built 1964 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 800

HOBBS ROAD

Fair

Over: NORTH BUFFALO CREEK

0.4MI.N.JCT.FRIENDLY AVE., Guilford, NC

Built 1966 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 4,600

US421

Fair

Over: JUNIPER CREEK

0.8 MI. N. OF JCT. NC55, Harnett, NC

Built 1945 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 12,500

SR1347

Fair

Over: WHITE OAK CREEK

1.2 MI.W.JCT.SR1346, Haywood, NC

Built 1963 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 100

SR1523

Fair

Over: PIGEON RIVER

75 FT.S.JCT.SR1513, Haywood, NC

Built 1967 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 2,900

SR1205

Fair

Over: FRENCH BROAD RIVER

15 FT.N.JCT.SR1191, Henderson, NC

Built 1977 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 1,700

NC45

Fair

Over: PUNGO LAKE CANAL

50' S JCT SR1338, Hyde, NC

Built 1982 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 900

US264

Fair

Over: FAR CREEK

1.0 MI.W.JCT.SR1315, Hyde, NC

Built 1992 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 900

SR2342

Fair

Over: THIRD CREEK

0.7 MI. N. JCT. SR2348, Iredell, NC

Built 1985 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 2,500

SR1379

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RAILWAY

0.1 MI. W. JCT. SR1004, Iredell, NC

Built 1978 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 1,400

SR2322

Fair

Over: UT TO FOURTH CREEK

0.4 MI. E. JCT. US64, Iredell, NC

Built 1992 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 3,000

US70

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RAILWAY

0.6 MI. E. JCT. SR1004, Iredell, NC

Built 1971 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 14,000

Showing 8,601-8,650 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.