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

SR1225

Fair

Over: BIG BEAR CREEK

1.1 MI.S.JCT. SR1134, Stanly, NC

Built 1982 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 130

SR1191

Fair

Over: NORTH DOUBLE CREEK

50 FT. S. JCT. SR1190, Stokes, NC

Built 1996 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 130

SR1601

Fair

Over: CROOKED CREEK

0.5 MI. N. JCT. SR1610, Union, NC

Built 1990 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 520

SR1547

Fair

Over: CROOKED CREEK

0.3 MI. S. JCT. SR1606, Union, NC

Built 1964 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 1,300

I40E, US64E

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RAILWAY

0.6 MI.E.JCT.US70&US401, Wake, NC

Built 2017 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 63,500

SR2026 SBL

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RAILROAD

0.4 MI.N. OF I40, Wake, NC

Built 1981 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 10,250

US321

Fair

Over: WATAUGA RIVER

100 FT.S.JCT.SR1121, Watauga, NC

Built 1986 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 3,300

SR1121

Fair

Over: WATAUGA RIVER

15 FT.E.JCT.SR1116, Watauga, NC

Built 1984 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 320

SR1131

Fair

Over: UT TO BEAVER CREEK

0.7 MI.N.JCT.SR1130, Wilkes, NC

Built 1990 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 130

SLOCUM RD

Fair

Over: SLOCUM CREEK

1 KM W OF ROOSEVELT BLVD, Craven, NC

Built 1984 Load: 51.0 t ADT: 2,500

SR1143

Fair

Over: MEADOW FORK CREEK

.1 MI.W.JCT.SR1193, Alleghany, NC

Built 1996 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 70

SR1147

Fair

Over: SOUTH BEAVER CREEK

150 FT.N.JCT.SR1181, Ashe, NC

Built 2003 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 410

SR1167

Fair

Over: LITTLE HORSE CREEK

.3 MI.N.JCT.SR1199, Avery, NC

Built 2015 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 100

NC308

Fair

Over: WADING PLACE CREEK

0.1 MI E JCT SR1544, Bertie, NC

Built 1982 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 2,200

US70

Fair

Over: GALLANTS CHANNEL

7 MI.E.JCT.NC24, Carteret, NC

Built 2019 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 10,500

US74,US76E

Fair

Over: FRIAR SWAMP

1.8 MI.E. OF JCT.SR1740, Columbus, NC

Built 1988 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 7,750

SR1004

Fair

Over: BRICES CREEK

0.15 MI. E. OF JCT SR1143, Craven, NC

Built 1981 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 8,100

NC43

Fair

Over: NEUSE RIVER

1.3 MI.N.JCT.SR1401, Craven, NC

Built 1961 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 14,500

NC400

Fair

Over: DOUGH'S CREEK

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

Built 1983 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 720

SR1470

Fair

Over: UT TO FRIES CREEK

0.3 MI. N. JCT. SR1465, Forsyth, NC

Built 1958 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 340

US52 NBL

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RAILWAY

0.3 MI. S. JCT. SR1634, Forsyth, NC

Built 1962 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 20,250

I85S

Fair

Over: TAR RIVER

8.6 MI. S. JCT. US1,NC58, Granville, NC

Built 1969 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 14,750

SR2032

Fair

Over: KINGS CREEK

0.3 MI. S. JCT. US158, Guilford, NC

Built 1986 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 300

I85N

Fair

Over: LITTLE ALAMANCE CREEK

0.4 MI. S.JCT. SR3029, Guilford, NC

Built 2003 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 21,000

US276

Fair

Over: RICHLAND CREEK

.6 MI.S.JCT.US23,74, Haywood, NC

Built 1968 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 19,000

US25 BUS.

Fair

Over: NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILROA

75 FT.W.JCT.SR1758, Henderson, NC

Built 1977 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 22,500

NC11

Fair

Over: AHOSKIE CREEK

0.5MI.S.JCT SR1108, Hertford, NC

Built 1979 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 3,900

US70E

Fair

Over: HOLT'S POND

0.7 MI.W.JCT.US70A, Johnston, NC

Built 1987 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 13,750

SR1116

Fair

Over: GREAT CREEK

3.9 MI.W.JCT.SR1115, Jones, NC

Built 1982 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 1,300

US17N.BYP

Fair

Over: TRENT RIVER

1.35 MI N JCT NC58, Jones, NC

Built 2023 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 5,250

SR1405

Fair

Over: BIG BUFFALO CREEK

0.6 MI. W. JCT. US421, Lee, NC

Built 1982 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 1,300

SR1198

Fair

Over: HOWARD'S CREEK

0.4 MI. W. JCT. SR1753, Lincoln, NC

Built 1993 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 480

ELIZABETH AVENUE

Fair

Over: LITTLE SUGAR CREEK

0.2 MI.S.JCT.US74, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1976 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 9,400

SARDIS RD.

Fair

Over: CSX RR

0.4 MI.W.JCT E INDEP BLVD, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1986 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 23,000

MARLWOOD CIRCLE

Fair

Over: MCALPINE CREEK

200' W JCT TIMBER LAKE DR, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1994 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 10,000

US64 BYP WBL

Fair

Over: SCL RAILROAD

1.5 MI W JCT NC58, Nash, NC

Built 1977 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 14,500

NC35

Fair

Over: KIRBYS CREEK

1.9 MI.N.JCT.US158, Northampton, NC

Built 2008 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 1,700

SR1327

Fair

Over: NORTHEAST CREEK

0.4 MI W JCT US17, Onslow, NC

Built 1982 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 460

NC55

Fair

Over: DEEP RUN CREEK

5.1MI.E.JCT.US17, Pamlico, NC

Built 2006 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 13,000

SR1724

Fair

Over: FORK SWAMP

0.8 MI W JCT SR1725, Pitt, NC

Built 2011 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 300

SR1004

Fair

Over: CARAWAY CREEK

0.8 MI. S. JCT. SR1539, Randolph, NC

Built 1976 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 1,300

SR1516

Fair

Over: GRANTS CREEK

0.1 MI. E. JCT. SR1608, Rowan, NC

Built 1961 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 4,000

AQUADALE RD.

Fair

Over: POPLIN CREEK

0.2 MI.W. JCT. S. 2ND ST., Stanly, NC

Built 1972 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 2,700

SR1329

Fair

Over: UT TO S.FORK MITCHELL RV

1.2 MI.N.JCT.SR1328, Surry, NC

Built 1962 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 120

SR1364

Fair

Over: TUCKASEGEE RIVER

.1 MI.N.JCT.US19, Swain, NC

Built 1969 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 7,800

US74,US601

Fair

Over: UT TO RICHARDSON CREEK

0.35 MI. E. JCT. SR1751, Union, NC

Built 1952 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 42,500

KENSINGTON DRIVE

Fair

Over: UT TO TWELVE MI CRK RIB.

0.5 MI. N. JCT. SR1301, Union, NC

Built 2007 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 5,800

US264

Fair

Over: MOCCASIN CREEK

0.7 MI.E.JCT.US264ALT., Wake, NC

Built 1976 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 11,500

I40 WBL

Fair

Over: CRABTREE CREEK

2.8 M. W. JCT. SR1728, Wake, NC

Built 1969 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 133,000

US1

Fair

Over: PERRY CREEK

0.6 MI. N. I540, Wake, NC

Built 1946 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 64,000

Showing 9,001-9,050 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.