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

SR1108

Fair

Over: GOSHEN BRANCH

0.9 MI.E. OF JCT.US17, Jones, NC

Built 1990 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 340

SR1483

Fair

Over: SEABOARD COASTLINE

100 FT. W. JCT. SR1424, Lee, NC

Built 1985 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 520

US421,NC87S.BYP

Fair

Over: A & W RAILROAD

1.65 MI S. JCT SR1400, Lee, NC

Built 2015 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 8,000

SR1004

Fair

Over: STONYTON CREEK

0.5 MI.N.JCT.SR1731, Lenoir, NC

Built 2007 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 2,700

US23,64,441 NBL

Fair

Over: LITTLE TENNESSEE RIVER

.2 MI.S.JCT.SR1702, Macon, NC

Built 1972 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 12,000

US23,64,44 SBL

Fair

Over: LITTLE TENNESSEE RIVER

.2 MI.S.JCT.SR1702, Macon, NC

Built 1972 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 12,000

SR1503

Fair

Over: BIG LAUREL CREEK

.05 MI.W.JCT.SR1504, Madison, NC

Built 1999 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 500

NC73

Fair

Over: MCDOWELL CREEK

0.2 MI. W. JCT. SR2316, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1996 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 27,500

NC73

Fair

Over: CALDWELL STATION CREEK

0.1 MI. W. JCT. SR2316, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1996 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 42,000

US15/501

Fair

Over: CREEK

0.2 MI.S.JCT.SR1750, Orange, NC

Built 1992 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 38,000

SR1547

Fair

Over: SILLS CREEK

0.8 MI. S. JCT. SR1765, Rowan, NC

Built 1958 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 590

US221 SBL

Fair

Over: FLOYDS CREEK

.2 MI.N.JCT.SR2125, Rutherford, NC

Built 2012 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 2,700

US74W

Fair

Over: GUM SWAMP CREEK

0.1 MI. E. JCT. SR1354, Scotland, NC

Built 2015 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 11,500

SR1166

Fair

Over: CREEK

0.9 MI. S. JCT.NC66, Stokes, NC

Built 1984 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 550

SR1374

Fair

Over: NORTH DEEP CREEK

.5 MI.S.JCT.SR1370, Yadkin, NC

Built 1986 Load: 61.6 t ADT: 450

US17N

Fair

Over: USTC RAILROAD

0.7 MI. N. JCT. SR1414, Brunswick, NC

Built 1980 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 31,500

US17S

Fair

Over: U.S.T.C.RAILROAD

0.7MI.N.JCT.SR1414, Brunswick, NC

Built 1980 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 14,750

SR1003

Fair

Over: STEWARTS CREEK

0.6 MI.S.OF JCT.SR34, Cumberland, NC

Built 1992 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 7,300

NC168

Fair

Over: ROLAND CREEK

0.8 MI.N. OF JCT.SR1297, Currituck, NC

Built 1999 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 19,000

NC50

Fair

Over: STOCKING HEAD CREEK

0.4 MI.S.JCT. SR1961, Duplin, NC

Built 1984 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 1,500

MEADOWVIEW ROAD

Fair

Over: SOUTH BUFFALO CREEK

.25MI.E.HIGH POINT BLVD., Guilford, NC

Built 1976 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 5,700

US421,NC87S.BYP

Fair

Over: CSXRR, LITTLE BUFFALO CK

0.4 MI. S. JCT. US1 BUS, Lee, NC

Built 2005 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 16,750

SR1197

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

.01 MI.S.JCT.SR1195, Mitchell, NC

Built 1952 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 350

SR1518

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

0.9MI.E. OF JCT.NC210, Onslow, NC

Built 1989 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 7,800

US13S,NC11,NC903

Fair

Over: TAR RIVER OVER FLOW

0.6MI.N.JCT NC43, Pitt, NC

Built 1977 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 10,750

NC22

Fair

Over: HARLON'S CREEK

0.1 MI. N. JCT. US64, Randolph, NC

Built 1993 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 2,900

NC268

Fair

Over: KING CREEK

.6 MI.W.JCT.SR2221, Surry, NC

Built 1930 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 3,100

NO DATA ENTERED

Fair

Over: CHERRY LOG CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Yancey, NC

Built 2010 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 50

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

Fair

Over: NC ROUTE 215

11.3 MILES TO U.S. ROUTE, Haywood, NC

Built 1960 Load: 62.6 t ADT: 1,878

US17

Fair

Over: PINCH GUT CREEK

0.3 MI.N.SR1402, Brunswick, NC

Built 1991 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 21,000

NC268

Fair

Over: LAYTOWN CREEK

15 FT.W.JCT.SR1507, Caldwell, NC

Built 2001 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 650

US19,74,129 NBL

Fair

Over: VALLEY RIVER

.2 MI.N.JCT.SR1428, Cherokee, NC

Built 1980 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 4,750

US74

Fair

Over: COW BRANCH

0.8 MI.W. JCT. NC242, Columbus, NC

Built 1969 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 17,500

SR2536

Fair

Over: ELLIS CREEK

0.7 MI. S. JCT. SR2538, Davidson, NC

Built 1984 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 100

SR1141

Fair

Over: MAXWELL CREEK

1.7 MI. E. JCT. NC11, Duplin, NC

Built 1986 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 550

SR1123

Fair

Over: WEST BUFFALO CREEK

.5 MI.S.JCT.SR1148, Graham, NC

Built 1980 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 200

SR3143

Fair

Over: PRONG LITTLE ALAMANCE CK

0.3 MI. N. JCT. SR3000, Guilford, NC

Built 2006 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 4,200

MERRITT DRIVE

Fair

Over: SOUTH BUFFALO CREEK

0.4MI.S.JCT.PATTERSON ST., Guilford, NC

Built 1971 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 18,000

NC209

Fair

Over: PIGEON RIVER

150 FT.S.JCT.SR1649, Haywood, NC

Built 1972 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 7,700

NC215

Fair

Over: PIGEON RIVER

0.2 MI.S.JCT.SR1592, Haywood, NC

Built 1957 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 9,800

SR1598

Fair

Over: DISHMON CREEK

0.1 MI. W. JCT. SR1604, Iredell, NC

Built 1952 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 480

SR2523

Fair

Over: BAWDY CREEK

0.3 MI E. OF JCT. SR2519, Johnston, NC

Built 1985 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 860

SR1351

Fair

Over: MATLOCK CREEK

1.4 MI.N.JCT.SR1353, Macon, NC

Built 1999 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 470

I77 SBL & RAMP

Fair

Over: CALDWELL STATION CREEK

0.2 MI. N. JCT. SR2145, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1975 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 46,250

SR1197

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

.5 MI.N.JCT.SR1195, Mitchell, NC

Built 1952 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 750

NC62

Fair

Over: UWHARRIE RIVER

2.4 MI. S. JCT.US311, Randolph, NC

Built 1955 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 4,900

SR1003

Fair

Over: RICHLAND CREEK

1.5 MI. S. JCT. NC42, Randolph, NC

Built 1980 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 470

SR2406

Fair

Over: SANDY CREEK

0.8 MI.S. JCT. SR2407, Randolph, NC

Built 1999 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 990

US64, US264

Fair

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

1.0 MI.E.JCT.SR2276, Wake, NC

Built 1973 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 28,500

US64W

Fair

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

1.0 MI.E.JCT.SR2276, Wake, NC

Built 1973 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 28,500

Showing 9,551-9,600 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.