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

SR1569

Good

Over: HOOPERS CREEK

0.03 MI. W.JCT.SR1565, Henderson, NC

Built 1969 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 1,800

SR1134

Good

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

0.9 MI. W. JCT. SR1117, Lincoln, NC

Built 1959 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 610

SR1723

Good

Over: SOUTH CREEK

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1724, Rutherford, NC

Built 1961 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 290

SR3060

Good

Over: HATCHET GROVE TRIBUTARY

0.55 MI. E. JCT. NC55, Wake, NC

Built 2019 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 6,250

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

Good

Over: BENT CREEK GAP ROAD

0.43 MILES TO FERRIN KNOB, Henderson, NC

Built 1963 Load: 23.6 t ADT: 1,000

SR3431

Good

Over: HOMINY CREEK

0.2 MI.N.JCT.SR3432, Buncombe, NC

Built 1979 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 200

SR1625

Good

Over: JENKINS BRANCH

.01 MI.S.JCT.SR1624, Buncombe, NC

Built 2022 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 370

NC181

Good

Over: STEELS CREEK

.02 MI.N.JCT.SR1405, Burke, NC

Built 1936 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 2,700

RIVER FARM BLVD.

Good

Over: UT TO ROCKY RIVER

.3MI.W.JCT.SHILOH CHURCH, Cabarrus, NC

Built 2010 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,500

SR2007

Good

Over: CLARK CREEK

0.4 MI. W. JCT. SR2010, Catawba, NC

Built 1998 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 6,400

SR1726

Good

Over: MORGAN CREEK

0.8 MI. N. JCT. SR1727, Chatham, NC

Built 1978 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 5,300

SR1304

Good

Over: CANE CREEK

.10 MI.W.JCT.US19, Cherokee, NC

Built 1935 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 560

SR1616

Good

Over: BROWN CREEK

.01 MI.E.JCT.SR1515, Cherokee, NC

Built 1965 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,900

SR1426

Good

Over: COLVARD CREEK

0.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1425, Cherokee, NC

Built 1924 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 250

US74 BUS.

Good

Over: HICKORY CREEK

0.4 MI. W. JCT. NC150, Cleveland, NC

Built 1939 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 12,500

NC150

Good

Over: MUDDY FORK

0.1 MI. S. JCT. SR1652, Cleveland, NC

Built 1930 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 8,600

SR1614

Good

Over: ADAMS BRANCH

0.3 MI. N. JCT. SR1632, Cleveland, NC

Built 1941 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 930

NC182

Good

Over: UT TO BUFFALO CREEK

0.6 MI. E. JCT. SR1657, Cleveland, NC

Built 1951 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,700

US17N,NC55E.RAMP

Good

Over: NEUSE RIVER & SCO

AT NEUSE RIVER & US17B, Craven, NC

Built 1999 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 4,400

SR1838

Good

Over: REESE CREEK

.1 MI.N.JCT.SR1835, Cumberland, NC

Built 2010 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 3,500

SR1537

Good

Over: TAR RIVER

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

Built 2011 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,500

NC68

Good

Over: BEAVER CREEK

0.1 MI. N. JCT. SR2132, Guilford, NC

Built 1939 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 14,000

US176

Good

Over: GREEN RIVER

.6 MI.E.JCT.1836, Henderson, NC

Built 2001 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 2,600

SR1432

Good

Over: FISHER CREEK

.01 MI.E.JCT.SR1446, Jackson, NC

Built 1921 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 3,200

US64,NC28

Good

Over: BUCK CREEK

.1 MI.E.JCT.SR1533, Macon, NC

Built 1937 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 3,300

US23

Good

Over: UT TO BIG LAUREL CREEK

.03 MI.S.JCT.SR1502, Madison, NC

Built 1938 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,300

US29/US74

Good

Over: PAW CREEK

0.5 MI. N. JCT. SR1625, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1928 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 26,500

PARK RD

Good

Over: BRIAR CREEK

0.95MI.S.JCT.WOODLAWN RD., Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1956 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 31,000

NC16

Good

Over: BRIER CREEK

0.5 MI. N. JCT. SR3685, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1940 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 32,000

SONOMA VALLEY DRIV

Good

Over: LONG CREEK TRIB.

0.2 MI N.JCT. NC27, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 2017 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,400

SR5936

Good

Over: NS RAILROAD

0.13MI.E.WALLANCE NEEL RD, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 2009 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 15,000

US1S

Good

Over: CSX RR, CREEK

1.1 MI. N. JCT. NC24, Moore, NC

Built 2008 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 7,500

US1N

Good

Over: CSX RR, CREEK

1.1 MI. N. JCT. NC24, Moore, NC

Built 2008 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 7,500

SR1568

Good

Over: TIDAL DITCH

0.5 MI. E. JCT. NC210, Onslow, NC

Built 1990 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 4,900

NC9

Good

Over: BRITTEN CREEK

1 MI.S.JCT.SR1159, Polk, NC

Built 1936 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 4,200

SR1406

Good

Over: UWHARRIE RIVER

0.4 MI. W. JCT. SR1549, Randolph, NC

Built 2000 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 460

US74 E

Good

Over: CSX RAILROAD

0.41 MI. E. JCT. NC177, Richmond, NC

Built 2000 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 10,500

SR1937

Good

Over: HARDY CREEK

0.3 MI.W.JCT.SR1934, Stanly, NC

Built 1954 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 380

NC740

Good

Over: MOUNTAIN CREEK

0.1 MI. S. JCT. SR1730, Stanly, NC

Built 1930 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 4,900

NC28

Good

Over: BRUSH CREEK

50 FT.S.JCT.SR1133, Swain, NC

Built 1939 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 600

SR1123

Good

Over: NICHOLSON CREEK

.2 MI.S.JCT.US64, Transylvania, NC

Built 1976 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 780

NC215

Good

Over: SHOAL CREEK

.02 MI.N.JCT.SR1328, Transylvania, NC

Built 1976 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,000

SURVEYOR GENERAL D

Good

Over: W.FORK TWELVE MI.CR.TRI.

.13MI. N. OF PAPAW LN., Union, NC

Built 2021 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 100

ANDERSON DRIVE

Good

Over: CRABTREE CREEK

.03 MI.N.JCT.OXFORD RD., Wake, NC

Built 1957 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 5,500

US601

Good

Over: UT SOUTH DEEP CREEK

.2 MI.N.JCT.SR1150, Yadkin, NC

Built 1937 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 8,600

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

Good

Over: PEAK CREEK

2.9 MILES FROM NC ROUTE 1, Ashe, NC

Built 1940 Load: 24.5 t ADT: 2,300

SR1313

Good

Over: BIG LAUREL CREEK

150 FT.W.JCT.SR1315, Ashe, NC

Built 1968 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 20

SR1159

Good

Over: SOUTH FORK NEW RIVER

.1 MI.N.JCT.SR1192, Ashe, NC

Built 2016 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 360

SR1137

Good

Over: BIRCHFIELD CREEK

.5 MI.W.JCT.US19E, Avery, NC

Built 2015 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 310

SR1150

Good

Over: SHOAL CREEK

200 FT.W.JCT.SR1148, Cherokee, NC

Built 1964 Load: 25.4 t ADT: 640

Showing 11,051-11,100 of 18,901 bridges

Related

All states → | National rankings → | Understanding conditions → | SD bridges explained →
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.