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

SR1540

Good

Over: FRENCH BROAD RIVER

.2 MI.S.JCT.SR1504, Transylvania, NC

Built 1985 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 4,000

US64

Good

Over: TURKEY CREEK

.1 MI.E.JCT.NC280, Transylvania, NC

Built 1956 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 1,700

SR1200

Good

Over: CREEK

0.4 MI.S.JCT.SR1204, Tyrrell, NC

Built 1979 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 400

SR1606

Good

Over: CROOKED CREEK

0.4 MI.S.JCT.SR1547, Union, NC

Built 1982 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 1,400

SR1506

Good

Over: EAST FORK STEWARTS CREEK

0.5 MI. E. JCT. SR1507, Union, NC

Built 2018 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 370

SR3909

Good

Over: N.FORK CROOKED CRK. TRIB

0.05 MI. S. JCT. US74, Union, NC

Built 2018 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 3,400

SR1104

Good

Over: LONG CREEK

2.1 MI. E. OF SR1101, Vance, NC

Built 1959 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 850

SR1342

Good

Over: ISLAND CREEK

0.8 MI.W.JCT.SR1348, Vance, NC

Built 2000 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 850

SR1315

Good

Over: WALNUT CREEK

2 MI. N. JCT. I-40, Wake, NC

Built 1982 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 11,500

NC540,9906 FLYOVER

Good

Over: DIRT

0.44 MI. N. NC540E RMP, Wake, NC

Built 2007 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 13,833

NC 540 NBL (TOLL)

Good

Over: WHITE OAK CREEK

0.4 MI.S. OF JCT.SR1615, Wake, NC

Built 2012 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 16,750

SR1512

Good

Over: FISHING CREEK

0.3 M.I W. OF JCT. SR1507, Warren, NC

Built 1997 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 190

US64 EBL

Good

Over: OLD MILL CREEK

8.7 MI. W. JCT. SR1304, Washington, NC

Built 2004 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 2,650

US64 WBL

Good

Over: OLD MILL CREEK

8.7 MI. W. SR1304, Washington, NC

Built 2004 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 2,650

SR1547

Good

Over: BOONE CREEK

150 FT.S. JCT.US321, Watauga, NC

Built 2002 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 4,000

SR1351

Good

Over: GRASSY CREEK

.35 MI.E.JCT.SR1354, Watauga, NC

Built 2019 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 370

SR1223

Good

Over: LITTLE BEAVERDAM CREEK

100 FT.N.JCT.SR1221, Watauga, NC

Built 2015 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 150

NC581

Good

Over: LITTLE RIVER

200' N.JCT.SR1326, Wayne, NC

Built 2005 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 7,500

SR1007

Good

Over: BEAVER DAM CREEK

0.4 MI.E.SR1236, Wayne, NC

Built 2001 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 1,900

SR1717

Good

Over: MULBERRY CREEK

.2 MI.N.JCT.SR1782, Wilkes, NC

Built 1980 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 2,700

US264E

Good

Over: NORFOLK/SOUTHERN RR

0.5 MI.W.JCT.I95, Wilson, NC

Built 1998 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 12,750

SR1341

Good

Over: CRANBERRY CREEK

.4 MI.S.JCT.SR1331, Yadkin, NC

Built 2021 Load: 39.0 t ADT: 260

NFSR 482

Good

Over: CURTIS CREEK

3.3 MI. N. JCT. NFSR 482A, Yancey, NC

Built 1978 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 25

SR1600

Good

Over: RICHARDSON CREEK

1.5 MI. W. JCT. SR1608, Anson, NC

Built 1995 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 70

SR1126

Good

Over: BRANCH S.FORK JONES CRK

2.1 MI. E. JCT. SR1129, Anson, NC

Built 2021 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 270

NC194

Good

Over: OLD FIELD BRANCH

100 FT.S.JCT.SR1353, Ashe, NC

Built 2021 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 4,000

SR1155

Good

Over: LITTLE NAKED CREEK

0.7 MI.N.JCT.NC16,88, Ashe, NC

Built 2018 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,100

SR1169

Good

Over: WEST FORK PINE SWAMP CRK

1.0 MI.S.JCT.SR1168, Ashe, NC

Built 2011 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 240

SR1341

Good

Over: ELK RIVER

100 FT.S.JCT.NC184, Avery, NC

Built 2021 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 420

US17S

Good

Over: CASHIE RIVER

0.5 MI.N.OF JCT.US13 BUS, Bertie, NC

Built 2008 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 4,300

NC11&NC53

Good

Over: BLACK RIVER

50' MI N JCT SR 1547, Bladen, NC

Built 1998 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 2,500

NC9

Good

Over: BROAD RIVER

.2 MI.N.JCT.SR2791, Buncombe, NC

Built 2022 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 800

SR2173

Good

Over: STONEY CREEK

.05 MI.W.JCT.SR2178, Buncombe, NC

Built 2013 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,000

SR3185

Good

Over: SOUTHERN RAILROAD

.04 MI.W.JCT.SR3184, Buncombe, NC

Built 1990 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 860

SR2098

Good

Over: HERRON COVE BRANCH

.05 MI.E.JCT.SR2099, Buncombe, NC

Built 2016 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 540

SR2748

Good

Over: CHRISTIAN CREEK

0.3 MI.N.JCT.SR2749, Buncombe, NC

Built 2018 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,000

9901

Good

Over: GASHES CREEK

60FT.S.JCT.US74A, Buncombe, NC

Built 2001 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 50

SR1922

Good

Over: UT TO HENRY FORK CREEK

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1983, Burke, NC

Built 2014 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 2,000

NC268

Good

Over: UT TO YADKIN RIVER

1 MI.E.JCT.SR1507, Caldwell, NC

Built 1991 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 650

SR1142

Good

Over: LOWER CREEK

.1 MI.N.JCT.SR1263, Caldwell, NC

Built 1995 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 2,700

SR1503

Good

Over: JOES CREEK

50 FT.W.JCT.SR1504, Caldwell, NC

Built 2004 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 270

SR1916

Good

Over: SHADDOX CREEK

0.1 MI.N. JCT. SR1925, Chatham, NC

Built 2016 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 3,500

SR1176

Good

Over: TICK CREEK

0.8 MI. S. JCT. SR1134, Chatham, NC

Built 2000 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,700

NC294

Good

Over: LAKE CHEROKEE

.7 MI.E.JCT.SR1130, Cherokee, NC

Built 2009 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 3,200

SR1556

Good

Over: UT TO MARTIN CREEK

.2 MI.N.JCT.SR1560, Cherokee, NC

Built 2010 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,200

NC130

Good

Over: WACCAMAW RIVER OV

.2 MI. W. JCT. 1326, Columbus, NC

Built 1999 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 4,100

SR1433

Good

Over: MILLS BRANCH TRIBUTARY

0.3 MI.NORTH JCT.US17, Craven, NC

Built 2012 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,600

SR1005

Good

Over: BACHELOR CREEK

2.3 MI.W. OF JCT.NC55, Craven, NC

Built 2008 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 1,700

NC162

Good

Over: BEAVER CREEK

0.05 MI E JCT SR1107, Cumberland, NC

Built 2008 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 28,000

SR1231

Good

Over: INDIAN GRAVE CREEK

0.4 MI. W. JCT. SR1425, Davidson, NC

Built 2015 Load: 39.9 t ADT: 540

Showing 12,851-12,900 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.