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

NC11

Good

Over: CAPE FEAR RIVER

1.4 MI. N. OF JCT NC87, Bladen, NC

Built 2015 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 4,000

SR1760

Good

Over: ELKTON SWAMP

0.95 MI.N.JCT.SR1710, Bladen, NC

Built 2006 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 240

SR1760

Good

Over: ELKTON SWAMP

1.0 MI.N. OF JCT.SR1764, Bladen, NC

Built 2006 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 240

SR1760

Good

Over: BROWN MARSH SWAMP

0.3 MI. S. JCT.SR177, Bladen, NC

Built 2001 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 220

SR1550

Good

Over: BLACK RIVER OVERFLOW

0.4 MI E. OF JCT NC210, Bladen, NC

Built 1971 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 650

SR1324

Good

Over: ELLIS CREEK

0.15 MI. E. JCT. SR1323, Bladen, NC

Built 2000 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 210

SR1003

Good

Over: REEMS CREEK

.01 MI.S.JCT.SR2115, Buncombe, NC

Built 2012 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 600

I-40

Good

Over: SWANNANOA RIVER

.3 MI.W.JCT.NC9, Buncombe, NC

Built 1973 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 36,000

SR1628

Good

Over: UT TO DROWNING CREEK

.2 MI.S.JCT.SR1627, Burke, NC

Built 2001 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 1,900

US29,US601 NBL

Good

Over: SOUTHERN RR

0.1M. N. JCT. NC73, Cabarrus, NC

Built 2019 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 14,500

SR1132

Good

Over: FAR BRANCH

0.3 MI. N. JCT. SR1133, Cabarrus, NC

Built 1998 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 760

SR1161

Good

Over: BACK CREEK

0.7 MI. W. JCT. SR1206, Cabarrus, NC

Built 2016 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 6,100

SR2434

Good

Over: JENNIE WOLF CREEK

1.0 MI.E.JCT.SR2429, Cabarrus, NC

Built 2017 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 400

NC90

Good

Over: BLAIR FORK CREEK

0.4 MI.W.JCT.SR1345, Caldwell, NC

Built 1991 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 2,100

SR1718

Good

Over: GUNPOWDER CREEK

.4 MI.S.JCT.SR1844, Caldwell, NC

Built 2008 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 2,100

SR1500

Good

Over: MOON CREEK

0.45 MI. N. JCT. SR1514, Caswell, NC

Built 2002 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 700

SR1484

Good

Over: LYLE CREEK

0.2 MI. N. JCT. SR1485, Catawba, NC

Built 1993 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 7,300

SR2159

Good

Over: BR. OF ROCKY RIVER

0.5 MI. W. JCT. SR2161, Chatham, NC

Built 2014 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 220

US19,74,129

Good

Over: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN R.R

.5 MI.S.JCT SR1428, Cherokee, NC

Built 1975 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 3,500

US19,74,129

Good

Over: SMOKEY MT. RR

.5 MI.S.JCT.SR1428, Cherokee, NC

Built 1975 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 7,000

SR1104

Good

Over: BRASSTOWN CREEK

50 FT.S.JCT.SR1100, Clay, NC

Built 2002 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 600

SR1110

Good

Over: HICKORY CREEK

0.2 MI. E. JCT. NC18, Cleveland, NC

Built 1996 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 800

SR2221

Good

Over: WYLIES CREEK

0.1 MI. N. JCT. SR2223, Cleveland, NC

Built 1980 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 100

SR1327

Good

Over: WEST FORK SANDY RUN CREE

0.2 MI. S. JCT. SR1398, Cleveland, NC

Built 1997 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 1,200

SR1637

Good

Over: KNOB CREEK

0.7 MI. N. JCT. SR1639, Cleveland, NC

Built 2003 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 300

US76

Good

Over: SCLRR

0.5 MI W JCT NC904, Columbus, NC

Built 2004 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 1,700

SR1437

Good

Over: PINE LOG BRANCH

0.1 MI. W. JCT. SR1439, Columbus, NC

Built 2009 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 2,000

SR1728

Good

Over: WELCH CREEK

0.7 MI.N.JCT.SR1710, Columbus, NC

Built 1995 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 180

SR1627

Good

Over: LITTLE SWIFT CREEK

0.6 MI.S.JCT.OF SR1621, Craven, NC

Built 2001 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 170

NC118

Good

Over: SWIFT CREEK

1.4 MI. W. OF JCT. NC43, Craven, NC

Built 1996 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 3,100

SR1226

Good

Over: BACHELOR CREEK

1.1 MI W. OF JCT SR1225, Craven, NC

Built 2014 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 300

SR1470

Good

Over: NEUSE RIVER OVERFLOW

0.3 MI N. OF JCT SR1472, Craven, NC

Built 1996 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 1,600

SR1600

Good

Over: LITTLE RIVER

0.2 MI.S.JCT.NC210, Cumberland, NC

Built 1997 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 4,500

I295RAMP

Good

Over: BEAVER CREEK

0.75 MI. S. JCT. BRAGG BL, Cumberland, NC

Built 2018 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 2,875

SR1743

Good

Over: ABBOTTS CREEK

0.5 MI. N. JCT. SR1756, Davidson, NC

Built 1998 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 1,500

SR1777

Good

Over: KENNEDY MILL CREEK

0.7 MI. N. JCT. SR1772, Davidson, NC

Built 2004 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 850

SR2097

Good

Over: BRIER CREEK

20 FT. W. JCT. SR2099, Davidson, NC

Built 1993 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 1,700

SR2251

Good

Over: POUNDER FORK

0.5 MI. E. JCT. SR2251, Davidson, NC

Built 2006 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 580

SR2183

Good

Over: SOUTH FORK HAMBY'S CREEK

0.5 MI. S. JCT. SR2060, Davidson, NC

Built 1981 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 3,700

SR1147

Good

Over: BEAR CREEK

0.8 MI. N. JCT. SR1160, Davie, NC

Built 2002 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 1,600

SR1656

Good

Over: CARTERS CREEK

1.0 MI. N. JCT. SR1659, Davie, NC

Built 1997 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 660

SR1406

Good

Over: FROST MILL CREEK

0.2 MI. W. JCT. SR1480, Davie, NC

Built 2013 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 150

SR1148

Good

Over: ISLAND CREEK

0.5 MI. E. JCT. SR1933, Duplin, NC

Built 2001 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 700

SR1470

Good

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

0.4 MI.W. OF JCT.SR1465, Durham, NC

Built 2002 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 1,200

SR1140

Good

Over: LITTLE COKEY SWAMP

0.5 MI. S. JCT. NC43, Edgecombe, NC

Built 2014 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 750

I-74 NB

Good

Over: MARTIN MILL CREEK

1.62M. N. JCT. US421 RAMP, Forsyth, NC

Built 2020 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 21,250

I74 (FUTURE)

Good

Over: MARTIN MILL CREEK

1.7M.S.JCT.US 158 W.RAMP, Forsyth, NC

Built 2020 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 100

SR1412

Good

Over: SANDY CREEK

1.4 MI. S. JCT. SR1407, Franklin, NC

Built 2000 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 570

SR1103

Good

Over: CROWDER'S CREEK

0.9 MI. W. JCT. US321, Gaston, NC

Built 2011 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 5,200

SR1800

Good

Over: LITTLE LONG CREEK

0.4 MI. N. JCT. SR1001, Gaston, NC

Built 2012 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 1,300

Showing 14,351-14,400 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.