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%.

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.

All Bridges in North Carolina

NC194

Good

Over: BAIRD CREEK

.4 MI.N.JCT.SR1117, Watauga, NC

Built 2011 Load: 48.9 t ADT: 800

SR1111

Good

Over: LAUREL FORK CREEK

200 FT.W.JCT.NC105, Watauga, NC

Built 2007 Load: 48.9 t ADT: 40

SR1958

Good

Over: N.E. CAPE FEAR RIVER

0.8 MI S JCT SR1956, Wayne, NC

Built 2022 Load: 48.9 t ADT: 2,000

US70E.BYP

Good

Over: REEDY BRANCH

0.3 MI.E.JCT.SR1556, Wayne, NC

Built 2016 Load: 48.9 t ADT: 2,100

SR1562

Good

Over: MIDDLE.FORK REDDIES RIVE

.5 MI.W.JCT.SR1563, Wilkes, NC

Built 2014 Load: 48.9 t ADT: 250

SR1944

Good

Over: LITTLE SANDY CREEK

50 FT.MI.N.JCT.SR1945, Wilkes, NC

Built 1971 Load: 48.9 t ADT: 150

SR1171

Good

Over: BRANCH LEWIS CREEK

.5 MI.W.JCT.US421, Wilkes, NC

Built 1963 Load: 48.9 t ADT: 100

SR1304

Good

Over: N.PRONG LEWIS FORK CREEK

100 FT.E.JCT.SR1300, Wilkes, NC

Built 2016 Load: 48.9 t ADT: 1,200

SR1302

Good

Over: MILLSTONE CREEK

0.2 MI.E.JCT.SR1378, Wilson, NC

Built 2016 Load: 48.9 t ADT: 950

SR1114

Good

Over: LEE SWAMP

0.15 MI. N. JCT. SR1115, Wilson, NC

Built 2022 Load: 48.9 t ADT: 210

SR1716

Good

Over: TURNER CREEK

1.9 MI.S.JCT.SR1001, Yadkin, NC

Built 2015 Load: 48.9 t ADT: 1,500

SR1597

Good

Over: FORBUSH CREEK

.4 MI.N.JCT.SR1593, Yadkin, NC

Built 2009 Load: 48.9 t ADT: 300

TOM BRANCH ROAD

Good

Over: DEEP CREEK

AT INTERSECTION WITH NPS, Swain, NC

Built 1952 Load: 49.0 t ADT: 61

NFSR 340A

Good

Over: ROCKHOUSE BRANCH

NATIONAL FOREST, Clay, NC

Built 1982 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 100

NFSR 2536A

Good

Over: TUSKEEGEE CREEK

EXTENSION OF SR 1242, Graham, NC

Built 1985 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 50

NFSR 2537

Good

Over: STECOAH CREEK

.3 MI. OFF SR 1236, Graham, NC

Built 1986 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 100

NFSR 140

Good

Over: COURTHOUSE CREEK

NO DATA ENTERED, Transylvania, NC

Built 2016 Load: 49.6 t ADT: 50

US21

Good

Over: GLADE CREEK

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1118, Alleghany, NC

Built 2016 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 3,700

US221

Good

Over: ELK CREEK

.1 MI.N.JCT.SR1170, Alleghany, NC

Built 1988 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 890

SR1206

Good

Over: UT TO BLEDSOE CREEK

.15 MI. W. JCT US21, Alleghany, NC

Built 2019 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 3,100

SR1112

Good

Over: STILLHOUSE BRANCH

0.9 MI. N. JCT. SR1111, Anson, NC

Built 2013 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 50

SR1639

Good

Over: JACKS BRANCH

0.1 MI. N. JCT. SR1638, Anson, NC

Built 2016 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 60

NC163

Good

Over: SOUTH FORK NEW RIVER

.1 MI.N.JCT.SR1201, Ashe, NC

Built 2006 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 2,300

SR1362

Good

Over: BIG HORSE CREEK

.4 MI.S.JCT.SR1363, Ashe, NC

Built 2016 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 470

SR1617

Good

Over: PEAK CREEK

100 FT.W.JCT.SR1616, Ashe, NC

Built 2015 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 20

SR 1100

Good

Over: UT TO THREE TOP CREEK

2.1 MI.N.JCT.SR1224, Ashe, NC

Built 2018 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 640

SR1324

Good

Over: CURTIS CREEK

20FT.S.JCT.SR1321, Avery, NC

Built 2014 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 500

SR1971

Good

Over: TAN SWAMP

2.9 MI. S. JCT. SR1100, Beaufort, NC

Built 2021 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 170

NC99

Good

Over: CANAL

2.4 MI. N. JCT. US264, Beaufort, NC

Built 2012 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 1,300

SR1003

Good

Over: DURHAM CREEK

0.4 MI E. OF JCT SR1932, Beaufort, NC

Built 2013 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 950

SR1514

Good

Over: BIG SWAMP

0.1 MI E. OF JCT SR1424, Beaufort, NC

Built 2008 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 100

SR1361

Good

Over: EASTMOST SWAMP

0.7 MI.E. OF JCT.NC45, Bertie, NC

Built 2019 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 750

NC41

Good

Over: COLLY CREEK

0.3 MI. W. JCT. SR1514, Bladen, NC

Built 1994 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 2,400

SR1502

Good

Over: S. RIVER OVERFLOW

0.4 MI. E. OF JCT. NC210, Bladen, NC

Built 2012 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 400

SR1532

Good

Over: COLLY CREEK

3.5 MI.N.JCT. NC53, Bladen, NC

Built 2003 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 50

NC906

Good

Over: RIVER SWAMP

0.1 MI.S. JCT.SR1506, Brunswick, NC

Built 2014 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 7,000

NC211

Good

Over: ROYAL OAK SWAMP

0.7MI.W.JCT.SR1342, Brunswick, NC

Built 2004 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 4,900

NC87

Good

Over: BATARORA BRANCH

1.0 MI. S. JCT. SR1752, Brunswick, NC

Built 2022 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 2,100

SR1401

Good

Over: PINCH GUT CREEK

2.9 MI. W. JCT. US17, Brunswick, NC

Built 2013 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 600

SR1742

Good

Over: FLAT CREEK

.3 MI.N.JCT.NC251, Buncombe, NC

Built 2009 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 460

SR 3464

Good

Over: GLADY FORK CREEK

0.02 MI N JCT SR3465, Buncombe, NC

Built 2017 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 450

HAZEL MILL ROAD

Good

Over: NORFORK SOUTHERN RR

2 MI.N.JCT.US19,23, Buncombe, NC

Built 1991 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 4,800

SR1332

Good

Over: SMITH MILL CREEK

0.05 MI.S.JCT.US19,23, Buncombe, NC

Built 1983 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 9,600

SR1972

Good

Over: EAST PRONG HUNTING CREE

.6 MI.W.JCT.NC18, Burke, NC

Built 2006 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 490

SR1258

Good

Over: SIMPSON CREEK

.4 MI.W.JCT.NC181, Burke, NC

Built 2018 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 400

SR2603

Good

Over: LITTLE BEAR CREEK

0.5 MI.W.JCT.SR2453, Cabarrus, NC

Built 2019 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 100

FAIRVIEW STREET

Good

Over: CHAMBERS BRANCH

215 FT.W.LAKEVIEW STREET, Cabarrus, NC

Built 2008 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 2,300

US64,NC90

Good

Over: LOWER CREEK

100 FT.E.JCT.NC18, Caldwell, NC

Built 2022 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 6,000

SR1511

Good

Over: LITTLE KINGS CREEK

.7 MI.S.JCT.SR1509, Caldwell, NC

Built 1998 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 900

SR1328

Good

Over: JOHNS RIVER

1.1 MI.N.JCT.SR1333, Caldwell, NC

Built 2010 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 210

Showing 15,551-15,600 of 18,901 bridges

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.