State profile · Near median Poor share

North Carolina bridge safety

Condition ratings, load ratings, and Poor-condition data for every public highway bridge in North Carolina, based on the FHWA National Bridge Inventory.

18,901
Public bridges
35.8%
Good condition
6.2%
Poor condition

Data updated May 2026

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 whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

-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 - Poor-condition share 20.5%
National avg

Lower is better. Bar maxes at 30% (worst-state ceiling). National average sits at 7.0%.

Condition Distribution

North Carolina43%49.7%GoodFairPoor
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 by Poor-condition share (lower share = better)

States are ranked by the share of bridges whose lowest applicable component rating is 4 or below. This describes recorded condition; it does not measure funding effectiveness or live crossing safety. States here sit immediately above and below North Carolina on the same metric.

SC

South Carolina

6.10% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$5,396

WI

Wisconsin

6.13% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$14,851
Selected

NC

North Carolina

6.16% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$18,901

HI

Hawaii

6.47% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$1,206

MT

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 the portal's composite display score. Inspection intervals are risk-based under current NBIS rules.

SR1216

Poor

Over: WEST FORK PIGEON RIVER

100 FT.E.JCT.NC215, Haywood, NC

Built 1920 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 30

TSALI ENOLA ROAD

Poor

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

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

Related

All states → | National rankings → | Understanding conditions → | Retired SD term explained →
Data sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI), latest released cycle. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges.

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). Poor condition is an inspection-record category, not a closure or unsafe-to-cross designation. Consult the bridge owner for current status.

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.

Every figure on PlainBridge is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.