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

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

Poor

Over: BIG PINE CREEK

1.3 MILES FROM NC ROUTE 1, Alleghany, NC

Built 1938 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 1,347

SR1322

Poor

Over: BIG LAUREL CREEK

.8 MI.N.JCT.SR1323, Ashe, NC

Built 1956 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 70

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

Poor

Over: STREAM

0.01 MILES FROM U.S. ROUT, Avery, NC

Built 1950 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 2,000

SR3412

Poor

Over: HOMINY CREEK

.15 MI.N.JCT.NC112, Buncombe, NC

Built 1929 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 8,000

SR1002

Poor

Over: FRENCH BROAD RVR,SO.RR

.02 MI.W.JCT.NC251, Buncombe, NC

Built 1954 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 9,000

HARDESTY LANE

Poor

Over: SWANANNOA RIVER

Adjacent to 118P; exit Rt, Buncombe, NC

Built 1971 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 100

SR1817

Poor

Over: N. FORK MOUNTAIN CREEK

1.3 MI. N. JCT. SR1818, Catawba, NC

Built 1973 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 500

SR1303

Poor

Over: N PRONG ROCKY RIVER

1.0 MI. S. JCT. SR1301, Chatham, NC

Built 1971 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 150

SR1548

Poor

Over: HIWASSEE RIVER

.5 MI.N.JCT.SR1564, Cherokee, NC

Built 1932 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 2,900

SR1517

Poor

Over: CROOKED RUN CREEK

0.3 MI. E. JCT. SR1518, Cleveland, NC

Built 1963 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 240

SR1704

Poor

Over: PANTHER CREEK

0.3 MI.N. JCT. SR1705, Duplin, NC

Built 1955 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 150

SR1145

Poor

Over: PINE CREEK

.1 MI.N.JCT.SR1163, Jackson, NC

Built 1952 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 650

PICNIC GROUNDS RD

Poor

Over: CULLOWHEE CREEK

0.06 MI.W.JCT.UNIVER.DR., Jackson, NC

Built 1954 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 1,000

SR1001

Poor

Over: ELLIJAY CREEK

40 FT.N.JCT.SR1526, Macon, NC

Built 1957 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 950

SR1389

Poor

Over: YOUNCE CREEK

25 FT.W.JCT.SR1390, Macon, NC

Built 1965 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 30

SR1557

Poor

Over: LITTLE IVY CREEK

.02 MI.W.JCT.SR1610, Madison, NC

Built 1963 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 120

SR1151

Poor

Over: BIG PINE CREEK

.2 MI.S.JCT.SR1157, Madison, NC

Built 1951 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 550

SR1349

Poor

Over: PIGEONROOST CREEK

1.1 MI.N.JCT.SR1319, Mitchell, NC

Built 1971 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 150

SR1658

Poor

Over: BIG GOVERNORS CREEK

0.5 MI. S. JCT. SR1625, Moore, NC

Built 1960 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 50

SR1535

Poor

Over: CANAL

0.4 MI. N. JCT. SR1534, Pitt, NC

Built 1973 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 650

SR1526

Poor

Over: UT TO CATHEYS CREEK

.05 MI.S.JCT.SR1531, Rutherford, NC

Built 1959 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 70

SR1340

Poor

Over: GUM SWAMP CREEK

0.3 MI. W. JCT. SR1001, Scotland, NC

Built 1952 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 100

SR1923

Poor

Over: HARDY CREEK

0.65 MI.E.JCT.SR1938, Stanly, NC

Built 1945 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 200

SR1350

Poor

Over: STEWARTS CREEK

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1387, Surry, NC

Built 1951 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 1,700

SR1351

Poor

Over: SOUTH FORK NEW RIVER

20 FT.W.JCT.SR1352, Watauga, NC

Built 1967 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 120

SR2024

Poor

Over: LITTLE ELKIN CREEK

.2 MI.E.JCT.SR2091, Wilkes, NC

Built 1966 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 210

SR1414

Poor

Over: BIG CREEK

.03 MI.W.JCT.US19W, Yancey, NC

Built 1963 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 100

SR1149

Poor

Over: PRATHER CREEK

.2 MI.S.JCT.SR1161, Alleghany, NC

Built 1967 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 120

SR1599

Poor

Over: PEAK CREEK

80 FT.S.JCT.SR1604, Ashe, NC

Built 1972 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 150

SR1514

Poor

Over: NORTH FORK NEW RIVER

50 FT.W.JCT.SR1642, Ashe, NC

Built 1962 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 1,300

SR2713

Poor

Over: SWANNANOA RIVER

.03 MI.W.JCT.SR2500, Buncombe, NC

Built 1960 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 320

US70

Poor

Over: SOUTHERN RR

.1 MI.E.JCT.SR1620, Burke, NC

Built 1940 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 5,600

SR1002

Poor

Over: HENRY FORK CREEK

0.75 MI.S.JCT.SR1780, Burke, NC

Built 1959 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 2,700

SR1740

Poor

Over: UPPER LITTLE RIVER

0.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1744, Caldwell, NC

Built 1976 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 700

SR1235

Poor

Over: JOYCE CREEK

0.6 MI E JCT SR1234, Camden, NC

Built 1959 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 100

SR2033

Poor

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

0.2 MI. W. JCT. SR2044, Cleveland, NC

Built 1955 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 5,200

SR2249

Poor

Over: BEASON CREEK

0.4 MI. N. JCT. SR2245, Cleveland, NC

Built 1976 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 1,000

GLADE STREET

Poor

Over: PETERS CREEK

200 FT.E.JCT.HAWTHORNE RD, Forsyth, NC

Built 1919 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 9,000

SR1803

Poor

Over: BAT FORK CREEK

.1 MI.E.JCT.SR1812, Henderson, NC

Built 1961 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 1,900

SR1128

Poor

Over: UT TO NORTH PACOLET RIVE

.05 MI.S.JCT.SR1125, Polk, NC

Built 1974 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 500

SR1002

Poor

Over: BRANCH OF LITTLE CREEK

0.3 MI. E. JCT. SR2907, Randolph, NC

Built 1971 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 360

SR2177

Poor

Over: MAYO RIVER

0.1 MI. S. JCT. SR2174, Rockingham, NC

Built 1965 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 3,500

SR1509

Poor

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

0.05 MI. W. JCT. SR1508, Rockingham, NC

Built 1957 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 190

SR1169

Poor

Over: BIG ISL. BEAVER CREEK

0.07 MI. S. JCT. NC704, Rockingham, NC

Built 1971 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 2,400

SR1968

Poor

Over: STONY RUN CREEK

0.2 MI. E. JCT. SR1975, Stanly, NC

Built 1961 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 2,000

SR1458

Poor

Over: MARSHALL CREEK

1.2 MI. W. JCT. NC89, Stokes, NC

Built 1960 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 70

SR1315

Poor

Over: MITCHELL RIVER

.7 MI.E.JCT.SR1301, Surry, NC

Built 1950 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 1,000

SR1830

Poor

Over: TOMS CREEK

.5 MI.W.JCT.SR1809, Surry, NC

Built 1975 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 110

SR1307

Poor

Over: ALARKA CREEK

25 FT.N.JCT.SR1309, Swain, NC

Built 1959 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 60

SR1103

Poor

Over: SILVERMINE CREEK

.4 MI.N.JCT.SR1105, Swain, NC

Built 1977 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 220

Showing 18,051-18,100 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.