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: RAVINE

2.4 MILES TO U.S. ROUTE 2, McDowell, NC

Built 1940 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 5,007

SR1361

Poor

Over: RIPSHIN BRANCH

.9 MI.E.JCT.SR1359, Ashe, NC

Built 1961 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 30

SR1553

Poor

Over: UT TO N. FORK NEW RIVER

.2 MI.N.JCT.SR1554, Ashe, NC

Built 1967 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 170

SR1339

Poor

Over: HARVEY CREEK

0.3 MI. N. JCT. SR1344, Beaufort, NC

Built 1962 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 500

SR2027

Poor

Over: NORTH FORK IVY CREEK

.01 MI.N.JCT.NC197, Buncombe, NC

Built 1971 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 280

SR1147

Poor

Over: CATAWBA RIVER

.87 MI.S.JCT.NC126, Burke, NC

Built 1959 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 3,100

SR1574

Poor

Over: JONES CREEK

10 FT.N.JCT.SR1501, Caldwell, NC

Built 1967 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 100

NC58

Poor

Over: INTRACOSTAL WTRWY.

1.2 MI S. OF JCT NC24, Carteret, NC

Built 1971 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 18,000

SR1002

Poor

Over: ASHWORTH CREEK

0.5 MI. E. JCT. SR1209, Cleveland, NC

Built 1949 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 980

SR1850

Poor

Over: FIRST BROAD RIVER

0.5 MI. S. JCT. SR1344, Cleveland, NC

Built 1955 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 2,200

NC97

Poor

Over: FISHING CREEK

0.7 MI W JCT SR1500, Edgecombe, NC

Built 1968 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 2,400

VALLEY RD.

Poor

Over: MILL CREEK

.45 MI.N.JCT.REYNOLDA RD., Forsyth, NC

Built 1922 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 1,500

EAST FIFTH ST.(EBL

Poor

Over: BRUSHY FORK CREEK

.1MI.E.OLD GREENSBORO RD, Forsyth, NC

Built 1948 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 3,950

NINTH STREET

Poor

Over: NORFOLK SOUTHERN RR.

.01MI.E.JCT.MAIN STREET, Forsyth, NC

Built 1936 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 500

SR1402

Poor

Over: LONG CREEK

0.3 MI. W. JCT. SR1557, Gaston, NC

Built 1952 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 900

SR1524

Poor

Over: TABBS CREEK

1.1 MI E. OF JCT SR1521, Granville, NC

Built 1963 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 200

SR4763

Poor

Over: SOUTH BUFFALO CREEK

0.1 MI.W.JCT.US29&US70, Guilford, NC

Built 1930 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 100

SR3616

Poor

Over: BR. OF BIG ALAMANCE CK.

0.7 MI. N. JCT. SR1005, Guilford, NC

Built 1956 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 270

SR3388

Poor

Over: ALAMANCE CREEK

0.4 MI. W. JCT. SR3336, Guilford, NC

Built 1959 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 250

SR1355

Poor

Over: PIGEON RIVER

.25 MI.S.JCT.SR1363, Haywood, NC

Built 1961 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 200

SR2398

Poor

Over: SOUTHERN R.R.

0.1 MI. E. JCT. SR2395, Iredell, NC

Built 1955 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 3,800

SR1404

Poor

Over: LEEPERS CREEK

0.7 MI.N.JCT.SR1403, Lincoln, NC

Built 1966 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 850

SR1564

Poor

Over: BLACKSTOCK BRANCH

.4 MI.S.JCT.SR1565, Madison, NC

Built 1963 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 160

SR2822

Poor

Over: UT TO REEDY CREEK

1.0 MI. W. JCT. SR2805, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1981 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 8,600

SR1188

Poor

Over: CANE CREEK

.1 MI.W.JCT.NC226, Mitchell, NC

Built 1962 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 200

NC561

Poor

Over: FISHING CREEK

0.5 MI E JCT SR1004, Nash, NC

Built 1947 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 1,300

NC751

Poor

Over: SOUTHERN R.R.

0.2 MI. S. JCT. US70, Orange, NC

Built 1930 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 5,300

SR1920

Poor

Over: SEABOARD RR (ABANDONED)

0.06 MI.N.JCT.SR1954, Rutherford, NC

Built 1972 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 1,100

SR1408

Poor

Over: RAMEY CREEK

0.3 MI.W.JCT.SR1409, Surry, NC

Built 1976 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 400

SR2049

Poor

Over: HODGES MILL CREEK

.18 MI.N.SR2958, Wake, NC

Built 1978 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 5,200

SR2711

Poor

Over: REEDY BRANCH

0.4 MI. S. JCT. SR2710, Wake, NC

Built 1964 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 9,400

SR2720

Poor

Over: CREEK

0.4 MI.E.SR1006 OLD STAGE, Wake, NC

Built 1969 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 3,900

GREENBRIER RD.

Poor

Over: ECHO CREEK

0.1 MI N.JCT.WINTERLOCHEN, Wake, NC

Built 1970 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 400

SR1113

Poor

Over: UPPER LAUREL FORK CREEK

200FT.W.JCT.SR1109, Watauga, NC

Built 1968 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 2,000

SR1573

Poor

Over: UT TO MULBERRY CREEK

.3 MI.W.JCT.NC18, Wilkes, NC

Built 1963 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 25

US19W

Poor

Over: BALD CREEK

.5 MI.N.JCT.US19, Yancey, NC

Built 1940 Load: 22.6 t ADT: 2,200

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

Poor

Over: BIG PINE CREEK

0.3 MILES FROM NC ROUTE 1, Alleghany, NC

Built 1937 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 1,347

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

Poor

Over: BRUSH CREEK

2.0 MILES FROM U.S. ROUTE, Alleghany, NC

Built 1936 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 1,347

RANGE ROAD

Poor

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

SOUTHEAST ON S SLOCUMB ST, Wayne, NC

Built 1965 Load: 22.7 t ADT: 50

SR1592

Poor

Over: DOG CREEK

.3 MI.N.JCT.SR1589, Ashe, NC

Built 1975 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 200

US221

Poor

Over: LINVILLE RIVER

75FT.N.JCT.SR1505, Avery, NC

Built 1941 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 5,300

SR1625

Poor

Over: IRISH BUFFALO CREEK

1.4 MI. E. JCT. SR1624, Cabarrus, NC

Built 1957 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 7,300

SR2635

Poor

Over: COLD WATER CREEK

0.1 MI. W. JCT. SR2643, Cabarrus, NC

Built 1973 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 5,100

SR1719

Poor

Over: UPPER LITTLE RIVER

100 FT.S.JCT.SR1788, Caldwell, NC

Built 1976 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 700

US321SBL

Poor

Over: LAKE HICKORY

.15 MI.S.JCT.SR1760, Caldwell, NC

Built 1962 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 22,250

SR1326

Poor

Over: BEAVERDAM CREEK

200 FT.N.JCT.SR1332, Cherokee, NC

Built 1971 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 220

SR1363

Poor

Over: BRUSHY CREEK

0.1 MI. S. JCT. SR1365, Cleveland, NC

Built 1967 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 850

US117N

Poor

Over: CSX RAILROAD

0.1MI.N.JCT.SR1320, Duplin, NC

Built 1936 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 1,300

CAMERON AVENUE

Poor

Over: UT TO BRUSHY FORK CREEK

.02 MI.N.JCT.US311, Forsyth, NC

Built 1920 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 2,600

SR1345

Poor

Over: FOSTER CREEK

.1 MI.E.JCT.SR1347, Henderson, NC

Built 1969 Load: 23.5 t ADT: 2,400

Showing 18,151-18,200 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.