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

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

SR1803

Poor

Over: NORTH MUDDY CREEK

0.4 MI.S.JCT.SR1762, McDowell, NC

Built 1953 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 360

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

SR1892

Poor

Over: ROCKY CREEK

0.1 MI. S. JCT. SR1857, Iredell, NC

Built 1948 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 650

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

SR1185

Poor

Over: ALARKA CREEK

.09 MI.W.JCT.SR1140, Swain, NC

Built 1970 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 40

SR1580

Poor

Over: WILLIAMSON CREEK

.2 MI.E.JCT.SR1596, Transylvania, NC

Built 1972 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 200

SR1137

Poor

Over: CANE CREEK

0.2 MI. N. JCT. SR1131, Union, NC

Built 1973 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 800

SR1505

Poor

Over: TURNER SWAMP

0.6 MI. E. JCT. SR1512, Wayne, NC

Built 1953 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 150

SR1567

Poor

Over: DARNELL CREEK

.6 MI.N.JCT.SR1575, Wilkes, NC

Built 1960 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 200

SR1354

Poor

Over: HUFFMAN BRANCH

1.3 MI.N.JCT.SR1300, Wilkes, NC

Built 1964 Load: 19.9 t ADT: 110

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

Poor

Over: BIG PINE CREEK

0.9 MILES FROM NC ROUTE 1, Alleghany, NC

Built 1937 Load: 20.0 t ADT: 1,347

SR1523

Poor

Over: HELTON CREEK

50 FT.S.JCT.SR1527, Ashe, NC

Built 1968 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 70

NC88

Poor

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

.3 MI.S.JCT.SR1507, Ashe, NC

Built 1949 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 7,200

SR1528

Poor

Over: HELTON CREEK

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1527, Ashe, NC

Built 1967 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 80

Showing 18,151-18,200 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.

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