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%.

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.

All Bridges in North Carolina

SR1356

Poor

Over: BR. OF KIRBY'S CREEK

1.3 MI.S. OF JCT.SR1351, Northampton, NC

Built 1979 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 160

NC304

Poor

Over: SMITH CREEK

0.7 MI. N. OF JCT NC307, Pamlico, NC

Built 1954 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 1,700

SR2613

Poor

Over: MILL CREEK

0.1 MI. W. JCT. SR1003, Randolph, NC

Built 1976 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 380

SR1724

Poor

Over: SOUTHERN RAILROAD

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

Built 1961 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 3,000

US74BUS

Poor

Over: SECOND BROAD RIVER

.2 MI.W.JCT.SR1006, Rutherford, NC

Built 1921 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 8,700

SR1103

Poor

Over: SILVERMINE CREEK

.45 MI.S.JCT.US19,74, Swain, NC

Built 1953 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 320

SR1137

Poor

Over: BOWERS CREEK

0.05 MI.W.JCT.SR1143, Swain, NC

Built 1978 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 650

US64 EBL

Poor

Over: DAVIDSON RIVER

.1 MI.W.JCT.US276,NC280, Transylvania, NC

Built 1957 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 13,500

SR1536

Poor

Over: BUCKHORN CREEK

25 FT.S.JCT.SR1560, Transylvania, NC

Built 1960 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 660

NC903

Poor

Over: LAKE GASTON

1.7 MI N JCT SR1357, Warren, NC

Built 1961 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 3,600

NC32,NC37,NC94

Poor

Over: ALBEMARLE SOUND

0.1 MI. N. JCT. SR1315, Washington, NC

Built 1990 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 4,000

SR2503

Poor

Over: LITTLE HUNTING CREEK

0.01 MI.S.JCT.SR2418, Wilkes, NC

Built 1984 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 120

SR1401

Poor

Over: BALD MTN CREEK

.01 MI.S.JCT.SR1395, Yancey, NC

Built 1960 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 80

SR1928

Poor

Over: SOUTHERN R.R.

0.05 MI. S. OF JCT. US70, Alamance, NC

Built 1972 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 16,000

NC742

Poor

Over: RICHARDSON CREEK

0.4 MI. E. JCT. SR1459, Anson, NC

Built 1953 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 1,400

SR1573

Poor

Over: GRASSY CREEK

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1535, Ashe, NC

Built 1964 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 200

US264

Poor

Over: PUNGO RIVER

0.1 MI.E. JCT.SR1712, Beaufort, NC

Built 1956 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 2,500

NC906

Poor

Over: SARAH HOLE

0.1MI.S. JCT. SR1501, Brunswick, NC

Built 1952 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 1,400

SR1620

Poor

Over: FRENCH BROAD RVR.SO.RR

.01 MI.W.JCT.NC.251, Buncombe, NC

Built 1968 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 4,400

SR1740

Poor

Over: FLAT CREEK

1.4 MI.S.JCT.SR1756, Buncombe, NC

Built 1961 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 1,300

SR3449

Poor

Over: BEAVERDAM CREEK

.01 MI.E.JCT.SR3466, Buncombe, NC

Built 1977 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 450

US64,NC18

Poor

Over: JOHNS RIVER

.2 MI.S.JCT.SR1434, Burke, NC

Built 1934 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 11,500

US64,NC18

Poor

Over: GREASY CREEK

100 FT.W.JCT.SR1933, Caldwell, NC

Built 1960 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 18,000

NC86

Poor

Over: HOGAN'S CREEK

1.13 MI. N. JCT. SR1300, Caswell, NC

Built 1957 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 8,500

NC180

Poor

Over: CSX RR

0.3 MI. N. JCT. NC150, Cleveland, NC

Built 1950 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 8,700

NC12

Poor

Over: THE SLASH

0.1MI S. JCT SR 1248, Dare, NC

Built 1956 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 3,300

NC275

Poor

Over: S. FORK CATAWBA RIVER

0.1 MI. W. JCT. SR1836, Gaston, NC

Built 1953 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 9,400

SR1116

Poor

Over: COLE CREEK

0.85 MI. N. JCT SR1114, Gates, NC

Built 1975 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 150

SR1158

Poor

Over: RICHLAND CREEK

0.7 MI. N. JCT. SR1188, Guilford, NC

Built 1976 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 950

SR1328

Poor

Over: BOYLSTON CREEK

.3 MI.E.JCT.NC280, Henderson, NC

Built 1960 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 260

SR1436

Poor

Over: BIG MARSH SWAMP

0.1 MI. S. JCT. SR1444, Hoke, NC

Built 1951 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 410

SR2158

Poor

Over: FIFTH CREEK

0.8 MI. S. JCT. SR2141, Iredell, NC

Built 1951 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 2,300

NC42

Poor

Over: WHITE OAK CREEK

0.15 MI. E. JCT. SR1549, Johnston, NC

Built 1947 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 20,000

NC210

Poor

Over: MIDDLE CREEK

0.2MI E.JCT SR1341, Johnston, NC

Built 1934 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 5,900

NC182

Poor

Over: INDIAN CREEK

0.7 MI. E. JCT. SR1167, Lincoln, NC

Built 1951 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 950

NC28

Poor

Over: COWEE CREEK

0.4 MI. N. JCT. SR1340, Macon, NC

Built 1921 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 2,100

NC209

Poor

Over: MEADOW FORK CREEK

.04 MI.S.JCT.SR1175, Madison, NC

Built 1938 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 400

SR1318

Poor

Over: BIG LAUREL CREEK

.1 MI.W.JCT.SR1343, Madison, NC

Built 1980 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 750

SR1526

Poor

Over: CROOKED CREEK

.9 MI.W.JCT.SR1527, Madison, NC

Built 1964 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 700

SR1103

Poor

Over: LITTLE CROOKED CREEK

.05 MI.S.JCT.SR1128, McDowell, NC

Built 1978 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 2,200

SR2138

Poor

Over: TORRENCE CREEK

0.2 MI. S. JCT. SR2136, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1955 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 11,000

SR1002

Poor

Over: BIG CRABTREE CREEK

.38 MI.S.JCT.US19E, Mitchell, NC

Built 1966 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 700

SR1714

Poor

Over: TAR RIVER

0.1 MI E JCT SR1715, Nash, NC

Built 1959 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 15,500

US74

Poor

Over: BANKS CHANNEL

0.8 MI. W. OF JCT. US76, New Hanover, NC

Built 1957 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 10,000

NC226

Poor

Over: N. FORK FIRST BROAD CK

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1728, Rutherford, NC

Built 1955 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 1,700

US64

Poor

Over: COVE CREEK

.1 MI.W.JCT.SR1183, Rutherford, NC

Built 1940 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 2,700

SR1547

Poor

Over: CATHEYS CREEK

.4 MI.N.JCT.SR1548, Rutherford, NC

Built 1968 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 320

SR1538

Poor

Over: CATHEYS CREEK

.6 MI.E.JCT.SR1548, Rutherford, NC

Built 1967 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 1,200

SR1100

Poor

Over: UT TO BEAVER CREEK

0.1 MI.W.JCT.SR2204, Surry, NC

Built 1952 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 1,000

SR1135

Poor

Over: FRENCH BROAD RIVER

.05 MI.W.JCT.US178, Transylvania, NC

Built 1957 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 320

Showing 18,401-18,450 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.

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.

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.