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%.

Condition Distribution

Bridge inventory deck-condition mix — North Carolina (FHWA NBI)

North Carolina35.83408285275912%41.415798105920324%GoodFairPoorStructurally Deficient
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 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.

SR1216

Structurally Deficient

Over: WEST FORK PIGEON RIVER

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

Built 1920 Load: 1.8 t ADT: 30

TSALI ENOLA ROAD

Structurally Deficient

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

SR1155

Poor

Over: NAKED CREEK

.4 MI.S.JCT.SR1154, Wilkes, NC

Built 1962 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 680

SR2318

Poor

Over: GRAYS CREEK

.2 MI.E.JCT.SR2323, Wilkes, NC

Built 1964 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 250

SR1931

Poor

Over: LITTLE ELKIN CREEK

.3 MI.W.JCT.SR1930, Wilkes, NC

Built 1967 Load: 29.9 t ADT: 1,300

SR1433

Poor

Over: BRUSH CREEK

20 FT.W.JCT.SR1465, Alleghany, NC

Built 1959 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 80

SR1472

Poor

Over: STURGEON CREEK

0.8 MI.W.JCT.SR1435, Brunswick, NC

Built 1944 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 7,600

US29 & US601 SBL

Poor

Over: IRISH BUFFALO CREEK

0.1 MI. N. JCT. SR1394, Cabarrus, NC

Built 1938 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 14,750

NC73

Poor

Over: DUTCH BUFFALO CREEK

0.1 MI. W. JCT. SR2604, Cabarrus, NC

Built 1920 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 8,000

US321 BUS

Poor

Over: SMYRE CREEK

0.1 MI. S. JCT. SR1927, Catawba, NC

Built 1922 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 9,300

NC150

Poor

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

0.3 MI. E. JCT. SR1942, Cleveland, NC

Built 1955 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 8,900

I85BUSS,US29,US70

Poor

Over: WSSB RR

.5 MI. N. JCT. NC8, Davidson, NC

Built 1950 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 10,000

SR1606

Poor

Over: ELLSWORTH CREEK

0.3 MI. N. JCT. US64, Davie, NC

Built 1969 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 2,100

SR1306

Poor

Over: NE CAPE FEAR RIVER

0.5 MI.N.JCT.SR1501, Duplin, NC

Built 1996 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 1,400

SR4240E

Poor

Over: SOUTH BUFFALO CREEK

0.4 MI. W. JCT. I40, Guilford, NC

Built 1957 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 10,500

US74

Poor

Over: SOUTHERN RAILROAD

.3 MI.N.JCT.US19,23,74, Haywood, NC

Built 1961 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 32,000

SR1534

Poor

Over: TUCKASEGEE RIVER

0.01 MI.S.JCT.US74,441, Jackson, NC

Built 1962 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 1,500

SR1001

Poor

Over: WILDCAT CREEK

1.3 MI.S.JCT.SR1521, Macon, NC

Built 1974 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 100

SR1395

Poor

Over: WALNUT CREEK

.1 MI.N.JCT.SR1398, Madison, NC

Built 1950 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 800

SR1349

Poor

Over: PIGEONROOST CREEK

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

Built 1972 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 150

SR1231

Poor

Over: LITTLE BEAR CREEK

0.4 MI. S. JCT. NC73, Stanly, NC

Built 1949 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 330

SR2080

Poor

Over: ARARAT RIVER

200 FT.E.JCT.SR2083, Surry, NC

Built 1960 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 800

SR1937

Poor

Over: HANEY BRANCH

0.5 MI. N. JCT. SR1903, Union, NC

Built 1960 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 420

SR1306

Poor

Over: SHARP CREEK

.1 MI.E.JCT.SR1233, Watauga, NC

Built 1995 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 800

SR2328

Poor

Over: UT TO YADKIN RIVER

.5 MI.S.JCT.SR2371, Wilkes, NC

Built 1958 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 200

US52

Poor

Over: SOUTH FORK JONES CREEK

0.6 MI. N. JCT. SR1127, Anson, NC

Built 1954 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 4,500

NC11

Poor

Over: WHITE OAK CANAL

0.1 MI. S. JCT. SR1539, Bladen, NC

Built 1952 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 3,300

US29 & US601 NBL

Poor

Over: IRISH BUFFALO CREEK

0.1 MI. N. JCT. SR1394, Cabarrus, NC

Built 1951 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 14,750

SR1224

Poor

Over: JOYCE CREEK

.7 MI.S.JCT.SR1225, Camden, NC

Built 1951 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 1,800

I74, US311

Poor

Over: FIDDLERS CREEK

0.1 MI. N. JCT. SR2699, Forsyth, NC

Built 1981 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 33,500

NC208

Poor

Over: SHELTON LAUREL CREEK

.01 MI.W.JCT.NC212, Madison, NC

Built 1962 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 1,800

US64E

Poor

Over: WELCH CREEK

100' E. JCT. SR1591, Martin, NC

Built 1989 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 4,400

SR1005

Poor

Over: KERSHAW CREEK

2.0 MI W JCT NC55, Pamlico, NC

Built 1980 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 1,200

NC55

Poor

Over: TRENT CREEK

5 MI.EAST OF JCT.NC304, Pamlico, NC

Built 1960 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 3,700

US158

Poor

Over: HOGAN'S CREEK

1.1 MI. E. JCT. SR2569, Rockingham, NC

Built 1967 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 2,600

US1N.BYP

Poor

Over: CSX RAILROAD

0.2 MI.N. OF JCT.SR1001, Vance, NC

Built 1955 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 3,150

SR1952

Poor

Over: CAMP BRANCH

1.2 MI.S.JCT.SR1002, Wilkes, NC

Built 1967 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 880

SR1559

Poor

Over: REDDIES RIVER

100 FT.W.JCT.SR1546, Wilkes, NC

Built 1959 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 100

SR1718

Poor

Over: ROBY CREEK

.5 MI.S.JCT.SR1717, Yadkin, NC

Built 1967 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 450

SR1112

Poor

Over: CANE RIVER

0.01 MI.W.JCT.NC197, Yancey, NC

Built 1979 Load: 31.7 t ADT: 130

NC145

Poor

Over: ISLAND CREEK

0.1 MI. S. JCT. SR1842, Anson, NC

Built 1970 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 1,500

NC88

Poor

Over: UT TO PEAK CREEK

250 FT.W.JCT.SR1638, Ashe, NC

Built 1960 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 1,700

NC88

Poor

Over: ROAN CREEK

150 FT.W.JCT.SR1627, Ashe, NC

Built 1960 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 2,500

SR1518

Poor

Over: DAWS CREEK

2.5 MI. W. JCT. NC133, Brunswick, NC

Built 1986 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 1,200

NC3

Poor

Over: MILL CREEK

0.4 MI. N. JCT. SR1616, Cabarrus, NC

Built 1960 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 7,100

BROOKWOOD AVENUE

Poor

Over: THREE MILE BRANCH

.06MI.W.JCT.BRANCHVIEW RD, Cabarrus, NC

Built 1968 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 3,800

STONEY CREEK DRIVE

Poor

Over: CODDLE CREEK

.1MI.S.JCT.MONTICELLO DR., Cabarrus, NC

Built 1997 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 100

ZEPHYR PLACE

Poor

Over: UT TO ROCKY RIVER

0.1 MI. E. JCT. ROUSH PLA, Cabarrus, NC

Built 2008 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 750

ARROWOOD STREET

Poor

Over: LOWER CREEK

125FT.E.JCT.NC18, Caldwell, NC

Built 1960 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 10

NC87

Poor

Over: WEYMAN CREEK

0.1 MI. S. JCT. NC11, Columbus, NC

Built 1965 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 7,500

US17

Poor

Over: PALMETTO SWAMP

1.5 MI N JCT SR 1640, Craven, NC

Built 1953 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 6,600

US421

Poor

Over: LITTLE CREEK

0.1 MI.W.JCT.I40, Forsyth, NC

Built 1960 Load: 32.6 t ADT: 62,000

Showing 18,401-18,450 of 18,901 bridges

Related

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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.

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.