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

US23,441

Poor

Over: RABBIT CREEK

50 FT.S.JCT.SR1504, Macon, NC

Built 1953 Load: 48.0 t ADT: 19,000

SR1318

Poor

Over: BIG LAUREL CREEK

.7 MI.E.JCT.SR1345, Madison, NC

Built 1980 Load: 48.0 t ADT: 750

SR1214

Poor

Over: CREEK

0.3 MI. S. JCT. GV.RD.553, Montgomery, NC

Built 1994 Load: 48.0 t ADT: 50

SR1123

Poor

Over: SNOW CREEK

.3 MI.W.JCT.SR1100, Surry, NC

Built 1960 Load: 48.0 t ADT: 290

OCONALUFTEE ENTRAN

Poor

Over: OCONALUFTEE RIVER

AT JUNCTION OF JOB CORPS, Swain, NC

Built 1983 Load: 48.1 t ADT: 100

I40 EBL

Poor

Over: LYLE CREEK

2.0 MI. E. JCT. SR1716, Catawba, NC

Built 1957 Load: 48.9 t ADT: 18,250

VANCE STREET

Poor

Over: PENNWOOD BRANCH

.1 MI.E.JCT.MEADOW RD., Randolph, NC

Built 1973 Load: 48.9 t ADT: 500

SR1104

Poor

Over: LITTLE CROOKED CREEK

.02 MI.E.JCT.SR1106, McDowell, NC

Built 1983 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 100

SR1157

Poor

Over: SHUFORD CREEK

.01 MI.W.JCT.SR1156, Yancey, NC

Built 1986 Load: 49.8 t ADT: 600

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

Poor

Over: U.S. ROUTE 19

12.7 MILES TO U.S. ROUTE, Haywood, NC

Built 1961 Load: 49.9 t ADT: 100

SR1105

Poor

Over: SECOND CREEK

0.3 MI. W. JCT. SR1104, Tyrrell, NC

Built 1982 Load: 50.8 t ADT: 510

US21B

Poor

Over: YADKIN RIVER

.28 MI.S.JCT.NC268, Surry, NC

Built 1971 Load: 51.7 t ADT: 12,000

SR1331

Poor

Over: GILLIKIN CREEK

0.2 MI S JCT US70, Carteret, NC

Built 1984 Load: 52.6 t ADT: 1,700

NC241

Poor

Over: LIMESTONE CREEK

1.3 MI.N. JCT.NC111, Duplin, NC

Built 1950 Load: 52.6 t ADT: 4,400

SR1372

Poor

Over: YADKIN RIVER

1.7 MI.NE.JCT.US321, Caldwell, NC

Built 1995 Load: 53.5 t ADT: 820

I40 BUS

Poor

Over: BRUSHY FORK CREEK

0.7 MI. E. JCT. SR4325, Forsyth, NC

Built 1958 Load: 53.5 t ADT: 74,500

SR1128

Poor

Over: CANAL OFF OYSTER CR.

0.1 MI S. OF JCT SR 1127, Hyde, NC

Built 1994 Load: 53.5 t ADT: 350

SR1503

Poor

Over: PUNCHEON FORK CREEK

.01 MI.E.JCT.SR1502, Madison, NC

Built 1990 Load: 53.5 t ADT: 500

SR1303

Poor

Over: SHUT IN CREEK

.3 MI.N.JCT.SR1302, Madison, NC

Built 1960 Load: 53.5 t ADT: 250

SR1790

Poor

Over: GOOSE CREEK

.6 MI.S.JCT.SR1766, McDowell, NC

Built 1979 Load: 53.5 t ADT: 220

SR1571

Poor

Over: LOGAN CREEK

.2 MI.E.JCT.SR1570, Yadkin, NC

Built 1987 Load: 53.5 t ADT: 670

SR1325

Poor

Over: RIGHT FORK BEANS CREEK

1.5 MI.N.JCT.SR1328, Mitchell, NC

Built 1989 Load: 54.4 t ADT: 350

SR2180

Poor

Over: LAKE FISHER

0.5 MI. E. JCT. SR2202, Cabarrus, NC

Built 1977 Load: 55.3 t ADT: 11,500

SR1140

Poor

Over: LITTLE CRABTREE CREEK

.04 MI.S.JCT.US19E, Yancey, NC

Built 1979 Load: 56.2 t ADT: 150

NC88

Poor

Over: NORTH FORK NEW RIVER

15 FT.W.JCT.SR1308, Ashe, NC

Built 1981 Load: 57.1 t ADT: 550

NORTH ELM STREET

Poor

Over: NORTH BUFFALO CREEK

0.4 MI.N.JCT US70, Guilford, NC

Built 1921 Load: 57.1 t ADT: 13,000

SR1133

Poor

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

.2 MI.N.JCT.SR1125, Ashe, NC

Built 1982 Load: 58.0 t ADT: 670

SR1140

Poor

Over: BR.LITTLE SHALLOTTE RVR.

1.1 MI.S.JCT.NC130, Brunswick, NC

Built 1990 Load: 58.9 t ADT: 2,900

NC133

Poor

Over: MALLORY CREEK

4 MI S. JCT. US17, Brunswick, NC

Built 1991 Load: 59.8 t ADT: 7,600

NC45

Poor

Over: CANAL

3.6 MI.N.JCT.US264, Hyde, NC

Built 1983 Load: 59.8 t ADT: 900

SR1560

Poor

Over: LITTLE RIVER

1.2 MI.E.JCT.SR1536, Transylvania, NC

Built 1957 Load: 59.8 t ADT: 210

SR1322

Poor

Over: BIG LAUREL CREEK

.3 MI.S.JCT.SR1326, Ashe, NC

Built 1960 Load: 60.7 t ADT: 110

SR1901

Poor

Over: LOWER SPRING CREEK

0.1 MI. E. JCT. SR1912, Beaufort, NC

Built 1985 Load: 60.7 t ADT: 100

US321NBL

Poor

Over: LAKE HICKORY

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

Built 1983 Load: 60.7 t ADT: 22,500

I85S

Poor

Over: RICHLAND CREEK

2.0 MI. N. JCT. NC62, Guilford, NC

Built 1981 Load: 60.7 t ADT: 28,000

I85N

Poor

Over: RICHLAND CREEK

2.0 MI. N. JCT. NC62, Guilford, NC

Built 1981 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 33,250

SR1141

Poor

Over: BEAVER CREEK

.01 MI.E.JCT.SR1143, Mitchell, NC

Built 1921 Load: 62.5 t ADT: 300

SR3116

Poor

Over: ROBINSON CREEK

.01 MI.S.JCT.SR3157, Buncombe, NC

Built 1967 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 7,400

SR1159

Poor

Over: MIDDLE CREEK

1.1 MI.N.JCT.SR1160, Yancey, NC

Built 1978 Load: 63.5 t ADT: 300

W.DYNASTY DRIVE

Poor

Over: BLACK CREEK TRIBUTARY

.4 MI.W.JCT.HARRISON AVE., Wake, NC

Built 1985 Load: 65.3 t ADT: 1,000

SR1402

Poor

Over: SNOW CREEK

0.1 MI. N. JCT. SR1695, Catawba, NC

Built 1981 Load: 66.2 t ADT: 14,000

SR2026

Poor

Over: WILDCAT BRANCH

0.6 MI. S. JCT. I-40, Wake, NC

Built 1981 Load: 66.2 t ADT: 29,000

SR1811

Poor

Over: CHUNKY PIPE CREEK

0.6 MI S JCT SR1813, Durham, NC

Built 1980 Load: 68.0 t ADT: 1,900

SR2614

Poor

Over: UT TO BLYTHE CREEK

0.3 MI. E. JCT. NC16, Union, NC

Built 1980 Load: 68.9 t ADT: 50

US311

Poor

Over: BRUSHY FORK BRANCH

1.7 MI. S. JCT. SR2393, Forsyth, NC

Built 1970 Load: 69.8 t ADT: 4,400

SR1808

Poor

Over: NO CREEK

0.5 MI. N. JCT. SR1811, Davie, NC

Built 1986 Load: 70.7 t ADT: 310

SR1345

Poor

Over: ROCK CREEK

.5 MI.S.JCT.SR1342, Alleghany, NC

Built 1989 Load: 71.6 t ADT: 130

SR1527

Poor

Over: PAINT FORK CREEK

.03 MI.N.JCT.SR1530, Madison, NC

Built 1961 Load: 73.4 t ADT: 450

NC63

Poor

Over: FRIEZELAND CREEK

1.9 MI.E.JCT.NC209, Madison, NC

Built 1977 Load: 75.2 t ADT: 300

SR1106

Poor

Over: SMITHWICK CREEK

0.4 MI. W. JCT. SR1524, Martin, NC

Built 1989 Load: 75.2 t ADT: 250

Showing 18,601-18,650 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.