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

US64

Poor

Over: NANTAHALA RIVER

.2 MI.W.JCT.SR1448, Macon, NC

Built 1965 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 2,800

SR1403

Poor

Over: N.TOE RIVER,N&S RR.

.05 MI.S.JCT.SR1275, Mitchell, NC

Built 1986 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 4,800

NC770, US311

Poor

Over: DAN RIVER

0.5 MI. E. JCT. NC135, Rockingham, NC

Built 1970 Load: 42.6 t ADT: 5,700

SR1545

Poor

Over: ZACKS FORK CREEK

200 FT.S.JCT.SR1511, Caldwell, NC

Built 1950 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 550

NC150

Poor

Over: SEABOARD COASTLINE RR

0.1 MI. W. JCT. SR1815, Catawba, NC

Built 1965 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 9,900

SR1121

Poor

Over: FIRST BROAD RIVER

0.2 MI. N. JCT. SR1122, Cleveland, NC

Built 1967 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 700

US501

Poor

Over: ENO RIVER

3.8 MI. N. JCT. I85, Durham, NC

Built 1967 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 30,000

NC28

Poor

Over: LITTLE TENNESSEE RIVER

1 MI.N.JCT.SR1246, Graham, NC

Built 1943 Load: 43.5 t ADT: 800

US74 WBL

Poor

Over: SANDY RUN

0.3 MI. E. JCT. SR1167, Cleveland, NC

Built 1965 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 10,000

SR2046

Poor

Over: TURNBULL CREEK

0.3 MI. W. OF JCT. SR1002, Cumberland, NC

Built 1993 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 130

SR1364

Poor

Over: EAST FORK BULL CREEK

.02 MI.E.JCT.SR1367, Madison, NC

Built 1968 Load: 44.4 t ADT: 300

SR1203

Poor

Over: BRANCH OF SAWYERS CREEK

1.6 MI E JCT NC343, Camden, NC

Built 1960 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 850

NC119

Poor

Over: REEDY FORK CREEK

1.0 MI. S. JCT. SR1564, Caswell, NC

Built 1964 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 700

US23,74 NBL

Poor

Over: RICHLAND CREEK

.1 MI.S.JCT.US19,23, Haywood, NC

Built 1965 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 21,000

US23,74 SBL

Poor

Over: RICHLAND CREEK

0.1 MI.S.JCT.US19,23, Haywood, NC

Built 1965 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 15,750

NC770

Poor

Over: MAYO RIVER

1.1 MI. W. JCT. US220, Rockingham, NC

Built 1965 Load: 45.3 t ADT: 2,600

SR2838

Poor

Over: SOUTHERN RAILROAD

.1 MI.N.JCT.I-40, Buncombe, NC

Built 1972 Load: 46.2 t ADT: 16,000

I77 SBL

Poor

Over: ROCKY CREEK

3.1 MI. S. JCT. NC901, Iredell, NC

Built 1972 Load: 46.2 t ADT: 17,000

SR1926

Poor

Over: DEALS CREEK

0.9 MI. N. JCT. SR1910, Rowan, NC

Built 1961 Load: 46.2 t ADT: 1,900

US52 SBL

Poor

Over: TOMS CREEK

1.5 MI.N.JCT.NC268, Surry, NC

Built 1960 Load: 46.2 t ADT: 15,750

SR1229

Poor

Over: L. ALLIGATOR CREEK

0.2 MI E. JCT. SR1221, Tyrrell, NC

Built 1987 Load: 46.2 t ADT: 250

SR1119

Poor

Over: NORTH FORK NEW RIVER

75 FT.S.JCT.NC88, Ashe, NC

Built 1972 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 160

I285/US52 NBL

Poor

Over: SOUTH FORK MUDDY CREEK

0.7 MI. N. JCT. SR4205, Forsyth, NC

Built 1971 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 22,250

I-40

Poor

Over: PIGEON RIVER

0.4 MI.E.JCT.SR1338, Haywood, NC

Built 1966 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 24,500

NC231

Poor

Over: LITTLE RIVER

1.1 MI. N. JCT. NC96, Johnston, NC

Built 1997 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 1,700

SR1574

Poor

Over: BULL CREEK

.3 MI.E.JCT.SR1576, Madison, NC

Built 1985 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 140

SR1318

Poor

Over: BIG LAUREL CREEK

.5 MI.E.JCT.SR1370, Madison, NC

Built 1981 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 300

US13

Poor

Over: LITTLE CONTENTNEA CREEK

2.1 MI. E. JCT. US264 ALT, Pitt, NC

Built 1965 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 13,500

SR1343

Poor

Over: CANE RIVER

.01 MI.N.JCT.SR1417, Yancey, NC

Built 1977 Load: 47.1 t ADT: 30

SR1164

Poor

Over: CANAL

AT JCT.US264, Dare, NC

Built 2002 Load: 48.0 t ADT: 520

SR1328

Poor

Over: COVE CREEK

50 FT. S.JCT.SR1331, Haywood, NC

Built 1963 Load: 48.0 t ADT: 500

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

Showing 18,701-18,750 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.

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