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

SR1740

Poor

Over: CHAMP CREEK

.4 MI.E.JCT.SR1739, Surry, NC

Built 1991 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 200

SR1407

Poor

Over: SAGE CREEK

1 MI.W.JCT.NC89, Surry, NC

Built 1985 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 450

SR1632

Poor

Over: BULL BRANCH

100 FT. E. JCT.SR1631, Union, NC

Built 1980 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 590

SR1751

Poor

Over: SALEM CREEK

0.4 MI. E. JCT. SR1753, Union, NC

Built 1982 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 1,500

SR1929

Poor

Over: WALLACE BRANCH CREEK

0.5 MI. N. JCT. SR1921, Union, NC

Built 1991 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 170

SR1317

Poor

Over: NUTBUSH CREEK

0.7 MI E. OF JCT NC39, Vance, NC

Built 1993 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 1,100

SR1551

Poor

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

0.8 MI. E. JCT. SR1552, Vance, NC

Built 1962 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 940

SR1160

Poor

Over: BEAVER CREEK

1.2MI.W. OF JCT.NC55, Wake, NC

Built 1975 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 9,600

BUCKEYE LAKE ROAD

Poor

Over: BUCKEYE CREEK

.02 MI.W.PINNACLE RDG.RD., Watauga, NC

Built 1986 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 50

SR1522

Poor

Over: AYCOCK SWAMP

0.8 MI. W. JCT. SR1521, Wayne, NC

Built 1991 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 100

SR2033

Poor

Over: GRASSY FORK CREEK

0.5 MI.W.JCT.SR2026, Wilkes, NC

Built 1990 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 160

SR1529

Poor

Over: UT TO YADKIN RIVER

1 MI.N.JCT.SR1532, Yadkin, NC

Built 1986 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 650

SR1143

Poor

Over: GEORGE FORK

.02 MI.N.JCT.SR1142, Yancey, NC

Built 1978 Load: 89.8 t ADT: 200

FIREBREAK 1

Structurally Deficient

Over: BONES CREEK

RANGE I14 (E), Cumberland, NC

Built 1960 ADT: 1

RANGE ROAD

Structurally Deficient

Over: TEXAS POND

RANGE QQ, Cumberland, NC

Built 1970 ADT: 1

TRAIL

Structurally Deficient

Over: MUDDY CREEK

PU 783 000, Harnett, NC

Built 1960 ADT: 1

ABANDON RAILROAD

Structurally Deficient

Over: OVERHILLS LAKE

PU 790 998, Harnett, NC

Built 1960 ADT: 2

FIREBREAK 2

Structurally Deficient

Over: FLAT CREEK

RANGE II4, Harnett, NC

Built 1960 ADT: 1

FIREBREAK 15

Structurally Deficient

Over: DEEP CREEK

PU 682 917, Hoke, NC

Built 1990 ADT: 2

FB12

Structurally Deficient

Over: DEEP CREEK

PU 680 924, Hoke, NC

Built 1970 ADT: 2

FB 5

Structurally Deficient

Over: JUMPING RUN CREEK

PU 703 903, Hoke, NC

Built 1970 ADT: 2

FIREBREAK 11

Structurally Deficient

Over: DEEP CREEK

PU 680 926, Hoke, NC

Built 1970 ADT: 2

FB 1

Structurally Deficient

Over: JUMPING RUN CREEK

PU 711 925, Hoke, NC

Built 1970 ADT: 1

FIRE BREAK L RIVER

Structurally Deficient

Over: TRAINING AREA STREAM

PU 685 934, Hoke, NC

Built 1970 ADT: 2

FIREBREAK 11

Structurally Deficient

Over: FISHROCK CREEK

RANGE GG2 (W), Hoke, NC

Built 1960 ADT: 1

FIREBREAK 35

Structurally Deficient

Over: TUCKAHOE CREEK

RANGE Y1 (E), Hoke, NC

Built 1960 ADT: 1

FIREBREAK 7

Structurally Deficient

Over: ROCKFISH CREEK

RANGE GG2 (W), Hoke, NC

Built 1960 ADT: 1

FIREBREAK 14

Structurally Deficient

Over: JUMIPER CREEK

RANGE HH1 (W) AREA, Hoke, NC

Built 1960 ADT: 1

FIREBREAK 17

Structurally Deficient

Over: ROCKFISH CREEK

RANGE CC1 (W) AREA, Hoke, NC

Built 1960 ADT: 1

FIREBREAK 13

Structurally Deficient

Over: ROCKFISH CREEK

RANGE BB3 (SW) AREA, Hoke, NC

Built 1960 ADT: 1

FIREBREAK 9

Structurally Deficient

Over: ROCKFISH CREEK

RANGE BB3 (W) AREA, Hoke, NC

Built 1960 ADT: 1

FIREBREAK 20

Structurally Deficient

Over: DEEP CREEK

RANGE R (N), Hoke, NC

Built 1960 ADT: 1

FIREBREAK 22

Structurally Deficient

Over: ROCKFISH CREEK

RANGE CC1 (SW), Hoke, NC

Built 1960 ADT: 1

FIREBREAK 14

Structurally Deficient

Over: ROCKFISH CREEK

RANGE BB3 (W), Hoke, NC

Built 1960 ADT: 1

FIREBREAK 9

Structurally Deficient

Over: PINEY BOTTOM CREEK

RANGE CC2 (E), Hoke, NC

Built 1960 ADT: 1

FIREBREAK 13

Structurally Deficient

Over: FLAT CREEK

RANGE W2 (E), Hoke, NC

Built 1960 ADT: 1

FIREBREAK 16

Structurally Deficient

Over: FLAT CREEK

RANGE V2 (E), Hoke, NC

Built 1960 ADT: 1

FIREBREAK 29

Structurally Deficient

Over: NICHOLSON CREEK

RANGE HH4 (E), Hoke, NC

Built 1970 ADT: 1

FIREBREAK 27

Structurally Deficient

Over: CALF BRANCH

RANGE GG1 (W), Hoke, NC

Built 1960 ADT: 1

FIREBREAK 9

Structurally Deficient

Over: FLAT CREEK

RANGE W2 (W), Hoke, NC

Built 1960 ADT: 1

FIREBREAK 26

Structurally Deficient

Over: SILVER RUN

RANGE BB1 (E), Hoke, NC

Built 1960 ADT: 1

UNK ROAD

Structurally Deficient

Over: CROSSING TO MOTT LK

RANGE JJ (E), Hoke, NC

Built 1970 ADT: 1

FIREBREAK 5

Structurally Deficient

Over: ROCKFISH CREEK

RANGE HH3 (W) AREA, Hoke, NC

Built 1960 ADT: 10

FIREBREAK 4

Structurally Deficient

Over: ROCKFISH CREEK

RANGE GG3 (W) AREA, Hoke, NC

Built 1970 ADT: 10

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

FIREBREAK 16

Structurally Deficient

Over: TRIB TO FLAT CREEK

RANGE T (W), Hoke, NC

Built 1960 Load: 4.3 t ADT: 1

SR1169

Structurally Deficient

Over: W. FORK PINE SWAMP CREEK

.4 MI.S.JCT.SR1103, Ashe, NC

Built 1961 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 170

SR1599

Structurally Deficient

Over: PEAK CREEK

.9 MI.S.JCT.SR1604, Ashe, NC

Built 1972 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 150

SR1953

Structurally Deficient

Over: ROCKY RIVER

1.0 MI. N. JCT. SR2155, Chatham, NC

Built 1921 Load: 5.4 t ADT: 390

Showing 18,751-18,800 of 18,901 bridges

Related

All states → | National rankings → | Understanding conditions → | SD bridges explained →
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.