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

SR2838

Unknown

Over: SR2838

.9 MI.E.JCT.B.R.PARKWAY, Buncombe, NC

Built 1972 ADT: 16,000

I 40 W

Unknown

Over: I-40

.01 MI.N.JCT.SR2842, Buncombe, NC

Built 1970 ADT: 27,000

I 40 W

Unknown

Over: I-40

.05 MI.N.JCT.SR2843, Buncombe, NC

Built 1970 ADT: 27,000

I 40 W

Unknown

Over: I-40

.05 MI.N.JCT.SR2843, Buncombe, NC

Built 1970 ADT: 27,000

SR2856

Unknown

Over: SR2856

.6 MI.E.JCT.SR2760, Buncombe, NC

Built 1973 ADT: 1,400

SR2724

Unknown

Over: SR2724

1.5 MI.W.JCT.SR2500, Buncombe, NC

Built 1973 ADT: 850

SR2724

Unknown

Over: SR2724

1.5 MI.W.JCT.2500, Buncombe, NC

Built 1973 ADT: 1,500

SR2500

Unknown

Over: SR2500

1.5 MI.E.JCT.SR2724, Buncombe, NC

Built 1973 ADT: 4,800

NC 9

Unknown

Over: NC9

.8 MI.W.JCT.US70, Buncombe, NC

Built 1977 ADT: 14,500

US 70 W

Unknown

Over: US70E,SOU.RR,SWANNOA RVR

.8 MI.E.JCT.NC9, Buncombe, NC

Built 1977 ADT: 20,000

I 40 W

Unknown

Over: I-40

1.2 MI.S.JCT.US70, Buncombe, NC

Built 1979 ADT: 19,000

I 40 E

Unknown

Over: I40

.05 MI.W.JCT.SR2542, Buncombe, NC

Built 1979 ADT: 19,000

US 74A E

Unknown

Over: US74A,NC81,SWANNANOA RIV

.6 MI.E.JCT.US70, Buncombe, NC

Built 1977 ADT: 12,000

US 74 E

Unknown

Over: US74A,NC81,SWANNANOA RVR

.6 MI.E.JCT.US70, Buncombe, NC

Built 1977 ADT: 11,500

BLEACHERY BLVD

Unknown

Over: BLEACHERY BLVD

.4 MI.E.JCT.US74, Buncombe, NC

Built 1977 ADT: 20

NON SYSTEM ACCESS

Unknown

Over: BLEACHERY BLVD RD.

.4 MI.E.JCT.US74,NC81, Buncombe, NC

Built 1977 ADT: 20

US 74 W A

Unknown

Over: US74A,RAMP TO I240

0.3 MI.W.JCT.I40, Buncombe, NC

Built 1978 ADT: 20,200

US 74 WA

Unknown

Over: US74A,RAMP TO I240

.3 MI.W.JCT.I40, Buncombe, NC

Built 1978 ADT: 20,200

I 40 E

Unknown

Over: I-40

.3 MI.E.JCT.US74, Buncombe, NC

Built 1978 ADT: 1,700

CITY ST.

Unknown

Over: CTY ST.,N&S RR,FR.BR.RVR

1.1MI.E.JCT.US19,23B, Buncombe, NC

Built 1974 ADT: 8,400

SR 2148

Unknown

Over: SR2148

1.1 MI.W.JCT.SR2147, Buncombe, NC

Built 1996 ADT: 650

SR 3449

Unknown

Over: SR3449,S.HOMINY CREEK

.3 MI.S.JCT.SR3447, Buncombe, NC

Built 2000 ADT: 910

SR 3620

Unknown

Over: HOMINY CRK.,SR3620

04 MI.N.JCT.I40, Buncombe, NC

Built 2001 ADT: 3,700

I 26 E CONST. ACCE

Unknown

Over: I 26

LT. LN.OVER I-26 ON NC191, Buncombe, NC

Built 2019 ADT: 16,100

I 40 W

Unknown

Over: I-40

.22 MI.S.JCT.SR2013, Burke, NC

Built 1957 ADT: 26,000

I 40 WBL

Unknown

Over: I-40

0.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1713, Burke, NC

Built 1955 ADT: 23,000

I 40 EBL

Unknown

Over: I-40

0.2 MI.N.JCT.SR1142, Burke, NC

Built 2001 ADT: 14,500

I 40 E

Unknown

Over: I40

.1 MI.N.JCT.SR1142, Burke, NC

Built 1956 ADT: 19,750

1-40 EASTBOUND

Unknown

Over: I-40

0.1 MI.N.JCT.SR1142, Burke, NC

Built 1956 ADT: 15,750

I 40 E

Unknown

Over: I40

.1 MI.N.JCT.SR2112, Burke, NC

Built 1956 ADT: 20,500

I 40 E

Unknown

Over: I40

.45 MI.N.JCT.SR1197, Burke, NC

Built 1956 ADT: 20,000

I 40 W

Unknown

Over: I-40

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1159, Burke, NC

Built 1956 ADT: 20,750

I40E

Unknown

Over: I-40

0.5 MI.S.JCT.SR1924, Burke, NC

Built 2015 ADT: 25,000

I 40 E

Unknown

Over: I-40

0.01 MI.N.JCT.SR1979, Burke, NC

Built 1957 ADT: 25,000

NC 18 S

Unknown

Over: NC18

0.45 MI.E.JCT.SR1924, Burke, NC

Built 2013 ADT: 7,500

I 40 EBL

Unknown

Over: I-40

.1 MI.N.JCT.SR1822, Burke, NC

Built 1955 ADT: 22,000

I 40 E

Unknown

Over: I-40

.2 MI.N.JCT.SR1712, Burke, NC

Built 1955 ADT: 22,500

I 40 W

Unknown

Over: I-40

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1726, Burke, NC

Built 1958 ADT: 23,000

I 40 WBL

Unknown

Over: I-40

.05 MI.N.JCT.SR1737, Burke, NC

Built 1955 ADT: 23,000

SR 1744

Unknown

Over: SR1744

0.86 MI.E.JCT.SR1734, Burke, NC

Built 2020 ADT: 4,100

SR1744

Unknown

Over: SR1744

0.9M. E. JCT. SR1734, Burke, NC

Built 2019 ADT: 4,800

I 40 WBL

Unknown

Over: I-40

.2 MI.S.JCT.SR1740, Burke, NC

Built 1956 ADT: 23,500

I 40 W

Unknown

Over: I-40

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1756, Burke, NC

Built 1999 ADT: 22,000

SR1758

Unknown

Over: SR1758

.8 MI.W.JCT.SR1758, Burke, NC

Built 2018 ADT: 100

SR1758

Unknown

Over: SR1758

.8 MI.W.JCT.SR1758, Burke, NC

Built 2019 ADT: 180

SR 1762

Unknown

Over: SR1762

.8 MI.E.JCT.SR1758, Burke, NC

Built 1956 ADT: 1,100

SR 1762

Unknown

Over: SR1762

.8 MI.E.JCT.SR1758, Burke, NC

Built 1958 ADT: 1,100

SR 1761

Unknown

Over: SR1761

.8 MI.E.JCT.SR1758, Burke, NC

Built 1958 ADT: 7,100

SR 1761

Unknown

Over: SR1761

.8 MI.E.JCT.SR1758, Burke, NC

Built 1958 ADT: 5,700

I-40 w

Unknown

Over: I-40

.3 MI.S.JCT.US64,70, Burke, NC

Built 1956 ADT: 25,500

Showing 151-200 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.