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

US421N

Unknown

Over: US421 & US701 NBL

1.4 MI.N. OF SR1146, Sampson, NC

Built 1967 ADT: 3,000

US421N

Unknown

Over: US421N

0.1 MI S. OF JCT SR 1839, Sampson, NC

Built 1972 ADT: 3,700

SR1839

Unknown

Over: SR1839

1.0 MI N JCT NC24, Sampson, NC

Built 1972 ADT: 2,400

SR1839

Unknown

Over: SR1839

1.0 MI.N.JCT.NC24, Sampson, NC

Built 1972 ADT: 2,400

US701N

Unknown

Over: US701

.016 MI E JCT SR 1835, Sampson, NC

Built 1972 ADT: 3,000

US421S,US701S

Unknown

Over: US421/US701BYP.

0.05 MI.E.JCT SR1289, Sampson, NC

Built 1967 ADT: 7,000

US 421 NBL

Unknown

Over: US421 NBL

.25 MI.W. JCT. SR 1227, Sampson, NC

Built 1967 ADT: 2,620

US421N

Unknown

Over: US421/US701BYP.

0.3 MI W JCT. NC24, Sampson, NC

Built 1967 ADT: 2,800

US421S

Unknown

Over: US421/US701BYP.

0.56 MI. W. OF 701BUS, Sampson, NC

Built 1967 ADT: 3,000

I40E

Unknown

Over: I40

0.2 MI. N. OF SR1734, Sampson, NC

Built 1988 ADT: 8,000

I40W

Unknown

Over: I40

0.2 MI. N. JCT. SR1902, Sampson, NC

Built 1988 ADT: 10,000

I40W

Unknown

Over: I40

1.4 MI. N. SR1905, Sampson, NC

Built 1988 ADT: 11,750

I40W

Unknown

Over: I40

0.3 MI. S. JCT. SR1776, Sampson, NC

Built 1988 ADT: 10,500

I40E

Unknown

Over: I40

0.4 MI. S. JCT. SR1706, Sampson, NC

Built 1988 ADT: 10,250

I40W

Unknown

Over: I40

0.8 MI. W. JCT. SR1703, Sampson, NC

Built 1988 ADT: 11,000

I40W

Unknown

Over: I40

1.0 MI. S. JCT. US701, Sampson, NC

Built 1988 ADT: 9,500

I40W

Unknown

Over: I-40

0.1 MI. N. JCT. SR1648, Sampson, NC

Built 1988 ADT: 9,500

I40E

Unknown

Over: I40

0.3 MI.N. JCT.SR1715, Sampson, NC

Built 1988 ADT: 10,250

I40W

Unknown

Over: I40

0.01 MI. S. JCT. SR1723, Sampson, NC

Built 1988 ADT: 10,250

I40W

Unknown

Over: I40

0.7 MI. N. JCT. SR1731, Sampson, NC

Built 1989 ADT: 10,250

I40E

Unknown

Over: I40

0.2 MI. N. OF JCT.SR1734, Sampson, NC

Built 1990 ADT: 10,250

NC242

Unknown

Over: NC242

0.9 MI. E. JCT. SR1401, Sampson, NC

Built 2018 ADT: 2,200

NC242

Unknown

Over: NC242

0.9MI.E. JCT. SR1401, Sampson, NC

Built 2018 ADT: 2,200

US421S

Unknown

Over: US421

0.3 MI. E. SR1116, Sampson, NC

Built 2022 ADT: 3,200

US74W

Unknown

Over: US74 WBL

0.2 MI. W. JCT. SR1303, Scotland, NC

Built 1964 ADT: 8,500

US74W,US501N

Unknown

Over: US74, US501

0.23 MI. N. .JCT. SR1674, Scotland, NC

Built 1965 ADT: 11,750

US74W

Unknown

Over: US74

0.5 MI. S. JCT. US74BUS., Scotland, NC

Built 1965 ADT: 9,000

US74W

Unknown

Over: US74

0.1 MI. N. JCT. SR1116, Scotland, NC

Built 1965 ADT: 11,250

US74,NC79

Unknown

Over: US74 BUS, NC79

0.82 MI. N. JCT. SR1108, Scotland, NC

Built 2013 ADT: 7,500

US74W

Unknown

Over: US74

0.3 MI. S. JCT. US15&401, Scotland, NC

Built 1965 ADT: 11,250

US15S,US401S,US501

Unknown

Over: US15/US401/US501

0.4 MI. W. JCT. US401 BUS, Scotland, NC

Built 1964 ADT: 6,750

US15S,US401S,US501

Unknown

Over: US15/US401/US501

0.4 MI. W. JCT. US401 BUS, Scotland, NC

Built 1964 ADT: 6,750

US15S,US401S

Unknown

Over: US15BUS/US401BUS

0.4 MI. E. JCT. US15/401, Scotland, NC

Built 1965 ADT: 15,000

US15S,US401S

Unknown

Over: US15BUS/US401BUS

0.4 MI. E. JCT. US15/401, Scotland, NC

Built 1965 ADT: 9,250

US401S

Unknown

Over: US401

0.3 MI. S. JCT. SR1301, Scotland, NC

Built 1996 ADT: 5,500

US74E

Unknown

Over: US74

0.6 MI. N. JCT. SR1639, Scotland, NC

Built 1964 ADT: 9,000

US74W

Unknown

Over: US74

0.8 MI. N. JCT. SR1609, Scotland, NC

Built 1965 ADT: 11,000

US74W

Unknown

Over: US74

0.5 MI. S. JCT. US74 BUS., Scotland, NC

Built 1969 ADT: 7,000

US74W.BUS

Unknown

Over: US74 BUS.& CSX RAILROAD

0.5 MI. W. JCT. SR1369, Scotland, NC

Built 1983 ADT: 2,300

SR1383

Unknown

Over: SR1383 & C.S.X.R/R

0.5 MI. N. JCT. US74 BUS, Scotland, NC

Built 1981 ADT: 200

US74W

Unknown

Over: US74

0.3 MI. N. JCT. SR1611, Scotland, NC

Built 1983 ADT: 10,000

US74W

Unknown

Over: US74BUS;CSX RAILROAD

0.5 MI.W.JCT.SR1369, Scotland, NC

Built 1983 ADT: 2,300

SR1436S

Unknown

Over: SR1436 & CSX RAILROAD

2.0 MI. E. JCT. SR1369, Scotland, NC

Built 1983 ADT: 1,550

SR1436S

Unknown

Over: SR1436 & CSX RAILROAD

2.0 MI.E.JCT.SR1369, Scotland, NC

Built 1983 ADT: 1,550

US74,NC79

Unknown

Over: US74 BUS, NC79

0.82 MI. N. JCT. SR1108, Scotland, NC

Built 1996 ADT: 8,000

SR1394

Unknown

Over: SR1394, C.S.X.RR

0.5 MI. N. JCT. US74 BUS, Scotland, NC

Built 1996 ADT: 550

US52

Unknown

Over: US52 BUS.

0.27 MI. E. JCT. NC138, Stanly, NC

Built 2004 ADT: 5,900

US 52 S

Unknown

Over: US52

1.0 MI. E. JCT. SR1222, Stokes, NC

Built 2022 ADT: 19,750

US52S

Unknown

Over: US52

0.2 MI. E. JCT. SR1304, Stokes, NC

Built 1960 ADT: 15,750

US52S

Unknown

Over: US52

0.1 MI. E. JCT. SR1144, Stokes, NC

Built 1960 ADT: 15,500

Showing 2,551-2,600 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.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Every figure on PlainBridge is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.