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

LEE BIRD LANE

Fair

Over: SOCO CREEK

LEE BIRD LANE, Swain, NC

Built 1955 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 30

RHODODENDRON TRAIL

Fair

Over: SOCO CREEK

RHODODENDRON TR, Swain, NC

Built 1980 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 150

OLD SOCO ROAD

Fair

Over: SOCO CREEK

1014 OLD SOCO ROAD, Swain, NC

Built 1955 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 10

SR2115

Fair

Over: LITTLE RICHARDSON CREEK

0.35 MI. N. JCT. SR2133, Union, NC

Built 1963 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 2,400

SR2106

Fair

Over: LITTLE RICHARDSON CREEK

0.5 MI. W. JCT. SR2102, Union, NC

Built 1966 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 650

SR1147

Fair

Over: TWELVE MILE CREEK

0.1 MI. W. JCT. SR1184, Union, NC

Built 1955 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 1,400

SR1633

Fair

Over: CSX R.R.

0.1 MI. E. JCT. NC55, Wake, NC

Built 1951 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 2,400

SR1114

Fair

Over: CONABY CREEK

0.2 MI E JCT NC32 BUS., Washington, NC

Built 1952 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 1,500

SR1122

Fair

Over: MAIN CANAL

.05 MI.W.JCT.SR1126, Washington, NC

Built 1964 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 360

SR2311

Fair

Over: WEST SWAN CREEK

.5 MI.S.JCT.SR2305, Wilkes, NC

Built 1962 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 100

SR1562

Fair

Over: BOWLIN CREEK

1.7 MI.N.JCT.SR1564, Wilkes, NC

Built 1958 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 250

SR1735

Fair

Over: MIDDLE PRONG ROARING RIV

.5 MI.S.JCT.SR1730, Wilkes, NC

Built 1963 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 100

SR1501

Fair

Over: NORTH FORK REDDIES RIVER

.3 MI.N.JCT.SR1575, Wilkes, NC

Built 1962 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 210

SR1725

Fair

Over: HARMON CREEK

.5 MI.N.JCT.SR1736, Yadkin, NC

Built 1976 Load: 15.4 t ADT: 340

CHICKEN ROAD

Fair

Over: LITTLE ROCKFISH CREEK

PU 741 821, Cumberland, NC

Built 1955 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 2

SR1808

Fair

Over: UT TO HAGAN FORK CREEK

0.9 MI. N. JCT. SR1807, Catawba, NC

Built 1988 Load: 16.1 t ADT: 350

NFSR 470

Fair

Over: LITTLE BUCK CREEK

1.2 MI. N. SR 1436, McDowell, NC

Built 1954 Load: 16.2 t ADT: 20

SR1140

Fair

Over: LITTLE RIVER

400 FT.S.JCT.NC18, Alleghany, NC

Built 1960 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 30

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

Fair

Over: BIG PINE CREEK

1.0 MILES FROM NC ROUTE 1, Alleghany, NC

Built 1937 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 1,347

BURNS STREET

Fair

Over: UT TO LAMPLEY BRANCH

0.1 MI.E.JCT.NC742, Anson, NC

Built 1973 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 2,100

SR1326

Fair

Over: ELK RIVER

0.2 MI.S.JCT.NC194, Avery, NC

Built 1991 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 450

SR1100

Fair

Over: HERRING RUN

0.3 MI N JCT NC33, Beaufort, NC

Built 1958 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 1,100

SR2802

Fair

Over: BROAD RIVER

.05 MI.W.JCT.NC9, Buncombe, NC

Built 1957 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 100

SR2789

Fair

Over: BROAD RIVER

20 FT.W.JCT.SR2790, Buncombe, NC

Built 1973 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 60

SR1790

Fair

Over: LEE CREEK

.04 MI.N.JCT.SR1002, Buncombe, NC

Built 1967 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 50

SR1730

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RR

.2 MI.S.JCT.US70, Burke, NC

Built 1952 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 1,600

SR1490

Fair

Over: LYLE CREEK

0.8 MI. N. JCT. SR1007, Catawba, NC

Built 1971 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 3,300

SR1739

Fair

Over: MCLIN CREEK

0.3 MI. N. JCT. SR1746, Catawba, NC

Built 1969 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 3,400

SR2120

Fair

Over: TICK CREEK

0.9 MI. N. JCT. US421, Chatham, NC

Built 1951 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 230

SR1716

Fair

Over: BUSH CREEK

0.2 MI. S. JCT. SR1717, Chatham, NC

Built 1981 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 1,700

SR1529

Fair

Over: FIRST BROAD RIVER

0.3 MI. N. JCT. NC226, Cleveland, NC

Built 1975 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 270

SR1239

Fair

Over: CORE CREEK

2.0 MI N. OF JCT SR1238, Craven, NC

Built 1967 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 90

COVERED BRIDGE RD

Fair

Over: JEAN GUITE CREEK

0.5 MI. W. JCT. SR1206, Dare, NC

Built 1988 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 100

COVERED BRIDGE RD.

Fair

Over: CREEK

0.25 MI. W. JCT. SR1206, Dare, NC

Built 2015 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 100

SPRAGUE ST.

Fair

Over: WSSB RAILROAD

.1 MI.E.JCT.US52, Forsyth, NC

Built 1936 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 8,100

BROAD STREET

Fair

Over: SALEM CREEK

.05 S.JCT.SALEM AVENUE, Forsyth, NC

Built 1925 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 6,200

SR1406

Fair

Over: SANDY CREEK

0.4 MI. N. JCT. SR1405, Franklin, NC

Built 1959 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 100

SR2420

Fair

Over: UT TO CROWDERS CREEK

0.3 MI. E. JCT. SR2663, Gaston, NC

Built 1969 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 2,200

GARLAND DRIVE

Fair

Over: NORTH BUFFALO CREEK

50`E.JCT.BENJ.PKY&GARLARD, Guilford, NC

Built 1925 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 800

BATTLEGROUND AVE.

Fair

Over: NORTH BUFFALO CREEK

0.15 N.JCT.HILL ST., Guilford, NC

Built 1945 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 14,000

SR1210

Fair

Over: MARSH SWAMP

0.5 MI. S. JCT. NC903, Halifax, NC

Built 1961 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 710

SR1003

Fair

Over: BR DEEP CREEK

0.6 MI.E.JCT.NC903, Halifax, NC

Built 1963 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 350

MEADOWBROOKE CIRCL

Fair

Over: CAMP BRANCH

0.1 MI.S.JCT.STONEY CR.LN, Haywood, NC

Built 1965 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 50

SR1873

Fair

Over: PATTERSON CREEK

0.5 MI. N. JCT. SR1898, Iredell, NC

Built 1953 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 450

US301,NC96

Fair

Over: NEUSE RIVER

0.25 MI. N. JCT. SR1343, Johnston, NC

Built 1926 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 12,000

SR1701

Fair

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

0.2 MI W. JCT. SR1742, Johnston, NC

Built 1941 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 2,700

SR2305

Fair

Over: BAWDY CREEK

0.05MI.N. JCT. OF US70, Johnston, NC

Built 1963 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 460

SR1309

Fair

Over: HOYLE CREEK

0.4 MI. S. JCT. SR1313, Lincoln, NC

Built 1961 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 260

SR2425

Fair

Over: RAMAH CREEK

0.6 MI. N. JCT. SR2426, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1959 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 70

COULWOOD DRIVE

Fair

Over: GUM BRANCH

0.1 MI.E.JCT.FIELDING RD., Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1975 Load: 16.3 t ADT: 860

Showing 3,551-3,600 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.