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

SR1978

Fair

Over: SUCK CREEK

0.6 MI.E.JCT.SR1993, Rutherford, NC

Built 1969 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 480

SR2106

Fair

Over: UT TO BIG HORSE CREEK

0.6 MI.S.JCT.SR2105, Rutherford, NC

Built 1967 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 100

SR1005

Fair

Over: BIG JUNIPER RUN

0.1 MI S OF JCT SR1624, Sampson, NC

Built 1950 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 650

SR1522

Fair

Over: LITTLE MOUNTAIN CREEK

0.1 MI. N. JCT. SR1518, Stanly, NC

Built 1968 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 1,100

SR1602

Fair

Over: AUBERRY CREEK

.2 MI.E.JCT.SR1603, Surry, NC

Built 1965 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 450

SR1624

Fair

Over: PAULS CREEK

.8 MI.S.JCT.SR1625, Surry, NC

Built 1949 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 2,600

SR1792

Fair

Over: UT TO SILVERLEAF CREEK

.2 MI.S.JCT.NC103, Surry, NC

Built 1950 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 40

SR1627

Fair

Over: WATSON CREEK

100 FT. N. JCT. SR1643, Union, NC

Built 1928 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 2,700

SR1009

Fair

Over: BEARSKIN CREEK

0.3 MI. N. JCT. NC75, Union, NC

Built 1922 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 21,500

SR1142

Fair

Over: SCUPPERNONG RIVER

0.3MI.E. OF JCT.SR1159, Washington, NC

Built 1959 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 631

SR1103

Fair

Over: WATAUGA RIVER

0.1 MI.N.JCT.SR1121, Watauga, NC

Built 2014 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 30

SR1500

Fair

Over: STONY FORK CREEK

.5 MI.N.JCT.SR1501, Watauga, NC

Built 1960 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 50

NC268

Fair

Over: LITTLE ELKIN RIVER

50 FT.E.JCT.SR2018, Wilkes, NC

Built 1935 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 8,300

SR1169

Fair

Over: SHELL CREEK

.4 MI.N.JCT.SR1155, Wilkes, NC

Built 1961 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 90

SR1156

Fair

Over: UT TO S.PRONG LEWISFRK C

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1305, Wilkes, NC

Built 1961 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 110

SR2494

Fair

Over: HUNTING CREEK

0.4 MI.N JCT.SR1001, Wilkes, NC

Built 1962 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 330

SR1629

Fair

Over: AYCOCK CREEK

0.5 MI.W. OF JCT.SR1632, Wilson, NC

Built 1952 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 570

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

Fair

Over: U.S. ROUTE 23/74 & SOUTH

10.9 MILES TO NC ROUTE 21, Haywood, NC

Built 1963 Load: 17.7 t ADT: 1,878

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

Fair

Over: BIG PINE CREEK

0.9 MILES FROM NC ROUTE 1, Alleghany, NC

Built 1938 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 1,347

SR1544

Fair

Over: SILAS CREEK

.2 MI.E.JCT.SR1523, Ashe, NC

Built 1966 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 50

HERON LN.

Fair

Over: BACK CREEK TRIB.

.01 MI.E.JCT.NC92, Beaufort, NC

Built 1960 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 250

SR1246

Fair

Over: EASON SWAMP

1.7 MI.N.JCT.SR1228, Bertie, NC

Built 1977 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 100

US74,US76W.

Fair

Over: HOOD'S CREEK

0.9MI.E.JCT.NC87, Brunswick, NC

Built 1922 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 23,000

SR3413

Fair

Over: HOMINY CREEK

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR3412, Buncombe, NC

Built 1935 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 100

SR1356

Fair

Over: JOHNS RIVER

1.8 MI.N.JCT.NC90, Caldwell, NC

Built 1970 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 100

SR1356

Fair

Over: JOHNS RIVER

2.9 MI.N.JCT.NC90, Caldwell, NC

Built 1963 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 110

SR1488

Fair

Over: BRANCH LYLE CREEK

0.3 MI.W.JCT.SR1486, Catawba, NC

Built 1965 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 850

SR1539

Fair

Over: COLLINS CREEK

0.1 MI. W. JCT. SR1544, Chatham, NC

Built 1955 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 640

SR1346

Fair

Over: GREENBRIAR CREEK

0.15 MI. E. JCT. SR1357, Chatham, NC

Built 1951 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 600

SR1300

Fair

Over: NORTH ROCKY RIVER PRONG

0.2 MI. S. JCT. SR1346, Chatham, NC

Built 1951 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 740

SR1623

Fair

Over: PUETT CREEK

50 FT.E.JCT.NC141, Cherokee, NC

Built 1967 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 400

SR1207

Fair

Over: ASHWORTH CREEK

0.2 MI. E. JCT. SR1208, Cleveland, NC

Built 1971 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 450

SR1346

Fair

Over: RICHARDSON POND CRK

0.8 MI. E. OF JCT. NC904, Columbus, NC

Built 1953 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 100

SR1307

Fair

Over: NAHUNGA SWAMP

0.8 MI.W JCT.SR1004, Duplin, NC

Built 1953 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 550

NC274

Fair

Over: UT TO MILL CREEK

0.6 MI. N. JCT. SR1671, Gaston, NC

Built 1930 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 2,700

SR1456

Fair

Over: LONG CREEK

0.7 MI. S. JCT. SR1498, Gaston, NC

Built 1957 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 2,100

SR1302

Fair

Over: BUCKLAND MILL BRANCH

0.5 MI. W. JCT. SR1304, Gates, NC

Built 1960 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 580

NFSR 62

Fair

Over: CHEOAH RIVER

.1 MI. FROM NC 129, Graham, NC

Built 1967 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 50

SR2770

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF BUFFALO CREEK

0.15 MI S. JCT. SR2795, Guilford, NC

Built 1963 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 2,900

SR3353

Fair

Over: BR. STINKING QUARTER CRK

0.9 MI. N. JCT. SR3351, Guilford, NC

Built 1956 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 70

SR1600

Fair

Over: LITTLE QUANKEY CREEK

1.5 MI. N. JCT. NC903, Halifax, NC

Built 1953 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 1,900

SR1613

Fair

Over: BEAVERDAM CREEK

150 FT.S.JCT.SR1637, Haywood, NC

Built 1949 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 2,600

SR1306

Fair

Over: JONATHANS CREEK

0.1 MI.N.JCT.US19, Haywood, NC

Built 1959 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 740

OLD CATALOOCHEE EN

Fair

Over: LITTLE CATALOOCHEE CREEK

1.7 MILES FROM NPS ROUTE, Haywood, NC

Built 1967 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 2,278

SR1587

Fair

Over: COX CREEK

.2 MI.S.JCT.SR1591, Henderson, NC

Built 1951 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 330

SR1599

Fair

Over: HICKORY CREEK

100 FT.N.JCT.US74, Henderson, NC

Built 1962 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 80

SR1597

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF ROCKY CREEK

0.1 MI. W. JCT. NC115, Iredell, NC

Built 1950 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 60

SR1645

Fair

Over: MORRISON CREEK

0.7 MI. S. JCT. SR1551, Iredell, NC

Built 1925 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 4,000

SR1457

Fair

Over: BUFF CREEK

.8 MI.N.JCT.SR1458, Jackson, NC

Built 1961 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 580

NC281

Fair

Over: WOLF LAKE SPILLWAY

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1758, Jackson, NC

Built 1955 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 300

Showing 3,701-3,750 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.