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

NC28

Fair

Over: TWENTYMILE CREEK

2.9 MI.S.JCT.US129, Swain, NC

Built 1930 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 700

IRR SR1361

Fair

Over: OCONALUFTEE RIVER

50 FT.W.JCT.SR1368, Swain, NC

Built 1969 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 1,900

SR1379

Fair

Over: N.FORK FRENCH BROAD RVR.

.1 MI.S.JCT.NC215, Transylvania, NC

Built 1959 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 20

SR1121

Fair

Over: BONARVA CANAL

0.1 MI N. JCT. SR1118, Tyrrell, NC

Built 2009 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 80

SR1600

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK

0.7 MI. N. JCT. SR1547, Union, NC

Built 1959 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 270

SR1643

Fair

Over: WATSON CREEK

0.1 MI. W. JCT. SR1627, Union, NC

Built 1971 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 530

SR1002

Fair

Over: SALEM CREEK

1.1 MI.E.JCT.NC205, Union, NC

Built 1977 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 850

US601

Fair

Over: DUCK CREEK

0.8 MI. N. JCT. SR1542, Union, NC

Built 1969 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 7,000

NC205

Fair

Over: RICHARDSON CREEK

0.11 MI. S. JCT. SR1658, Union, NC

Built 1958 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 1,100

SR1770

Fair

Over: ROCKY RIVER

0.3 MI. N. ANSON CO.LINE, Union, NC

Built 1957 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 170

NC39

Fair

Over: FLAT CREEK

0.5 MI. N. JCT. SR1308, Vance, NC

Built 1952 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 5,300

SR1113

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

0.2 MI.N. OF SR1107, Vance, NC

Built 1971 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 360

SR1122

Fair

Over: MACKEYS CREEK

0.1 MI.E.JCT.SR1119, Washington, NC

Built 1936 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 870

SR1315

Fair

Over: FISH DAM CREEK

0.3 MI.N.JCT.SR1316, Wilkes, NC

Built 1961 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 540

SR1354

Fair

Over: HUFFMAN BRANCH

1 MI.S.JCT.SR1366, Wilkes, NC

Built 1964 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 110

SR1649

Fair

Over: BLACK CREEK

0.6 MI. E. JCT. SR1643, Wilson, NC

Built 1949 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 3,600

NC58

Fair

Over: CONTENTNEA CREEK

50' S.JCT.SR1540, Wilson, NC

Built 1940 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 3,800

SR1154

Fair

Over: CONTENTNEA CREEK

0.8MI.N.SR1103, Wilson, NC

Built 1958 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 1,300

SR1162

Fair

Over: CONTENTNEA CREEK

.2 MI.S. JCT. NC42, Wilson, NC

Built 1956 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 2,800

SR1345

Fair

Over: SOUTH DEEP CREEK

.6 MI.N.JCT.US21, Yadkin, NC

Built 1960 Load: 20.8 t ADT: 540

FIREBREAK 3

Fair

Over: ROCKFISH CREEK

RANGE GG3 (W), Hoke, NC

Built 1960 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 1

COPPERHEAD ROAD

Fair

Over: SOCO CREEK

COPPERHEAD ROAD, Swain, NC

Built 1950 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 10

PRIVATE DRIVE

Fair

Over: UNKNOWN CREEK

PRIVATE DRIVE, Swain, NC

Built 1980 Load: 20.9 t ADT: 4

NFSR 50

Fair

Over: SCHULER CREEK

1.4 MILES FROM SR1327, Cherokee, NC

Built 1994 Load: 21.4 t ADT: 15

NFSR 134

Fair

Over: HOLSTONS CREEK

NATIONAL FOREST ROAD, Jones, NC

Built 1977 Load: 21.4 t ADT: 50

SR1826

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

0.8 MI. N. JCT. SR1828, Anson, NC

Built 1957 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 70

SR1404

Fair

Over: LANES CREEK

100 FT. W. JCT. SR1240, Anson, NC

Built 1958 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 460

SR1362

Fair

Over: BIG HORSE CREEK

.8 MI.N.JCT.SR1358, Ashe, NC

Built 1962 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 530

SR1595

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK NEW RIVER

50 FT.S.JCT.SR1596, Ashe, NC

Built 1978 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 200

DEEP GAP ESTATES D

Fair

Over: GAP CREEK

50 FT.W.JCT.US221, Ashe, NC

Built 1950 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 75

NC92

Fair

Over: BATH CREEK

0.35 MI.W. JCT. SR1741, Beaufort, NC

Built 1959 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 4,100

SR1607

Fair

Over: NEWFOUND CREEK

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

Built 1963 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 1,700

US25A

Fair

Over: SWEETEN CREEK

0.74 MI.S.JCT.NC81, Buncombe, NC

Built 1949 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 12,000

SR1610

Fair

Over: MARTIN BRANCH

.05 MI.S.JCT.SR1607, Buncombe, NC

Built 1969 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 1,600

SR1220

Fair

Over: MORGAN BRANCH

0.5MI.N.JCT.SR1004, Buncombe, NC

Built 1965 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 340

SR3493

Fair

Over: UT TO AVERY CREEK

0.25 MI.S.JCT.SR3492, Buncombe, NC

Built 1973 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 10

US70

Fair

Over: MUDDY CREEK

0.4 MI.E.JCT.SR1233, Burke, NC

Built 1940 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 2,200

SR1922

Fair

Over: HENRY FORK CREEK

0.05 MI.E.JCT.SR1917, Burke, NC

Built 1969 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 550

SR1448

Fair

Over: CLARK CREEK

0.4 MI. N. JCT. SR1447, Cabarrus, NC

Built 1971 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 6,500

NC12

Fair

Over: WEST BAY CHANNEL

5.0 MI. N. JCT.. US70, Carteret, NC

Built 1991 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 800

SR2012

Fair

Over: BETTS CREEK

0.3 MI. S. JCT. SR2013, Catawba, NC

Built 1952 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 1,900

SR1108

Fair

Over: UT TO JACOB FORK CREEK

0.5 MI. W. JCT. SR1271, Catawba, NC

Built 1976 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 200

SR2333

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

0.5 MI. S. JCT. US421, Chatham, NC

Built 1954 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 870

SR1522

Fair

Over: BROOKS CREEK

0.8 MI. N. JCT. SR1521, Chatham, NC

Built 1960 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 40

SR1305

Fair

Over: INDIAN CREEK

0.5 MI. E. JCT. SR1307, Chowan, NC

Built 1974 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 730

SR1166

Fair

Over: GIESKY CREEK

.3 MI.N.JCT.SR1164, Clay, NC

Built 1967 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 330

SR1731

Fair

Over: FIRST BROAD RIVER

0.4MI.N. OF JCT.SR1732, Columbus, NC

Built 1968 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 380

GRUBER ROAD

Fair

Over: ALL AMERICAN EXPRESSWAY

PU 840 888, Cumberland, NC

Built 1976 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 4,500

NC12 FERRY

Fair

Over: HATTERAS INLET

S.END NC12, Dare, NC

Built 1991 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 2,200

SR2351

Fair

Over: LICK CREEK

0.5 MI. W. JCT. SR2350, Davidson, NC

Built 1968 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 1,700

Showing 4,101-4,150 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.