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%.

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.

All Bridges in North Carolina

SR1305

Fair

Over: ELK RIVER

.8 MI.S.JCT.SR1368, Avery, NC

Built 1963 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 650

US19E

Fair

Over: COOPER BRANCH

.5 MI.S.JCT.SR1169, Avery, NC

Built 1979 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 2,700

ASH STREET

Fair

Over: NORTH TOE RIVER

.05 MI.E.JCT.NC194, Avery, NC

Built 1983 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,000

NC33

Fair

Over: SOUTH CREEK

4.5 MI. E. JCT. NC306, Beaufort, NC

Built 1948 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 900

SR1159

Fair

Over: CHICOD CREEK

0.2 MI W. OF JCT SR1172, Beaufort, NC

Built 1960 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 620

NC42

Fair

Over: CYPRESS SWAMP

0.5 MI.E.JCT.SR1002, Bertie, NC

Built 1961 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,600

NC133

Fair

Over: INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY

0.9 MI N. OF JCT SR1104, Brunswick, NC

Built 1972 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 15,000

NC197

Fair

Over: IVY CREEK

.01 MI.N.JCT.SR2160, Buncombe, NC

Built 1930 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 4,600

I-240 WBL

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RAILROAD

.2 MI.W.JCT.I-40, Buncombe, NC

Built 1978 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 28,500

CEDAR STREET

Fair

Over: NORFOLK SOUTHERN RR

0.1 MI.N.FAIRVIEW AVE., Buncombe, NC

Built 1966 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 4,800

CHUNNS COVE RD.

Fair

Over: ROSS CREEK

0.65 MI.N.JCT.US70, Buncombe, NC

Built 1930 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 2,050

SR1130

Fair

Over: GEORGE BRANCH

.1 MI.W.JCT.SR1141, Buncombe, NC

Built 1924 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 2,400

NC18

Fair

Over: HENRY FORK CREEK

.2 MI.S.JCT.SR1748, Burke, NC

Built 1952 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 3,900

NC126

Fair

Over: PADDY CREEK

.3 MI.E.JCT.SR1308, Burke, NC

Built 1954 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 700

US70

Fair

Over: SILVER CREEK

.1 MI.W.JCT.US70BYP., Burke, NC

Built 1931 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 14,500

SR1605

Fair

Over: SMITH BRANCH CREEK

.1 MI.W.JCT.US64,70, Burke, NC

Built 1930 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 20

NC49

Fair

Over: LITTLE BUFFALO CREEK

0.2 MI. S. JCT. SR2444, Cabarrus, NC

Built 1946 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 7,500

SR1785

Fair

Over: LYNCH CREEK

0.4 MI. S. JCT. SR1004, Caswell, NC

Built 1923 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 100

SR1118

Fair

Over: CAMP CREEK

50 FT. S. JCT. SR1120, Catawba, NC

Built 1961 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 550

SR1314

Fair

Over: FRYE CREEK

1.2 MI. S. JCT. US321, Catawba, NC

Built 1940 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 9,100

SR1008

Fair

Over: JORDAN LAKE

0.3 MI. N. JCT. SR1972, Chatham, NC

Built 1979 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 4,200

SR1731

Fair

Over: NORTHEAST CREEK

0.7 MI. E. JCT. NC751, Chatham, NC

Built 1977 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 7,200

SR1507

Fair

Over: MCCLELLAN CREEK

25 FT.N.JCT.SR1636, Cherokee, NC

Built 1967 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 270

SR1110

Fair

Over: BRASSTOWN CREEK

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1100, Clay, NC

Built 1966 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 50

SR1353

Fair

Over: EAGLE FORK CREEK

0.1 MI.E.JCT.SR1169, Clay, NC

Built 1937 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 270

NC150

Fair

Over: BROAD RIVER

0.05 MI. S. JCT. SR1146, Cleveland, NC

Built 1948 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 2,900

NC10

Fair

Over: KNOB CREEK

0.1 MI. N. JCT. SR1552, Cleveland, NC

Built 1952 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,800

US74 EBL

Fair

Over: FIRST BROAD RIVER

0.1 MI. W. JCT. US74 BUS., Cleveland, NC

Built 1936 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 35,000

SR1001

Fair

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

0.3 MI. N. JCT. SR1905, Cleveland, NC

Built 1959 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,400

SR1376

Fair

Over: HINTON CREEK

0.2 MI. E. JCT. SR1387, Cleveland, NC

Built 1960 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 910

SR2005

Fair

Over: UT TO MUDDY FORK CREEK

0.6 MI. N. JCT. SR2002, Cleveland, NC

Built 1995 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,100

US74/US76 EBL

Fair

Over: LIVINGSTON CREEK

0.2MI.W. OF JCT.SR1824, Columbus, NC

Built 1922 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 7,250

SR1622

Fair

Over: LITTLE SWIFT CREEK

0.3 MI.E.JCT.SR1621, Craven, NC

Built 1951 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 300

NC55

Fair

Over: BACHELOR CREEK

0.6 MI. E. JCT. SR1244, Craven, NC

Built 1928 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 3,100

HAWLEY LANE

Fair

Over: BLOUNTS CREEK

.1 MI.E.COOL SPRING ST., Cumberland, NC

Built 1950 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 100

COOL SPRING STREET

Fair

Over: BIG CROSS CREEK

0.03 MI.N. JCT. HAWLEY LN, Cumberland, NC

Built 1950 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 250

SR1205

Fair

Over: INDIAN GROVE CREEK

50 FT. N. JCT. SR1210, Davidson, NC

Built 1980 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,000

NC109

Fair

Over: HAMBYS CREEK

0.4 MI. S. JCT. SR2053, Davidson, NC

Built 1938 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 12,500

SR2183

Fair

Over: NORTH HAMBY'S CREEK

0.3 MI. S. JCT. SR2032, Davidson, NC

Built 1938 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 4,100

NC801

Fair

Over: CARTER CREEK

0.2 MI. S. JCT. US1661, Davie, NC

Built 1940 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 8,100

US64

Fair

Over: YADKIN RIVER

1.4 MI. E. JCT. SR1812, Davie, NC

Built 1984 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 7,800

SR1608

Fair

Over: MITCHELL SWAMP CAN.

2.2 MI.W. JCT. NC 42, Edgecombe, NC

Built 1965 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,400

SR1516

Fair

Over: CANAL OFF TAR RIVER

1.2 MI. E. OF JCT. NC122, Edgecombe, NC

Built 1959 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 150

I40 BUS WBL

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RAILWAY

0.6 MI. E. JCT. US158, Forsyth, NC

Built 2006 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 21,750

SR1611

Fair

Over: TAR RIVER

0.5 MI.N.NC98, Franklin, NC

Built 1972 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,900

NC27

Fair

Over: TAYLORS CREEK

0.8 MI. W. JCT. NC273, Gaston, NC

Built 1939 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 13,500

NC273

Fair

Over: DUKE POWER FEEDER

0.5 MI. N. JCT. SR2600, Gaston, NC

Built 1956 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 9,500

US29,US74

Fair

Over: CATAWBA RIVER

0.2 MI. E. JCT. SR2083, Gaston, NC

Built 1933 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 24,500

SR1445

Fair

Over: UT TO LONG CREEK

0.7 MI. E. JCT. SR1443, Gaston, NC

Built 1976 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 190

SR1001

Fair

Over: S. FORK CATAWBA RIVER

0.9 MI. S. JCT. SR1836, Gaston, NC

Built 1977 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 3,100

Showing 4,451-4,500 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.

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.

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.