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

NC27

Fair

Over: SEABOARD COASTLINE

0.48 MI. E. JCT. SR1784, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1929 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 6,300

SR2426

Fair

Over: RAMAH CREEK

1.1 MI. E. JCT. SR2425, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1951 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 4,500

US74 EBL

Fair

Over: UT TO MCALPINE CREEK

0.3 MI. W. JCT. SR3169, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1952 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 26,000

US74

Fair

Over: IRVINS CREEK

0.3 MI. W. JCT. SR4223, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1953 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 52,000

I85, SR2623,SR2624

Fair

Over: IRWIN CREEK

0.5 MI. N. JCT. SR2691, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1957 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 168,000

I77

Fair

Over: IRWIN CREEK

2.4 MI. N. JCT. NC16, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1957 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 73,500

HOVIS ROAD

Fair

Over: CSX RR

0.3 MI.S.JCT.ROZZELLES RD, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1957 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 5,800

SR3815

Fair

Over: LITTLE SUGAR CREEK

0.25 MI.S.JCT.SR3816, Mecklenburg, NC

Built 1945 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 23,000

NC226

Fair

Over: CANE CREEK

.1 MI.N.JCT.SR1199, Mitchell, NC

Built 1968 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 3,500

SR1116

Fair

Over: ROCK HOUSE CREEK

.3 MI.S.JCT.NC226, Mitchell, NC

Built 1920 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 600

SR1810

Fair

Over: CRANE CREEK

0.5 MI. N. JCT. SR1811, Moore, NC

Built 1967 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 220

SR1004

Fair

Over: WEST FORK ENO RIVER

0.7 MI. N. JCT. SR1351, Orange, NC

Built 1949 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 2,700

SR1308

Fair

Over: SMITH CREEK

0.5 MI. N. JCT. SR1372, Pamlico, NC

Built 1974 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 2,200

SR1144

Fair

Over: CANAL

2.1 MI. W. JCT. SR1374, Pasquotank, NC

Built 1960 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 2,000

SR1753

Fair

Over: SWIFT CREEK

0.7 MI. N. JCT. SR1919, Pitt, NC

Built 1974 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,900

US176

Fair

Over: VAUGHN CREEK

.01 MI.E.JCT.SR1500, Polk, NC

Built 1930 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 5,600

SR2453

Fair

Over: SANDY CREEK

0.2 MI. E. JCT. SR2448, Randolph, NC

Built 1954 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 860

SR2344

Fair

Over: PENWOOD BRANCH

0.04 MI. E. JCT. US220BUS, Randolph, NC

Built 1950 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 4,800

SR2261

Fair

Over: PENWOOD BRANCH

250 FT. N. JCT. SR2163, Randolph, NC

Built 1920 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 3,800

SR1159

Fair

Over: MIDDLE PRONG HAMER CREEK

0.2 MI. N. JCT. SR1148, Richmond, NC

Built 1956 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 150

US74BUS

Fair

Over: N. FORK FALLING CREEK

0.2 MI. E. JCT. US1, Richmond, NC

Built 1945 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 22,500

NC41

Fair

Over: ASHPOLE SWAMP

0.9 MI.S.JCT.SR2454, Robeson, NC

Built 1955 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 2,800

NC152

Fair

Over: SECOND CREEK

0.5 MI. W. JCT. SR2393, Rowan, NC

Built 1938 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 5,600

US74B,US221

Fair

Over: CLEGHORN CREEK

.05 MI.N.JCT.SR1005, Rutherford, NC

Built 1934 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 10,000

US221

Fair

Over: STONY CREEK

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1500, Rutherford, NC

Built 1934 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 3,900

SR1735

Fair

Over: BRIER CREEK

.9 MI.N.JCT.SR1733, Rutherford, NC

Built 1974 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 450

SR1614

Fair

Over: BRIDGE CREEK

0.4 MI. W. JCT. US501, Scotland, NC

Built 1951 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,300

SR1427

Fair

Over: BIG SHOE HEEL CREEK

0.2 MI. W. JCT. SR1403, Scotland, NC

Built 1967 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 400

NC24,NC27

Fair

Over: ISLAND CREEK

0.3 MI. E. JCT. SR1213, Stanly, NC

Built 1958 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 16,000

SR1140

Fair

Over: NORFOLK,SOUTHERN RR

0.5 MI.N.JCT.SR1145, Stanly, NC

Built 1936 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 3,300

NC65

Fair

Over: RED BANK CREEK

100 FT. W. JCT. SR1952, Stokes, NC

Built 1947 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 5,000

NC89

Fair

Over: FISHER RIVER

0.2 MI.E.JCT.SR1338, Surry, NC

Built 1937 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 4,300

NC89

Fair

Over: CAMP BRANCH

.8 MI.E.JCT.SR1338, Surry, NC

Built 1937 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 4,300

NC268 BUS.

Fair

Over: UT TO WILLOWBROOK LAKE

.5 MI.W.JCT.SR1205, Surry, NC

Built 1928 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 850

SR1312

Fair

Over: WOOD BRANCH

0.8 MI.N JCT.SR1313, Surry, NC

Built 2002 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 200

SR2012

Fair

Over: FLAT SHOAL CREEK

.4 MI.S.JCT.SR1826, Surry, NC

Built 1923 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,600

US276

Fair

Over: STEEL CREEK

.6 MI.S.JCT.SR1107, Transylvania, NC

Built 1930 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 2,200

US276

Fair

Over: DUNNS CREEK

.04 MI.N.JCT.SR1103, Transylvania, NC

Built 1930 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 5,200

US276

Fair

Over: HOGSED CREEK

.1 MI.S.JCT.SR1538, Transylvania, NC

Built 1930 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 6,800

SR1104

Fair

Over: E.FORK FRENCH BROAD RVR

.01 MI.S.JCT.SR1107, Transylvania, NC

Built 1957 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 230

NC205

Fair

Over: SALEM CREEK

0.1 MI. S. JCT. SR1749, Union, NC

Built 1936 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 2,300

US601

Fair

Over: STUMPLICK CREEK

0.2 MI. S. JCT. SR1001, Union, NC

Built 1928 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 16,000

NC218

Fair

Over: CROOKED CREEK

0.3 MI. E. JCT. SR1609, Union, NC

Built 1951 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 5,700

SR2102

Fair

Over: BUCK BRANCH

0.3 MI. S. JCT. SR2138, Union, NC

Built 1939 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,100

SR1315

Fair

Over: UNDERWOOD CREEK

0.1 MI. W. JCT. SR1332, Union, NC

Built 1968 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 5,200

SR1523

Fair

Over: NORTH FORK CROOKED CREEK

0.4 MI. W. JCT. SR1522, Union, NC

Built 1963 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 870

NC54

Fair

Over: CRABTREE CREEK

0.1 MI.E. OF JCT. SR3014, Wake, NC

Built 1921 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 21,000

SR2324

Fair

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

1.2 MI E JCT SR1003, Wake, NC

Built 1959 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 1,500

US221,US32

Fair

Over: MID. FORK S. FORK NEW RV

25 FT.S.JCT.SR1532, Watauga, NC

Built 1949 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 22,500

US221,US32

Fair

Over: MIDDLE FORK S.FORK NEWRV

.01 MI.S.JCT.SR1542,1602, Watauga, NC

Built 1949 Load: 24.4 t ADT: 21,000

Showing 4,551-4,600 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.