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

NC105

Fair

Over: LINVILLE RIVER

.1 MI.N.JCT.US221, Avery, NC

Built 1955 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 10,000

WATAUGA STREET

Fair

Over: NORTH TOE RIVER

0.3 MI.N.JCT.NC181, Avery, NC

Built 2000 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 300

US701

Fair

Over: COLLY CREEK

0.2 MI.S. JCT.SR 1522, Bladen, NC

Built 1954 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 2,600

SR1432

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

0.3 MI. E. JCT. SR1486, Brunswick, NC

Built 1952 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 1,000

US17S,NC87

Fair

Over: TOWN CREEK

0.5 MI N. OF JCT SR1406, Brunswick, NC

Built 1950 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 34,000

SR1622

Fair

Over: DIX CREEK

.4 MI.N.JCT.SR1623, Buncombe, NC

Built 1994 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 410

NC63

Fair

Over: SANDYMUSH CREEK

.7 MI.W.JCT.SR1600, Buncombe, NC

Built 1957 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 1,400

SR2427

Fair

Over: BEETREE CREEK

.01 MI.E.JCT.SR2428, Buncombe, NC

Built 1976 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 100

SR1734

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RR

.2 MI.S.JCT.US64,70, Burke, NC

Built 1971 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 3,600

NC200

Fair

Over: MEADOW CREEK

0.4 MI. S. JCT. SR2623, Cabarrus, NC

Built 1948 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 5,900

NC200

Fair

Over: HAMBY BRANCH

0.5 MI. S. JCT. SR2671, Cabarrus, NC

Built 1990 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 4,900

US601

Fair

Over: COLD WATER CREEK

0.1 MI. N. OF JCT. SR1150, Cabarrus, NC

Built 1928 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 10,000

NC73

Fair

Over: ADAMS CREEK

0.4 MI. W. JCT. SR2461, Cabarrus, NC

Built 1920 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 7,800

SR1118

Fair

Over: CLEAR CREEK

0.4 MI. W. JCT. SR1117, Cabarrus, NC

Built 1967 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 620

SR1712

Fair

Over: UPPER LITTLE RIVER

.3 MI.W.JCT.SR1718, Caldwell, NC

Built 1959 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 750

SR1001

Fair

Over: C & NW RAILROAD

.4 MI.S.JCT.US321A, Caldwell, NC

Built 1937 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 3,800

SR1594

Fair

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

.1 MI.W.JCT.SR1504, Caldwell, NC

Built 1967 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 20

SR1176

Fair

Over: CALICO CREEK

0.6 MI.S.JCT.SR1180, Carteret, NC

Built 1960 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 5,600

US158

Fair

Over: REEDY FORK CREEK

1.0 MI. W. JCT. NC119, Caswell, NC

Built 1931 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 1,400

NC751

Fair

Over: JORDAN LAKE

0.7 MI. N. JCT. SR1733, Chatham, NC

Built 1980 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 8,000

SR1011

Fair

Over: SHADDOX CREEK

0.5 MI.E.JCT.SR1916, Chatham, NC

Built 1928 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 3,400

SR1108

Fair

Over: BR. OF LOVES CREEK

0.15 MI. S. SR1006, Chatham, NC

Built 2015 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 1,800

SR1345

Fair

Over: OWL CREEK

.9 MI.W.JCT.SR1331, Cherokee, NC

Built 1968 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 440

SR1428

Fair

Over: WELCH MILL CREEK

150 FT.S.JCT.SR1430, Cherokee, NC

Built 1924 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 1,100

SR1172

Fair

Over: EAGLE FORK CREEK

.05 MI.W.JCT.SR1169, Clay, NC

Built 1976 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 140

SR1308

Fair

Over: SEABOARD COASTLINE RR

0.1 MI. W. JCT. SR1305, Cleveland, NC

Built 1959 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 1,700

NC182

Fair

Over: FIRST BROAD RIVER

0.15 MI. E. JCT. SR1813, Cleveland, NC

Built 1950 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 4,500

MONTROSE DRIVE

Fair

Over: HICKORY CREEK

.03 MI.W.JCT.WINDSOR DR., Cleveland, NC

Built 1970 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 300

SR1168

Fair

Over: SANDY RUN CREEK

0.6 MI. W. JCT. SR1330, Cleveland, NC

Built 1957 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 900

SR1817

Fair

Over: BIG HARRIS CREEK

0.9 MI. S. JCT. NC182, Cleveland, NC

Built 1966 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 260

SR1614

Fair

Over: KNOB CREEK

0.1 MI. N. JCT. SR1606, Cleveland, NC

Built 1940 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 1,800

NC216 CONNECTOR

Fair

Over: NORFOLK SOUTHERN R.R.

.01 MI.W.JCT.NC216, Cleveland, NC

Built 1950 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 125

SR1928

Fair

Over: GUM SWAMP RUN

0.6 MI E JCT NC130, Columbus, NC

Built 1958 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 880

US701

Fair

Over: MILL BRANCH

0.3 MI. N.JCT.SR.1544, Columbus, NC

Built 1931 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 3,300

NC55

Fair

Over: SNAKE HOLE BRANCH

1.0 MI.NE. OF JCT.SR1271, Craven, NC

Built 1965 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 600

NC24

Fair

Over: SOUTH RIVER

0.5 MI. E. JCT. SR1853, Cumberland, NC

Built 1946 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 9,100

SR1838

Fair

Over: LOCKS CREEK

0.1 MI S. OF JCT SR1839, Cumberland, NC

Built 1939 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 3,100

SR1414

Fair

Over: BRANSON CREEK

0.4 MI.E. OF JCT.US401 B, Cumberland, NC

Built 1940 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 10,500

E.DOGWOOD TRAIL

Fair

Over: GREAT BLUE HERON CANAL

0.1 MI.E.JCT.S.DOGWOOD TR, Dare, NC

Built 1990 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 200

SR2025

Fair

Over: HAMBY CREEK

0.7 MI. N. JCT. SR2010, Davidson, NC

Built 1981 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 400

NC801

Fair

Over: DUTCHMANS CREEK

0.02 MI. N. JCT. SR1818, Davie, NC

Built 1953 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 2,000

US601

Fair

Over: DUTCHMAN'S CREEK

0.6 MI. S. JCT. NC801, Davie, NC

Built 1936 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 4,400

US64

Fair

Over: UT TO LEONARD CREEK

0.1 MI. W. JCT. SR1602, Davie, NC

Built 1932 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 9,000

NC55

Fair

Over: THIRD FORK CREEK

0.3 MI E JCT SR1945, Durham, NC

Built 1968 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 22,500

NC54

Fair

Over: NEW HOPE CREEK

0.5MI E.JCT I 40, Durham, NC

Built 1928 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 13,500

NC98

Fair

Over: LICK CREEK

0.2 MI.W.JCT.SR1815, Durham, NC

Built 1964 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 18,500

NC54

Fair

Over: NORTHEAST CREEK

0.3 MI. W. JCT.NC55, Durham, NC

Built 1974 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 20,000

SR1004

Fair

Over: CREEK OFF ENO RIVER

0.45 MI S JCT SR2635, Durham, NC

Built 1953 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 6,600

SR1709

Fair

Over: ELLERBE CREEK

0.2 MI. N. OF JCT. SR1671, Durham, NC

Built 1964 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 5,200

US70BUS,NC98

Fair

Over: GOOSE CREEK

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

Built 1960 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 4,900

Showing 4,801-4,850 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.