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

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

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.