State profile · Below median Poor share

Tennessee bridge safety

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, condition ratings, load ratings, and Poor-condition shares for every public highway bridge in Tennessee.

20,379
Public bridges
42.5%
Good condition
4.4%
Poor condition

Tennessee holds 20,379 public highway bridges (#10 of 52 by inventory) with a 4.41% Poor share (#41 of 52 by Poor share).

That is 4.4% of the state's inventory, against an average of 7.5% across the 54 states and territories with Poor-rated bridges on file, which places it 12 of 54 ordered from the lowest Poor share upward. A bridge is rated Poor when its weakest applicable component scores 4 or below on the inspecting agency's 0-9 scale, so the category is a maintenance and funding signal rather than a closure order or a live crossing-safety verdict.

Inventory: FHWA NBI 2024 · last ETL August 2026

Total Bridges

20,379

Public highway bridges in Tennessee

Good Condition

42.5%

8,664 bridges rated 7-9

-7.5pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

4.4%

898 bridges whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

-3.1pp vs national avg 7.5%

Tennessee vs national bridge condition

Tennessee - Good condition share 42.5%
National avg

Share of bridges rated 7-9 on the FHWA 0-9 scale (deck, superstructure, substructure all good).

Tennessee - Poor-condition share 14.7%
National avg

Lower is better. Bar maxes at 30% (worst-state ceiling). National average sits at 7.5%.

Tennessee in the national condition pattern

Each point is a state or territory in the FHWA NBI; the highlighted point is this profile.

Inventory size and Poor-condition share are different measures: Tennessee has 20,379 bridges and a 4.4% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #12 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The dashed comparisons mark the national average state rate and the midpoint of the plotted inventory range; neither is a live safety or closure threshold. Scatter plot of 54 data points. 0%10%20%30%40% 0k20k40k60k Public bridges in inventory (thousands) Poor-condition share (%) TN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 20.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.41%AL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 16.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 3.35%AK, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 1.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.89%AZ, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.15%AR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.43%CA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 25.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.91%CO, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 9k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.82%CT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.72%DE, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.26%DC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.95%FL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.79%GA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 15.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.59%GU, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0k · Poor-condition share (%): 12.77%HI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 1.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.53%ID, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.9%IL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 26.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 9.35%IN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 19.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.22%IA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 23.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 19.16%KS, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 24.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.26%KY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.37%LA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 12.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 11.48%ME, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 15.41%MD, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.56%MA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 8.88%MI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 11.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 11.27%MN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.44%MS, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 16.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.03%MO, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 24.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 8.95%MT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.81%NE, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 15.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.9%NV, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.14%NH, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.51%NJ, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 6.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.01%NM, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.51%NY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 17.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 9.43%NC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 19.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.76%ND, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 10.98%OH, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 26.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.74%OK, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 22.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.7%OR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.61%PA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 23.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 12.58%PR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 13.92%RI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 15.2%SC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 9.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.17%SD, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 16.36%TX, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 56.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.23%UT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 3.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.91%VT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.9%VI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0k · Poor-condition share (%): 29.17%VA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 3.39%WA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.45%WV, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 7.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 18.64%WI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.52%WY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 3.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.51%
Inventory size and Poor-condition share are different measures: Tennessee has 20,379 bridges and a 4.4% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #12 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The dashed comparisons mark the national average state rate and the midpoint of the plotted inventory range; neither is a live safety or closure threshold.

Tennessee vs all states by public bridge inventory

Where this state's FHWA NBI public-highway bridge count sits among every state and territory on PlainBridges

20,379 10th of 54 higher than 44 of 54 states

States and territories, banded by public bridge inventory size

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source FHWA National Bridge Inventory · 2024

Read the rank neighborhood for Tennessee

The highlighted point is Tennessee: 20,379 bridges and 4.41% in Poor condition, rank #12 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The five jurisdictions immediately above and below Tennessee on that same Poor-share ordering:

  • Alabama: 16,205 bridges · 3.35% Poor
  • Virginia: 14,120 bridges · 3.39% Poor
  • Tennessee: 20,379 bridges · 4.41% Poor
  • Minnesota: 13,532 bridges · 4.44% Poor
  • New Mexico: 4,035 bridges · 4.51% Poor

The full national sortable table lives on the rankings page.

Material families in Tennessee

Exclusive FHWA material families across all 20,379 bridges in this state; continuous variants fold into the parent family. Orthogonal to the Poor-share scatter above.

Who maintains Tennessee’s inventory

State agency holds 41.4% of the 20,379 public highway bridges filed under Tennessee in the 2024 NBI, the agency-of-record split for this state, not a condition verdict.

When Tennessee’s bridges were built

Pre-1950 construction accounts for 11.7% of the 20,379 bridges with a recorded original year in Tennessee. Era bands are orthogonal to the Poor-share ranking above.

Condition Distribution

Tennessee42.5%53.1%GoodFairPoor
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix - Tennessee (FHWA NBI)

Counties (95)

Anderson 175 Bedford 294 Benton 147 Bledsoe 83 Blount 215 Bradley 199 Campbell 137 Cannon 159 Carroll 240 Carter 195 Cheatham 128 Chester 127 Claiborne 98 Clay 64 Cocke 190 Coffee 217 Crockett 167 Cumberland 137 Davidson 832 DeKalb 100 Decatur 104 Dickson 243 Dyer 232 Fayette 336 Fentress 55 Franklin 157 Gibson 386 Giles 321 Grainger 88 Greene 306 Grundy 85 Hamblen 119 Hamilton 464 Hancock 61 Hardeman 223 Hardin 192 Hawkins 190 Haywood 241 Henderson 207 Henry 187 Hickman 331 Houston 118 Humphreys 250 Jackson 131 Jefferson 122 Johnson 109 Knox 588 Lake 30 Lauderdale 258 Lawrence 211 Lewis 136 Lincoln 304 Loudon 117 Macon 169 Madison 418 Marion 177 Marshall 240 Maury 424 McMinn 219 McNairy 218 Meigs 76 Monroe 145 Montgomery 186 Moore 69 Morgan 120 Obion 381 Overton 78 Perry 153 Pickett 30 Polk 140 Putnam 167 Rhea 100 Roane 159 Robertson 204 Rutherford 428 Scott 111 Sequatchie 67 Sevier 273 Shelby 1077 Smith 202 Stewart 168 Sullivan 368 Sumner 398 Tipton 201 Trousdale 88 Unicoi 161 Union 61 Van Buren 37 Warren 160 Washington 284 Wayne 274 Weakley 351 White 69 Williamson 520 Wilson 402

Tennessee 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 Tennessee on the same metric.

AL

Alabama

3.35% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$16,205

VA

Virginia

3.39% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$14,120
Selected

TN

Tennessee

4.41% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$20,379

MN

Minnesota

4.44% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$13,532

NM

New Mexico

4.51% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$4,035

Bridges Needing Most Attention in Tennessee

Six lowest-condition bridges in Tennessee, ranked by the portal's composite display score. Inspection intervals are risk-based under current NBIS rules.

NFA A868

Poor

Over: NINE MILE CREEK

14 M. SW. MARYVILLE., Blount, TN

Built 1930 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 40

NFA 5551

Poor

Over: GALLAGHER CREEK

SW OF SR 333, Blount, TN

Built 1930 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 1,214

DOSSETT LANE

Poor

Over: CSX RAILROAD

DOSSETT LANE / CSX RAILRO, Campbell, TN

Built 1915 Load: 0.0 t

NFA A258

Poor

Over: SPRING CREEK

IN THE CITY OF MCKENZIE, Carroll, TN

Built 1960 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 850

FAU 06022

Poor

Over: GAP CREEK

2 MI SE OF SR 67, Carter, TN

Built 1948 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 2,752

NFA A985

Poor

Over: STONEY CREEK

S OF SR91-NE PART OF CO., Carter, TN

Built 1978 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 170

All Bridges in Tennessee

NFA A047

Fair

Over: DOE CREEK

0.8 M N OF SR67-167 JCT, Johnson, TN

Built 1960 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 70

NFA A057

Fair

Over: MACK BRANCH

1 M NW OF SR 67, Johnson, TN

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 140

NFA A296

Fair

Over: FORGE CREEK

S OFF SR167 AT HAMMON CHA, Johnson, TN

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 150

NFA A297 (SA 4625)

Fair

Over: FORGE CREEK

E OF MTN CITY-ED PORTER R, Johnson, TN

Built 1938 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100

NFA A307

Fair

Over: ROAN CREEK

S OFF US421-SE OF MTN CTY, Johnson, TN

Built 1978 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 70

NFA A309 (SA 4608)

Fair

Over: ROAN CREEK

E OFF US421-S OF MTN CITY, Johnson, TN

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 230

FAS 167

Fair

Over: FORGE CREEK

SE OF MOUNTAIN CITY, Johnson, TN

Built 1972 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,644

FAS 167

Fair

Over: FORGE CREEK

SE OF MOUNTAIN CITY, Johnson, TN

Built 1972 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,644

FAS 167

Fair

Over: FORGE CREEK

SE OF MOUNTAIN CITY, Johnson, TN

Built 1972 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,644

NFA 1394 (SA 4603)

Fair

Over: AVERY BRANCH

DRY RUN RD-S OF SR167, Johnson, TN

Built 1955 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 369

FAP 34

Fair

Over: ROAN CREEK

1.1 M SE BRUSHY FORK RD, Johnson, TN

Built 1956 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,206

FAP 34

Fair

Over: ROAN CREEK

.7 M N OF JOE WALLACE RD, Johnson, TN

Built 1956 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,206

FAP 34

Fair

Over: ROAN CREEK

.2 M E OF JOE WALLACE RD, Johnson, TN

Built 1956 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,206

FAP 34

Fair

Over: ROAN CREEK

.6 M SE OF MODOCK RD, Johnson, TN

Built 1956 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,206

FAS 91

Fair

Over: FURNACE CREEK

.1 M S OF HOOSIER RD, Johnson, TN

Built 1996 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,121

FAS 91

Fair

Over: LAUREL CREEK

.2 M N OF DEER RUN RD, Johnson, TN

Built 1996 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 4,112

FAS 91

Fair

Over: BRANCH

.3 M N DALLANVILLE, Johnson, TN

Built 1916 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,131

FAS 133

Fair

Over: BEAVERDAM CREEK

1.9 M SE OF WASHINGTON CL, Johnson, TN

Built 1956 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 531

FAU 332

Fair

Over: FOURTH CREEK

IN KNOXVILLE, Knox, TN

Built 1965 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 30,660

NFA 1277 (SA 4709)

Fair

Over: NORTH FORK TURKEY CREEK

N OF US70 IN FARRAGUT, Knox, TN

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 29,011

NFA 2428 (SA 4730)

Fair

Over: SINKING CREEK

N OFF US11 E-W OF SPLIT, Knox, TN

Built 1955 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 582

NFA 2430 (SA 4726)

Fair

Over: ROSEBERRY CREEK

MILLERTOWN PK-W OFF US11W, Knox, TN

Built 1965 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,295

FAU 3773 730637G

Fair

Over: WOODLAND AVE/DAVANNA ST

NEAR I-275-N. OF BAXTER, Knox, TN

Built 1957 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 11,242

FAU 3773

Fair

Over: FIRST CREEK

IN KNOXVILLE, Knox, TN

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,770

FAU 3774 730560W

Fair

Over: E.FK. THIRD CR & SOU. RR

1 MI S. OF LOONEY ISLANDS, Knox, TN

Built 1974 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,389

NFA A035

Fair

Over: SWAN POND CREEK

E OF SR168 ON KENNEDY RD., Knox, TN

Built 1990 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 460

NFA A039

Fair

Over: HINES CREEK

3.2 M NE OF SR168-US441 J, Knox, TN

Built 1988 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 620

NFA A040

Fair

Over: STOCK CREEK

1.1 MS SR168 US441 JCT, Knox, TN

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,647

NFA A072

Fair

Over: THIRD CREEK

1.6 M W OF SR62 I640 JCT, Knox, TN

Built 1942 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,180

NFA A096

Fair

Over: FIRST CREEK

JUST NW OF SR33-I640 JCT, Knox, TN

Built 1997 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 16,145

FAU 5653

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.5 M E OF SR33-SR331 JCT, Knox, TN

Built 1960 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,191

FAU 5676 347648R

Fair

Over: SECOND CR & SOU RWY

JUST NE OF I40-I275 JCT, Knox, TN

Built 1935 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,912

NFA A141

Fair

Over: FIRST CREEK

AT SR158-DOWNTOWN KNOXVIL, Knox, TN

Built 1960 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,040

NFA A307 730623Y

Fair

Over: FOREST PARK BLVD/SOU RR

PARK BLVD-S OFF KINGSTON, Knox, TN

Built 1930 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,420

NFA B363

Fair

Over: BRANCH

N OFF CEDAR DR AT SR33, Knox, TN

Built 1930 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,030

NFA B363

Fair

Over: BRANCH

N OFF CEDAR DR AT SR33, Knox, TN

Built 1930 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,030

NFA B829

Fair

Over: TURKEY CREEK

N OFF US70-W OF LOVELL RD, Knox, TN

Built 1960 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 150

FAU 4823

Fair

Over: LITTLE TURKEY CREEK

S OF US70-JUST E OF CO LI, Knox, TN

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 12,138

NFA D491

Fair

Over: LOVE CREEK

N OFF RUTLEDGE PK AT I640, Knox, TN

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,620

NFA D279

Fair

Over: COX CREEK

SE OF SR33-SR131 JCT, Knox, TN

Built 1935 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,823

NFA D279

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

BROWN GAP RD-E OFSR33-131, Knox, TN

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,823

NFA D242

Fair

Over: COX CREEK

KNOXVILLE, Knox, TN

Built 1975 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 200

NFA D917

Fair

Over: STOCK CREEK

TIPTON STA. RD-S OF SR168, Knox, TN

Built 1915 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 710

NFA D917

Fair

Over: STOCK CREEK

PICKENS GAP RD-W OF US441, Knox, TN

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,520

NFA D959

Fair

Over: STOCK CREEK

NEUBERT SPRGS RD-S OF 168, Knox, TN

Built 1984 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 150

NFA E071 (SA 4719)

Fair

Over: BULL RUN CREEK

NE OF US441-ANDERSONVL PK, Knox, TN

Built 1965 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 200

NFA E388

Fair

Over: WILCOX BRANCH

BULLRUN VALLEY DR-W I75, Knox, TN

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 290

NFA 1248 (SA 4740)

Fair

Over: WATT ROAD / I40

ON THE KNOX-LOUDON CO LN, Knox, TN

Built 1965 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 11,502

I40

Fair

Over: CAMPBELL STATION RD

IN FARRAGUT, Knox, TN

Built 1968 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 79,585

FAS 131

Fair

Over: LOVELL RD. / I40

1.6 MI W JCT SR162&I40, Knox, TN

Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 42,280

Showing 7,351-7,400 of 20,379 bridges

Related

All states → | National rankings → | Understanding conditions → | Retired SD term explained →
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.

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.

What to do with this

Use Tennessee's inventory picture to drill to a county or a specific span.

  • Browse counties in Tennessee and open the highest-Poor shares first. County list
  • See where this state sits among peers on Poor-condition share. State rankings
  • Compare this state with another jurisdiction on the same measures. State compare

NBI condition ratings are inventory snapshots, not live crossing-safety verdicts.

Every figure on PlainBridges is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Tennessee Good/Fair/Poor shares and county rollups on this page are computed from the same NBI extract as the national boards; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2024 NBI release. NBI condition categories reflect the latest reported inventory record, not a live safety, closure, or travel decision.