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 2732

Fair

Over: WHITES CREEK

5.7 MI.S.OF DECATURVILLE, Decatur, TN

Built 1939 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 273

NFA 2479 (SA 2908)

Fair

Over: WILLIAMS CREEK

NORTH OF SR131, Grainger, TN

Built 1930 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 989

NFA A664

Fair

Over: PAINT CREEK

1.2 M N OF SR70 AT ST LI, Greene, TN

Built 1996 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 20

NFA A824

Fair

Over: RICHLAND CREEK

2.1 M S OF US321-SR70 JCT, Greene, TN

Built 1920 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 220

NFA A022

Fair

Over: BRANCH

8 M NW OF ALTAMONT, Grundy, TN

Built 1935 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 60

NFA A761

Fair

Over: SULPHUR FORK CR

DEPRIEST LN IN HICKMAN CO, Hickman, TN

Built 1994 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 10

NFA 1289 (SA 4722)

Fair

Over: BIG FLAT CREEK

SW OF SR61-331 JCT-, Knox, TN

Built 1940 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 508

NFA A263

Fair

Over: BRANCH

2.6 MI. E. OF SR3, Lauderdale, TN

Built 2004 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 140

NFA 936 (SA 5017)

Fair

Over: BEELER FORK BRANCH

3.3 M. NE. LAWRENCEBURG., Lawrence, TN

Built 1950 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 1,215

NFA A442

Fair

Over: BRANCH

2 M. NE. TAFT., Lincoln, TN

Built 1978 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 70

NFA A711

Fair

Over: NORRIS CREEK

7.5 M. NW. MULBERRY., Lincoln, TN

Built 1940 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 40

FAS 246

Fair

Over: CARTER CREEK

1.3 M S WILLIAMSON CO LN, Maury, TN

Built 1955 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 4,217

NFA 1189 (SA 6105)

Fair

Over: GOODFIELD CREEK

EAST OF TENN RIVER, Meigs, TN

Built 1967 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 874

NFA A037

Fair

Over: OLD SR-33 / OCOEE RIVER

.52 MILE WEST OF BENTON, Polk, TN

Built 1946 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 8,437

NFA C039

Fair

Over: CROOKED CREEK

DONNELL RD - SHELBY CO, Shelby, TN

Built 1971 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 170

NFA A231

Fair

Over: NELSON CREEK

2.1 MI SW JCT SR11&SR96, Williamson, TN

Built 1930 Load: 18.9 t ADT: 300

GATLINBURG SPUR

Fair

Over: DUDLEY CREEK

0.0 MILES NORTH OF GATLIN, Sevier, TN

Built 1969 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 8,684

NATCHEZ TRACE PARK

Fair

Over: DAVIS HOLLOW ROAD

10.1 MILES FROM TN ROUTE, Williamson, TN

Built 1989 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 215

ETF BRIDGE

Fair

Over: EQUIPMENT

335 feet North OF S. FOUR, Franklin, TN

Built 1960 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 10

WATTENDORF MEM HWY

Fair

Over: BRADLEY CREEK

0.75 MILES SOUTH OF I-24., Coffee, TN

Built 1950 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 8,251

WATTENDORF MEM HWY

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

2.8 miles West of Base En, Franklin, TN

Built 1950 Load: 19.0 t ADT: 4,325

NFA 1988 (SA 0202)

Fair

Over: SINKING CREEK

8 M. SW. SHELBYVILLE., Bedford, TN

Built 1977 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 687

I75

Fair

Over: HIWASSEE RIVER

BRADLEY-MCMINN CO.LINE, Bradley, TN

Built 1968 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 48,545

FAP 76

Fair

Over: ABANDONED RAILROAD

IN BELLS TN, Crockett, TN

Built 1930 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 4,112

FAS 250

Fair

Over: HARPETH RIVER

DICKSON-CHEATHAM CO. LINE, Dickson, TN

Built 1960 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 1,102

NFA 1145

Fair

Over: GEORGETOWN PIKE / I75

1 MI FROM BLANE RD., Hamilton, TN

Built 1962 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 8,884

FAP 15

Fair

Over: TENNESSEE RIVER

IN SAVANNAH, Hardin, TN

Built 1980 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 13,265

FAS 344

Fair

Over: HOLSTON RIVER

MELINDA FERRY RD, Hawkins, TN

Built 1985 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 1,894

NFA A538

Fair

Over: NEW LASEA RD./I65

6.5 M. SE. SPRING HILL., Maury, TN

Built 1963 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 160

FAS 139

Fair

Over: DUMPLIN CREEK

NEAR JEFFERSON CO. LN., Sevier, TN

Built 1973 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 3,754

FAP 14 297767K

Fair

Over: CNIC RR & NONCONNAH CR

0.5 MI S OF I-55 JCT, Shelby, TN

Built 1964 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 48,162

FAP 54

Fair

Over: HATCHIE RIVER

TIPTON-HAYWOOD CO.LINE, Tipton, TN

Built 1952 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 2,521

NFA A056 (SA 8610)

Fair

Over: GRANNY LEWIS CREEK

NEAR TEMPLE HILL SCHOOL, Unicoi, TN

Built 1978 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 250

FAP 6

Fair

Over: WEST HARPETH RIVER

.2 M SW JCT SR6&SR248, Williamson, TN

Built 1928 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 20,189

COUNTY ROAD 2688

Fair

Over: WATAUGA RIVER

WILBUR RESERVOIR, Carter, TN

Built 1942 Load: 19.1 t ADT: 841

NFA A157

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF BUCK CREEK

2.5 MI N OF ALAMO, Crockett, TN

Built 1999 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 120

FAU 11

Fair

Over: BROWN CREEK

1.0 M N W JCT I440&SR11, Davidson, TN

Built 1929 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 19,487

NFA 1103 (SA 2622)

Fair

Over: DICK CREEK

SOUTH OF SR50, Franklin, TN

Built 1940 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 390

FAP 76 299188H

Fair

Over: WEST TENNESSEE RR

ON MILAN ARSENAL PROPERTY, Gibson, TN

Built 1930 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 4,681

FAP 29

Fair

Over: BIG SODDY CREEK

0.2 MI. S OF SR-111 JCT., Hamilton, TN

Built 1991 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 27,648

FAP 58

Fair

Over: WOLFTEVER CREEK

IN HARRISON BAY ST.PRK., Hamilton, TN

Built 1930 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 16,461

FAP 58

Fair

Over: WOLFTEVER CREEK

IN HARRISON BAY ST. PARK, Hamilton, TN

Built 1983 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 16,461

NFA 1648 (SA 3909)

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1 MI E OF MADISON CO., Henderson, TN

Built 1958 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 335

FAS 201

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1 M NE JCT (SR210&SR104), Henderson, TN

Built 1954 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 540

NFA A286

Fair

Over: BUFFALO RIVER

1.5 M. S. OF I40., Humphreys, TN

Built 1967 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 50

NFA 1150 (SA 4412)

Fair

Over: LONG BRANCH

3MI SOUTHWEST OF SR56, Jackson, TN

Built 1958 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 358

FAS 135

Fair

Over: KEELING BRANCH

1.3 MI.N.OF WHITLEYVILLE, Jackson, TN

Built 1958 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 342

I40

Fair

Over: RAMP FROM I81 LT LN

7.18MI.FROM HAMBLEN CO.LN, Jefferson, TN

Built 1961 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 25,031

NFA A070

Fair

Over: CANE CREEK

6 MI. W. OF RIPLEY, Lauderdale, TN

Built 1992 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 260

NFA A183

Fair

Over: BRANCH

2.7 MI SW JCT SR1&SR152, Madison, TN

Built 1989 Load: 19.4 t ADT: 40

Showing 801-850 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.