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

FAU 5224

Fair

Over: CYPRESS CREEK

N EVERGREEN ST - MEMPHIS, Shelby, TN

Built 1964 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 6,314

I40

Fair

Over: I-40 / SR-14

I40 & SR 14 JCT, Shelby, TN

Built 1979 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 101,149

FAU 3 299613G

Fair

Over: CNIC RR

2 M N OF I-240S JCT, Shelby, TN

Built 1934 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 15,953

FAP 385

Fair

Over: GULFSTREAM RD

PAUL BARRETT PKWY, Shelby, TN

Built 1996 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 16,804

FAP 385

Fair

Over: PLEASANT RIDGE RD

PAUL BARRETT PKWY., Shelby, TN

Built 1996 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 7,924

FAP 385

Fair

Over: PLEASANT RIDGE RD

PAUL BARRETT PKWY., Shelby, TN

Built 1996 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 7,924

NFA A799

Fair

Over: CYPRESS CREEK

1.5 MI E OF SR118, Weakley, TN

Built 1997 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 140

FAS 372

Fair

Over: BRANCH

IN MARTIN CITY LIMITS, Weakley, TN

Built 1929 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 3,857

NFSR 210

Fair

Over: LAUREL CREEK

NATIONAL FOREST, Monroe, TN

Built 1984 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 523

NFSR 210

Fair

Over: BUCKHORN CREEK

NATIONAL FOREST, Monroe, TN

Built 1984 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 386

FAS 308

Fair

Over: I75

NEAR CLEVELAND TENNESSEE, Bradley, TN

Built 1968 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 2,309

I-65S

Fair

Over: ELK RIVER

4 MI N ALA-TN ST LI, Giles, TN

Built 1964 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 26,659

FAP 11 350511A

Fair

Over: RICHLAND CR & TS RR

IN PULASKI CITY LIMITS, Giles, TN

Built 1983 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 9,822

NFA A323

Fair

Over: LICK CREEK

2 M E OF I81-SR172 EXIT, Greene, TN

Built 1984 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 30

NFA 1307 (SA 3206)

Fair

Over: LONG CREEK

1MI SOUTHEAST OF I81, Hamblen, TN

Built 1991 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 776

I24

Fair

Over: DODDS AVE (FAU 3557)

2 MI FROM EAST RIDGE, Hamilton, TN

Built 1963 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 98,487

FAS 200

Fair

Over: WOLF CREEK

1 M SW OF SR22, Henderson, TN

Built 1995 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 1,465

NFA A187

Fair

Over: EAST FORK MULBERRY CREEK

1 M. S. KELSO., Lincoln, TN

Built 1982 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 100

I40

Fair

Over: SR 73

.6 M W OF ROANE CO LN, Loudon, TN

Built 1960 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 42,725

I240

Fair

Over: I240 RP / SR4 RP & 5218

0.1 MI. N OF SR-4 JCT., Shelby, TN

Built 1967 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 82,917

FAU 176

Fair

Over: SR176 / SR004

SR-176 / SR-4, Shelby, TN

Built 1963 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 23,253

FAP 15

Fair

Over: GRAYS CREEK

3 M E OF I40, Shelby, TN

Built 1992 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 35,879

NFA C039

Fair

Over: DONNELL RD / SR385

DONNELL RD. - SHELBY CO., Shelby, TN

Built 1994 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 170

NFA 2218 (SA 9314)

Fair

Over: SR 111

6 MI. NORTH OF SPARTA, White, TN

Built 1986 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 77

HEADQUARTERS RESID

Fair

Over: FIGHTING CREEK

0.1 MILES FROM NPS ROUTE, Sevier, TN

Built 1938 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 1

NATCHEZ TRACE PARK

Fair

Over: LEATHERWOOD ROAD

1.05 MILES TO TN ROUTE 50, Maury, TN

Built 1987 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 215

NATCHEZ TRACE PARK

Fair

Over: PUBLIC ACCESS ROAD

3.4 MILES FROM NORTHERN T, Davidson, TN

Built 1995 Load: 36.3 t ADT: 215

I24 EBL

Fair

Over: BEANS CREEK

2.6 MI E OF SR127, Coffee, TN

Built 1963 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 44,002

I24 WBL

Fair

Over: BEANS CREEK

2.6 MI E OF SR127, Coffee, TN

Built 1963 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 44,002

FAP 68

Fair

Over: WHITES CREEK

CUMBERLAND-RHEA CO LINE, Cumberland, TN

Built 1980 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 3,296

FAU 155 350209K

Fair

Over: I65 &CSX RR

THOMPSON LN/I65&SS RR, Davidson, TN

Built 1971 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 24,106

I40

Fair

Over: I-40 WB / ELMORE TOWN RD

1.1 MI W OF SR56, Putnam, TN

Built 1960 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 48,916

WHITE STATION RD.

Fair

Over: SAM COOPER BLVD.

WHITE STATION RD-MEMPHIS, Shelby, TN

Built 1968 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 21,780

I-55

Fair

Over: MILL BRANCH RD

3.5 MI N OF MISS STA LINE, Shelby, TN

Built 1960 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 118,031

NFA D053

Fair

Over: EWIN BRANCH

NEWBERRY RD @ BRESSLIN RD, Davidson, TN

Built 1958 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 420

FAS 50

Fair

Over: HAPPY HOLLOW CREEK

SR 50-EAST OF TURNEY CTR., Hickman, TN

Built 1997 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 1,450

FAP 22

Fair

Over: WHITE OAK CREEK

3 MI. S. OF MILLEDGEVILLE, McNairy, TN

Built 1958 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 5,579

FAP 6

Fair

Over: LITTLE BIGBY CREEK

SR 6 NEAR COLUMBIA, Maury, TN

Built 1992 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 20,749

FAP 14

Fair

Over: WOLF RIVER

1 M NORTH OF I-40 JCT., Shelby, TN

Built 1996 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 42,682

NFA B750 (SA 8331)

Fair

Over: BATES CREEK

3.6 MI SW JCT SR25&TROUS., Sumner, TN

Built 1953 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 1,814

I26

Fair

Over: GORGE

2.11 MI FROM NC/TN ST LN, Unicoi, TN

Built 1995 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 10,622

NFA A340

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

1.1 MI JCT SR 124, Weakley, TN

Built 2001 Load: 36.9 t ADT: 30

I440

Fair

Over: CRAIG AVE.

I440 LOOP IN NASHVILLE, Davidson, TN

Built 1985 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 105,509

FAP 1

Fair

Over: ANDERSON BRANCH

IN JACKSON, Madison, TN

Built 1985 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 10,311

FAP 33

Fair

Over: LITTLE TENNESSEE RIVER

.60 M EAST OF VONORE, Monroe, TN

Built 1971 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 15,282

I55 SB

Fair

Over: I-55 SB / PVT. RD

1 MI W OF I240 JCT, Shelby, TN

Built 1963 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 97,284

I26 LT LN

Fair

Over: NFA 2640

.94 MI.N.OF WASHINGTON CO, Sullivan, TN

Built 1969 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 49,932

I40

Fair

Over: PORTER RD.

2 M SW JCT I40&SR59, Fayette, TN

Built 1963 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 38,372

FAP 385

Fair

Over: SR014

SR385 / SR14, Shelby, TN

Built 1997 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 9,705

I75

Fair

Over: HARRIS CREEK

2 MI NORTH OF SR40, Bradley, TN

Built 1965 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 52,149

Showing 10,451-10,500 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.