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

I75

Fair

Over: HARRIS CREEK

2 MI NORTH OF SR40, Bradley, TN

Built 1965 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 52,149

NFA D867

Fair

Over: BRANCH

IN NASHVILLE, Davidson, TN

Built 1950 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 1,060

FAS 141

Fair

Over: LONG BRANCH

2 MI FM CENTER HILL DAM, DeKalb, TN

Built 1975 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 205

FAU 319

Fair

Over: FAU 3542

1.0 MI. N. OF TN. RV., Hamilton, TN

Built 1978 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 9,743

FAP 1

Fair

Over: I40

3.1 MI.N.E.OF JACKSON, Madison, TN

Built 1960 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 9,931

FAP 1

Fair

Over: I40

3.1 MI.N.E.OF JACKSON, Madison, TN

Built 1960 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 9,931

FAU 4032

Fair

Over: WARING RD.

SAM COOPER BLVD - MEMPHIS, Shelby, TN

Built 1968 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 53,975

I55

Fair

Over: I-240 / I-55

I55 & I240 JCT, Shelby, TN

Built 1958 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 102,621

FAS 89

Fair

Over: OLD BED OBION RIVER

2.2 MI.N.OF PALMERSVILLE, Weakley, TN

Built 1988 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 890

FAP 96

Fair

Over: SR-96 / I-40

.5 M E DICKSON CO LINE, Williamson, TN

Built 1960 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 9,189

NFSR 332

Fair

Over: NO DATA ENTERED

National Forest, Monroe, TN

Built 1992 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 10

SR 233

Fair

Over: CUMBERLAND SP DISCHARGE

CUMBERLAND STEAM PLANT, Stewart, TN

Built 1970 Load: 37.9 t ADT: 3,561

LITTLE RIVER ROAD

Fair

Over: LITTLE RIVER

7.2 MILES WEST FROM NPS R, Sevier, TN

Built 1950 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 1,415

NATCHEZ TRACE PARK

Fair

Over: SCAB BRANCH

13.3 MILES FR TN ROUTE 13, Wayne, TN

Built 1997 Load: 38.1 t ADT: 700

NFA A515

Fair

Over: I75

2.5 M NE OF KNOX CO LINE, Anderson, TN

Built 1969 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 830

FAU 6

Fair

Over: STR 18@ ELLINGTON PKY I/

.5 M N SR6&ELLINGTON IC, Davidson, TN

Built 1965 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 44,374

I40 LL

Fair

Over: NFA C131 BUTTERMILK RD

.3 M S WILLIAMS FERRY RD, Loudon, TN

Built 1959 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 41,804

NFA A612

Fair

Over: NORTH MOUSE CREEK

2 MI FROM I75, McMinn, TN

Built 1994 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 240

FAS 48

Fair

Over: SR 48 / I24

.8 MI.S.OF KENTUCKY LINE, Montgomery, TN

Built 1975 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 17,032

FAS 21

Fair

Over: PURSLEY CREEK

.6 MI.NORTH OF UNION CITY, Obion, TN

Built 2008 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 1,863

FAS 294

Fair

Over: EAGLE CREEK

.9 MI.N.OF SR042, Overton, TN

Built 1959 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 1,449

I 269

Fair

Over: CYPRESS CREEK

3.5 MI. S OF I-40 JCT., Shelby, TN

Built 2007 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 19,963

FAP 22 (NEW) RP G

Fair

Over: ICG RAILROAD

NEAR MARTIN, Weakley, TN

Built 1987 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 6,466

NFA 1398

Fair

Over: FLORIDA CREEK

0.7 MI WEST OF SR266, Wilson, TN

Built 1974 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 720

ROAD 1926W

Fair

Over: ARNOTT BRANCH

SW OF ACID PLANT, Hawkins, TN

Built 1950 Load: 38.2 t ADT: 50

FAU 3289

Fair

Over: BRANCH

IN METRO NASHVILLE, Davidson, TN

Built 1984 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 17,016

FAU 4169

Fair

Over: SORGHUM CREEK

ANTIOCH PK @ HARDING PL, Davidson, TN

Built 1950 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 6,807

NFA A424

Fair

Over: CSX RAILROAD

ONE MILE PKWY-NASHVILLE, Davidson, TN

Built 1993 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 14,040

NFA C023

Fair

Over: LICK CREEK

2.3 M E OF SR340&SR348 JC, Greene, TN

Built 2004 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 30

FAU 2

Fair

Over: SOUTH CHICKAMAUGA CREEK

2.01 MI. W OF SR-153 JCT., Hamilton, TN

Built 1993 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 33,114

FAP 15

Fair

Over: TURKEY CREEK

1.5 MI.E.OF SAVANNAH, Hardin, TN

Built 2010 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 6,876

NFA 1831 (SA 4101)

Fair

Over: CANE BRANCH

.2 M NW OF PLEASANTVILLE, Hickman, TN

Built 1976 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 60

NFA A066

Fair

Over: LOCUST FORK CREEK

5.2 M SE OF BON AQUA, Hickman, TN

Built 1974 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 100

NFA A328

Fair

Over: MILAN BRANCH

7 M SW OF CENTERVILLE, Hickman, TN

Built 1986 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 20

NFA A368

Fair

Over: BRANCH

5 M NE OF ONLY, Hickman, TN

Built 1965 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 40

FAP 48

Fair

Over: PINEY FORK CREEK

.8 MILE SOUTH OF SR100, Hickman, TN

Built 1975 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 1,863

NFA 1783 (SA 4204)

Fair

Over: LONG BRANCH

4.25 M SE OF TENN RIDGE, Houston, TN

Built 1975 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 153

NFA A211

Fair

Over: CANE CREEK

1.5 M SW OF MCKINNON, Houston, TN

Built 1976 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 60

NFA 1076 (SA 4601)

Fair

Over: DRY RUN CREEK

S OF SR167-LT DRY RUN RD, Johnson, TN

Built 1940 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 550

NFA A230

Fair

Over: SUMROW CREEK

1 MI. W. OF HALLS, Lauderdale, TN

Built 1995 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 80

NFA A187

Fair

Over: BRANCH

2.5 M. SW. KELSO., Lincoln, TN

Built 1994 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 100

NFA A197

Fair

Over: BRANCH

3.5 M. S. PETERSBURG., Lincoln, TN

Built 1989 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 50

FAS 275

Fair

Over: STILES CREEK

2.5 M S JCT SR15&SR275, Lincoln, TN

Built 1940 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 703

FAP 10

Fair

Over: BRANCH

7 M N JCT SR15, Lincoln, TN

Built 1923 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 2,329

FAS 121

Fair

Over: BRANCH

2.1 M NE ALABAMA ST LINE, Lincoln, TN

Built 1971 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 3,347

FAP 22

Fair

Over: N. FORK WHITE OAK CREEK

NEAR MILLEDGEVILLE, McNairy, TN

Built 1958 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 5,579

NFA A040

Fair

Over: THOMAS CREEK

3 M SW OF ONEIDA, Scott, TN

Built 1984 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 20

NFA D965

Fair

Over: BRANCH

PLANTATION WOODS DRIVE, Shelby, TN

Built 1965 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 50

I40

Fair

Over: FLETCHER CREEK

.8 MI W OF SR177 JCT, Shelby, TN

Built 1997 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 103,701

I-269

Fair

Over: SR15

I-269 / US 64 JCT., Shelby, TN

Built 2007 Load: 38.6 t ADT: 28,518

Showing 10,501-10,550 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.