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

I65

Good

Over: I65 / CARTWRIGHT CIRCLE

2.5 M N DAVIDSON CO LINE, Sumner, TN

Built 1969 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 56,822

I65

Good

Over: I65 / CARTWRIGHT CIRCLE

2.5 M N DAVIDSON CO LINE, Sumner, TN

Built 1969 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 56,822

NFA 2017 (SA 9509)

Good

Over: CAVE CREEK (COLSP)

IN CEADARS OF LEBANON PK., Wilson, TN

Built 1990 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 109

NFA A179

Good

Over: LONG CREEK

2 M. W. US431 @ JOELTON., Davidson, TN

Built 1985 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 100

NFA F573

Good

Over: LYLE AVE / I440

I440 LOOP IN NASHVILLE, Davidson, TN

Built 1985 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 970

FAS 166

Good

Over: BRANCH

5.5 MI. NW. OF PULASKI, Giles, TN

Built 1955 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 1,306

NFA 1149 (SA 3317)

Good

Over: POSSUM CREEK

1 MI EAST OF US 27, Hamilton, TN

Built 1938 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 1,150

FAS 242

Good

Over: CREWS CREEK

SOUTHWEST OF CREWSTOWN, Lawrence, TN

Built 1960 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 773

FAP 49

Good

Over: CARRS CREEK

2 MI NE JCT SR257, Robertson, TN

Built 1931 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 7,871

FAU 4032

Good

Over: HARRISON CREEK

SAM COOPER BLVD - MEMPHIS, Shelby, TN

Built 1969 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 53,975

I81

Good

Over: NFA 2601

1.5 M NE JCT I81&SR126, Sullivan, TN

Built 1973 Load: 24.9 t ADT: 29,247

FAP 16

Good

Over: WEAKLEY CREEK OVERFLOW

8.9 NW.OF SHELBYVILLE, Bedford, TN

Built 1941 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 4,801

FAP 311

Good

Over: VARNELL RD. (NFA A872)

1.6 MI.WEST OF CLEVELAND, Bradley, TN

Built 1972 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 21,957

FAP 37

Good

Over: DOE RIVER

2.2 MI.S.OF ELIZABETHTON, Carter, TN

Built 1992 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 13,783

FAS 166

Good

Over: DONAHUE CREEK

4 MI. S. OF PULASKI, Giles, TN

Built 1955 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 2,178

NFA A672

Good

Over: BACK CREEK

.7 M SE OF SR70-SR170 JCT, Greene, TN

Built 1996 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 70

FAP 29

Good

Over: FAU3632/SOU RR/ POE BR

3.31 MI. S OF SR-319 JCT., Hamilton, TN

Built 1975 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 35,457

FAP 29

Good

Over: FAU 3632/SOU RR/ POE BR

3.31 MI. S OF SR-319 JCT., Hamilton, TN

Built 1975 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 35,457

I81 243997L

Good

Over: CSX RAILROAD

.2 M SW JCT I81&SR36, Sullivan, TN

Built 1973 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 33,875

I81 243997L

Good

Over: CSX RAILROAD

.2 M SW JCT I81&SR36, Sullivan, TN

Built 1973 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 33,875

NFA A062

Good

Over: DIXON CREEK

2 MI S OF MACON CO., Trousdale, TN

Built 1983 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 150

FAS 127

Good

Over: COLLINS RIVER

AT SHELLSFORD, Warren, TN

Built 1966 Load: 25.2 t ADT: 1,581

FAP 1

Good

Over: BRANCH

AT MORRIS CHAPEL, Benton, TN

Built 1947 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 5,419

NFA 2276 (SA 0611)

Good

Over: CHATATA CREEK

1MI EAST OF US11, Bradley, TN

Built 1963 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 1,082

NFA A124 (SA 0819)

Good

Over: HILL CREEK

1MI SOUTH OF US70S, Cannon, TN

Built 1997 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 170

FAS 145

Good

Over: CARTER CREEK

.1 MI S OF SR96, Cannon, TN

Built 1951 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 945

NFA A333

Good

Over: CROOKED CREEK

2.4 MI SW JCT SR77&SR219, Carroll, TN

Built 1999 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 460

NFA A395

Good

Over: TALLY BRANCH

2 M NW I40@WILLIAMSON CL, Cheatham, TN

Built 1987 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 560

FAP 5

Good

Over: SUGAR CREEK

0.5 M SE JCT SR5&SR100, Chester, TN

Built 1979 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 12,911

FAP 408 (SR 155)

Good

Over: WHITE BRIDGE ROAD / I40

ROBERTSON RD W.NASHVILLE, Davidson, TN

Built 2010 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 47,778

NFA A431

Good

Over: BRANCH

2 M. N. SR1., Dickson, TN

Built 1960 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 140

NFA A122

Good

Over: JOHNSON CREEK

1 M. NW. SR49., Dickson, TN

Built 1975 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 70

NFA 1872 (SA 2208)

Good

Over: LITTLE BARTONS CREEK

4.5 M. NE. VANLEER, Dickson, TN

Built 1961 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 345

FAS 194

Good

Over: LOOSAHATCHIE RIVER

4.5 MI.NORTH OF OAKLAND, Fayette, TN

Built 2012 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 1,032

FAP 366

Good

Over: LICK CREEK

IN HUMBOLT, Gibson, TN

Built 1983 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 2,411

NFA A760

Good

Over: BRANCH

IN PULASKI, Giles, TN

Built 1950 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 140

NFA A761

Good

Over: PLEASANT RUN CREEK

IN PULASKI, Giles, TN

Built 1989 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 260

FAU 5395

Good

Over: GEORGIA AVE.

0.41 MI. E OF SR-8 JCT., Hamilton, TN

Built 1972 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 14,706

NFA A055

Good

Over: JENNINGS CREEK

1MI. SOUTH OF SR56, Jackson, TN

Built 1989 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 110

FAS 53

Good

Over: MARTIN CREEK

IN GRANVILLE, Jackson, TN

Built 1998 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 555

NFA A125

Good

Over: BRANCH

ON HOLSTON HILLS DR, Knox, TN

Built 1996 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 4,160

NFA C334

Good

Over: FIRST CREEK

E OFF SR33 ON WALKER BLVD, Knox, TN

Built 1994 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 1,580

NFA A263 (SA 4935)

Good

Over: BRANCH

1.5 MI. E OF SR3, Lauderdale, TN

Built 2009 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 70

NFA A326

Good

Over: BRANCH

2 MI. S.E. OF SR3, Lauderdale, TN

Built 2003 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 150

NFA A357

Good

Over: SECOND CREEK

2.2 M. SW. FIVE POINTS., Lawrence, TN

Built 1986 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 130

I75

Good

Over: NFA A658 MATLOCK BEND RD

1.4 M SW OF SR72, Loudon, TN

Built 1972 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 52,785

FAP 28

Good

Over: TOWN CREEK

5 MI. N. OF JASPER, Marion, TN

Built 1982 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 8,776

FAP 28

Good

Over: TOWN CREEK

5 MI. N. OF JASPER, Marion, TN

Built 1982 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 8,776

FAS 315

Good

Over: POWDER MILL CREEK?

NEAR SWEETWATER, Monroe, TN

Built 1960 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 1,456

FAP 322

Good

Over: SWEETWATER CREEK

JUST E. OF SR 2, Monroe, TN

Built 2001 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 4,395

Showing 11,851-11,900 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.