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

FAP 402 (SR 40)

Good

Over: NORTH POTATO CREEK

1 MILE EAST OF DUCKTOWN, Polk, TN

Built 1940 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 4,700

NFA A442 (SA 7219)

Good

Over: BROWN BRANCH

5MI SOUTH OF SR 30, Rhea, TN

Built 1938 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 1,290

NFA 1162 (SA 7215)

Good

Over: TOESTRING BRANCH

5 MI EAST OF US 27, Rhea, TN

Built 1942 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 274

NFA A452 731088T

Good

Over: NORFOLK-SOUTHERN RWY

IN HARRIMAN - W OF US 27, Roane, TN

Built 1987 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 950

NFA 1958 (SA 7409)

Good

Over: BRUSH CREEK

3.4 MI NW JCT I24&SR49, Robertson, TN

Built 1970 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 339

FAU 1059

Good

Over: WEST FORK STONES RIVER

OLD NASH HWY NEAR BRINKLE, Rutherford, TN

Built 1996 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 4,238

FAS 2

Good

Over: BRANCH

4.6 M NE COFFEE CO LINE, Rutherford, TN

Built 1935 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 2,474

FAS 2

Good

Over: BRANCH

2.6 M NE COFFEE CO LINE, Rutherford, TN

Built 1935 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 2,474

I840 RP E

Good

Over: I840 RP E / I840

3.6 M NW JCT I24 & SR96, Rutherford, TN

Built 1995 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 48,128

FAU 4032

Good

Over: MALCOMB ST.

SAM COOPER BLVD - MEMPHIS, Shelby, TN

Built 2002 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 47,158

FAU 4032

Good

Over: MALCOMB ST.

SAM COOPER BLVD - MEMPHIS, Shelby, TN

Built 2002 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 47,158

I40

Good

Over: MULHERRIN CRK.&NEW MID.R

IN SMITH CO., Smith, TN

Built 1963 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 45,338

FAP 401 (SR 24)

Good

Over: SULPHUR CREEK

1.6 MI.SOUTH OF ROME, Smith, TN

Built 1937 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 4,281

FAP 401 (SR 24)

Good

Over: BRANCH

3.45 MI.SE.SOUTH CARTAGE, Smith, TN

Built 1928 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 2,948

FAP 53

Good

Over: MULHERRIN CREEK

.7 M S JCT SR141&I40, Smith, TN

Built 1981 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 3,545

I81

Good

Over: NFA A009

.6 M NE JCT I81&SR357, Sullivan, TN

Built 1973 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 28,158

NFA B009

Good

Over: SULPHER FORK CREEK

4.6 MI NW JCT SR52&SR259, Sumner, TN

Built 1983 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 50

FAS 76

Good

Over: BRANCH

.2 M NE JCT SR76&SR25, Sumner, TN

Built 1955 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 3,407

FAS 41

Good

Over: BRANCH

.1 M NE JCT SR41&SR52, Sumner, TN

Built 1947 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 4,496

NFA 1483 (SA 8423)

Good

Over: KELLY BRANCH

1 MI S OF SR14, Tipton, TN

Built 1974 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 1,167

NFA A082

Good

Over: CHARLES CREEK

5MI NORTH OF US70S, Warren, TN

Built 1985 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 160

FAU 3994 731203X

Good

Over: NORFOLK / SOU RWY

0.73 MI.E.OF JONESBORO, Washington, TN

Built 1983 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 5,145

NFA B586

Good

Over: WATAUGA RIVER

N OF JOHNSON CITY, Washington, TN

Built 1986 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 380

NFA A311

Good

Over: I26

NW OF I26 - SR 354 JCT, Washington, TN

Built 1969 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 220

I26 LT LN

Good

Over: CLINCHFIELD RR&FAU 3987

IN JOHNSON CITY, Washington, TN

Built 1977 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 43,857

FAP 34 RT LN

Good

Over: WATAUGA RIVER

NORTH OF JOHNSON CITY, Washington, TN

Built 1987 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 23,906

NFA 1518 (SA 9216)

Good

Over: MUD CREEK

2 MI E OF SR43, Weakley, TN

Built 1988 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 345

NFA 2190

Good

Over: CANEY FORK RIVER

DODSON COMMUNITY, White, TN

Built 2012 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 59

I840

Good

Over: I840-RL/BOSTON THETA RD

11 MI W JCT. I65 & I840, Williamson, TN

Built 2001 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 22,556

FAP 96

Good

Over: SR-96 / I-840

6.0 MI E JCT SR96&SR252, Williamson, TN

Built 1999 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 4,952

NFA A141

Good

Over: BRANCH

2.1 MI NORTH OF SR24, Wilson, TN

Built 1960 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 390

NFA A413

Good

Over: SUGGS CREEK

0.1 MI WEST OF SR171, Wilson, TN

Built 2005 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 280

FAP 1

Good

Over: HILL CREEK

IN WOODBURY CITY LIMITS, Cannon, TN

Built 2013 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 12,903

FAS 166

Good

Over: BROWNLOW CREEK

3.4 MI.NW.OF CAMPBELLSVIL, Giles, TN

Built 1997 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 636

FAP 15

Good

Over: N. CHOATE CREEK & ROAD

15 M W OF PULASKI, Giles, TN

Built 2006 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 7,805

FAP 15

Good

Over: N. CHOATE CREEK & ROAD

15 M W OF PULASKI, Giles, TN

Built 2006 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 7,805

I140 RAMP 1-H

Good

Over: I140 WB RMP/ PARKSIDE DR

CITY OF KNOXVILLE, Knox, TN

Built 1996 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 60,213

NFA A596

Good

Over: I75

3.5 M. W. LOUDON, Monroe, TN

Built 1971 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 110

FAU 4032

Good

Over: N. HIGHLAND ST.

SAM COOPER BLVD-MEMPHIS, Shelby, TN

Built 1969 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 47,158

FAU 36 243996E

Good

Over: CSX RAILROAD

3 MI.NW.OF WASHINGTON CO., Sullivan, TN

Built 1975 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 33,740

I40

Good

Over: SINKING CREEK

IN WILSON CO., Wilson, TN

Built 1965 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 63,528

I40

Good

Over: SINKING CREEK

IN WILSON CO., Wilson, TN

Built 1965 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 63,528

FAP 10

Good

Over: SPRING CREEK

1.5 M SW TROUSDALE CO LN, Wilson, TN

Built 1955 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 7,934

I26 RT LN

Good

Over: I-26 EB / PRICE RD.

1.94 M N UNICOI CO LN, Carter, TN

Built 1980 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 23,569

I26 LT LN

Good

Over: I-26 WB / PRICE RD.

1.94 M N UNICOI CO LN, Carter, TN

Built 1980 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 23,569

I40

Good

Over: HARPETH RIVER

2 M E JCT SR249&I40, Cheatham, TN

Built 2016 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 53,557

FAP 11

Good

Over: MILL CREEK

1.4 M NW WILLIAMSON CO LN, Davidson, TN

Built 1999 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 15,901

NFA 1543 (SA 2402)

Good

Over: BRANCH

2.4 MI SE JCT SR57&SR194, Fayette, TN

Built 1965 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 254

NFA B841

Good

Over: SPRING CREEK

.5MI FROM OVERTON CO LINE, Putnam, TN

Built 2008 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 130

FAP 56

Good

Over: SR-56 / I-40

.6 MI.N.OF DEKALB CO., Putnam, TN

Built 1959 Load: 28.5 t ADT: 6,795

Showing 12,351-12,400 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.