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

FAS 118

Fair

Over: STRAWBERRY BRANCH

4.4 MI.N.OF DRESDEN, Weakley, TN

Built 1954 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 898

NFA A613

Fair

Over: BRANCH

0.7 MI SE JCT SR46&SR106, Williamson, TN

Built 1960 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 240

FAP 401 (SR 24)

Fair

Over: CEDAR CREEK

3.5 M SW SMITH CO LINE, Wilson, TN

Built 1931 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 6,450

GATLINBURG BYPASS

Fair

Over: WEST PRONG LPR

0.1 MILES SOUTH FROM NPS, Sevier, TN

Built 1969 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 2,630

NATCHEZ TRACE PARK

Fair

Over: CHIEF CREEK & FOREST SER

4.5 MILES TO TN ROUTE 20, Lewis, TN

Built 1960 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 750

NATCHEZ TRACE PARK

Fair

Over: COUNTY ROAD

1.98 MILES TO TN ROUTE 50, Hickman, TN

Built 1987 Load: 21.8 t ADT: 215

FAS 61

Fair

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

1 MI.NE.OF NORRIS, Anderson, TN

Built 1947 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 7,250

FAP 28

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.04 MI.SW.OF PIKEVILLE, Bledsoe, TN

Built 1951 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 5,238

FAS 33

Fair

Over: STOCK CREEK

NEAR KNOX CO. LINE, Blount, TN

Built 1943 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 6,431

NFA 818

Fair

Over: SUGAR CREEK

IN HENDERSON CITY LIMITS, Chester, TN

Built 1929 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 1,665

FAP 5

Fair

Over: OVERFLOW

0.58 MI.N. JCT. SH. 5-A, Chester, TN

Built 1934 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 17,225

FAS 299

Fair

Over: I40

2.4 MILES SOUTH OF SR001, Cumberland, TN

Built 1967 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 1,374

NFA F482

Fair

Over: WINFORD AVE. / I440

I440 LOOP IN NASHVILLE, Davidson, TN

Built 1981 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 1,020

NFA A361 (SA 2732)

Fair

Over: BR N FORK FORKED DEER

1.1 MI SE JCT SR5&SR54, Gibson, TN

Built 1975 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 890

FAP 5

Fair

Over: SUGAR CREEK

.8 MILE SOUTH OF HUMBOLDT, Gibson, TN

Built 1992 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 14,916

FAP 5

Fair

Over: SUGAR CREEK

.8 MILE SOUTH OF HUMBOLDT, Gibson, TN

Built 1992 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 14,916

FAP 1

Fair

Over: BUFFALO HIDE CREEK

3 M SE OF RUTHLEDGE, Grainger, TN

Built 1940 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 4,490

FAS 131

Fair

Over: PUNCHEON CAMP CREEK

.8 M E OF PUNCHEON CAMP, Grainger, TN

Built 1973 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 1,213

FAP 32

Fair

Over: HOLSTON RIVER

ON HANBLEN-GRANGER CO.LN., Hamblen, TN

Built 1982 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 22,479

NFA A112

Fair

Over: SCARCE CREEK (NTSP)

NATCHEZ TRACE STATE PARK, Henderson, TN

Built 1984 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 100

FAS 114

Fair

Over: SR-114 / I-40 EBL

ON CARROLL CO. BORDER, Henderson, TN

Built 1966 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 256

I40

Fair

Over: RAMP FROM I81 LF LN

7.20MI FROM HAMBLEN CO.LN, Jefferson, TN

Built 1961 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 25,031

NFA A053

Fair

Over: CANE CREEK

5 MI. W. OF RIPLEY, Lauderdale, TN

Built 1984 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 110

FAS 138

Fair

Over: OVERFLOW

.1 MILE NORTH OF MERCER, Madison, TN

Built 1949 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 866

FAS 214

Fair

Over: NAPIER BRANCH

NORTHEAST OF CHAMBERS, Obion, TN

Built 1926 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 1,848

FAU 811 (SA 7904)

Fair

Over: WOLF RIVER

3.8 MI. NORTH OF SR-57, Shelby, TN

Built 2007 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 20,134

NFA J107

Fair

Over: FAXON AVE / I-40

FAXON AVE - MEMPHIS, Shelby, TN

Built 2007 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 220

I40-RL

Fair

Over: I-40 E.B. / WOLF RIVER

1 MI W OF SR 14 JCT, Shelby, TN

Built 1976 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 101,149

FAU 2806

Fair

Over: WOLF RIVER

N WATKINS ST - MEMPHIS, Shelby, TN

Built 1965 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 31,971

FAP 14 297560D

Fair

Over: INDUSTRIAL AVE & CNIC RR

.2 MI N OF I55 JCT, Shelby, TN

Built 1929 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 25,215

FAP 85

Fair

Over: LANKFORD CREEK

IN DEFEATED-TENNESSEE, Smith, TN

Built 1969 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 3,047

FAU 4429 (SA 8209)

Fair

Over: SOUTH FORK HOLSTON RIVER

IN KINGSPORT-NEAR ST PARK, Sullivan, TN

Built 1952 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 3,881

FAS 174

Fair

Over: LITTLE TRAMMEL CREEK

1.5 M S KENTUCKY STATE LN, Sumner, TN

Built 1956 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 791

FAS 190

Fair

Over: LITTLE CANE CREEK

3.5 MI.S.OF PALMERSVILLE, Weakley, TN

Built 1960 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 279

FAS 9

Fair

Over: BLOWING SPRINGS CREEK

2 MI.N.CLINTON CITY LIMIT, Anderson, TN

Built 1927 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 6,157

FAS 61

Fair

Over: BRUSHY CREEK

1.57 MI.W.JCT. FAS 2572, Anderson, TN

Built 1946 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 4,083

FAP 1

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.9 MI.E. OF CARROLL CO., Benton, TN

Built 1952 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 5,761

NFA 1134 (SA 0405)

Fair

Over: CANE CREEK

5MI EAST OF VAN BUREN CO, Bledsoe, TN

Built 1960 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 469

NFA 1134 (SA 0405)

Fair

Over: CRYSTAL CREEK

3MI EAST OF US 127, Bledsoe, TN

Built 1952 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 484

NFA 2233 (SA 0406)

Fair

Over: MCWILLIAMS CREEK

3MI EAST OF US 127, Bledsoe, TN

Built 1963 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 689

NFA A073

Fair

Over: LACKEY CREEK

NW OF US321 AT MARYVILLE, Blount, TN

Built 1925 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 120

NFA A660 (SA 0523)

Fair

Over: PITNER CREEK

6 M. NE. WALLAND., Blount, TN

Built 1931 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 230

FAU 3649

Fair

Over: SOUTH MOUSE CREEK

IN CLEVELAND CITY LIMITS, Bradley, TN

Built 1960 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 2,927

NFA A403

Fair

Over: LITTLE SOUTH MOUSE CREEK

.04MI WEST OF US11, Bradley, TN

Built 1987 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 670

NFA A071

Fair

Over: BRANCH

BTWN I75&SR9-S OF JELLICO, Campbell, TN

Built 1987 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 220

NFA A122

Fair

Over: CROOKED CREEK

SW OF JELLICO, Campbell, TN

Built 1983 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 210

FAS 116

Fair

Over: BRANCH

.4 M FR ANDERSON CO LI, Campbell, TN

Built 1935 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 3,593

FAP 9

Fair

Over: COVE LAKE

E. OF I75, Campbell, TN

Built 1968 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 32,569

FAP 53

Fair

Over: ROCKHOUSE CREEK

4.2 MI.NE.OF WOODBURY, Cannon, TN

Built 1932 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 1,230

FAS 114

Fair

Over: CHERRY CREEK

N.OF HOLLOW PARK, Carroll, TN

Built 1955 Load: 22.4 t ADT: 809

Showing 1,251-1,300 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.