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

NFA E292 298466T

Good

Over: CSX RAILROAD

17TH AVE N @ HERMAN ST., Davidson, TN

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,800

NFA E448

Good

Over: SHEFFIELD CREEK

OVER SHEFFIELD CREEK, Davidson, TN

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,450

NFA C379

Good

Over: MILL CREEK

IN NASHVILLE, Davidson, TN

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 140

NFA B687

Good

Over: BRANCH

IN NASHVILLE, Davidson, TN

Built 1960 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 6,770

NFA E505

Good

Over: BRANCH

BRINKSBERRY CT, Davidson, TN

Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 390

NFA E508

Good

Over: BRANCH

COPPERFIELD WAY-NASHVILLE, Davidson, TN

Built 1996 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,880

NFA E509

Good

Over: BRANCH

GESSNER LN-NASHVILLE, Davidson, TN

Built 1996 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,880

NFA E513

Good

Over: BRANCH

BLAIRFIELD DR, Davidson, TN

Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,880

NFA E514

Good

Over: BRANCH

BROOKSIDE WOODS BLVD., Davidson, TN

Built 1980 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,880

NFA B327

Good

Over: MILL CREEK

IN NASHVILLE, Davidson, TN

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 870

FAU 4956

Good

Over: WHITTEMORE BRANCH

IN NASHVILLE, Davidson, TN

Built 1965 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,916

FAU E663

Good

Over: SUGARTREE CREEK

NEAR HILLSBORO PIKE, Davidson, TN

Built 1995 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,340

NFA 0E797

Good

Over: INDIAN CREEK

ALTERAS DRIVE/ BRANCH, Davidson, TN

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,974

NFA E838

Good

Over: BRANCH

HEATHERWOOD DR-NASHVILLE, Davidson, TN

Built 1980 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,880

NFA E839

Good

Over: BRANCH

ABINGDON CT - NASHVILLE, Davidson, TN

Built 1980 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,880

NFA F010

Good

Over: BRANCH

LEALAND AVE @ GALE LANE, Davidson, TN

Built 2007 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 200

NFA F107

Good

Over: BRANCH

COMPTON ROAD, Davidson, TN

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,150

NFA F151

Good

Over: BRANCH

CANE RIDGE PARKWAY, Davidson, TN

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 3,880

NFA F247

Good

Over: BRANCH

WESTLAWN DR @ 40TH AVE N, Davidson, TN

Built 2012 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 210

FAU F697

Good

Over: DIVISION ST/ CSX VINE ST

DAVIDSON STR@CSX VINE STR, Davidson, TN

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 5,300

NFA F619

Good

Over: BROWNS CREEK

STATELINE LN IN NASHVILLE, Davidson, TN

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,050

NFA F798

Good

Over: BEECH CREEK

BEAUTIFUL VALLEY DR., Davidson, TN

Built 2004 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 390

DRY CREEK RD.

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

0.5 M SR11, Davidson, TN

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 19,380

DRY CREEK RD.

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

0.5 M SR11, Davidson, TN

Built 2017 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 19,380

NFA G156

Good

Over: CSX RAILROAD

AVONDALE PARK BLVD., Davidson, TN

Built 2014 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 200

NFA 0H064

Good

Over: BRANCH

ALTERAS DRIVE/ BRANCH, Davidson, TN

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,974

NFA H085

Good

Over: BRANCH

LOXLEY DRIVE/ BRANCH, Davidson, TN

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,000

NFA 0H099

Good

Over: BRANCH

SUNNYWOOD DR./ BRANCH, Davidson, TN

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,974

NFA H325

Good

Over: SAVAGE BRANCH

0.5 M NE OF SR 1, Davidson, TN

Built 2020 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 590

NFA 05975

Good

Over: W.T. PKWY & RAMP C & D

IN NASHVILLE, Davidson, TN

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 24,820

FAU 4167

Good

Over: BRANCH

1.5 M.E. I40@ ERMAC DRIVE, Davidson, TN

Built 1965 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,948

FAU 4167

Good

Over: BRANCH

ELM HILL PK@ MCGAVOCK PK, Davidson, TN

Built 1965 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10,948

FAU 1002 (SA 1909)

Good

Over: BRANCH

IN NASHVILLE, Davidson, TN

Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,909

FAU 1002 (SA 1909)

Good

Over: BELLE MEADE BRANCH

IN NASHVILLE, Davidson, TN

Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,909

FAU 1017 (SA 1921)

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

IN NASHVILLE, Davidson, TN

Built 1970 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 26,942

FAU 6

Good

Over: BRANCH

1.2 MI E I65-ELLINGTON PK, Davidson, TN

Built 1969 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 45,322

FAU 6

Good

Over: BRILEY PKWY RL/SAUNDERS

BRILEY PK-SANDERS AV, Davidson, TN

Built 2004 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 66,787

FAU 6

Good

Over: BRILEY PKWY LL/SAUNDERS

BRILEY PK-SANDERS AV, Davidson, TN

Built 2004 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 66,787

FAU 6

Good

Over: B.PKWY-RL-4W/BRIARVIL R

BRILEY PK-ELLINGTON PK, Davidson, TN

Built 1975 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 40,614

FAU 6

Good

Over: B.PKWY-LL-4E/ELLING PKY

BRILEY PK-ELLINGTON PK, Davidson, TN

Built 1975 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 40,614

FAP 408 (SR 155)

Good

Over: B.PKWY-RL-3W/BRIARVIL R

BRILEY PK-ELLING PK, Davidson, TN

Built 1975 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 71,975

FAP 408 (SR 155)

Good

Over: B. PKWY-LL-3E/ELLING PKY

BRILEY PK-ELLINTON PK, Davidson, TN

Built 1975 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 71,975

FAP 408 (SR 155)

Good

Over: RICHLAND CREEK

1.3 MI NW JCT I409, Davidson, TN

Built 1968 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 47,778

FAP 408 (SR 155)

Good

Over: BRANCH

.8 MI NW JCT I40, Davidson, TN

Built 1965 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 72,413

I40

Good

Over: RMP I40

I24-I40 INTERCHANGE - C7, Davidson, TN

Built 2003 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 131,122

I24 349217F

Good

Over: I24 / GLENROSE AVE&CSX R

GLENROSE AV, Davidson, TN

Built 1960 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 154,723

FAP 408 (SR 155)

Good

Over: BRILEY PKWY / I24

BRILEY PK -I24, Davidson, TN

Built 2002 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 38,920

I24

Good

Over: WHITTEMORE BRANCH

1 MI NW SR254, Davidson, TN

Built 1958 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 155,629

FAU 4960

Good

Over: I24

1.3 M. SE. BELL RD., Davidson, TN

Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 2,453

I24

Good

Over: W. BRANCH HURRICANE CR.

.7 MI NW RUTHERFORD CO LI, Davidson, TN

Built 1958 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 150,156

Showing 13,901-13,950 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.