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 141

Good

Over: HARRIS BRANCH

1.5 MI N OF HARTSVILLE, Trousdale, TN

Built 1974 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,521

NFA 1415

Good

Over: HONEYCOMB CREEK

JUST S OF CARTER CO LINE, Unicoi, TN

Built 1965 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,347

FAU 4703

Good

Over: MARTIN CREEK

CITY OF ERWIN, Unicoi, TN

Built 1999 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 1,868

NFA 4718

Good

Over: BRANCH

BTWN OLD & NEW SR36-ERWIN, Unicoi, TN

Built 1976 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 488

NFA 2624

Good

Over: BUFFALO CREEK

N OF UNICOI NEAR SR 36, Unicoi, TN

Built 2003 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 516

NFA A014

Good

Over: RICE CREEK

NEAR FLAG POND, Unicoi, TN

Built 1984 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 100

NFA A028

Good

Over: BIG BALD CREEK

2.8 M S OF SR36-SR81 JCT, Unicoi, TN

Built 1995 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 40

NFA A030

Good

Over: SOUTH INDIAN CREEK

JUST OFF SR 81 NEAR 36, Unicoi, TN

Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 70

NFA A053

Good

Over: LITTLE BALD CREEK

S. OF SR 36, Unicoi, TN

Built 1983 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 160

NFA A055

Good

Over: LITTLE HIGGINS CREEK

NEAR SR 36-N OF ERNESTVL., Unicoi, TN

Built 2010 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 300

NFA A062

Good

Over: SOUTH INDIAN CREEK

S OF ERWIN, Unicoi, TN

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 130

NFA A069 (SA 8611)

Good

Over: SOUTH INDIAN CREEK

SW OF ERWIN, Unicoi, TN

Built 2011 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 360

NFA A100

Good

Over: MARTIN CREEK

IN ERWIN, Unicoi, TN

Built 1994 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 220

NFA A114

Good

Over: MARTIN CREEK

JUST SE OF ERWIN CITY LMT, Unicoi, TN

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 490

NFA A277

Good

Over: ROCK CREEK

N OFF SR395, Unicoi, TN

Built 1992 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 90

NFA A289

Good

Over: NORTH INDIAN CREEK

N. OF ERWIN, Unicoi, TN

Built 1981 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 370

NFA A300

Good

Over: NORTH INDIAN CREEK

N OF ERWIN NEAR SR 36, Unicoi, TN

Built 1982 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 320

NFA A305

Good

Over: NORTH INDIAN CREEK

W OF SR36-S OF UNICOI, Unicoi, TN

Built 1996 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10

NFA A309

Good

Over: NORTH INDIAN CREEK

NEAR UNICOI W. OF SR 36, Unicoi, TN

Built 1995 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 130

NFA A387

Good

Over: SIMMERCY CREEK

JUST N OF SR107-SR173 JCT, Unicoi, TN

Built 1991 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 270

NFA A398

Good

Over: NORTH INDIAN CREEK

.48 MI FROM SR 107, Unicoi, TN

Built 1992 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 110

NFA A405

Good

Over: SOUTH INDIAN CREEK

NEAR JCT OF SR 36 & SR81, Unicoi, TN

Built 1986 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 50

NFA A304

Good

Over: NORTH INDIAN CREEK

W OF SR36-S OF UNICOI, Unicoi, TN

Built 1984 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 70

NFA A455

Good

Over: MARTINS CREEK

IN THE CITY OF ERWIN, Unicoi, TN

Built 1998 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 250

NFA A455

Good

Over: MARTINS CREEK

IN THE CITY OF ERWIN, Unicoi, TN

Built 1998 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 250

NFA A481

Good

Over: DRY CREEK

.1 MI NW OF DRY CREEK RD, Unicoi, TN

Built 2021 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10

NFA A482

Good

Over: N INDIAN CREEK

.01 M N OF SR 107, Unicoi, TN

Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 90

NFA A484

Good

Over: SOUTH INDIAN CREEK

LAVRN HILL RD, Unicoi, TN

Built 2000 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10

NFA A507

Good

Over: DEVIL FORK CREEK

1MI OF SR 352, Unicoi, TN

Built 2009 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10

NFA A038

Good

Over: SOUTH INDIAN CREEK

E OF SR81-.5 M N OF ROCKY, Unicoi, TN

Built 1987 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 10

NFA A609

Good

Over: SOUTH INDIAN CREEK

E OFF SR81 N OF SR352 JCT, Unicoi, TN

Built 1998 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 20

NFA 1347 (SA 8602)

Good

Over: HIGGINS CREEK

1.8 M S OF SR36, Unicoi, TN

Built 1980 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 234

I26 RT LN

Good

Over: CSX RAILROAD

2.3 M S OF CARTER CO LINE, Unicoi, TN

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,784

I26 LT LN

Good

Over: CSX RAILROAD

2.3 M S OF CARTER CO LINE, Unicoi, TN

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,784

I26 RT LN

Good

Over: NFA A357 (MC CLAUGIN RD)

.9 M N OF SR 173 JCT, Unicoi, TN

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,784

I26 LT LN

Good

Over: NFA A357 (MC CLAUGIN RD)

.9 M N OF SR 173 JCT, Unicoi, TN

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 15,784

I26 RT LN

Good

Over: NFA A305 (TINKER RD)

1.9 M S OF SR 173 JCT, Unicoi, TN

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 16,623

I26 LT LN

Good

Over: NFA A305 (TINKER RD)

1.9 M S OF SR 173 JCT, Unicoi, TN

Built 1985 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 16,623

I26 RT LN

Good

Over: NFA A300-PIPPEN HOLLOW R

JUST N OF ERWIN, Unicoi, TN

Built 1983 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 16,623

I26 LT LN

Good

Over: NFA A300-PIPPEN HOLLOW R

JUST N OF ERWIN, Unicoi, TN

Built 1983 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 16,623

I26 RAMP

Good

Over: N. FK. ROCKY CREEK

NORTH OF ERWIN, Unicoi, TN

Built 1981 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 13,947

I26 RT LN

Good

Over: NFA A069-RIVER RD

4 M NE JCT I26 & SR81, Unicoi, TN

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,283

I26 LT LN

Good

Over: NFA A069-RIVER RD

4 M NE JCT I26 & SR81, Unicoi, TN

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,283

I26

Good

Over: NFA A066 - LEDFORD RD

3.2M NE JCT I26 & SR81, Unicoi, TN

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,283

I26

Good

Over: NFA A445-GUY ERWIN RD

2 M NE JCT I26 & SR81, Unicoi, TN

Built 1993 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,283

I26

Good

Over: SR 352 & SO. INDIAN CR

9.43 MI FROM NC/TN ST LN, Unicoi, TN

Built 1994 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 7,310

I26

Good

Over: TILSON RD (A045)

1.5 MI SE OF ERNESTVILLE, Unicoi, TN

Built 1994 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,759

I26

Good

Over: CLEAR BRANCH RD (0A030)

2 MI SE OF ERNESTVILLE, Unicoi, TN

Built 1994 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 8,759

NFA 1347 (SA 8602)

Good

Over: HIGGINS CREEK

E OF SR81 AT FLAG POND, Unicoi, TN

Built 2018 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 594

FAS 36

Good

Over: WATTS BRANCH

2.1 M S JCT SR36&SR81, Unicoi, TN

Built 1928 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 339

Showing 18,101-18,150 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.