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 A223

Fair

Over: INDIAN CREEK

4 M. NW I40&HICKMAN CO LN, Humphreys, TN

Built 1988 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 20

NFA A364

Fair

Over: SPRING BRANCH

2 M. E. CUNNINGHAM., Montgomery, TN

Built 1950 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 640

NFA A027

Fair

Over: BRANCH

2 MI N OF SR59, Tipton, TN

Built 1972 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 70

NFA 1417 (SA 8414)

Fair

Over: OVERFLOW

0.3 MI N OF BRIGHTON, Tipton, TN

Built 1983 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 2,526

NFA 1114 (SA 8907)

Fair

Over: BRANCH

.23 MI FROM DICK HALL RD, Warren, TN

Built 1973 Load: 10.7 t ADT: 770

PARSON BRANCH ROAD

Fair

Over: FORGE CREEK

7.9 MILES FROM U.S. ROUTE, Blount, TN

Built 1982 Load: 10.9 t ADT: 100

NFA 1185 (SA 0610)

Fair

Over: SOUTH MOUSE CREEK

.1MI EAST OF I75, Bradley, TN

Built 1939 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 694

NFA A919

Fair

Over: STONEY CREEK

E OF SR91-NE OF ELIZABETH, Carter, TN

Built 1980 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 230

NFA B023

Fair

Over: STONEY CREEK

E OFF SR91-N OF ELIZBETON, Carter, TN

Built 1986 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 20

NFA A652

Fair

Over: WEAKLEY CREEK

10 M NW OF PULASKI, Giles, TN

Built 1946 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 30

NFA 1697 (SA 3913)

Fair

Over: SCARCE CREEK

2.5 MI S OF US40, Henderson, TN

Built 1966 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 394

NFA B001

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

2.8 M W OF SR 100, Hickman, TN

Built 1991 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 290

NFA 944 (SA 4113)

Fair

Over: PINEY RIVER

3 M NORTH OF NUNNELLY, Hickman, TN

Built 1950 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 982

I24

Fair

Over: RED RIVER

9.12 MI. S. KENTUCKY STLN, Montgomery, TN

Built 1972 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 88,998

FAP 14

Fair

Over: WEST BEAVER CREEK

.4 M FM SHELBY-TIPTON CL, Shelby, TN

Built 1955 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 7,621

NFA A055

Fair

Over: SOUTH INDIAN CREEK

N OF ERNESTVILLE NEAR R36, Unicoi, TN

Built 1978 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 590

NFA A483

Fair

Over: RICE CREEK

FARMER ROAD, Unicoi, TN

Built 1990 Load: 11.0 t ADT: 10

NFA 1270 (SA 0106)

Fair

Over: POPLAR CREEK

JUST E OF SR116-SR330 JCT, Anderson, TN

Built 1960 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 111

FAS 32

Fair

Over: COSBY CREEK

NEAR SR 9, Cocke, TN

Built 1931 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 2,520

FAS 340

Fair

Over: HALE BRANCH

.3 M SE OF GREENE CO LN, Hamblen, TN

Built 1941 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 1,770

NFA E189

Fair

Over: ELDRIDGE CREEK

.3 MI EAST OF TENN RIVER, Hamilton, TN

Built 1938 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 100

NFA 1754 (SA 3609)

Fair

Over: BRANCH

FELLOWSHIP RD, Hardin, TN

Built 1960 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 120

NFA A097

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

4.3 MI E JCT SR76&SR179, Haywood, TN

Built 1998 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 20

NFA 2084 (SA 4403)

Fair

Over: SALT LICK CREEK

2 MI SOUTH EAST OF SR85, Jackson, TN

Built 1970 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 556

FAP 58

Fair

Over: HIWASSEE RIVER

SOUTH OF BIG SPRINGS, Meigs, TN

Built 2007 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 4,120

NFA 1861

Fair

Over: BRANCH

3 MI SE PALMYRA, Montgomery, TN

Built 1960 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 648

NFA 1861

Fair

Over: ANTIOCH CREEK

3 MI E PALMYRA, Montgomery, TN

Built 1940 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 648

NFA A298

Fair

Over: MUDDY CREEK

2MI EAST OF US 27, Rhea, TN

Built 1950 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 40

NFA 808 (SA 8412)

Fair

Over: BRANCH

5 MI W OF COVINGTON, Tipton, TN

Built 1954 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 736

NFA 1928 (SA 9405)

Fair

Over: NFA 1928 / I65

3.2 MI NW JCT SR106&SR247, Williamson, TN

Built 1961 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 3,663

NFA 2021 (SA 9504)

Fair

Over: HURRICANE CREEK

0.6 MI N OF RUTHERFORD CO, Wilson, TN

Built 1970 Load: 11.3 t ADT: 420

NFA A297

Fair

Over: GULF FORK BIG CREEK

4.5 MI NE OF HARTFORD, Cocke, TN

Built 1974 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 230

FAP 9

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.2 M E OF WOLF CREEK, Cocke, TN

Built 1924 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 1,282

FAS 375

Fair

Over: GERMAN CR. CHEROKEE LAKE

NEAR MARY CHAPEL, Grainger, TN

Built 1941 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 2,737

NFA 867 (SA 3515)

Fair

Over: SHORT CREEK

2.6 MI NW OF BOLIVAR, Hardeman, TN

Built 1954 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 801

FAS 125

Fair

Over: BRANCH

E. OF CHICKASAW PARK, Hardeman, TN

Built 1991 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 237

NFA A681

Fair

Over: BEECH CREEK

2 M W OF VAN HILL, Hawkins, TN

Built 1920 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 150

NFA A467

Fair

Over: SPENCER CREEK

0.7 MI E OF MADISON CO., Henderson, TN

Built 1960 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 130

FAP 76

Fair

Over: TENNESSEE RIVER

HENRY-STEWART CO LINE, Henry, TN

Built 1992 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 3,614

I40

Fair

Over: I40 / ASHEVILLE HWY.

1.4 M SE OF HOLSTON DR, Knox, TN

Built 1967 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 77,847

NFA A195

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1 MI EAST OF SR 210, Lauderdale, TN

Built 1975 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 60

NFA A049

Fair

Over: LITTLE SEWEE CREEK

6MI WEST OF I75, McMinn, TN

Built 1970 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 90

NFA 1668

Fair

Over: GRAHAM CREEK

1 MI N OF US64, McNairy, TN

Built 1950 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 125

NFA A135

Fair

Over: ROCKHOUSE CREEK

2.4 M NE OF FAIRVIEW, Scott, TN

Built 1998 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 10

FAP 1

Fair

Over: WOLF RIVER

0.2 MI W OF I-40 JCT, Shelby, TN

Built 1926 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 36,466

NFA 2571 (SA 9012)

Fair

Over: BACON BRANCH

S OF JONESBORO-W OF SR81, Washington, TN

Built 1935 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 463

NFA 2626 (SA 9008)

Fair

Over: REPLINGER CREEK

N OF SR107-NE OF MT CARME, Washington, TN

Built 1945 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 649

FAS 67

Fair

Over: LITTLE CHEROKEE CREEK

4.7 M NE JCT SR67&SR81, Washington, TN

Built 1952 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 5,618

NFSR 210B

Fair

Over: TELLICO RIVER

NATIONAL FOREST, Monroe, TN

Built 1942 Load: 11.7 t ADT: 100

FAS 116

Fair

Over: FLAT BRANCH

4.46 MI.CAMPBELL CO. LINE, Anderson, TN

Built 1970 Load: 12.0 t ADT: 226

Showing 151-200 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.