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 1

Poor

Over: BRANCH

2.1 MI.E.OF DICKSON, Dickson, TN

Built 1939 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 15,748

NFA 2488

Poor

Over: BRANCH

4.1 MILES WEST OF TRENTON, Gibson, TN

Built 1978 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 229

FAP 15

Poor

Over: SPRING CREEK

.3 MILE EAST OF BOLIVAR, Hardeman, TN

Built 1930 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 5,658

FAS 19

Poor

Over: CANE CREEK

0.12 MI. W OF SR-3 JCT., Lauderdale, TN

Built 1928 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 3,130

NFA 1426 (SA 5007)

Poor

Over: SHOAL CREEK

1.5 M. SE. WESTPOINT., Lawrence, TN

Built 1965 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 673

FAP 30

Poor

Over: RICHLAND CREEK

.4 MILE WEST OF DAYTON, Rhea, TN

Built 1956 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 6,443

NFA A056 349235D

Poor

Over: CSX RAILROAD

0.3 MI NW JCT SR1&SR266, Rutherford, TN

Built 1936 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 4,643

FAS 99

Poor

Over: MURRAY BRANCH

4.1 M W CANNON CO LINE, Rutherford, TN

Built 1945 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 531

NFA 1159 (SA 9318)

Poor

Over: HICKORY VALLEY BRANCH

5MI NORTH OF VAN BUREN CO, White, TN

Built 1952 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 533

FAP 11

Poor

Over: ARRINGTON CREEK

2.3 M N JCT SR11&SR96, Williamson, TN

Built 1932 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 8,087

FAP 11

Poor

Over: BRANCH

.9 M SE DAVIDSON CO LINE, Williamson, TN

Built 1932 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 13,218

FAP 401 348657T

Poor

Over: CSX RAILROAD

.3 M W JCT SR24&SR255, Davidson, TN

Built 1928 Load: 23.4 t ADT: 32,757

FAU 5250

Poor

Over: RAILROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY

RAMP FROM SR57 TO SCOTT, Shelby, TN

Built 1958 Load: 23.4 t ADT: 3,912

NFA A426

Poor

Over: BRANCH

4 MI W OF SR20, Dyer, TN

Built 1970 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 100

FAU 8

Poor

Over: TN RIVER & FAU 5395

MARKET STREET BRIDGE, Hamilton, TN

Built 1917 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 26,697

FAS 179

Poor

Over: LITTLE MUDDY CREEK

1.2 MI E TIPTON CO LI, Haywood, TN

Built 1959 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 838

FAS 41

Poor

Over: RED RIVER

1.7 M SW JCT SR41&SR52, Sumner, TN

Built 1947 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 4,108

I40 348852T

Poor

Over: CSX RAILROAD

IN WILSON CO., Wilson, TN

Built 1964 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 57,395

FAS 267

Poor

Over: SMITH FORK CREEK

.5 M NW JCT SR96&SR267, Wilson, TN

Built 1953 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 556

FAP 67

Poor

Over: LAUREL CREEK

.5 M S FR HAMPTON, Carter, TN

Built 1929 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 7,310

FAP 28

Poor

Over: THREE MILE CREEK

1 MI.SOUTH OF CROSSVILLE, Cumberland, TN

Built 1962 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 11,148

NFA A200

Poor

Over: SLOUGH OF REELFOOT LAKE

REELFOOT LAKE STATE PARK, Lake, TN

Built 1983 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 60

FAP 26

Poor

Over: ROUNDLICK CREEK

.2 M E JCT SR26&SR267, Wilson, TN

Built 1956 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 7,453

NFA A276

Poor

Over: BULL RUN CREEK

N OFF US25W NEAR KNOX CO., Anderson, TN

Built 1940 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 210

NFA A390

Poor

Over: BELL BUCKLE CREEK

2 M. NW. BELL BUCKLE., Bedford, TN

Built 1940 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 60

NFA 2474 (SA 0714)

Poor

Over: LICK CREEK

E OFF SR9-4 M S OF SR90, Campbell, TN

Built 1978 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 411

NFA 2680 (SA 1001)

Poor

Over: DOE RIVER

W OF SR143-NEAR ST. LINE, Carter, TN

Built 1984 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 689

NFA A746

Poor

Over: LAUREL FORK CREEK

.7 M S FR HAMPTON, Carter, TN

Built 1941 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,460

FAP 67

Poor

Over: POWDER BRANCH

3 M E. WASHINGTON CO LN, Carter, TN

Built 1986 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 24,080

NFA A706

Poor

Over: ROCK CREEK

.9 M SE OF CLAIRFIELD, Claiborne, TN

Built 2006 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 218

NFA 1332 (SA 1310)

Poor

Over: LITTLE SYCAMORE CREEK

2 M NW OF US25E-SR33 JCT., Claiborne, TN

Built 1985 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 806

NFA A495

Poor

Over: CLEAR CREEK

4.7 MI.W.OF GREENE CO.LN., Cocke, TN

Built 1918 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,010

NFA 2135 (SA 1617)

Poor

Over: BRANCH

1 MI FROM JACKSBORO RD, Coffee, TN

Built 1963 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 248

NFA A030

Poor

Over: WILEY CREEK

.2 MI FROM SR 55, Coffee, TN

Built 1936 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 920

NFA A049

Poor

Over: NORTH FORK ROCK CREEK

.2 MI FROM SR 16, Coffee, TN

Built 1970 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 3,980

NFA A180

Poor

Over: DUCK RIVER

2.1 MI FROM SR 53, Coffee, TN

Built 1969 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 420

NFA A409

Poor

Over: NORTON BRANCH

4.1 MI FROM SR 2, Coffee, TN

Built 1959 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 100

NFA A424

Poor

Over: MCBRIDE BRANCH

.2 MI FROM SR 2, Coffee, TN

Built 1932 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 140

FAP 55 SBL

Poor

Over: I24

SR55/I-24 IN MANCHESTER, Coffee, TN

Built 1966 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 16,822

FAU 3428

Poor

Over: BRANCH

IN TULLAHOMA CITY LIMITS, Coffee, TN

Built 1940 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,853

FAS 1

Poor

Over: PINEY CREEK

CUMBERLAND-ROANE CO.LINE, Cumberland, TN

Built 1930 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,953

NFA E004 350223F

Poor

Over: CSX RAILROAD

IN NASHVILLE, Davidson, TN

Built 1917 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 5,020

FAP 1

Poor

Over: SUGAR TREE CREEK

.1 M SW JCT SR155&SR1, Davidson, TN

Built 1923 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 33,357

FAP 1

Poor

Over: BRANCH

.4 M SW JCT SR155&SR1, Davidson, TN

Built 1923 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 36,062

FAS 46

Poor

Over: BRANCH

5.1 MI.NW.OF POND SWITCH, Dickson, TN

Built 1940 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,242

FAS 46

Poor

Over: BRANCH

4.3 MI.N.W.OF POND SWITCH, Dickson, TN

Built 1940 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 2,242

NFA A208

Poor

Over: OVERFLOW

3.2 MI SE JCT SR57&SR194, Fayette, TN

Built 1979 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 170

NFA A196 (SA 2508)

Poor

Over: ROCK CASTLE CREEK

5MI WEST OF US 127, Fentress, TN

Built 1986 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 130

FAS 296

Poor

Over: BRANCH

.75 MI.W.OF ALLARDT, Fentress, TN

Built 1929 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 4,289

NFA A023

Poor

Over: ELK RIVER

EAST OF SR16, Franklin, TN

Built 1972 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 880

Showing 20,001-20,050 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.