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 9

Fair

Over: DUMPLIN CREEK

.1 M S OF ERNIE WILSON RD, Jefferson, TN

Built 1930 Load: 13.0 t ADT: 3,293

FAS 224

Fair

Over: WHITE OAK CREEK

1.8 MI.SOUTH OF ENVILLE, McNairy, TN

Built 1963 Load: 13.0 t ADT: 512

NFA 2164 (SA 7703)

Fair

Over: SEQUATCHIE RIVER

2 MI SOUTH OF SR28, Sequatchie, TN

Built 1983 Load: 13.0 t ADT: 384

NFA 1472 (SA 8403)

Fair

Over: ROYSTER CREEK

4.8 MI W OF SR3, Tipton, TN

Built 1970 Load: 13.0 t ADT: 1,027

NFA A238

Fair

Over: HINDS CREEK

3 MI W OF PAULETTE, Union, TN

Built 1970 Load: 13.0 t ADT: 150

NFSR 375A

Fair

Over: OCOEE RIVER

NATIONAL FOREST, Polk, TN

Built 1997 Load: 13.0 t ADT: 500

NFA A635

Fair

Over: DOE RIVER

N OF SR37-E OF SR173 JCT, Carter, TN

Built 1978 Load: 13.3 t ADT: 180

NFA 1686 (SA 1213)

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.5 MI SE JCT SR100&SR200, Chester, TN

Built 1990 Load: 13.3 t ADT: 296

NFA A253

Fair

Over: JACKS CREEK

0.1 MI SW JCT SR22A&SR100, Chester, TN

Built 1976 Load: 13.3 t ADT: 1,760

FAU 3244 340985H

Fair

Over: CUMBERLAND RIVER & GAY S

THE WOODLAND ST. BRIDGE, Davidson, TN

Built 1964 Load: 13.3 t ADT: 5,214

NFA A119

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF GREGG CREEK

3.3 MI SW JCT SR15&HARDEM, Fayette, TN

Built 1999 Load: 13.3 t ADT: 40

NFA 1540 (SA 2405)

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.5 MI SW JCT SR57&SR76, Fayette, TN

Built 1963 Load: 13.3 t ADT: 499

NFA 1211 (SA 2504)

Fair

Over: N. PRONG CLEAR FK CREEK

6 MI EAST OF US127, Fentress, TN

Built 1964 Load: 13.3 t ADT: 660

NFA B200

Fair

Over: CROSS CREEK

.6 MI WEST OF SR 56, Franklin, TN

Built 1955 Load: 13.3 t ADT: 20

NFA A266

Fair

Over: BRADFORD CREEK

0.9 MI NE JCT SR43&SR105, Gibson, TN

Built 1969 Load: 13.3 t ADT: 80

NFA 1742

Fair

Over: WHITES CREEK

WHITES CREEK RD, Hardin, TN

Built 1970 Load: 13.3 t ADT: 83

NFA 904 (SA 4022)

Fair

Over: HOLLY FORK CREEK

2 MI. E. OF SR76, Henry, TN

Built 1984 Load: 13.3 t ADT: 1,569

FAU 1254 (SA 4713)

Fair

Over: PLEASANT RIDGE RD. / I75

4.1 M S OF SR62, Knox, TN

Built 1981 Load: 13.3 t ADT: 13,295

NFA 1657 (SA 5501)

Fair

Over: INDIAN CREEK

4 MI N OF MISSISSIPPI, McNairy, TN

Built 1972 Load: 13.3 t ADT: 211

NFA 1630 (SA 5720)

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.7 MI NE JCT SR18&HARDEM, Madison, TN

Built 1970 Load: 13.3 t ADT: 646

NFA A013

Fair

Over: SAUNDERS FORK CREEK

OFF SR145 S OF AUBURNTOWN, Cannon, TN

Built 1965 Load: 13.5 t ADT: 20

NFA A292

Fair

Over: HURRICANE CREEK

SOUTH OF AUBURNTOWN, Cannon, TN

Built 2006 Load: 13.5 t ADT: 20

NFA 1679

Fair

Over: JACKS CREEK

2.8 MI SOUTH OF SR100, Chester, TN

Built 1960 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 929

NFA A004

Fair

Over: CLOVER CREEK

1.3 MI NW JCT SR100&SR125, Chester, TN

Built 1965 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 70

NFA A113 (SA 1219)

Fair

Over: SPRING CREEK

3.2 MI SW JCT SR22A&SR100, Chester, TN

Built 1993 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 250

NFA A385

Fair

Over: BRANCH

4.3 MI E JCT SR20&SR104, Dyer, TN

Built 1980 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 10

NFA A077

Fair

Over: SMART CREEK

1.5 MI NE JCT SR59&SR222, Fayette, TN

Built 2000 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 40

NFA A314

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

2.3 MI SE JCT SR43&SR54, Gibson, TN

Built 1991 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 160

NFA A096

Fair

Over: TRIGG BRANCH

8 M W OF LYNNVILLE, Giles, TN

Built 1958 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 170

NFA A102

Fair

Over: OLIVE BRANCH

1 MI N OF SR114, Henderson, TN

Built 1955 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 80

NFA A100

Fair

Over: TATUM CREEK

5 M S DICKSON CO LN, Hickman, TN

Built 1991 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 60

NFA A135

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1 MI. W. OF SR 3, Lauderdale, TN

Built 2006 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 70

NFA A316

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF HATCHIE RIVER

5 MI. W. OF HAYWOOD CO., Lauderdale, TN

Built 1970 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 10

FAP 48

Fair

Over: SWEETWATER BRANCH

4.9 MI.E.OF PERRY COUNTY, Lewis, TN

Built 1933 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 615

NFA A445

Fair

Over: BURNEY CREEK

3 M. S. PALMYRA, Montgomery, TN

Built 1973 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 110

NFA 1536 (SA 6619)

Fair

Over: OVERFLOW

5.8 MI SE JCT SR3&SR21, Obion, TN

Built 2002 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 266

NFA A372

Fair

Over: WOLF CREEK

4.5 M SW OF US70 AT CO LN, Roane, TN

Built 1934 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 70

FAU 2814

Fair

Over: WINCHESTER RD.

PERKINS ROAD - MEMPHIS, Shelby, TN

Built 1963 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 27,887

NFA 1479 (SA 8426)

Fair

Over: TOWN CREEK

2 MI N OF SR59, Tipton, TN

Built 1970 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 423

NFA A407

Fair

Over: FLAT CREEK

BOOKER LANE, Union, TN

Built 1970 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 150

NFA A320

Fair

Over: POWDER MILL BRANCH

1MI NORTH OF SR1, Warren, TN

Built 1960 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 10

NFA 2571

Fair

Over: LOYD BRANCH

1.1 MI W JCT SR67 & SR81, Washington, TN

Built 1950 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 463

NFA A365

Fair

Over: BRANCH

2.8 MI NE JCT SR69&ALA.LN, Wayne, TN

Built 1975 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 20

FAS 106

Fair

Over: BRANCH

.8 M N JCT SR106&SR248, Williamson, TN

Built 1948 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 11,342

FAS 196

Fair

Over: LOOSAHATCHIE RIVER

1.32 MI S OF GALLAWAY, Fayette, TN

Built 1951 Load: 13.9 t ADT: 2,044

FAS 196

Fair

Over: OVERFLOW

.4 MI S OF GALLAWAY, Fayette, TN

Built 1952 Load: 13.9 t ADT: 2,044

FAS 196

Fair

Over: OVERFLOW

0.3 MI SOUTH OF GALLAWAY, Fayette, TN

Built 1952 Load: 13.9 t ADT: 2,044

NFA 902 (SA 4020)

Fair

Over: WEST SANDY CREEK

4 MI NORTH OF SR 69, Henry, TN

Built 1942 Load: 13.9 t ADT: 844

NFA 2613 (SA 4605)

Fair

Over: VAUGHT CREEK

SE OF SR167 NEAR AIRPORT, Johnson, TN

Built 1928 Load: 13.9 t ADT: 918

NFA A340

Fair

Over: DECATUR CREEK

.3 MI EAST OF DECATUR, Meigs, TN

Built 1960 Load: 13.9 t ADT: 20

Showing 251-300 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.