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

I-24 RAMP TO I-40E

Fair

Over: SR-1 RAMP TO I-40W

I24-I40 INTERCHANGE - C7, Davidson, TN

Built 1960 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 148,679

I65 350215N

Fair

Over: CSX RAILROAD

.2 M N WILLIAMSON CO LN, Davidson, TN

Built 1963 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 123,245

FAS 251

Fair

Over: CUB CREEK

1.6 M SE OF CHEATHAM CL, Davidson, TN

Built 1955 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 3,574

FAU 11

Fair

Over: BRANCH

.4 M S JCT I65&SR11, Davidson, TN

Built 1928 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 16,805

FAP 100

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1 M NE JCT SR96&SR100, Davidson, TN

Built 1930 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 12,484

FAP 100

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1 M NE JCT SR96&SR100, Davidson, TN

Built 1930 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 12,484

FAP 100

Fair

Over: PRITCHETT CREEK

4.2 M SW JCT SR100&SR254, Davidson, TN

Built 1930 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 12,484

FAP 106

Fair

Over: RICHLAND CREEK

2.5 M NE JCT SR106&SR254, Davidson, TN

Built 1938 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 11,781

NFA A059

Fair

Over: LITTLE LICK CREEK

4.8 MI SW JCT I40&SR69, Decatur, TN

Built 1977 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 10

NFA A293

Fair

Over: LITTLE CREEK

1.9 MI NE JCT SR114&SR202, Decatur, TN

Built 1988 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 40

FAS 288

Fair

Over: SINK CREEK

1.7 MI.S.W.OF SR056, DeKalb, TN

Built 1978 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 738

NFA 1118 (SA 2118)

Fair

Over: HICKMAN BRANCH

.2MI NORTH OF US70, DeKalb, TN

Built 1972 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 688

FAP 53

Fair

Over: GREEN HILL BRANCH

1.25 MI. S.OF LIBERTY, DeKalb, TN

Built 1948 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 1,370

NFA 957 (SA 2219)

Fair

Over: GENTRY BRANCH

0.2 M. S. SR96, Dickson, TN

Built 1960 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 980

NFA A189

Fair

Over: DODD BRANCH

2.3 M. N. SR-1., Dickson, TN

Built 1940 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 280

NFA A074

Fair

Over: LEATHERWOOD CREEK

2 M. N. SR 49., Dickson, TN

Built 1950 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 70

NFA A168

Fair

Over: HAW CREEK

0.27 M. S. SR48., Dickson, TN

Built 1970 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 250

NFA A206

Fair

Over: LITTLE JONES CREEK

1 M. E. SR48., Dickson, TN

Built 1960 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 120

NFA A361

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.5 M. N. I40., Dickson, TN

Built 1938 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 150

NFA A403

Fair

Over: COON CREEK

3 M. W. SR48., Dickson, TN

Built 1940 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 140

NFA 1855 (SA 2209)

Fair

Over: BRANCH

0.1 M. S. MONTGOMERY COLN, Dickson, TN

Built 1956 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 221

FAP 48

Fair

Over: BRANCH

3.1 MI.N.OF DICKSON, Dickson, TN

Built 1929 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 7,264

NFA 1182 (SA 2511)

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

1.9 MI FROM SR52, Fentress, TN

Built 1992 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 139

FAP 15

Fair

Over: ABANDONED CSX RAILROAD

IN WINCHESTER CITY LM., Franklin, TN

Built 1937 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 6,559

FAP 5

Fair

Over: N. FK. FORKED DEER RIVER

NORTH TRENTON CITY LIMITS, Gibson, TN

Built 1963 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 10,097

FAP 5

Fair

Over: EDMONDSON CREEK

1.6 MI.N.OF RUTHERFORD, Gibson, TN

Built 1927 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 2,766

FAS 105

Fair

Over: DOLAN CREEK

3.5 MI.E.OF BRADFORD, Gibson, TN

Built 1987 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 1,637

FAP 366

Fair

Over: SR 366 RAMP / CSX RR

IN HUMBOLT, Gibson, TN

Built 1983 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 2,411

NFA 1889 (SA 2831)

Fair

Over: BRANCH

7.5 M N OF FRANKEWING, Giles, TN

Built 1950 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 368

NFA A110

Fair

Over: TRADE BRANCH

2 M SE OF LYNNVILLE, Giles, TN

Built 1950 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 180

NFA A234

Fair

Over: OLIVER BRANCH

5 M E OF PULASKI, Giles, TN

Built 1954 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 170

NFA A356

Fair

Over: EAST FORK DOG BRANCH

5 M NW OF PROSPECT, Giles, TN

Built 1994 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 160

FAS 245

Fair

Over: YOKLEY CREEK

2.8 MI.N.OF CAMPBELLSVILL, Giles, TN

Built 1955 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 711

NFA A801

Fair

Over: BUCHANNAN CREEK

4.8 MI.E.OF PULASKI, Giles, TN

Built 1929 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 150

NFA A097

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK

.5 M FROM INDIAN CREEK RD, Grainger, TN

Built 1994 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 30

FAP 1

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1.2 M NW OF CLINCH MTN, Grainger, TN

Built 1940 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 5,076

NFA A507

Fair

Over: NOLICHUCKY RIVER

2.5MI SOUTHEAST OF I81, Hamblen, TN

Built 1989 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 290

FAP 160

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RAILWAY

S OF US11E AT AIRPORT, Hamblen, TN

Built 1992 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 10,952

FAU 1126

Fair

Over: D587 & SOU RWY

IN DAISY ACESS RD. TO TVA, Hamilton, TN

Built 1976 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 9,239

FAU 1126

Fair

Over: SMALL BRANCH

IN CITY OF SODDY-DAISY, Hamilton, TN

Built 1940 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 9,533

FAU 3546

Fair

Over: TN RIVER & A231 & A267

0VER TN RV IN CHATTANOOGA, Hamilton, TN

Built 1984 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 15,172

FAU 3604 (SA 3323)

Fair

Over: BRANCH

IN EAST BRAINERD, Hamilton, TN

Built 1960 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 7,250

FAU 4994

Fair

Over: NORTH CHICKAMAUGA CREEK

IN CHATTANOOGA, Hamilton, TN

Built 1951 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 872

NFA E159

Fair

Over: BRANCH

.03 MI EAST OF SR 58, Hamilton, TN

Built 1988 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 260

I24

Fair

Over: CHATTANOOGA CREEK

2.2 MI FM I24 I124 IC, Hamilton, TN

Built 1964 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 69,132

FAU 1406

Fair

Over: STRINGERS BRANCH

IN CHATTANOOGA, Hamilton, TN

Built 1928 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 13,128

FAU 1406

Fair

Over: STRINGERS BRANCH

IN CHATTANOOGA, Hamilton, TN

Built 1929 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 13,128

FAU 2162 (SA 3308)

Fair

Over: BRANCH

.1 MI WEST OF US 27, Hamilton, TN

Built 1930 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 9,401

FAU 3634

Fair

Over: BIG SODDY CREEK

NORTH OF SODDY, Hamilton, TN

Built 1932 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 1,684

FAU 3634

Fair

Over: BIG SODDY CREEK OVERFLOW

NORTH OF SODDY TENNESSEE, Hamilton, TN

Built 1932 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 1,684

Showing 3,551-3,600 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.