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 A282

Fair

Over: BRANCH

0.01 MI SOUTH OF SR26, Wilson, TN

Built 1960 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 540

NFA A306

Fair

Over: SUNSET CREEK

1.1 MI SW OF SR267, Wilson, TN

Built 1960 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 250

NFA A354

Fair

Over: SINKING CREEK

0.9 MI EAST OF SR10, Wilson, TN

Built 1960 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 200

NFA 1362

Fair

Over: SUGGS CREEK

2.7 MI N OF RUTHERFORD CO, Wilson, TN

Built 1981 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 984

NFA 5518

Fair

Over: BRANCH

0.4 MI EAST OF SR109, Wilson, TN

Built 1940 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 2,672

NFA A489

Fair

Over: WRIGHT BRANCH

0.2 MI NORTH SR265, Wilson, TN

Built 1987 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 1,691

NFA 5520 (SA 9508)

Fair

Over: NFA 5520 / I40

OVERHEAD/I40, Wilson, TN

Built 1963 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 2,743

FAP 26

Fair

Over: BRANCH

4.3 M SE JCT I40&SR26, Wilson, TN

Built 1940 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 10,633

FAP 96

Fair

Over: KENNEDY CREEK

.2 M N CANNON CO LINE, Wilson, TN

Built 1956 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 4,251

LEATHERWOOD FORD R

Fair

Over: BIG S. FORK OF CUMBERLAN

2.31 MILES FROM EAST PARK, Scott, TN

Built 1983 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 375

TREMONT ROAD

Fair

Over: MIDDLE PRONG LITTLE RIVE

4.3 MILES FROM LAUREL CRE, Blount, TN

Built 1983 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 512

SB GATLINBURG SPUR

Fair

Over: WEST PRONG LPR

0.2 MILES NORTH FROM NPS, Sevier, TN

Built 1958 Load: 26.3 t ADT: 4,342

SAVITZ DRIVE

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE CANAL

0.1 KM E OF SINGLETON AVE, Shelby, TN

Built 1947 Load: 26.5 t ADT: 200

SINGLETON AVE

Fair

Over: DRAINAGE CANAL

0.1 KM E OF SINGLETON AVE, Shelby, TN

Built 1947 Load: 26.5 t ADT: 200

FAP 62

Fair

Over: CLINCH RIVER

IN CITY OF OAK RIDGE, Anderson, TN

Built 1979 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 48,147

NFA A093 (SA 0408)

Fair

Over: LITTLE BEAVER DAM CREEK

5 MI EAST OF SR 101, Bledsoe, TN

Built 1940 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 460

I440

Fair

Over: I40

I40-I440 INTERCHANGE, Davidson, TN

Built 1986 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 73,149

FAP 5

Fair

Over: WEST TN RAILROAD

6.5 MI N OF SR 104, Gibson, TN

Built 2000 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 4,019

FAS 54

Fair

Over: CAIN CREEK

IN TRENTON CITY LIMITS, Gibson, TN

Built 1992 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 3,331

FAU 319

Fair

Over: TENNESSEE RIVER

SR-319 / TENN. RIVER, Hamilton, TN

Built 1976 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 22,602

I24

Fair

Over: 4TH AVE. (3572)

1.8 MI FROM SR27, Hamilton, TN

Built 1961 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 98,487

FAU 2

Fair

Over: CHATTANOOGA CREEK&CSX RR

0.58 MI. S OF I-24 JCT., Hamilton, TN

Built 1968 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 24,932

NFA 955 (SA 4110)

Fair

Over: SWAN CREEK

10 M SOUTH OF CENTERVILLE, Hickman, TN

Built 1965 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 243

FAP 1

Fair

Over: BRANCH

1 MI.S. OF CARROLL CO., Madison, TN

Built 1926 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 4,494

NFA 970 (SA 6015)

Fair

Over: SOWELL MILL PK. / I65

7.5 M. E. COLUMBIA., Maury, TN

Built 1963 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 383

FAS 438

Fair

Over: TOMS CREEK

7.6 MI. W. LOBLEVILLE, Perry, TN

Built 1976 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 787

NFA 2026 (SA 7514)

Fair

Over: ELAM RD / I24

4.2 MI SE JCT I24&SR10, Rutherford, TN

Built 1968 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 570

FAU 2869

Fair

Over: RAINES RD / SR-4

RAINES RD - MEMPHIS, Shelby, TN

Built 1975 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 15,710

FAP 41

Fair

Over: SR 41 / SR 11

.3 M SW JCT SR41&I65, Sumner, TN

Built 1968 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 18,337

FAS 284

Fair

Over: CANE CREEK

IN FALLS CR FALLS ST PARK, Bledsoe, TN

Built 1970 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 170

FAP 28

Fair

Over: POND CREEK

1.4 MI.SW.OF COLLEGE, Bledsoe, TN

Built 1951 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 4,141

NFA B095 730448K

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RAILWAY

.5 M.N.JCT.SR129&US411., Blount, TN

Built 1940 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 3,843

I75

Fair

Over: NORMAN CHAPEL RD. (3660)

IN CLEVELAND CITY LIMITS, Bradley, TN

Built 1964 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 52,196

I75

Fair

Over: NORMAN CHAPEL RD. (3660)

IN CLEVELAND CITY LIMITS, Bradley, TN

Built 1964 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 52,196

FAS 220

Fair

Over: JOHNS CREEK

5 MILES SOUTH OF ATWOOD, Carroll, TN

Built 1972 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 963

FAP 1

Fair

Over: M. FK. FORKED DEER RIVER

2 MI.N. OF MADISON CO., Carroll, TN

Built 1924 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 4,494

FAP 1

Fair

Over: BRANCH

IN HOLLOW ROCK, Carroll, TN

Built 1928 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 5,231

FAP 1

Fair

Over: OVERFLOW

IN BRUCETON, Carroll, TN

Built 1950 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 5,624

FAP 77

Fair

Over: WHITE CREEK

.7 MI.W.OF MCLEMORESVILLE, Carroll, TN

Built 1993 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 2,302

NFA A150 (SA 1116)

Fair

Over: BLUE SPRING CREEK

3.1 M. E. SR49., Cheatham, TN

Built 1970 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 210

NFA A363

Fair

Over: BEECH HILL RD / I40

2 M.E. DAVIDSON CO. LN., Cheatham, TN

Built 1960 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 10

NFA 1686 (SA 1213)

Fair

Over: OVERFLOW OLD RIVER BED

1.5 MI SE JCT SR100&SR200, Chester, TN

Built 1968 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 296

NFA 1336 (SA 1302)

Fair

Over: DAVIS CREEK

.8 M SE OF SPEEDWELL, Claiborne, TN

Built 1959 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 876

I40

Fair

Over: CAVE CHURCH ROAD (A535

304 M.FROM JEFFERSON CO.L, Cocke, TN

Built 1965 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 35,052

I40

Fair

Over: I40 / SR 9 RAMP

2.03M.FROM JEFFERSON CO.L, Cocke, TN

Built 1965 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 35,052

I24 WBL

Fair

Over: OVERFLOW

0.4 MI E OF SR127, Coffee, TN

Built 1963 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 44,002

FAS 189

Fair

Over: SR 189 / SR 20

4 MI NW JCT SR20 & SR152, Crockett, TN

Built 1993 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 648

FAP 68

Fair

Over: GRASSY COVE CREEK

4 MI. NORTH OF RHEA CO., Cumberland, TN

Built 1951 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 3,482

I40

Fair

Over: NFA A046

0.1 M E CARROLL CO LINE, Decatur, TN

Built 1965 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 31,176

I40

Fair

Over: NFA A046

0.1 M E CARROLL CO LINE, Decatur, TN

Built 1965 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 31,176

Showing 3,801-3,850 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.