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 A211

Fair

Over: GOLDEN CREEK

3.4 MI SW JCT SR57&SR76, Fayette, TN

Built 1987 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 1,010

FAP 15

Fair

Over: BRANCH

.5 MI.E.OF SHELBY CO.LINE, Fayette, TN

Built 1992 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 21,609

NFA 1985 (SA 2602)

Fair

Over: BEANS CREEK

SOUTH OF US64, Franklin, TN

Built 1985 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 468

FAS 152

Fair

Over: OVERFLOW

1.7 MI.W.OF HUMBOLDT, Gibson, TN

Built 1992 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 2,190

FAP 1

Fair

Over: SHIELDS CREEK

3.1 M E OF CHESTNUT GROVE, Grainger, TN

Built 1941 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 5,584

FAS 340

Fair

Over: NOLICHUCKY RIVER

.5 M SW OF COCKE CO LN, Greene, TN

Built 1985 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 381

FAP 34

Fair

Over: JOCKEY CREEK

AT WASHINGTON CO LINE, Greene, TN

Built 1988 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 12,379

FAS 2

Fair

Over: HENLEY CREEK

3.2 MI.NORTH OF MONTEAGLE, Grundy, TN

Built 1926 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 1,171

FAU 4317

Fair

Over: TURKEY CREEK

CITY OF MORRISTOWN, Hamblen, TN

Built 1965 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 3,427

NFA C891

Fair

Over: PITTS BRANCH

.4 MI WEST OF US 27, Hamilton, TN

Built 1988 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 2,310

I24

Fair

Over: HICKORY ST (4981)

.2 MI FROM SR27, Hamilton, TN

Built 1961 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 104,175

I24 EB RP TO I124N

Fair

Over: I24EB RP/I124RP TO I24E

I24 & I124 INTERCHANGE, Hamilton, TN

Built 1962 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 105,057

FAU 5404

Fair

Over: SR 2 (DODDS AVE)

.5 MI W MACCALLIE TUNNEL, Hamilton, TN

Built 1956 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 8,811

FAU 2

Fair

Over: SR 2 (DODDS AVE)

.5 MI. W MACCALLIE TUNNEL, Hamilton, TN

Built 1956 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 8,811

FAP 153 841994R

Fair

Over: SOUTHERN RAILWAY

1 MI. N OF TN RIVER, Hamilton, TN

Built 1954 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 51,866

NFA A243

Fair

Over: LEFT FORK WHITES CREEK

NUMBER TWO RD N SR 69, Hardin, TN

Built 1983 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 40

FAP 57

Fair

Over: CHAMBERS CREEK

3 MI.W.OF PICKWICK VILLAG, Hardin, TN

Built 1967 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 7,175

FAS 142

Fair

Over: OWL CREEK

0.7 MI WEST OF SR 22, Hardin, TN

Built 1977 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 1,497

NFA 2602 (SA 3717)

Fair

Over: FISHER CREEK

6.5 M NE OF SR70-US11W JC, Hawkins, TN

Built 1978 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 685

FAU 3028

Fair

Over: SUGAR CREEK

IN BROWNSVILLE, Haywood, TN

Built 1952 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 4,791

NFA 844 (SA 3812)

Fair

Over: MERIDIAN CREEK

4.3 MI E JCT SR19&SR180, Haywood, TN

Built 1966 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 517

FAP 76

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

3 M S OF SR179, Haywood, TN

Built 1951 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 2,897

FAP 76

Fair

Over: OVERFLOW

3 MI S OF SR179, Haywood, TN

Built 1951 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 2,897

FAP 76

Fair

Over: MUD CREEK

1 MI S OF SHELTON RD, Haywood, TN

Built 1934 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 4,193

FAS 230

Fair

Over: BRANCH

NORTH OF I-40, Hickman, TN

Built 1966 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 819

FAP 49

Fair

Over: MUSTER GROUND CREEK

IN ERIN CITY LIMITS, Houston, TN

Built 1932 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 2,385

FAS 262

Fair

Over: WARTRACE CREEK

.5 MI.SE.OF MILLTOWN, Jackson, TN

Built 1998 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 523

FAP 34 731386T

Fair

Over: SR 34 RT LN / SOU RR

1.8 M NE OF HAMBLEN CO LN, Jefferson, TN

Built 1953 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 18,750

CSX RR 347589R

Fair

Over: TOPSIDE RD. / CSX RR

W OFF US129-N OF CO. LINE, Knox, TN

Built 1990 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 560

FAU 209

Fair

Over: CANE CREEK

1.03 MI. N OF SR-208 JCT., Lauderdale, TN

Built 1924 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 4,322

FAP 3

Fair

Over: CHAMBERS BRANCH

1.07 MI. FROM DYER CO. LN, Lauderdale, TN

Built 1960 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 9,555

FAS 88

Fair

Over: OVERFLOW

0.3 MI FR CROCKETT CO LN, Lauderdale, TN

Built 1985 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 1,990

NFA A107

Fair

Over: W FORK BUFFALO RIVER

4 M. W. SR 6., Lawrence, TN

Built 2004 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 40

NFA A464

Fair

Over: CANEY BRANCH

2 M. NW. LORETTO., Lawrence, TN

Built 1935 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 120

NFA A475

Fair

Over: LORETTO BRANCH

.5 M. NW-SR-6 IN LORETTO., Lawrence, TN

Built 1960 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 860

NFA 949 (SA 5025)

Fair

Over: ANDERSON CREEK

6.7 M. N. ETHERIDGE., Lawrence, TN

Built 1950 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 856

NFA A487

Fair

Over: I75

2.9 MI FROM SR2, McMinn, TN

Built 1971 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 50

NFA 1192 (SA 5411)

Fair

Over: CANE CREEK

1 MI EAST OF SR30, McMinn, TN

Built 1969 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 340

FAP 30

Fair

Over: OOSTANAULA CREEK

N. JCT. SR 30 & SR 39, McMinn, TN

Built 1958 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 17,309

FAS 117

Fair

Over: GRAHAM CREEK

SOUTH OF ADAMSVILLE, McNairy, TN

Built 1957 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 1,324

FAP 10

Fair

Over: DRY FORK CREEK

3.83 MI. S. OF LAFAYETTE, Macon, TN

Built 1945 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 4,889

NFA A044

Fair

Over: BRANCH

3.7 MI NE JCT SR1&SR152, Madison, TN

Built 1970 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 50

FAP 11

Fair

Over: CORN CREEK

1.4 M NE OF GILES CO LINE, Marshall, TN

Built 1929 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 3,691

NFA 1893 (SA 6011)

Fair

Over: FOUNTAIN CREEK

1 M S CULLEOKA, Maury, TN

Built 1975 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 258

NFA 2724 (SA 6607)

Fair

Over: TROY CREEK

3.7 MI SW JCT SR5&SR21, Obion, TN

Built 1996 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 342

FAP 431 297345S

Fair

Over: IC RAILROAD

IN UNION CITY, Obion, TN

Built 1928 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 8,967

FAP 22

Fair

Over: REELFOOT CREEK

17 MI.W.OF UNION CITY, Obion, TN

Built 1999 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 1,360

FAS 85

Fair

Over: WEST FORK OBEY RIVER

1.8 MI S OF SR 52, Overton, TN

Built 1966 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 124

NFA A302

Fair

Over: BUFFALO RIVER

6 M. N. LOBELVILLE., Perry, TN

Built 1988 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 80

NFA A099 (SA 6913)

Fair

Over: WOLF RIVER

SOUTHWEST OF SR28, Pickett, TN

Built 1994 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 120

Showing 4,801-4,850 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.