The document summarizes data from the 2013 National Bridge Inventory on bridges in Tennessee. It finds that 6% of the state's 20,058 bridges, or 1,157 bridges, are structurally deficient. 13% of bridges, or 2,645 bridges, are functionally obsolete. Between 2003-2012, $1.1 billion in federal funding supported construction of 1,522 bridges in the state. The state estimates it would cost $9.7 billion to repair 7,411 deficient bridges. The document also lists the top 10 most traveled structurally deficient bridges.

1. © 2014 The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of
ARTBA.
Highlights from FHWA’s 2013 National Bridge Inventory Data:
 Of the 20,058 bridges in the state, 1,157 bridges, or 6% are classified as structurally deficient.
This means one or more of the key bridge elements, such as the deck, superstructure or
substructure, is considered to be in “poor” or worse condition.1
 There are 2,645 bridges, or 13% of all state bridges, classified as functionally obsolete. This
means the bridge does not meet design standards that are in line with current practice.
 Federal-aid investment in Tennessee has supported $1.1 billion in bridge construction spending
on 1,522 bridges between 2003 and 2012, according to FHWA data.2
 Since 2004, 1,571 new bridges have been constructed in the state and 208 bridges have
undergone major reconstruction.
 The state estimates that it would cost approximately $9.7 billion to fix a total of 7,411 bridges in
the state.3
Bridge Inventory:
All Bridges Structurally deficient Bridges
Type of Bridge Total
Number
Area (sq.
meters)
Daily
Crossings
Total
Number
Area (sq.
meters)
Daily
Crossings
Rural Bridges
Interstate 703 714,226 24,325,650 17 32,660 660,050
Other principal arterial 1,237 1,138,960 11,631,016 15 31,442 109,440
Minor arterial 1,537 875,821 7,428,276 89 96,002 500,720
Major collector 2,030 681,889 3,947,634 87 40,783 138,810
Minor collector 3,326 791,516 2,808,481 199 45,073 138,400
Local 6,915 1,042,473 1,910,263 571 66,555 104,916
Urban Bridges
Interstate 718 1,284,315 53,393,130 14 37,120 1,286,060
Other freeway 317 554,531 10,491,195 7 10,267 383,160
Principal arterial 989 1,223,643 19,879,680 37 75,933 908,840
Minor arterial 883 712,922 9,572,578 43 43,584 455,470
Collector 436 177,741 1,913,075 22 9,338 105,240
Local 967 262,927 1,810,893 56 15,851 79,995
Not classified 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 20,058 9,460,965 149,111,871 1,157 504,607 4,871,101
1
According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), a bridge is classified as structurally deficient if the condition rating for the deck,
superstructure, substructure or culvert and retaining walls is rated 4 or below or if the bridge receives an appraisal rating of 2 or less for
structural condition or waterway adequacy. During inspections, the condition of a variety of bridge elements are rated on a scale of 0 (failed
condition) to 9 (excellent condition). A rating of 4 is considered “poor” condition and the individual element displays signs of advanced section
loss, deterioration, spalling or scour.
2
ARTBA analysis of FHWA data, includes all bridge construction related spending on projects approved by FHWA between 2003 and 2012.
3
This data is provided by bridge owners as part of the FHWA data and is required for any bridge eligible for the Highway Bridge Replacement
and Rehabilitation Program. However, for some states this amount is very low and likely not an accurate reflection of current costs.
State Bridge Profile
Tennessee

2. © 2014 The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of
ARTBA.
Proposed bridge work:
Type of Work Number Cost (millions) Daily Crossings Area (sq. meters)
Bridge replacement 1,223 $2,974.2 4,185,421 490,538
Widening & rehabilitation 3,594 $1,396.0 19,319,886 1,355,129
Rehabilitation 2,275 $4,543.1 34,225,764 1,238,500
Deck rehabilitation/replacement 111 $478.3 1,116,704 194,141
Other work 208 $310.1 997,213 79,761
Top 10 Most Traveled Structurally Deficient Bridges in the State
County Year
Built
Daily
Crossings
Type of Bridge Location
(route/water under the bridge, traffic on the bridge and location)
Shelby 1963 147,030 Urban Interstate I-240 EB / BNSF RWY, I-240EB 663405H, 0.39 MI W OF SR-4
JCT.
Davidson 1961 127,370 Urban Interstate I24 / WOODLAND STREET, I24, I24 / WOODLAND ST
Davidson 1985 101,310 Urban Interstate L4-SN167-RL/L3-SN164&165, I440, I440-I65 LOOP@MELROSE
I/C
Shelby 1963 98,490 Urban Interstate I-240 WB / KERR AVE, I-240 WB, 0.2 MI S. OF S. PKWY JCT.
Shelby 1963 98,490 Urban Interstate I-240EB / KERR AVE, I-240 EB, 0.2 MI S. OF S. PKWY JCT.
Shelby 1962 98,370 Urban Interstate NONCONNAH CREEK, I55, .5 MI S OF I240 JCT
Shelby 1962 98,370 Urban Interstate NONCONNAH CREEK, I55 NB, .5 MI S OF I240 JCT
Shelby 1962 96,990 Urban Interstate I40 RL / SAM COOPER BLVD, I40, I40 & 1240 EAST JCT
Davidson 1967 95,880 Urban Interstate CUMBERLAND RV & COWAN ST, I65 343316H, I65 INNER
LOOP
Davidson 1962 91,630 Urban Interstate I40 / WESTBORO ROAD, I40, I40/ WESTBORO RD
Sources: All data is from the 2013 National Bridge Inventory, released by the Federal Highway Administration in March 2014.
Note that specific conditions on bridge may have changed as a result of recent work. Cost estimates of bridge work provided as
part of the data and have been adjusted to 2013$ for inflation and estimated project costs. Contract awards data is for state
and local government awards and comes from McGraw Hill. Note that additional bridge investment may be a part of other
contract awards if a smaller bridge project is included with a highway project, and that would not be accounted for in the total
in this profile.