The document summarizes bridge data from Alabama's 2014 National Bridge Inventory. It finds that 9% of the state's 16,088 bridges are structurally deficient, with estimated repair costs of $39.5 billion. Between 2004-2014, 961 new bridges were built and 92 underwent major reconstruction, though the state has awarded only 19% of its highway funds to bridge projects. The top 10 most traveled structurally deficient bridges handle between 33,770-136,370 daily crossings.

1. © 2015 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 2014 National Bridge Inventory Data:
 Of the 16,088 bridges in the state, 1,388 bridges, or 9% 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 2,144 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.
 State and local contract awards for bridge construction totaled $718.00 million over the past
five years, 19 percent of highway and bridge contract awards, compared to a national average of
29 percent.
 Since 2004, 961 new bridges have been constructed in the state and 92 bridges have undergone
major reconstruction.
 The state estimates that it would cost approximately $39.5 billion to fix a total of 16,001 bridges
in the state.2
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 690 1,128,545 13,934,448 9 6,229 185,595
Other principal arterial 1,141 1,037,475 8,746,998 29 21,342 216,728
Minor arterial 1,492 900,440 5,003,250 34 18,751 133,603
Major collector 3,077 1,218,074 4,721,821 175 53,580 167,541
Minor collector 2,440 571,872 1,255,491 236 32,029 76,881
Local 4,374 807,424 1,678,802 767 94,310 134,332
Urban Bridges
Interstate 558 1,807,067 20,738,019 9 72,804 505,592
Other freeway 86 174,799 1,557,995 1 868 31,170
Principal arterial 542 667,194 10,343,851 9 6,406 148,973
Minor arterial 384 277,570 4,292,613 13 10,332 79,783
Collector 291 168,606 1,655,886 14 4,439 73,906
Rural 1,013 347,468 2,848,557 92 30,058 154,568
Total 16,088 9,106,533 76,777,731 1,388 351,146 1,908,672
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
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
Alabama

2. © 2015 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 4,834 $7,595.3 14,295,503 1,624,434
Widening & rehabilitation 570 $1,434.5 4,048,938 287,730
Rehabilitation 3,051 $11,710.7 26,918,273 3,092,296
Deck rehabilitation/replacement 9 $14.3 85,751 4,023
Other work 7,537 $18,786.5 31,402,555 4,079,590
Top 10 Most Traveled Structurally Deficient Bridges in the State:
County
Year
Built
Daily
Crossings
Type of Bridge Location
Jefferson 1970 136,370 Urban Interstate I-65 over US-11, railroad and city streets
Mobile 1964 85,510 Urban Interstate I-10 WB & EB over Halls Mill Creek
Jefferson 1972 78,675 Urban Interstate I-59/20 over US-31, railroads and city streets
Mobile 1966 75,350 Urban Interstate I-10 WB & EB over the Southern Drain Canal
Baldwin 1969 52,690 Rural Interstate I-10 over D'Olive Stream
Mobile 1964 43,710 Rural Interstate I-10 over Warren Creek
Jefferson 1968 41,015 Urban Interstate I-59/20 over Arron Aronov Drive
Jefferson 1936 39,710
Urban other
principal arterial
US-78 over Village Creek & the Frisco Railroad
Houston 1958 34,500
Urban other
principal arterial
SR 210 over a stream
Mobile 1967 33,770 Urban Interstate I-65 over Hells Swamp Creek
Sources: All data is from the 2014 National Bridge Inventory, released by the Federal Highway Administration in January 2015.
Note that specific conditions on bridge may have changed as a result of recent work. Cost estimates of bridge work provided as
part of the data and have been adjusted to 2014$ 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.