Tennessee has 20,374 bridges on public roads, according to the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. Of those, 887 are rated in poor condition — a rate of 4.4% — below the national average of 6.7%. Another 10,867 are in fair condition, while 8,620 are in good condition.
Use the interactive Tennessee bridge map below to explore every bridge, color-coded by condition. Click any cluster to zoom in, then click an individual bridge for its route, structural ratings, year built, daily traffic, and last inspection date. Filter by condition using the checkboxes, or switch to satellite view to see bridges from above. For a national comparison, see the full US bridges interactive map.
Tennessee Bridge Conditions by the Numbers
- 20,374 total bridges on public roads in Tennessee
- 887 in poor condition (4.4%) — below the national average of 6.7%
- 10,867 in fair condition (53.3%)
- 8,620 in good condition (42.3%)
- Oldest bridge in the inventory: NFA E489, built 1841
Oldest Bridges in Tennessee
The oldest bridges in Tennessee date back to the 1840s. The ten oldest Tennessee bridges still in the national inventory:
| Route / Facility | Crosses | Year Built | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFA E489 | MANSKER CREEK | 1841 | Fair |
| NFA A324 | EAST FORK | 1875 | Fair |
| NFA A022 | SEWEE CREEK | 1884 | Poor |
| NFA A634 | RR GRADE RD / DOE RIVER | 1889 | Poor |
| NFA C199 | BEAVER CREEK | 1895 | Good |
| FAU 3775 | TENNESSEE RIVER & 2 RTS. | 1897 | Poor |
| FAS 338 | BOYDS CREEK | 1898 | Fair |
| NFA A747 | TURKEY CREEK | 1900 | Fair |
| NFA A069 | BRANCH | 1900 | Good |
| NFA A866 | BRANCH | 1900 | Fair |
Most Concerning Tennessee Bridges: Poor Condition and High Traffic
The bridges of greatest concern combine a poor structural rating with high daily traffic loads. These Tennessee bridges carry the most vehicles per day while rated in poor condition:
| Route / Facility | Crosses | Daily Traffic | Year Built | Deck | Superstructure | Substructure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I24 | MILL CREEK | 155,629 vehicles/day | 1958 | Fair (5) | Good (7) | Poor (4) |
| I40 | I24 | 154,055 vehicles/day | 1960 | Poor (4) | Fair (5) | Satisfactory (6) |
| I40 | MILL CREEK | 131,122 vehicles/day | 1963 | Satisfactory (6) | Good (7) | Poor (4) |
| I24 EBL & WBL | BRANCH | 115,412 vehicles/day | 1960 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| I-24 WB RAMP | I-24 EB | 113,584 vehicles/day | 1961 | Good (7) | Good (7) | Poor (4) |
How Tennessee Bridge Conditions Are Assessed
Bridge condition in the NBI is determined by ratings of three structural components — deck, superstructure, and substructure — on a scale of 0 (failed) to 9 (excellent). A bridge is classified as good when all three components score 7 or above. It is classified as poor when any component scores 4 or below. Ratings of 5 or 6 on any component with no component below 5 result in a fair classification. TDOT coordinates inspections across Tennessee in line with FHWA standards, with most bridges inspected on a 24-month cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bridges in Tennessee are in poor condition?
887 of Tennessee’s 20,374 bridges are currently rated in poor condition by the FHWA National Bridge Inventory, a rate of 4.4%.
What is the oldest bridge in
The oldest bridge recorded in Tennessee’s NBI inventory is NFA E489, built in 1841.
What does a poor bridge rating mean?
A poor rating means at least one of a bridge’s three key structural components — deck, superstructure, or substructure — has been rated 4 or below on the NBI 0-9 scale. A rating of 4 is defined as “poor condition,” and ratings of 3, 2, 1, or 0 indicate increasingly serious deterioration. Poor-rated bridges are not necessarily unsafe or closed, but they require priority attention and monitoring.
View all 624,000+ US bridges on the national interactive map
Compare with neighboring states: Alabama bridges map | Arkansas bridges map | Georgia bridges map | Kentucky bridges map | Mississippi bridges map | Missouri bridges map | North Carolina bridges map | Virginia bridges map
