State Spotlight

Kentucky Bridge Infrastructure: A Complete Analysis

A comprehensive look at Kentucky's bridge inventory, including condition grades, highest-traffic crossings, worst-rated structures, and oldest bridges.

By BridgeStats Data Team

Kentucky is home to 14,590 bridges spanning 120 counties, making it one of the most significant bridge inventories in the country. These bridges carry a combined 66,312,629 vehicle crossings every day. Here is a comprehensive look at the state of Kentucky's bridge infrastructure based on the latest National Bridge Inventory data.

14,590

Total Bridges

C

Infrastructure Grade

7.5%

Poor Condition

48 years

Average Age

Kentucky at a Glance

Kentucky earns an overall infrastructure grade of C based on the percentage of its bridges in poor condition. Currently, 1,088 bridges (7.5%) are rated poor, compared to the national average of 6.7%. The average bridge in Kentucky is 48 years old, younger than the national average of 48 years.

Of the state's 14,590 bridges, 3,916 are in good condition, 9,586 are fair, and 1,088 are poor. View the full breakdown on the [Kentucky report card](/reports/kentucky).

Most-Traveled Bridges in Kentucky

These are the bridges carrying the highest daily traffic volumes across Kentucky. High-traffic bridges are critical infrastructure -- their condition directly affects the commutes of tens of thousands of drivers.

# BridgeRating
1I-75 S RAMP

over I275-I75-G&D RAMPS

60.7
2I-75 RAMP

over RAMP DONALDSON TO I-75

70.2
3I-75 SB and Ramp

over DONALDSON RD (KY 236)

69.5
4I-65 & RAMPS

over I-264 EB ON RAMP

72.6
5I-264

over US 31E (BARDSTOWN RD)

61.1
6I-264

over WEICHER CREEK

66.1
7I-264

over KY 155 (TAYLORSVILLE RD)

71.5
8I-65

over GRADE LN

64.9
9I-65

over STANDIFORD LN

58.8
10I-65 NB ON RAMP

over GRADE LN

67.8

Worst-Condition Bridges in Kentucky

The following bridges have the lowest sufficiency ratings in Kentucky. These structures are the most likely candidates for federal repair or replacement funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

# BridgeRating
1Old Blaine Trace

over Lt Fork of Little Sandy

7.9
2OLD US 68 CONNECTO

over LICKING RIVER

9.0
3WEST 15TH STREET

over CSX RAILROAD

11.5
4FRANK BOWLING ROAD

over REDBIRD RIVER

11.6
5GUM CORNER ROAD

over SHAWNEE CREEK SLOUGH

11.7
6NEBO RD

over CSX RAILWAY

11.7
7HOWARD PERKINS ROA

over LYNN CAMP CREEK

11.9
8OLD SALEM RD

over EAST FK-CLARKS RIVER

12.6
9ALDERDICE ROAD

over TERRAPIN CREEK

13.0
10BRIDGE ST

over NS (CNO&TP) SYSTEM

13.0

Oldest Bridges in Kentucky

Kentucky's oldest bridges tell the story of the state's transportation history. Some of these structures have been in continuous service for over a century.

# BridgeRating
1KY-3113

over LEE CREEK

15.2
2KY-1268

over JESSAMINE CREEK

47.8
3KY 17

over OHIO RIVER

34.5
4KY-3306

over LITTLE SANDY RIVER

53.8
5KY-2328

over KENTUCKY RVR NR CLAYS FR

31.0
6KY-3110

over SAND LICK CREEK

30.4
7US 60X

over KENTUCKY RIVER

21.3
8Rice Clark Rd

over North Rolling Fork

48.7
9Rogers LN

over Allens fork Creek

44.6
10WASHINGTON AVE

over CSX RAILROAD

55.3

What These Numbers Mean for Kentucky

Kentucky's bridge infrastructure grade of C reflects both the current condition of the state's bridges and the scale of the challenge ahead. With an average bridge age of 48 years, many of these structures are approaching or past the 50-75 year design life typical of most bridges. The state's ability to maintain and replace aging bridges will determine whether conditions improve or deteriorate in the coming decade.

For county-by-county breakdowns, historical trends, and individual bridge profiles, visit the [Kentucky state page](/bridges/kentucky) or the [Kentucky report card](/reports/kentucky). You can also explore how Kentucky compares to other states in our [state rankings](/blog/best-bridge-infrastructure-by-state-2025).

Data source: All data comes from the National Bridge Inventory maintained by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). BridgeStats is not affiliated with the U.S. government. Data is provided for informational purposes only.