SC 64/BELLS HWY
Carrying SC 64/BELLS HWY over BUCKHEAD CREEK TRIB
13.2 MI W OF WALTBR, Colleton, South Carolina
Data updated May 2026
FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.
Bridge Snapshot: SC 64/BELLS HWY
The SC 64/BELLS HWY bridge in Colleton, South Carolina carries SC 64/BELLS HWY over BUCKHEAD CREEK TRIB. It was built in 1931, making it 95 years old today. It was last reconstructed in 1970, extending its service life. The structure is built primarily of steel continuous and spans 10 sections, stretching 76.5 meters (251 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 2,800 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of South Carolina bridges. It is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure at 4/9, substructure at 4/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. At least one major component here scores 4 or below, which produces a Poor condition classification under FHWA's current reporting rules. Its NBI inventory load rating is 11.3 metric tons.
Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.
How SC 64/BELLS HWY compares
Live comparison across South Carolina.
Historical Sufficiency Rating
PlainBridge-computedFHWA discontinued this calculated item; it does not determine current condition, funding eligibility, posting, or closure. How the historical reference is calculated.
Condition Ratings
Full 0–9 scale + sufficiency-rating breakdown: how condition ratings work.
Structural Details
- Year Built
- 1931
- Last Reconstructed
- 1970
- Material
- Steel Continuous
- Number of Spans
- 10
- Structure Length
- 76.5 m (251 ft)
- Deck Width
- 12.1 m (40 ft)
- Owner
- State Highway Agency
- Avg Daily Traffic
- 2,800 vehicles/day
- Structure Number
- 000000000000515
Location
Data Source
FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI).
FHWA NBI Program ↗Condition Analysis
- • The deck (driving surface) rates fair at 5/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
- • At 4/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in poor shape, with advanced wear flagged for priority repair.
- • At 4/9, the substructure (piers and abutments) is in poor shape, with advanced wear flagged for priority repair.
How to read this record
SC 64/BELLS HWY is in the federal Poor condition category. That is a component-based result, not a closure order.
- NBI condition ratings reflect the latest record in this annual dataset, not a live status. Current routine inspection intervals are risk-based.
- Understand what Poor condition does and does not mean before drawing conclusions. Poor condition explained
- Compare SC 64/BELLS HWY against other structures in Colleton and across South Carolina. South Carolina bridges
- Noticed visible damage or a safety concern? Report it to the agency that owns the bridge, or call 911 in an emergency. How to report a bridge
Condition codes come straight from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory and are not a real-time safety judgment. Only the owning agency, a state DOT, county, or other owner, can post, restrict, or close a bridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the condition ratings mean for SC 64/BELLS HWY?
SC 64/BELLS HWY in Colleton, South Carolina has a deck rating of 5/9, superstructure rating of 4/9, and substructure rating of 4/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.
How often is SC 64/BELLS HWY inspected?
SC 64/BELLS HWY's responsible agency sets its routine interval under FHWA's risk-based inspection rules; this page does not expose the scheduled interval. It carries about 2,800 vehicles per day.
What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?
FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. SC 64/BELLS HWY is currently shown as Poor condition from its component ratings; that category is not a live closure or safety decision.
What is the inventory load rating for SC 64/BELLS HWY?
SC 64/BELLS HWY has an NBI inventory load rating of 11.3 metric tons.
Who is responsible for maintaining SC 64/BELLS HWY?
SC 64/BELLS HWY is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.
How old is SC 64/BELLS HWY and does age affect safety?
SC 64/BELLS HWY was built in 1931, making it 95 years old and last reconstructed in 1970.
Disclaimer: Bridge condition data is from the FHWA NBI and reflects the last reported inspection. A Poor condition rating is not a live declaration that a bridge is closed or unsafe for travel. For current closure, posting, or safety information, contact the responsible transportation agency.
Every figure on PlainBridge is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.