FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

US 17 NB

Carrying US 17 NB over RR CSXT

5 MI S OF CHARLESTON, Charleston, South Carolina

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
26 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: US 17 NB

The US 17 NB bridge in Charleston, South Carolina carries US 17 NB over RR CSXT. It was built in 1957, making it 69 years old today. The structure is built primarily of steel and spans 3 sections, stretching 50.3 meters (165 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 25,600 vehicles, placing it in the heavily-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 6/9, superstructure at 6/9, substructure at 6/9. The weakest component sits in fair condition. No reported major component scores in the Poor range under the current federal condition thresholds. Its NBI inventory load rating is 25.9 metric tons.

Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.

How US 17 NB compares

▼ 3.9
Load rating vs South Carolina average (29.8 t)
Bottom 41%
Lower load rating than 59% of South Carolina bridges
196
Bridges in Charleston · 6 in Poor condition
US 17 NB 25.9 t
South Carolina average 29.8 t

Live comparison across South Carolina.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
66.0 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
49.6
Serviceability /30
7.0
Essentiality /15
9.4
Special reductions
0

FHWA discontinued this calculated item; it does not determine current condition, funding eligibility, posting, or closure. How the historical reference is calculated.

Condition Ratings

Deck
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Superstructure
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Substructure
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
25.9 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

Full 0–9 scale + sufficiency-rating breakdown: how condition ratings work.

Structural Details

Year Built
1957
Material
Steel
Number of Spans
3
Structure Length
50.3 m (165 ft)
Deck Width
10.4 m (34 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
25,600 vehicles/day
Structure Number
000000000001603

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) rates fair at 6/9, minor deterioration that routine maintenance should address.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether US 17 NB is safe to cross today. Here is how to use it.

  • NBI condition ratings reflect the latest record in this annual dataset, not a live status. Current routine inspection intervals are risk-based.
  • Learn how the 0–9 condition scale and Good/Fair/Poor categories are defined. How condition ratings work
  • Compare US 17 NB against other structures in Charleston 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 US 17 NB?

US 17 NB in Charleston, South Carolina has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 6/9, and substructure rating of 6/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is US 17 NB inspected?

US 17 NB'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 25,600 vehicles per day.

What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. US 17 NB is currently shown as Fair condition from its component ratings; that category is not a live closure or safety decision.

What is the inventory load rating for US 17 NB?

US 17 NB has an NBI inventory load rating of 25.9 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining US 17 NB?

US 17 NB is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is US 17 NB and does age affect safety?

US 17 NB was built in 1957, making it 69 years old.

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.

Data sourced from the Federal Highway Administration National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges

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.