FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

SC 703/PALM BLVD

Carrying SC 703/PALM BLVD over BREACH INLET

ISLE OF PALMS, Charleston, South Carolina

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
37 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: SC 703/PALM BLVD

The SC 703/PALM BLVD bridge in Charleston, South Carolina carries SC 703/PALM BLVD over BREACH INLET. It was built in 2002, making it 24 years old today. The structure is built primarily of prestressed concrete and spans 9 sections, stretching 312.1 meters (1024 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 9,200 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 6/9, superstructure at 7/9, substructure at 7/9. 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 36.6 metric tons.

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

How SC 703/PALM BLVD compares

▲ 6.8
Load rating vs South Carolina average (29.8 t)
Top 29%
Higher load rating than 71% of South Carolina bridges
196
Bridges in Charleston · 6 in Poor condition
SC 703/PALM BLVD 36.6 t
South Carolina average 29.8 t

Live comparison across South Carolina.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
90.3 / 100 - historical 80–100 band
Structural adequacy /55
55.0
Serviceability /30
29.0
Essentiality /15
9.3
Special reductions
−3.0

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 How the historical reference is calculated.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
7/9
Good (7–9)
Substructure
7/9
Good (7–9)
Inventory Load Rating
36.6 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
2002
Material
Prestressed Concrete
Number of Spans
9
Structure Length
312.1 m (1024 ft)
Deck Width
17.6 m (58 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
9,200 vehicles/day
Structure Number
000000000002305

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) is in fair condition (6/9), with minor deterioration that may require routine maintenance.
  • At 7/9, the superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) is in good shape and shows no significant wear.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates good at 7/9, with no significant deterioration on file.

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether SC 703/PALM BLVD 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 SC 703/PALM BLVD 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 SC 703/PALM BLVD?

SC 703/PALM BLVD in Charleston, South Carolina has a deck rating of 6/9, superstructure rating of 7/9, and substructure rating of 7/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is SC 703/PALM BLVD inspected?

SC 703/PALM BLVD'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 9,200 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. SC 703/PALM BLVD 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 SC 703/PALM BLVD?

SC 703/PALM BLVD has an NBI inventory load rating of 36.6 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining SC 703/PALM BLVD?

SC 703/PALM BLVD is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is SC 703/PALM BLVD and does age affect safety?

SC 703/PALM BLVD was built in 2002, making it 24 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.