FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

US 521 NB

Carrying US 521 NB over STREAM

7.2 MI N OF LANCASTER, Lancaster, South Carolina

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Fair
24 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: US 521 NB

The US 521 NB bridge in Lancaster, South Carolina carries US 521 NB over STREAM. It was built in 1973, making it 53 years old today. The structure is built primarily of concrete and spans 2 sections, stretching 7.0 meters (23 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 12,150 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 culvert 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 24.0 metric tons.

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

How US 521 NB compares

▼ 5.8
Load rating vs South Carolina average (29.8 t)
Bottom 35%
Lower load rating than 65% of South Carolina bridges
110
Bridges in Lancaster · 15 in Poor condition
US 521 NB 24.0 t
South Carolina average 29.8 t

Live comparison across South Carolina.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
74.5 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
47.1
Serviceability /30
14.0
Essentiality /15
13.4
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 How the historical reference is calculated.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

Culvert
6/9
Fair (5–6)
Inventory Load Rating
24.0 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Fair

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

Structural Details

Year Built
1973
Material
Concrete
Number of Spans
2
Structure Length
7.0 m (23 ft)
Owner
State Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
12,150 vehicles/day
Structure Number
000000000006314

How to read this record

This page shows what the last federal inspection recorded, not whether US 521 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 521 NB against other structures in Lancaster 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 521 NB?

US 521 NB in Lancaster, South Carolina on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is US 521 NB inspected?

US 521 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 12,150 vehicles per day.

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

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. US 521 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 521 NB?

US 521 NB has an NBI inventory load rating of 24.0 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining US 521 NB?

US 521 NB is owned and maintained by State Highway Agency.

How old is US 521 NB and does age affect safety?

US 521 NB was built in 1973, making it 53 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.