Total bridges
190
Public highway bridges in Chester County
County profile · official public datasets
Chester County, SC
190 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 40.5% rated Good, 50% Fair, 9.5% Poor.
- 190
- Public bridges
- 40.5%
- Good condition
- 9.5%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Chester County posts a higher-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across mid-size county bridge inventory.
- 37th
- of 46 on Poor share
- 9.5%
- Poor-condition share
- 190
- public highway bridges
- 1976
- avg year built
Poor is an FHWA condition category from the lowest applicable component rating (4 or below), not a live crossing-safety or closure decision. Rankings cover counties with at least five public highway bridges.
Chester County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Chester County ranks #37 of 46 South Carolina counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 9.5%). Chester County, South Carolina contains 190 public highway bridges. Roughly 40.5% are rated “Good,” 50% “Fair,” and 9.5% “Poor.” Poor means the lowest applicable deck, superstructure, substructure, or culvert rating is 4 or below on the 0–9 NBI scale. It is a condition category, not a live safety or closure decision.
Responsible agencies inspect covered bridges on risk-based intervals under current NBIS rules and submit inventory data to FHWA annually. The list below shows every NBI-tracked bridge in the county. Use the “Sort by” controls to change the ordering, and click any row for its reported inspection date, traffic count, and condition fields.
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See methodology for full definitions.
Good condition
40.5%
77 of 190 rated 7-9
Fair condition
50%
95 of 190 rated 5-6
Poor condition
9.5%
18 of 190 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#37 of 46
Among South Carolina counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 190 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 40.5% (77)
Fair 50% (95)
Poor 9.5% (18)
Chester County's Poor-condition bridges carry 25,975 vehicle crossings a day
That is 4.4% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 9.5% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 1,443 crossings a day against 955 for a Good-condition one. A Poor rating is a condition category, not a closure or a live safety judgement; it means the lowest applicable component rating is 4 or below.
Computed over the 190 of 190 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
43.2% of Chester County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
82 of the 190 bridges with a recorded construction year were built in 1974 or earlier. Age alone is not a defect: a well-maintained older bridge can rate Good, and 40.5% of this county's inventory does. Even so, this older cohort is the population from which future Poor ratings are drawn, which is why the age profile below matters alongside the condition split above.
Cutoff derives from the 2024 release year minus a 50-year design life. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
One structure carries 23.1% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
US 21 over S.C.L. RAILROAD, built 1956, carries 6,000 vehicles a day, the most of any Poor-rated structure here. The county's Poor-condition exposure is concentrated rather than evenly spread, so the 18-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 25,975 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Chester County's bridges were built
190 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- 1920s 8
1920–1929
8 bridges
- 1930s 14
1930–1939
14 bridges
- 1940s 13
1940–1949
13 bridges
- 1950s 5
1950–1959
5 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
27 bridges
- 1970s
1970–1979
46 bridges
- 1980s
1980–1989
19 bridges
- 1990s
1990–1999
25 bridges
- 2000s
2000–2009
19 bridges
- 2010s 11
2010–2019
11 bridges
- 2020s 3
2020–2029
3 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1970s, when 46 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 24.2% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 45 to 54 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1976) matches the South Carolina average (1977).
How Chester County compares with South Carolina's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 South Carolina counties nearest Chester County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 9.5% Poor share is the 4th-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1976 against a peer-group mean of 1977 is in line with the group.
Showing the 5 closest of 45 South Carolina counties eligible for comparison.
| County | Bridges | Good | Fair | Poor | Avg. built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee County | 199 | 45.2% | 43.7% | 11.1% | 1983 |
| Chesterfield County | 199 | 40.2% | 54.8% | 5% | 1974 |
| Aiken County | 198 | 36.9% | 53.5% | 9.6% | 1977 |
| Dorchester County | 198 | 28.8% | 69.2% | 2% | 1972 |
| Williamsburg County | 195 | 38.5% | 54.9% | 6.7% | 1977 |
| Chester County (this page) | 190 | 40.5% | 50% | 9.5% | 1976 |
Each share is of that county's own total tracked bridges; peers are the counties with 5 or more bridges whose inventory size is closest to Chester County's. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
Nationwide counties with similar inventory size or average build year
Two NBI-derived peer sets for Chester County, both outside South Carolina so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside SC (190 bridges here).
- Clinton County, IL · 190 bridges
- Wapello County, IA · 190 bridges
- Webster County, IA · 190 bridges
- Bienville County, LA · 190 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside SC (1976 here).
- Marion County, IN · avg 1976 · 958 bridges
- Mohave County, AZ · avg 1976 · 641 bridges
- Comanche County, OK · avg 1976 · 593 bridges
- Prince George's County, MD · avg 1976 · 576 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
Fair-condition bridges (95)
SC 215
FairOver: JOHNS CREEK
10MIN OF FAIRFIELD CO LN, Chester, SC
Built 1939 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 650
SC 9
FairOver: GRASSY RUN CREEK
2MI E OF CHESTER, Chester, SC
Built 1931 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 10,400
S-12-201
FairOver: LITTLE SANDY RIVER
8.5MI SW CHESTER, Chester, SC
Built 1979 Load: 29.5 t ADT: 25
SC 9
FairOver: FISHING CREEK
3.5MI W OF FORT LAWN, Chester, SC
Built 2001 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 6,500
S-12-52
FairOver: ROCKY CREEK
10.3MI SE CHESTER, Chester, SC
Built 1973 Load: 30.1 t ADT: 600
US 321 BYP
FairOver: SANDY RIVER
2.0MI NW OF CHESTER, Chester, SC
Built 1960 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 1,600
US 321 BYP
FairOver: DRY FORK CREEK
1.2MI W OF CHESTER, Chester, SC
Built 1937 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 6,600
S-12-276
FairOver: TAN YARD BRANCH
CITY OF CHESTER, Chester, SC
Built 1929 Load: 31.8 t ADT: 1,000
SC 901
FairOver: I-77
1.0 M N FAIRFIELD CO, Chester, SC
Built 1979 Load: 32.1 t ADT: 225
SC 901
FairOver: LITTLE ROCKY CREEK
3.6MI N OF FAIRFIELD CO L, Chester, SC
Built 1948 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 225
I-77 NB
FairOver: SCL RAILROAD
1.8 MI S YORK CO LINE, Chester, SC
Built 1978 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 27,600
I-77 SB
FairOver: SCL RAILROAD
1.8 MI S YORK CO LINE, Chester, SC
Built 1978 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 27,600
I-77 SBL
FairOver: FISHING CREEK
1.3 MI S YORK CO LINE, Chester, SC
Built 1979 Load: 32.4 t ADT: 27,600
S-12-34
FairOver: WHITESIDES BRANCH
6.0MI N RICHBURG, Chester, SC
Built 1988 Load: 32.7 t ADT: 175
S-12-333
FairOver: BRANCH SANDY RIVER
3.5 MI N OF CHESTER, Chester, SC
Built 1988 Load: 33.4 t ADT: 425
S-12-306
FairOver: KIRKPATRICK CREEK
12.3MI NW CHESTER, Chester, SC
Built 1986 Load: 33.7 t ADT: 25
SC 72
FairOver: BEAR CREEK
5.0 MI S OF CHESTER, Chester, SC
Built 1929 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 2,900
SC 97
FairOver: I-77
7.2MI W OF GREAT FALLS, Chester, SC
Built 1979 Load: 34.3 t ADT: 2,000
SC 97
FairOver: MILL CREEK
7.3MI NW OF CHESTER, Chester, SC
Built 1942 Load: 34.7 t ADT: 550
SC 9
FairOver: WALKERS MILL BRANCH
4.8MI W OF CHESTER, Chester, SC
Built 1937 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 3,200
I-77 NB
FairOver: S. FORK FISHING CK
2.5 MI N. OF SC 9, Chester, SC
Built 1979 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 27,600
I-77 SB
FairOver: S. FORK FISHING CK
2.5 MI N. OF SC 9, Chester, SC
Built 1979 Load: 35.6 t ADT: 27,600
I-77 NB
FairOver: ROCKY CREEK
1.5 MI NORTH OF SC 97, Chester, SC
Built 1979 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 23,900
I-77 SB
FairOver: ROCKY CREEK
1.5 MI NORTH OF SC 97, Chester, SC
Built 1979 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 23,900
S-12-30
FairOver: LUCAS BRANCH
7MI W CHESTER, Chester, SC
Built 1986 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 325
S-12-30
FairOver: BEAR OWENS BRANCH
6.6 MI W CHESTER, Chester, SC
Built 1986 Load: 36.0 t ADT: 325
US 321 BYP
FairOver: TAN YARD BRANCH
CHESTER CITY LIMITS, Chester, SC
Built 1974 Load: 36.6 t ADT: 5,700
SC 9
FairOver: MC/MILLIAN BRANCH
7.2MI NE OF CHESTER, Chester, SC
Built 1931 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 13,200
S-12-25
FairOver: BRUSHY FORK CREEK
4.7 MI SW CHESTER, Chester, SC
Built 1991 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 100
I-77 NBL
FairOver: FISHING CREEK
1.3 MI S YORK CO LINE, Chester, SC
Built 1979 Load: 39.2 t ADT: 27,600
S-12-52
FairOver: I-77
6.0 MI S RICHBURG, Chester, SC
Built 1979 Load: 41.5 t ADT: 600
SC 97
FairOver: TRIB TO BULL RUN CREEK
5MI SE OF CHESTER, Chester, SC
Built 1940 Load: 42.8 t ADT: 2,500
I-77 NB
FairOver: S-12-56
0.5 MI W OF RICHBURG, Chester, SC
Built 1978 Load: 43.1 t ADT: 24,100
I-77 SB
FairOver: S-12-56
0.7 SW OF RICHBURG, Chester, SC
Built 1978 Load: 43.1 t ADT: 24,100
I-77 NB
FairOver: LITTLE ROCKY CREEK
2.8 MI N FAIRFIELD CO LIN, Chester, SC
Built 1979 Load: 43.1 t ADT: 23,750
I-77 SB
FairOver: LITTLE ROCKY CREEK
2.8 MI N FAIRFIELD CO LIN, Chester, SC
Built 1979 Load: 43.1 t ADT: 23,750
SC 9
FairOver: TRIB TO HOOPER BRANCH
5.7MI E OF CHESTER, Chester, SC
Built 1931 Load: 43.4 t ADT: 13,200
US 21
FairOver: S.C.9 & L & C RR
TOWN OF FORT LAWN, Chester, SC
Built 1961 Load: 43.4 t ADT: 3,900
I-77 NB
FairOver: RR LC
0.8 MI NW OF RICHBURG, Chester, SC
Built 1979 Load: 48.9 t ADT: 24,100
I-77 SB
FairOver: RR LC
0.9 MI NW OF RICHBURG, Chester, SC
Built 1979 Load: 48.9 t ADT: 24,100
SC 9
FairOver: RODENS CREEK
8.7MI W OF CHESTER, Chester, SC
Built 1937 Load: 50.5 t ADT: 2,300
SC 9 NB
FairOver: I-77
10.6MI NE OF CHESTER, Chester, SC
Built 1978 Load: 51.8 t ADT: 6,300
SC 9 SB
FairOver: I-77
10.6MI NE OF CHESTER, Chester, SC
Built 1978 Load: 52.2 t ADT: 6,300
SC 909
FairOver: STREAM
4.5 MI W OF LANDO, Chester, SC
Built 1942 Load: 74.2 t ADT: 650
SC 909
FairOver: STREAM
7.0MI NE OF CHESTER, Chester, SC
Built 1942 Load: 95.9 t ADT: 700
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges
Every figure on PlainBridges 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. NBI condition categories reflect the latest reported inventory record, not a live safety, closure, or travel decision.