Total bridges
361
Public highway bridges in Richland County
County profile · official public datasets
Richland County, SC
361 public highway bridges tracked in the FHWA National Bridge Inventory: 50.1% rated Good, 46% Fair, 3.9% Poor.
- 361
- Public bridges
- 50.1%
- Good condition
- 3.9%
- Poor condition
The verdict
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory.
Richland County posts a better-than-median Poor-condition share among rated counties in the state across mid-size county bridge inventory.
- Top 30%
- lowest Poor share in state
- 3.9%
- Poor-condition share
- 361
- public highway bridges
- 1979
- 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.
Richland County Bridge Snapshot
According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, Richland County ranks #14 of 46 South Carolina counties with at least 5 public highway bridges on Poor-condition share (lower share ranks better; currently 3.9%). Richland County, South Carolina contains 361 public highway bridges. Roughly 50.1% are rated “Good,” 46% “Fair,” and 3.9% “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
50.1%
181 of 361 rated 7-9
Fair condition
46%
166 of 361 rated 5-6
Poor condition
3.9%
14 of 361 rated 4 or below
In-state Poor-share rank
#14 of 46
Among South Carolina counties with 5+ bridges, lower share ranks better
Condition distribution
Share of 361 NBI-tracked bridges by lowest applicable component rating.
Good 50.1% (181)
Fair 46% (166)
Poor 3.9% (14)
Richland County's Poor-condition bridges carry 110,270 vehicle crossings a day
That is 2% of the county's reported daily bridge traffic on 3.9% of its bridges: Poor-condition structures carry less traffic than their share of the inventory. Each Poor bridge averages 7,876 crossings a day against 14,719 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 361 of 361 bridges in this county that report an average daily traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
39.6% of Richland County's bridges have passed the 50-year mark
143 of the 361 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 50.1% 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 33% of the county's Poor-condition bridge traffic
I-77 SB over US 21, built 1976, carries 36,350 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 14-bridge count understates how much of the daily burden sits on a single crossing.
Share is of the 110,270 daily crossings on Poor-rated bridges that report a traffic count. Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release.
When Richland County's bridges were built
361 bridges with a recorded construction year, grouped by decade
- 1900s 1
1900–1909
1 bridges
- 1910s 5
1910–1919
5 bridges
- 1920s 11
1920–1929
11 bridges
- 1930s 13
1930–1939
13 bridges
- 1940s 19
1940–1949
19 bridges
- 1950s 17
1950–1959
17 bridges
- 1960s
1960–1969
48 bridges
- 1970s
1970–1979
58 bridges
- 1980s
1980–1989
72 bridges
- 1990s
1990–1999
52 bridges
- 2000s 19
2000–2009
19 bridges
- 2010s
2010–2019
33 bridges
- 2020s 13
2020–2029
13 bridges
What this shows Construction peaked in the 1980s, when 72 of the county's bridges still in the inventory were built, which is 19.9% of those with a recorded year. That cohort is now 35 to 44 years old in the 2024 inventory. Its average build year (1979) matches the South Carolina average (1977).
How Richland County compares with South Carolina's closest counties by inventory size
The 5 South Carolina counties nearest Richland County in number of bridges, with their condition splits. Its 3.9% Poor share is the 3rd-lowest of these 6. Its average build year of 1979 against a peer-group mean of 1979 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richland County (this page) | 361 | 50.1% | 46% | 3.9% | 1979 |
| Charleston County | 336 | 37.8% | 59.8% | 2.4% | 1988 |
| Pickens County | 291 | 48.1% | 42.6% | 9.3% | 1979 |
| York County | 288 | 42.7% | 49.7% | 7.6% | 1984 |
| Florence County | 277 | 33.9% | 63.5% | 2.5% | 1976 |
| Orangeburg County | 273 | 17.9% | 76.6% | 5.5% | 1966 |
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 Richland 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 Richland County, both outside South Carolina so the neighborhoods are not the same-state size table above.
Similar inventory size
Nearest county inventories outside SC (361 bridges here).
- San Mateo County, CA · 361 bridges
- Washita County, OK · 361 bridges
- Gibson County, IN · 362 bridges
- Fayette County, IA · 362 bridges
Similar average build year
Nearest mean year-built outside SC (1979 here).
- Pima County, AZ · avg 1979 · 1,150 bridges
- Jefferson County, KY · avg 1979 · 662 bridges
- McPherson County, KS · avg 1979 · 586 bridges
- Madison County, IL · avg 1979 · 523 bridges
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 release. Peers floor at 10 bridges so stub inventories cannot own the match.
Fair-condition bridges (166)
S-40-1575
FairOver: CAREY LAKE
ARCADIA LAKES RD-COLA, Richland, SC
Built 1988 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 225
S-40-1021
FairOver: TRIB TO GILLS CREEK
3 MI SE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1966 Load: 8.4 t ADT: 475
S-40-698
FairOver: WATEREE CREEK
6 MI NE OF CHAPIN, Richland, SC
Built 1978 Load: 13.3 t ADT: 300
S-40-643
FairOver: HOLLINSHEAD CREEK
3 MI NE OF BALLENTINE, Richland, SC
Built 1957 Load: 13.6 t ADT: 700
S-40-1597
FairOver: EIGHTMILE BRANCH
4 MI NW OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1972 Load: 15.2 t ADT: 750
S-40-57
FairOver: HARMON CREEK
10MI NW COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1958 Load: 15.9 t ADT: 425
S-40-106
FairOver: VISTA GREENWAY
CITY OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1915 Load: 16.5 t ADT: 1,750
S-40-205
FairOver: SMITH BRANCH
2 MI N OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1960 Load: 16.5 t ADT: 2,400
S-40-66
FairOver: CABIN BRANCH
1.5 MI E OF HOPKINS, Richland, SC
Built 1973 Load: 16.5 t ADT: 1,150
S-40-244
FairOver: HOLLINSHEAD CREEK
4 MI NE OF BALLENTINE, Richland, SC
Built 1985 Load: 16.5 t ADT: 3,000
L-40-2020
FairOver: MILL CREEK
8 MI SE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1920 Load: 16.8 t ADT: 950
S-40-405
FairOver: WATEREE CREEK
2 MI NW OF WHITE ROCK, Richland, SC
Built 1955 Load: 17.2 t ADT: 1,850
S-40-2387
FairOver: SPEARS CREEK
1 MI S OF PONTIAC, Richland, SC
Built 1975 Load: 17.8 t ADT: 450
S-40-1919
FairOver: TRIB SALUDA RIVER
4 MI NE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1960 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 275
S-40-228
FairOver: TRIB SMITH BRANCH
3 MI N OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1961 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 1,900
S-40-2354
FairOver: JACKSON CREEK
7 MI NE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1965 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 850
S-40-1694
FairOver: BEASLEY CREEK
11 MI N OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1967 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 1,350
S-40-2480
FairOver: BR OF WATEREE CREEK
4 MI NW OF BALLENTINE, Richland, SC
Built 1979 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 800
SC 48
FairOver: GRIFFINS CREEK
3 MI S OF EASTOVER, Richland, SC
Built 1947 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 2,400
S-40-1725
FairOver: JACKSON CREEK
5 MI NE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1955 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 1,500
S-40-2375
FairOver: TRIB TO SMITH BRANCH
2 MI NE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1960 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 650
S-40-56
FairOver: SINGLETON CREEK
5 MI SE OF EASTOVER, Richland, SC
Built 1961 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 75
S-40-985
FairOver: TRIB TO FOREST LAKE
2 MI E OF FOREST ACRES, Richland, SC
Built 1968 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 1,250
S-40-1051
FairOver: RICE CREEK
4 MI SE OF BLYTHEWOOD, Richland, SC
Built 1970 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 5,400
S-40-1889
FairOver: CRANE CREEK
8 MI N OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1973 Load: 18.8 t ADT: 1,750
S-40-1912
FairOver: TRIB TO BROAD RIVER
5 MI NE OF CHAPIN, Richland, SC
Built 1976 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 50
S-40-1581
FairOver: FOREST LAKE
5 MI NE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1992 Load: 19.8 t ADT: 500
S-40-220
FairOver: SIMMONS CREEK
2 MI E OF BLYTHEWOOD, Richland, SC
Built 1983 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 1,050
S-40-841
FairOver: LITTLE JACKSON CREEK
2 MI NE OF DENTSVILLE, Richland, SC
Built 1983 Load: 20.1 t ADT: 1,250
US 176
FairOver: BOYD BRANCH
6 MI E OF CHAPIN, Richland, SC
Built 1949 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 10,600
US 21
FairOver: CRANE CREEK
8 MI NE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1930 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 8,300
S-40-1862
FairOver: TRIB TO RAWLS CREEK
1 MI NW OF IRMO, Richland, SC
Built 1985 Load: 20.4 t ADT: 11,500
L-284
FairOver: VISTA GREENWAY
CITY OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1915 Load: 20.7 t ADT: 425
US 176
FairOver: RR CSXT
2 MI N OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1936 Load: 20.7 t ADT: 5,300
S-40-1509
FairOver: EIGHTMILE BRANCH
4 MI NE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1960 Load: 20.7 t ADT: 1,400
S-40-86
FairOver: CABIN BRANCH
2 MI S OF HORREL HILL, Richland, SC
Built 1974 Load: 20.7 t ADT: 350
S-40-2514
FairOver: TRIB TO CRANE CREEK
6 MI NE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1982 Load: 20.7 t ADT: 750
RAMP OFF I-126 WB
FairOver: SALUDA RIV&I-26&I-126&RR
4 MI NW OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1985 Load: 20.7 t ADT: 2,250
S-40-804
FairOver: MYERS CREEK
6 MI SW OF CONGAREE, Richland, SC
Built 1985 Load: 20.7 t ADT: 800
S-40-1367
FairOver: BONEY CREEK
2 MI NW OF BLYTHEWOOD, Richland, SC
Built 1983 Load: 20.7 t ADT: 1,050
SC 215
FairOver: NIPPER CREEK
10 MI NW OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1928 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 3,200
US 76
FairOver: CEDAR CREEK
9 MI NW OF EASTOVER, Richland, SC
Built 1945 Load: 21.1 t ADT: 15,800
SC 48 EB
FairOver: GILLS CREEK
5 MI SE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1928 Load: 21.4 t ADT: 5,200
US 321
FairOver: HORSE CREEK
15 MI N OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1939 Load: 21.4 t ADT: 3,500
S-40-232
FairOver: CALS CREEK
7 MI NE OF BLYTHEWOOD, Richland, SC
Built 1989 Load: 21.7 t ADT: 75
S-40-151
FairOver: JACKSON CREEK
6 MI NE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1941 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 25,300
S-40-43
FairOver: CRANE CREEK
4 MI N OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1964 Load: 22.0 t ADT: 950
US 76
FairOver: GILLS CREEK
4 MI SE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1940 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 28,400
I-20
FairOver: SC 555 SOU RR FRTG RD
6 MI N OF COLA, Richland, SC
Built 1965 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 100,200
S-40-1601
FairOver: EIGHTMILE BRANCH
4 MI NE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1966 Load: 23.0 t ADT: 325
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.