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.
All bridges (361)
S-40-337
FairOver: VISTA GREENWAY
CITY OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1964 Load: 23.3 t ADT: 3,500
L-40-891
FairOver: ROCKY BRANCH
CITY OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1910 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 225
S-40-152
FairOver: ROCKY BRANCH
1 MI S OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1939 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 1,800
S-40-33
FairOver: I-20 & S-40-2916
1 MI NE OF DENTSVILLE, Richland, SC
Built 1995 Load: 23.7 t ADT: 10,300
S-40-973
FairOver: SC 277
1 MI W OF DENTSVILLE, Richland, SC
Built 1974 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 5,200
S-40-232
FairOver: BEAR CREEK
7 MI NE OF BLYTHEWOOD, Richland, SC
Built 1979 Load: 24.0 t ADT: 75
SC 764
FairOver: GRIFFIN CREEK
TOWN OF EASTOVER, Richland, SC
Built 1935 Load: 24.3 t ADT: 1,250
US 21/US 76
FairOver: RR CSXT & RR NS
CITY OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1953 Load: 24.6 t ADT: 30,900
SC 764
FairOver: TOMS CREEK
4 MI NW OF EASTOVER, Richland, SC
Built 1935 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 1,900
US 601
FairOver: RAGLINS CREEK
20 MI E OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1939 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 5,600
US 321
FairOver: TRIB TO CRANE CREEK
7 MI NE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1949 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 7,000
S-40-960
FairOver: BLACK LAKE
7 MI SE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1972 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 75
I-77 SB
FairOver: US 76/378 & SC 262
5 MI SE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1991 Load: 25.3 t ADT: 41,750
SC 555
FairOver: TRIB SMITH BRANCH
2 MI N OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1940 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 12,700
US 176
FairOver: I-20
5MI NW OF COLA, Richland, SC
Built 1965 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 39,600
S-40-217
FairOver: HOLLINSHEAD CREEK
5 MI N OF IRMO, Richland, SC
Built 1940 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 1,600
US 321
FairOver: I-20
5MI N OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1965 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 7,800
S-40-960
FairOver: TRIB TO MILL CR NO. 2
7 MI SE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1972 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 75
S-40-2385
FairOver: UNNAMED STREAM
1 MI S OF PONTIAC, Richland, SC
Built 1975 Load: 25.9 t ADT: 650
I-26
FairOver: I-20
5 MI NW OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1964 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 143,800
S-40-1436
FairOver: NORTH BRANCH CRANE CREEK
10 MI NE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1967 Load: 26.2 t ADT: 1,300
US 1
FairOver: RR CSXT
10 MI NE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1936 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 37,500
US 1
FairOver: JACKSON BRANCH
6 MI NE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1950 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 20,400
I-20
FairOver: CRANE CREEK & S-43
4 MI N OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1964 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 113,600
SC 768 WB
FairOver: I-77
5.5 MI S. OF COLA, Richland, SC
Built 1989 Load: 26.6 t ADT: 10,000
I-20
FairOver: SOU. RR & PRIV. RD. .
4MI N OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1965 Load: 26.9 t ADT: 113,600
S-40-1097
FairOver: I-20
3MI E PONTIAC, Richland, SC
Built 1965 Load: 27.2 t ADT: 375
US 176
FairOver: WATEREE CREEK
3 MI N OF CHAPIN, Richland, SC
Built 1935 Load: 27.5 t ADT: 4,100
SC 12
FairOver: GILLS CREEK
3 MI NE OF FOREST ACRES, Richland, SC
Built 1941 Load: 27.9 t ADT: 10,800
L-40-454
FairOver: BR OF CONGAREE RIVER
CITY OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1910 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 7,200
C-40-1683
FairOver: WILDCAT FORK CK
4 MI E OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1975 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 1,600
S-40-1201
FairOver: I-77
8 MI NE COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1980 Load: 28.2 t ADT: 4,000
L-40-2027
FairOver: ROCKY BRANCH
CITY OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1912 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 6,400
S-53
FairOver: I-20
2 MI SE OF PONTIAC, Richland, SC
Built 1964 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 11,100
S-40-1795
FairOver: I-20
4MI SW PONTIAC, Richland, SC
Built 1965 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 4,300
S-40-1695
FairOver: I-77
4MI S BLYTHEWOOD, Richland, SC
Built 1975 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 2,200
S-40-31
FairOver: I-26
4 MI NW OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1985 Load: 28.8 t ADT: 22,200
US 21
FairOver: I-20
5 MI NE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1966 Load: 29.2 t ADT: 6,400
US 321
FairOver: BIG CEDAR CREEK
10 MI NW OF KILLIAN, Richland, SC
Built 1939 Load: 29.5 t ADT: 3,500
SC 48
FairOver: MILL CREEK
8 MI SE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1942 Load: 29.5 t ADT: 6,400
SC 215
FairOver: HOME BRANCH
8 MI NE OF IRMO, Richland, SC
Built 1928 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 1,900
S-40-1437
FairOver: I-77
11 MI N OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1976 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 1,950
S-40-592
FairOver: RISTERS CREEK
3 MI NE OF CHAPIN, Richland, SC
Built 1979 Load: 29.8 t ADT: 500
S-40-33
FairOver: EIGHTMILE BRANCH
1 MI E OF FOREST ACRES, Richland, SC
Built 1950 Load: 30.5 t ADT: 12,000
SC 555
FairOver: RR CSXT
4 MI NE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1959 Load: 30.8 t ADT: 11,900
US 1
FairOver: RR CSXT
5 MI NE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1935 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 20,300
SC 277 SB
FairOver: RR CSXT
4 MI NE OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1974 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 20,150
I-26 WB
FairOver: I-126
3MI NW OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1984 Load: 31.1 t ADT: 127,600
I-20
FairOver: BROAD RIVER
5 MI N OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC
Built 1965 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 113,600
S-40-1727
FairOver: ROCKYFORD LAKE
2 MI NE OF FOREST ACRES, Richland, SC
Built 1992 Load: 31.4 t ADT: 450
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.