State profile · Near median Poor share

South Carolina bridge safety

According to the Federal Highway Administration's 2024 National Bridge Inventory, condition ratings, load ratings, and Poor-condition shares for every public highway bridge in South Carolina.

9,490
Public bridges
38.9%
Good condition
6.2%
Poor condition

South Carolina holds 9,490 public highway bridges (#26 of 52 by inventory) with a 6.17% Poor share (#25 of 52 by Poor share).

That is 6.2% of the state's inventory, against an average of 7.5% across the 54 states and territories with Poor-rated bridges on file, which places it 28 of 54 ordered from the lowest Poor share upward. A bridge is rated Poor when its weakest applicable component scores 4 or below on the inspecting agency's 0-9 scale, so the category is a maintenance and funding signal rather than a closure order or a live crossing-safety verdict.

Inventory: FHWA NBI 2024 · last ETL August 2026

Total Bridges

9,490

Public highway bridges in South Carolina

Good Condition

38.9%

3,690 bridges rated 7-9

-11.1pp vs 50% benchmark

Poor Condition

6.2%

586 bridges whose lowest applicable component is rated 0-4

-1.3pp vs national avg 7.5%

South Carolina vs national bridge condition

South Carolina - Good condition share 38.9%
National avg

Share of bridges rated 7-9 on the FHWA 0-9 scale (deck, superstructure, substructure all good).

South Carolina - Poor-condition share 20.6%
National avg

Lower is better. Bar maxes at 30% (worst-state ceiling). National average sits at 7.5%.

South Carolina in the national condition pattern

Each point is a state or territory in the FHWA NBI; the highlighted point is this profile.

Inventory size and Poor-condition share are different measures: South Carolina has 9,490 bridges and a 6.2% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #28 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The dashed comparisons mark the national average state rate and the midpoint of the plotted inventory range; neither is a live safety or closure threshold. Scatter plot of 54 data points. 0%10%20%30%40% 0k20k40k60k Public bridges in inventory (thousands) Poor-condition share (%) SC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 9.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.17%AL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 16.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 3.35%AK, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 1.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.89%AZ, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.15%AR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.43%CA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 25.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.91%CO, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 9k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.82%CT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.72%DE, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.26%DC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.95%FL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.79%GA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 15.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.59%GU, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0k · Poor-condition share (%): 12.77%HI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 1.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.53%ID, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.9%IL, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 26.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 9.35%IN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 19.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.22%IA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 23.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 19.16%KS, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 24.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.26%KY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.37%LA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 12.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 11.48%ME, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 15.41%MD, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.56%MA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 8.88%MI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 11.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 11.27%MN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 13.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.44%MS, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 16.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.03%MO, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 24.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 8.95%MT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.81%NE, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 15.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.9%NV, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.14%NH, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.51%NJ, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 6.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.01%NM, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.51%NY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 17.6k · Poor-condition share (%): 9.43%NC, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 19.2k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.76%ND, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 4.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 10.98%OH, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 26.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.74%OK, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 22.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 7.7%OR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.61%PA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 23.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 12.58%PR, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 13.92%RI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0.8k · Poor-condition share (%): 15.2%SD, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 5.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 16.36%TN, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 20.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 4.41%TX, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 56.7k · Poor-condition share (%): 1.23%UT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 3.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.91%VT, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 2.9k · Poor-condition share (%): 2.9%VI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 0k · Poor-condition share (%): 29.17%VA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 3.39%WA, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 8.5k · Poor-condition share (%): 5.45%WV, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 7.3k · Poor-condition share (%): 18.64%WI, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 14.4k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.52%WY, Public bridges in inventory (thousands): 3.1k · Poor-condition share (%): 6.51%
Inventory size and Poor-condition share are different measures: South Carolina has 9,490 bridges and a 6.2% Poor-condition share in the 2024 NBI, rank #28 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The dashed comparisons mark the national average state rate and the midpoint of the plotted inventory range; neither is a live safety or closure threshold.

South Carolina vs all states by public bridge inventory

Where this state's FHWA NBI public-highway bridge count sits among every state and territory on PlainBridges

9,490 26th of 54 higher than 28 of 54 states

States and territories, banded by public bridge inventory size

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source FHWA National Bridge Inventory · 2024

Read the rank neighborhood for South Carolina

The highlighted point is South Carolina: 9,490 bridges and 6.17% in Poor condition, rank #28 of 54 jurisdictions ordered from the lowest share upward. The five jurisdictions immediately above and below South Carolina on that same Poor-share ordering:

  • New Jersey: 6,827 bridges · 6.01% Poor
  • Mississippi: 16,739 bridges · 6.03% Poor
  • South Carolina: 9,490 bridges · 6.17% Poor
  • Wyoming: 3,136 bridges · 6.51% Poor
  • Wisconsin: 14,446 bridges · 6.52% Poor

The full national sortable table lives on the rankings page.

Material families in South Carolina

Exclusive FHWA material families across all 9,490 bridges in this state; continuous variants fold into the parent family. Orthogonal to the Poor-share scatter above.

Who maintains South Carolina’s inventory

State agency holds 89.2% of the 9,490 public highway bridges filed under South Carolina in the 2024 NBI, the agency-of-record split for this state, not a condition verdict.

When South Carolina’s bridges were built

Pre-1950 construction accounts for 13.0% of the 9,490 bridges with a recorded original year in South Carolina. Era bands are orthogonal to the Poor-share ranking above.

Condition Distribution

South Carolina38.9%54.9%GoodFairPoor
Bridge inventory deck-condition mix - South Carolina (FHWA NBI)

Counties (46)

Abbeville 163 Aiken 198 Allendale 69 Anderson 463 Bamberg 80 Barnwell 76 Beaufort 72 Berkeley 216 Calhoun 64 Charleston 336 Cherokee 199 Chester 190 Chesterfield 199 Clarendon 170 Colleton 231 Darlington 174 Dillon 128 Dorchester 198 Edgefield 124 Fairfield 139 Florence 277 Georgetown 113 Greenville 635 Greenwood 144 Hampton 113 Horry 479 Jasper 129 Kershaw 174 Lancaster 181 Laurens 259 Lee 91 Lexington 229 Marion 112 Marlboro 96 McCormick 68 Newberry 218 Oconee 215 Orangeburg 273 Pickens 291 Richland 361 Saluda 125 Spartanburg 638 Sumter 166 Union 131 Williamsburg 195 York 288

South Carolina vs nearby ranks

Adjacent states by Poor-condition share (lower share = better)

States are ranked by the share of bridges whose lowest applicable component rating is 4 or below. This describes recorded condition; it does not measure funding effectiveness or live crossing safety. States here sit immediately above and below South Carolina on the same metric.

NJ

New Jersey

6.01% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$6,827

MS

Mississippi

6.03% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$16,739
Selected

SC

South Carolina

6.17% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$9,490

WY

Wyoming

6.51% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$3,136

WI

Wisconsin

6.52% top marginal rate
Structure
Progressive
Burden @ $100K
$14,446

Bridges Needing Most Attention in South Carolina

Six lowest-condition bridges in South Carolina, ranked by the portal's composite display score. Inspection intervals are risk-based under current NBIS rules.

C-42-1024

Poor

Over: PACOLET RIVER

1.0 MI NW OF CAMPOBELLO, Spartanburg, SC

Built 1932 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 275

C-4-3791

Poor

Over: CSX RAILROAD

1.0 MI S WILLIAMSTON, Anderson, SC

Built 1950 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 175

C-28-250

Poor

Over: LITTLE FLAT ROCK CK

13MI W OF CAMDEN, Kershaw, SC

Built 1950 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 200

S-41-164

Poor

Over: BR OF LITTLE SALUDA RV

5.5 MI NE OF SALUDA, Saluda, SC

Built 1952 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 25

C-11-92

Poor

Over: GILKEY CREEK

6.7 MI SE GAFFNEY, Cherokee, SC

Built 1954 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 125

C-11-331

Poor

Over: ABINGTON CREEK

8.8 MI SE GAFFNEY, Cherokee, SC

Built 1954 Load: 0.0 t ADT: 275

All Bridges in South Carolina

S-28-47

Fair

Over: HAIG CREEK

10 MI SW OF CAMDEN, Kershaw, SC

Built 1967 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 1,000

S-28-499

Fair

Over: GRANNIES QUARTER CR

16 MI N OF CAMDEN, Kershaw, SC

Built 1967 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 225

S-38-184

Fair

Over: BOLAN MILL

4MI W NEESES, Orangeburg, SC

Built 1967 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 125

S-45-453

Fair

Over: THORNTREE SWAMP

4.0 MI N LANE, Williamsburg, SC

Built 1967 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 125

S-1-352

Fair

Over: JOHNSON CREEK

3.4 MI NE ANTREVILLE, Abbeville, SC

Built 1968 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 125

S-1-902

Fair

Over: BR OF HOGSKIN CK.

4.0 MI N DUE WEST, Abbeville, SC

Built 1968 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 275

S-6-159

Fair

Over: TURKEY CREEK POND

CL OF BARNWELL, Barnwell, SC

Built 1968 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 2,300

S-6-539

Fair

Over: TRIB-LTL SALKEHATCHIE

1 MI SE BLACKVILLE, Barnwell, SC

Built 1968 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 175

I-26 EB

Fair

Over: S-46/HERIOT ST

IN CHARLESTON, Charleston, SC

Built 1968 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 56,000

S-32-204

Fair

Over: RED BANK CREEK

5 MI S OF LEXINGTON, Lexington, SC

Built 1968 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 9,600

S-33-467

Fair

Over: BAKERS CREEK

3.5 MI SW MCCORMICK, McCormick, SC

Built 1968 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 600

S-39-94

Fair

Over: GEORGES CREEK

3.0 MI N EASLEY, Pickens, SC

Built 1968 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 5,400

S-45-58

Fair

Over: BR OF MUDDY CK

TOWN HEMINGWAY N R/R AVE, Williamsburg, SC

Built 1968 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 1,000

S-1-178

Fair

Over: LITTLE HOGSKIN CREEK

2.4MI W DUE WEST, Abbeville, SC

Built 1969 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 125

S-1-902

Fair

Over: BR OF HOGSKIN CK.

3.8 MI NE DUE WEST, Abbeville, SC

Built 1969 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 275

S-3-336

Fair

Over: TRIB-DUCK CREEK

2MI SE ALLENDALE, Allendale, SC

Built 1969 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 350

S-5-42

Fair

Over: BRIER BRANCH

4MI NE BAMBERG, Bamberg, SC

Built 1969 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 400

S-5-42

Fair

Over: BRIER BRANCH

4MI NW BAMBERG, Bamberg, SC

Built 1969 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 400

S-35-517

Fair

Over: CROOKED CREEK CANAL

TOWN OF BENNETTSVILLE, Marlboro, SC

Built 1969 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 750

S-1-341

Fair

Over: HAMMOND BRANCH

3.0 MI SW ABBEVILLE, Abbeville, SC

Built 1970 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 150

S-6-163

Fair

Over: TRIB TO ROSEMARY CK

IN WILLISTON, Barnwell, SC

Built 1970 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 700

L-8-570/ROSE DR

Fair

Over: SAWMILL BRANCH

12.7 MI SW MONCKS CORNER, Berkeley, SC

Built 1970 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 250

S-16-255

Fair

Over: HIGH HILL CREEK

4MI SW DARLINGTON, Darlington, SC

Built 1970 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 600

S-17-74

Fair

Over: MILL BRANCH

3MI SW LAKE VIEW, Dillon, SC

Built 1970 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 650

S-84/CLUBHOUSE RD

Fair

Over: BR OF DRAYTON SWAMP

12.7 MI SW SUMMERVILLE, Dorchester, SC

Built 1970 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 2,100

S-21-34

Fair

Over: SINGLETARY BRANCH

5 MI E COWARDS, Florence, SC

Built 1970 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 1,500

S-39-98

Fair

Over: TRIB TO ROCKY BOTTOM CK

11.0 MI N PICKENS, Pickens, SC

Built 1970 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 125

S-41-571

Fair

Over: INDIAN CREEK

8.8MI NE SALUDA, Saluda, SC

Built 1970 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 150

S-41-571

Fair

Over: INDIAN CREEK

9.0MI NE SALUDA, Saluda, SC

Built 1970 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 150

S-41-417

Fair

Over: ROCKY CREEK

15.1 MI E SALUDA, Saluda, SC

Built 1970 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 175

S-43-380

Fair

Over: GREEN SWAMP BRANCH

3 MI NW OF SUMTER, Sumter, SC

Built 1970 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 8,800

S-22-52

Fair

Over: BLACK RIVER SWP

9MI N GEORGETOWN, Georgetown, SC

Built 1971 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 100

S-25-12

Fair

Over: COOSAWHATCHIE RIVER

3MI SW BRUNSON, Hampton, SC

Built 1971 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 200

S-43-40

Fair

Over: MUSH SWAMP

7 MI W OF SUMTER, Sumter, SC

Built 1971 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 3,200

S-1-74

Fair

Over: GRAYS CREEK

8.3MI NE ABBEVILLE, Abbeville, SC

Built 1972 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 150

S-4-208

Fair

Over: CUPBOARD CREEK

1.8 MI NW BELTON, Anderson, SC

Built 1972 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 950

S-25-41

Fair

Over: BRIAR CREEK

5.2 MI SW HAMPTON, Hampton, SC

Built 1972 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 500

S-36-49

Fair

Over: WELCH CREEK

5.7 MI SW NEWBERRY, Newberry, SC

Built 1972 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 1,300

S-36-56

Fair

Over: BIG BEAVER DAM

3.6 MI NW NEWBERRY, Newberry, SC

Built 1972 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 600

S-38-1440

Fair

Over: GREAT BRANCH

6MI E NEESES, Orangeburg, SC

Built 1972 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 350

S-4-104

Fair

Over: MOUNTAIN CREEK

6.2MI SW ANDERSON, Anderson, SC

Built 1973 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 700

S-38-1603

Fair

Over: TRIB TO CAW CAW SWAMP

4MI NE ORANGEBURG, Orangeburg, SC

Built 1973 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 2,300

S-2-507

Fair

Over: WISE HOLLOW CR

5.0 MI S AIKEN, Aiken, SC

Built 1974 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 1,900

S-4-34

Fair

Over: BR OF TOWN CK.

4.7 MI NW ANDERSON, Anderson, SC

Built 1974 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 4,100

S-25-526

Fair

Over: CAMP BRANCH

6MI SE VARNVILLE, Hampton, SC

Built 1974 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 125

S-36-638

Fair

Over: CRIMS CREEK

10.4MI S. NEWBERRY, Newberry, SC

Built 1974 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 175

S-3-55

Fair

Over: TRIB-DRY GALL BR

12MI S ALLENDALE, Allendale, SC

Built 1975 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 125

SC 413

Fair

Over: JORDAN CREEK

11.3 MI SE OF ANDERSON, Anderson, SC

Built 1975 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 1,200

S-4-975

Fair

Over: TRIB THREE & TWENTY CK

8.1MI NE PENDLETON, Anderson, SC

Built 1975 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 100

S-8-946/TRINITY PI

Fair

Over: UNNAMED CANAL

4 MI W GOOSE CREEK, Berkeley, SC

Built 1975 Load: 18.1 t ADT: 2,200

Showing 1,251-1,300 of 9,490 bridges

Related

All states → | National rankings → | Understanding conditions → | Retired SD term explained →
Data sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI), latest released cycle. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory (NBI). Poor condition is an inspection-record category, not a closure or unsafe-to-cross designation. Consult the bridge owner for current status.

Understanding Bridge Conditions

How FHWA rates bridge condition on a 0-9 scale.

Check Your Daily Bridges

How to look up bridge condition data for bridges on your route.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

What to do with this

Use South Carolina's inventory picture to drill to a county or a specific span.

  • Browse counties in South Carolina and open the highest-Poor shares first. County list
  • See where this state sits among peers on Poor-condition share. State rankings
  • Compare this state with another jurisdiction on the same measures. State compare

NBI condition ratings are inventory snapshots, not live crossing-safety verdicts.

Every figure on PlainBridges is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. South Carolina Good/Fair/Poor shares and county rollups on this page are computed from the same NBI extract as the national boards; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2024 NBI release. NBI condition categories reflect the latest reported inventory record, not a live safety, closure, or travel decision.