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-6-188

Fair

Over: TINKER CREEK

5 MI N WILLISTON, Barnwell, SC

Built 1964 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 125

S-14-314

Fair

Over: GUCKHOLDS BRANCH

6MI NW MANNING, Clarendon, SC

Built 1964 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 175

S-28-449

Fair

Over: BR BIG PINE TREE CRK

6 MI E OF CAMDEN, Kershaw, SC

Built 1964 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 475

S-30-52

Fair

Over: BUCKHEAD CREEK

9.5 MI NE LAURENS, Laurens, SC

Built 1964 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 225

S-30-80

Fair

Over: WALNUT CREEK

12.9 MI SW LAURENS, Laurens, SC

Built 1964 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 225

S-30-93

Fair

Over: BR OF MOUNTAIN CREEK

8.2 MI NW LAURENS, Laurens, SC

Built 1964 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 800

S-30-416

Fair

Over: BEAVER DAM CREEK

3.2 MI NE GRAY COURT, Laurens, SC

Built 1964 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 225

S-30-417

Fair

Over: BEAVER DAM CREEK

4.3 MI NE GRAY COURT, Laurens, SC

Built 1964 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 200

S-30-481

Fair

Over: BR OF CANE CK.

11.3 MI S LAURENS, Laurens, SC

Built 1964 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 200

S-31-500

Fair

Over: MCGIRTS CREEK

10 MI S OF BISHOPVILLE, Lee, SC

Built 1964 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 50

S-36-405

Fair

Over: BRANCH OF CAMPING CREEK

11.6 MI SE NEWBERRY, Newberry, SC

Built 1964 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 175

S-1-289

Fair

Over: LONG BRANCH

3.5MI NW DUE WEST, Abbeville, SC

Built 1965 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 125

S-2-108

Fair

Over: ETHERIDGE MILL POND

2.0 MI E MONETTA, Aiken, SC

Built 1965 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 225

S-4-670

Fair

Over: ROCKY CREEK

3.1MI SW WILLIAMSTON, Anderson, SC

Built 1965 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 175

S-21-836

Fair

Over: JEFFERIES CREEK

WISTERIA DR - FLORENCE, Florence, SC

Built 1965 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 800

S-28-47

Fair

Over: MCCASKILL CREEK

10 MI SW OF CAMDEN, Kershaw, SC

Built 1965 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 1,000

S-38-1604

Fair

Over: HILL BRANCH

5MI N ORANGEBURG, Orangeburg, SC

Built 1965 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 1,300

S-14-50

Fair

Over: TARKIN BRANCH

11MI SE MANNING, Clarendon, SC

Built 1966 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 125

S-17-211

Fair

Over: MAPLE SWAMP BR

IN DILLON, Dillon, SC

Built 1966 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 125

S-24-386

Fair

Over: BR OF WILSON CREEK

5.3 MI SE NINETY-SIX, Greenwood, SC

Built 1966 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 350

S-24-412

Fair

Over: ROCKY CREEK

4.0MI NE GREENWOOD, Greenwood, SC

Built 1966 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 200

S-30-314

Fair

Over: TYLERVILLE CK.

7.2 MI NW CLINTON, Laurens, SC

Built 1966 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 150

S-30-516

Fair

Over: DURBIN CREEK

5.3 MI N GRAY COURT, Laurens, SC

Built 1966 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 125

S-30-522

Fair

Over: BUCKHEAD CREEK

6.2 MI NE GRAY COURT, Laurens, SC

Built 1966 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 125

S-30-531

Fair

Over: BR OF ENOREE RIVER

6.0 MI NE GRAY COURT, Laurens, SC

Built 1966 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 125

S-30-565

Fair

Over: LAKE GREENWOOD

12.2 MI SW LAURENS, Laurens, SC

Built 1966 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 325

S-36-500

Fair

Over: BR. TO HELLERS CREEK

10.8 MI NE NEWBERRY, Newberry, SC

Built 1966 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 50

S-36-510

Fair

Over: SANDY RUN CREEK

10.1 MI NW NEWBERRY, Newberry, SC

Built 1966 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 25

S-45-370

Fair

Over: HOLLIMANS SWAMP

2.0 MI E GREELEYVILLE, Williamsburg, SC

Built 1966 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 150

S-45-574

Fair

Over: BR OF FLAT CR

3.0 MI S TRIO, Williamsburg, SC

Built 1966 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 175

S-12-840

Fair

Over: RODENS CREEK

10.5MI NW CHESTER, Chester, SC

Built 1967 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 75

S-32-945

Fair

Over: TRIB TO RISTERS CREEK

1 MI N OF CHAPIN, Lexington, SC

Built 1967 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 350

S-38-1256

Fair

Over: BRINER CREEK

1MI SE HOLLY HILL, Orangeburg, SC

Built 1967 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 750

S-40-1694

Fair

Over: BEASLEY CREEK

11 MI N OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC

Built 1967 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 1,350

S-41-358

Fair

Over: TOSSETY CREEK

9.6MI NE SALUDA, Saluda, SC

Built 1967 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 25

S-4-300

Fair

Over: BIG GARVIN CREEK

3.3 MI NE PENDLETON, Anderson, SC

Built 1968 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 2,000

S-30-258

Fair

Over: NW BR OF BOYD MILL POND

13.8 MI W LAURENS, Laurens, SC

Built 1968 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 125

S-30-574

Fair

Over: BURRISS CREEK

4.5 MI SW LAURENS, Laurens, SC

Built 1968 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 125

S-34-320

Fair

Over: MILL CREEK BRANCH

2MI E MULLINS, Marion, SC

Built 1968 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 150

S-38-189

Fair

Over: BULL SWAMP CREEK

5MI E NORTH, Orangeburg, SC

Built 1968 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 75

S-6-90

Fair

Over: TRIB TO LAKE BROWN

IN CITY OF BARNWELL, Barnwell, SC

Built 1969 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 900

S-14-60

Fair

Over: TRIB OF SPRING GROVE CRE

8MI NW SUMMERTON, Clarendon, SC

Built 1969 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 150

S-18-19/WIRE RD

Fair

Over: CATTLE CREEK

7.5MI SW OF ST GEORGE, Dorchester, SC

Built 1969 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 150

S-25-852

Fair

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

2.5 MI S. ESTILL, Hampton, SC

Built 1969 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 125

S-26-708

Fair

Over: GAP SWAMP

4MI N NICHOLS, Horry, SC

Built 1969 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 100

S-38-140

Fair

Over: TRIB TO GOODBYS SWAMP

3MI SW ELLOREE, Orangeburg, SC

Built 1969 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 175

S-4-751

Fair

Over: BR OF BROADMOUTH CK

3.4MI N HONEA PATH, Anderson, SC

Built 1970 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 1,000

S-6-855

Fair

Over: TRIB TO LOWER THREE RUNS

9.5 MI SW BARNWELL, Barnwell, SC

Built 1970 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 25

S-578/WESTBURY RD

Fair

Over: TRIB TO POLK SWAMP

3.7 MI SW ST GEORGE, Dorchester, SC

Built 1970 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 225

S-21-46

Fair

Over: SPRING BRANCH CREEK

6 MI NE HYMAN, Florence, SC

Built 1970 Load: 18.5 t ADT: 1,400

Showing 1,401-1,450 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.