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

SC 61

Fair

Over: CHURCH CREEK

4 MI E OF N CHAS PIERPONT, Charleston, SC

Built 1936 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 18,000

SC 265

Fair

Over: LITTLE FORK CREEK

1.5 MI SW OF JEFFERSON, Chesterfield, SC

Built 1936 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 1,000

US 501

Fair

Over: S.C.L. RAILROAD

7.5 MI SE OF MARION, Marion, SC

Built 1936 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 15,500

SC 97

Fair

Over: RR NS

TOWN OF SMYRNA, York, SC

Built 1937 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 800

US 378

Fair

Over: BR OF LYNCHES LAKE

3MI NW OF LAKE CITY, Florence, SC

Built 1938 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 6,000

S-38-397

Fair

Over: BULL SWAMP

4MI N NORTH, Orangeburg, SC

Built 1938 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 300

SC 92

Fair

Over: TWO MILE CREEK

TOWN OF ENOREE, Spartanburg, SC

Built 1938 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 2,900

SC 9 SB

Fair

Over: S.C.L. RAILROAD

1MI E OF WALLACE, Marlboro, SC

Built 1939 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 4,350

SC 34

Fair

Over: BEAVER DAM CREEK

5.6 MI SW OF NEWBERRY, Newberry, SC

Built 1940 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 5,500

US 178

Fair

Over: SALEM CREEK

6MI NW OF NORTH, Orangeburg, SC

Built 1940 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 1,750

SC 555

Fair

Over: TRIB SMITH BRANCH

2 MI N OF COLUMBIA, Richland, SC

Built 1940 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 12,700

SC 57

Fair

Over: SWEAT SWAMP

4.5MI NW OF LITTLE ROCK, Dillon, SC

Built 1941 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 950

S-27-424

Fair

Over: TULIFINY RIVER (NO. 2)

1.5MI N OF COOSAWHATCHIE, Jasper, SC

Built 1922 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 25

US 76

Fair

Over: BEAR CREEK

14.9 MI S E OF NEWBERRY, Newberry, SC

Built 1941 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 4,600

SC 41

Fair

Over: LITTLE PEE DEE RIVER

3.0MI NE OF FORK, Dillon, SC

Built 1947 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 1,750

SC 363

Fair

Over: COOSAWHATCHIE RIVER

3.5 MI W OF HAMPTON, Hampton, SC

Built 1948 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 2,100

US 221

Fair

Over: HARD LABOR CREEK

7.4 MI SW OF GREENWOOD, Greenwood, SC

Built 1949 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 2,700

SC 11

Fair

Over: OBED CREEK

7.2 MI NE OF INMAN, Spartanburg, SC

Built 1949 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 4,800

SC 3

Fair

Over: W. MILL CREEK

9MI NW OF ALLENDALE, Allendale, SC

Built 1950 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 450

S-23-154

Fair

Over: PAYNE BRANCH

3.3MI SW FOUNTAIN INN, Greenville, SC

Built 1955 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 1,550

US 21/ US 321

Fair

Over: SIX MILE CREEK

5 MI SW OF COLUMBIA, Lexington, SC

Built 1955 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 22,100

S-38-634

Fair

Over: SNAKE SWAMP

1.0MI N COPE, Orangeburg, SC

Built 1955 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 100

US 176

Fair

Over: POLK SPRING CREEK

5MI S OF CAMERON, Calhoun, SC

Built 1957 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 1,050

SC 70

Fair

Over: S. EDISTO RIVER

16MI SW OF ORANGEBURG, Orangeburg, SC

Built 1957 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 3,100

SC 557

Fair

Over: CROWDERS CREEK

6.9 MI E OF CLOVER, York, SC

Built 1957 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 9,300

SC 92

Fair

Over: I-385

9.0 MI NW OF LAURENS, Laurens, SC

Built 1958 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 650

S-42-44

Fair

Over: CHINQUEPIN CREEK

1MI NE SPARTANBURG, Spartanburg, SC

Built 1959 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 24,200

C-4-247

Fair

Over: BROADWAY LAKE SPILLWAY

5.1 MI SE ANDERSON, Anderson, SC

Built 1960 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 1,250

I-85 NB

Fair

Over: HARTWELL RESERVOIR

GA/SC STATE LINE, Oconee, SC

Built 1961 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 24,200

S-376/ALLIGATOR RD

Fair

Over: ALLIGATOR CREEK

9.5 MI SE MONCKS CORNER, Berkeley, SC

Built 1962 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 150

S-27-75

Fair

Over: BEAVER DAM CREEK

10.5MI NW RIDGELAND, Jasper, SC

Built 1962 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 225

S-39-139

Fair

Over: SALUDA RIVER

11.0 MI NE PICKENS, Pickens, SC

Built 1962 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 500

S-15-330

Fair

Over: OLDFIELD CREEK

10.5 MI NW WALTB, Colleton, SC

Built 1963 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 125

S-15-350

Fair

Over: BLACK CREEK

6.5 MI SW WALTB, Colleton, SC

Built 1963 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 125

S-18-16

Fair

Over: COW TAIL CREEK

4.6MI SW OF ST GEORGE, Dorchester, SC

Built 1963 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 275

S-27-175

Fair

Over: STREAM

2.8MI NE RIDGELAND, Jasper, SC

Built 1963 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 400

S-18-56

Fair

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

3.2 MI SW RIDGEVILLE, Dorchester, SC

Built 1964 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 375

S-265/ROSSEIDA RD

Fair

Over: SALT CREEK

3.4 MI NW BEAUFORT, Beaufort, SC

Built 1965 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 1,900

S-8-447

Fair

Over: WADBOO SWAMP

2.1 MI NE BONNEAU, Berkeley, SC

Built 1965 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 300

S-10-92

Fair

Over: MELLICHAMP BRANCH

1.5 MI E RAVENEL, Charleston, SC

Built 1965 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 1,050

S-17-48

Fair

Over: REEDY CREEK

4MI N LATTA, Dillon, SC

Built 1965 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 450

S-34/PURRYSBURG RD

Fair

Over: MILLSTONE CREEK

2 MI W HARDEEVILLE, Jasper, SC

Built 1965 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 200

US 176

Fair

Over: I-20

5MI NW OF COLA, Richland, SC

Built 1965 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 39,600

S-8-408/MCCRAE DR

Fair

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

3 MI SE MONCKS CORNER, Berkeley, SC

Built 1966 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 50

S-15-459

Fair

Over: IRELAND CREEK

4 MI NE WALTB, Colleton, SC

Built 1966 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 3,300

S-39/LOG HALL RD

Fair

Over: BEES CREEK

3.8MI NW RIDGELAND, Jasper, SC

Built 1966 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 250

S-15-456

Fair

Over: IRELAND CREEK

7.3 MI NE WALTB, Colleton, SC

Built 1967 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 225

S-8-598/UNITED DR

Fair

Over: TRIB TO QUENBY CREEK

5 MI SE OF HUGER, Berkeley, SC

Built 1968 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 375

S-15-91

Fair

Over: UNNAMED STREAM

4 MI E COTTAGEVILLE, Colleton, SC

Built 1968 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 950

S-193/CAVANAUGH RD

Fair

Over: TRIB TO BLACK CREEK

7.3 MI SW WALTERBORO, Colleton, SC

Built 1968 Load: 25.6 t ADT: 1,150

Showing 2,551-2,600 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.