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-24-39

Fair

Over: SALUDA RIVER

8.7 MI NE GREENWOOD, Greenwood, SC

Built 1986 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 3,000

SC 97

Fair

Over: BEAVER CREEK

3 MI S OF LIBERTY HILL, Kershaw, SC

Built 1986 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 1,550

SC 86 EB

Fair

Over: I-85

6.4MI N OF WILLIAMSTON, Anderson, SC

Built 1988 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 6,700

S-14-128

Fair

Over: BIG BRANCH

5MI SW SUMMERTON, Clarendon, SC

Built 1989 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 125

S-14-50

Fair

Over: POCATALIGO RIVER SWAMP

9MI E MANNING, Clarendon, SC

Built 1990 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 450

S-38-1203

Fair

Over: MILL BRANCH

5MI NW ORANGEBURG, Orangeburg, SC

Built 1992 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 4,500

S-14-127

Fair

Over: TAWCAW CREEK

3MI S SUMMERTON, Clarendon, SC

Built 1995 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 400

S-5-20

Fair

Over: BRIER BRANCH

3.0MI NE BAMBERG, Bamberg, SC

Built 1996 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 475

S-25-29

Fair

Over: SALKEHATCHIE RIVER

11MI NE HAMPTON, Hampton, SC

Built 1996 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 150

S-14-50

Fair

Over: BREAKFAST BRANCH

8.5 MI N OF MANNING, Clarendon, SC

Built 1997 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 450

S-38-36

Fair

Over: COW CASTLE CREEK

1 MI NE BOWMAN, Orangeburg, SC

Built 1997 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 1,000

S-25-141

Fair

Over: DEEP BRANCH

7MI E VARNVILLE, Hampton, SC

Built 1999 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 125

S-1166/NAZARENE RD

Fair

Over: CRUM BRANCH

4 MI SE OF MONETTA, Aiken, SC

Built 2020 Load: 37.3 t ADT: 125

SC 4

Fair

Over: GOODLAND CREEK

2MI E OF SPRINGFIELD, Orangeburg, SC

Built 1922 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 1,700

US 76 BUS

Fair

Over: LITTLE RIVER

MAIN ST LAURENS, Laurens, SC

Built 1929 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 5,700

SC 9

Fair

Over: MC/MILLIAN BRANCH

7.2MI NE OF CHESTER, Chester, SC

Built 1931 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 13,200

SC 125

Fair

Over: S-68

1 MI E OF N AUGUSTA, Aiken, SC

Built 1951 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 12,600

S-5-31

Fair

Over: KIRKLAND CREEK

8MI W, Bamberg, SC

Built 2002 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 200

SC 34

Fair

Over: BIG PINE TREE CREEK

2 MI E OF CAMDEN, Kershaw, SC

Built 1954 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 5,200

S-11-82

Fair

Over: I-85

2.5MI NE GAFFNEY, Cherokee, SC

Built 1958 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 1,400

I-26 WB

Fair

Over: S.C. 33 & S.C.L. RR

1.5 MI NW OF ORANGEBURG, Orangeburg, SC

Built 1960 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 24,450

I-26 EB

Fair

Over: S.C.642

N CHARLESTON, Charleston, SC

Built 1961 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 87,800

C-4-29

Fair

Over: ROCK CR

8.9 MI NE OF ANDERSON, Anderson, SC

Built 1965 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 3,200

US 521 SB

Fair

Over: GILLS CREEK

1.5 MI N OF LANCASTER, Lancaster, SC

Built 1965 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 12,200

I-95 NB

Fair

Over: BIG REEDY CREEK

5MI W OF LATTA, Dillon, SC

Built 1966 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 21,850

I-95 SB

Fair

Over: BIG REEDY CREEK

5.0MI OF LATTA, Dillon, SC

Built 1966 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 21,850

S-14-102

Fair

Over: I-95

1MI S SUMMERTON, Clarendon, SC

Built 1967 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 2,300

SC 150

Fair

Over: GOUCHER CREEK

7.9 MI S GAFFNEY, Cherokee, SC

Built 1973 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 2,600

I-20 WB

Fair

Over: JEFFERIES CREEK

8.5MI W OF FLORENCE, Darlington, SC

Built 1973 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 15,450

US 76 EB

Fair

Over: TOBYS CREEK

0.5 MI E OF PEE DEE, Marion, SC

Built 1973 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 11,300

SC 453

Fair

Over: FOUR HOLE SWAMP

4MI S OF HOLLY HILL, Orangeburg, SC

Built 1975 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 2,500

SC 453

Fair

Over: FOUR HOLE SWAMP

4MI S OF HOLLY HILL, Orangeburg, SC

Built 1975 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 2,500

US 52 EB

Fair

Over: LYNCHES RIVER SWAMP

4.0MI N OF COWARD, Florence, SC

Built 1976 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 7,350

S-4-212

Fair

Over: BIG CREEK

1.4MI SE WILLIAMSTON, Anderson, SC

Built 1978 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 550

S-46-710

Fair

Over: I-77

2.9 MI SE ROCK HILL, York, SC

Built 1978 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 7,200

I-526 EB

Fair

Over: ASHLEY RIVER&BULL CREEK

5.9 MI NW CHARLESTON, Charleston, SC

Built 1980 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 39,650

I-526 WB

Fair

Over: ASHLEY RIVER&BULL CREEK

5.9 MI NW CHARLESTON, Charleston, SC

Built 1980 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 39,650

S-25-28

Fair

Over: JACKSON CREEK

4MI N BRUNSON, Hampton, SC

Built 1988 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 375

S-14-121

Fair

Over: TEARCOAT BRANCH

8MI N MANNING, Clarendon, SC

Built 1989 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 75

S-38-80

Fair

Over: CATTLE CREEK

6MI W BOWMAN, Orangeburg, SC

Built 1989 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 450

S-14-63

Fair

Over: LOSS BRANCH

6MI S MANNING, Clarendon, SC

Built 1990 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 2,100

S-14-76

Fair

Over: JACKS CREEK

3MI SW SUMMERTON, Clarendon, SC

Built 1990 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 300

S-25-168

Fair

Over: JOHN PEN BRANCH

7.5MI SE ESTILL, Hampton, SC

Built 1990 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 200

S-12-25

Fair

Over: BRUSHY FORK CREEK

4.7 MI SW CHESTER, Chester, SC

Built 1991 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 100

S-14-129

Fair

Over: TRIB TO POCOTALIGO_SWAMP

IN MANNING, Clarendon, SC

Built 1991 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 125

S-32-604

Fair

Over: HOGPEN BRANCH

5 MI W LEXINGTON, Lexington, SC

Built 1991 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 425

S-10-2418

Fair

Over: UNNAMED STRTEAM

N. CHARLESTON/OFF FAIN ST, Charleston, SC

Built 1993 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 375

S-3-69

Fair

Over: DUCK CREEK

4MI SW FAIRFAX, Allendale, SC

Built 1994 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 125

S-11-60

Fair

Over: BR OF CHROKEE CR

8.1MI NW GAFFNEY, Cherokee, SC

Built 1994 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 300

S-25-13

Fair

Over: WHIPPY SWAMP

6MI NE VARNVILLE, Hampton, SC

Built 1996 Load: 37.6 t ADT: 375

Showing 4,251-4,300 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.