State Spotlight

South Carolina Bridge Infrastructure: A Complete Analysis

A comprehensive look at South Carolina's bridge inventory, including condition grades, highest-traffic crossings, worst-rated structures, and oldest bridges.

By BridgeStats Data Team

South Carolina is home to 9,504 bridges spanning 46 counties, making it one of the most significant bridge inventories in the country. These bridges carry a combined 56,358,824 vehicle crossings every day. Here is a comprehensive look at the state of South Carolina's bridge infrastructure based on the latest National Bridge Inventory data.

9,504

Total Bridges

C

Infrastructure Grade

6.3%

Poor Condition

49 years

Average Age

South Carolina at a Glance

South Carolina earns an overall infrastructure grade of C based on the percentage of its bridges in poor condition. Currently, 602 bridges (6.3%) are rated poor, compared to the national average of 6.7%. The average bridge in South Carolina is 49 years old, older than the national average of 48 years.

Of the state's 9,504 bridges, 3,568 are in good condition, 5,334 are fair, and 602 are poor. View the full breakdown on the [South Carolina report card](/reports/south-carolina).

Most-Traveled Bridges in South Carolina

These are the bridges carrying the highest daily traffic volumes across South Carolina. High-traffic bridges are critical infrastructure -- their condition directly affects the commutes of tens of thousands of drivers.

# BridgeRating
1I-26

over RR NS SPUR & TAYLOR ST

66.5
2I-26

over I-20

65.0
3I-26

over STOOP CREEK

78.7
4I-85

over ROCKY CREEK

86.0
5I-85

over MUDDY FORD RD (S-580)

71.3
6I-77

over S-46-1441

61.5
7I-77

over STEEL CREEK

70.3
8I-26/RAMP OFF I-26

over RR CSXT

62.5
9I-77

over S-46-100

64.8
10I-77

over CATAWBA RIVER

65.7

Worst-Condition Bridges in South Carolina

The following bridges have the lowest sufficiency ratings in South Carolina. These structures are the most likely candidates for federal repair or replacement funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

# BridgeRating
1C-39-477

over TRIB ROCKY BOTTOM CREEK

11.3
2SC 49/SC 215 CON

over SOUTHERN RAILROAD

11.8
3C-19-234

over BR TO CEDAR CREEK

12.8
4C-30-548

over NORTH RABON CREEK

14.7
5S-1426

over LONG BRANCH

15.5
6C-30-532

over SOUTH RABON CREEK

16.0
7C-36-787

over TRIB TO CANNONS CREEK

16.0
8S-33-117

over LONG CANE CREEK

16.1
9S-1-159

over JOHNS CREEK

16.6
10S-2-180

over NORFOLK SOUTHERN

16.6

Oldest Bridges in South Carolina

South Carolina's oldest bridges tell the story of the state's transportation history. Some of these structures have been in continuous service for over a century.

# BridgeRating
1C-23-10

over REEDY RIVER

53.4
2S-23-280

over TRIB TO REEDY RIVER

54.8
3L-40-454

over BR OF CONGAREE RIVER

64.4
4L-40-891

over ROCKY BRANCH

62.3
5S-23-316

over HUFF CREEK

53.9
6L-40-2027

over ROCKY BRANCH

64.4
7C-42-787

over CSXT RR

32.7
8US 25

over BEAVERDAM CK OVERFLOW

62.7
9S-40-106

over VISTA GREENWAY

55.5
10L-284

over VISTA GREENWAY

65.3

What These Numbers Mean for South Carolina

South Carolina's bridge infrastructure grade of C reflects both the current condition of the state's bridges and the scale of the challenge ahead. With an average bridge age of 49 years, many of these structures are approaching or past the 50-75 year design life typical of most bridges. The state's ability to maintain and replace aging bridges will determine whether conditions improve or deteriorate in the coming decade.

For county-by-county breakdowns, historical trends, and individual bridge profiles, visit the [South Carolina state page](/bridges/south-carolina) or the [South Carolina report card](/reports/south-carolina). You can also explore how South Carolina compares to other states in our [state rankings](/blog/best-bridge-infrastructure-by-state-2025).

Data source: All data comes from the National Bridge Inventory maintained by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). BridgeStats is not affiliated with the U.S. government. Data is provided for informational purposes only.