Editor’s note: This story and visualization are part of our new “Data In Your Life” series, in which we mine public databases to tell quick stories about the world around us.
Driving can be a daily stressful ordeal because of potholes, road rage, drunk drivers or the random deer crossing the street at night.
But don’t forget to add dilapidated bridges to the mix.
According to Federal Highway Administration data, South Carolina has a total of 9,490 bridges of all shapes and sizes that help drivers get where they need to go every day. Given the heavy use and loads placed upon them, bridges require a certain amount of maintenance to remain at peak performance.
However, not all the bridges in South Carolina are as well maintained as they should be, federal data shows. And some counties in the state have far more poorly maintained bridges than others.
Below is information the state of South Carolina’s bridges overall and a list of the five counties with the largest amount of bridges in most need of repair as of 2024, according to the Federal Highway Administration. To see all other counties, click here .
South Carolina bridges
- Good condition: 3,690
- Fair condition: 5,214
- Poor condition: 586
- Total bridges: 9,490
Overall, South Carolina bridges are struggling. Of the state’s 9,490 bridges, about 55% are in fair condition. Another 6.2% are in poor condition in need of structural repair as of 2022, the federal data shows.
However, the state has identified needed repairs on 1,929 bridges, has access to $119.5 million and has committed $33.1 million toward 16 ridge repair projects as of June 2023, according to the American Road and Transportation Builders Association .
SC counties with the most bridges in need of repair
Spartanburg County
- Good condition: 330
- Fair condition: 243
- Poor condition: 65
- Total bridges: 638
Spartanburg County is the South Carolina county with the most bridges in need of repair. About 10.2% of the county’s bridges are in poor condition. These poor bridges account for a total of 31,680 square miles-worth of crossings in the state.
Spartanburg also has some of the most traveled structurally deficient bridges in the state, according to ARTBA, including:
- SC 9 over SC 85, built in 1958
- I-26 WB over SC 85, built in 1959
- I-26 EB over SC 85, built in 1959
Greenville County
- Good condition: 360
- Fair condition: 225
- Poor condition: 50
- Total bridges: 635
Greenville County comes in a close second with the most bridges in need of repair. About 7.9% of the county’s bridges are in poor condition. These poor bridges account for a total of 41,115 square meters-worth of crossings in the state.
Greenville has some of the most traveled structurally deficient bridges in the entire state, according to ARTBA, including:
- 1-85 over Trib Laurel Creek, built in 1960
- US 29 over Mountain Creek, build in 1939
- US 29 over C-23-75/60736071 on S. Church St., built in 1960
Oconee County
- Good condition: 70
- Fair condition: 115
- Poor condition: 30
- Total bridges: 215
Oconee County ranks third in the state for counties with most bridges in need of repair. About 14.3% of the county’s bridges are in poor condition. These poor bridges account for a total of 11,743 square miles-worth of crossings in the state.
Pickens County
- Good condition: 140
- Fair condition: 124
- Poor condition: 27
- Total bridges: 291
Pickens County ranks fourth in the state for counties with most bridges in need of repair. About 9.3% of the county’s bridges are in poor condition. These poor bridges account for a total of 7,363 square miles-worth of crossings in the state.
Lancaster County
- Good condition: 53
- Fair condition: 105
- Poor condition: 23
- Total bridges: 181
Lancaster County rounds out the list in fifth place for South Carolina counties with the most bridges that need repairing. About 12.7% of the county’s bridges are in poor condition. These poor bridges account for a total of 8,107 square miles-worth of crossings in the state.
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