Historic Bridges in South Carolina
1,282 bridges built before 1951 in South Carolina still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,282 bridges in South Carolina built before 1951 that remain in active service. These structures are 75+ years old — many predate modern engineering codes and were not designed for today's traffic volumes and vehicle weights. The average design life of a bridge is 50 years, making these aging structures a significant infrastructure concern.
| Bridge | State | Condition | Year Built | Age (Years) | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TURKEY HILL BRANCH | South Carolina | Good | 1941 | 85 | 6,800 |
| EARLY BRANCH | South Carolina | Good | 1941 | 85 | 6,800 |
| SADDLER SWAMP | South Carolina | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 6,800 |
| BURKE CREEK | South Carolina | Good | 1941 | 85 | 5,500 |
| PROVIDENCE SWAMP | South Carolina | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 500 |
| SALUDA RIVER | South Carolina | Good | 1941 | 85 | 450 |
| GILLS CREEK | South Carolina | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 10,700 |
| GILLS CREEK | South Carolina | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 11,300 |
| WILDCAT CREEK | South Carolina | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 11,300 |
| JACKSON CREEK | South Carolina | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 23,500 |
| NORFOLK SOUTHERN RR | South Carolina | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 13,150 |
| NORFOLK SOUTHERN RR | South Carolina | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 13,150 |
| LONG BRANCH | South Carolina | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 26,400 |
| GREEN SWAMP | South Carolina | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 30,400 |
| MEANS CREEK | South Carolina | Good | 1941 | 85 | 8,200 |
| COLONELS CREEK | South Carolina | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 120 |
| STREAM | South Carolina | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 700 |
| PONDERS CREEK | South Carolina | Good | 1942 | 84 | 700 |
| LITTLE HORSE CREEK | South Carolina | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 9,600 |
| MILL CREEK | South Carolina | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 550 |
| STREAM | South Carolina | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 750 |
| STREAM | South Carolina | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 700 |
| LITTLE WATEREE CREEK | South Carolina | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 900 |
| BIG WATEREE CREEK | South Carolina | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 900 |
| STREAM | South Carolina | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 900 |
| TODD SWAMP | South Carolina | Good | 1942 | 84 | 7,200 |
| SPEARS CREEK | South Carolina | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 4,600 |
| HAIGS CREEK | South Carolina | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 2,800 |
| SIMMONS BRANCH | South Carolina | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 3,300 |
| HORSE RANGE CREEK | South Carolina | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 2,400 |
| CAW CAW SWAMP | South Carolina | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 29,000 |
| REEDER POINT BRANCH | South Carolina | Good | 1942 | 84 | 10,000 |
| MILL CREEK | South Carolina | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 6,200 |
| SOUTH TYGER RIVER | South Carolina | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 27,000 |
| MIDDLE TYGER RIVER | South Carolina | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 26,300 |
| BIG DAM SWAMP | South Carolina | Good | 1942 | 84 | 4,200 |
| SMITH BRANCH | South Carolina | Good | 1942 | 84 | 4,200 |
| BLACK MINGO CREEK | South Carolina | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 6,700 |
| STEELE CREEK | South Carolina | Fair | 1942 | 84 | 8,400 |
| REEDS CREEK | South Carolina | Good | 1943 | 83 | 1,550 |
| TRIB TO TUPELO BAY | South Carolina | Good | 1943 | 83 | 1,450 |
| BUCKHEAD CREEK | South Carolina | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 275 |
| SMITH BRANCH | South Carolina | Fair | 1943 | 83 | 20,300 |
| SMITH BRANCH #2 | South Carolina | Good | 1943 | 83 | 20,500 |
| BURNETS CREEK | South Carolina | Good | 1943 | 83 | 1,550 |
| INDIAN CREEK | South Carolina | Good | 1943 | 83 | 1,300 |
| BOGGY SWAMP | South Carolina | Poor | 1943 | 83 | 1,450 |
| REEDY CREEK | South Carolina | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 16,000 |
| COOPER RIVER | South Carolina | Poor | 1944 | 82 | 29,000 |
| CHAUGA CREEK | South Carolina | Fair | 1944 | 82 | 3,100 |
About Historic Bridge Data
Bridges built before 1951 are classified as historic in this database. Many were designed to 1940s standards with lower load limits and narrower lanes. While FHWA requires regular inspections of all bridges regardless of age, older structures often require more frequent monitoring and rehabilitation investment.