US 278 over Coosawhatchie River
Hampton County, South Carolina · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- US 278 over Coosawhatchie River in Hampton County, South Carolina, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the deck, rated 6 (satisfactory condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1957, making it 68 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 1,750 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2023).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 90 of the 113 inventoried bridges in Hampton County rated fair (79.6%); 5 (4.4%) are rated poor.
- Its traffic status in the 2025 inventory is open, no restriction (NBI item 41).
- Its class is unchanged from 2024 (fair), but component ratings moved: superstructure 7 to 6, substructure 7 to 6.
- Its most recent inspection on record is dated March 2024, on a 24-month routine inspection cycle.
- A fair rating means the lowest-rated major component scores 5 or 6 on FHWA's 0-9 scale: some deterioration or minor section loss, but the structure is sound. It is the middle class, not a warning.
View this bridge on a map → (32.79854, -81.05428)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Superstructure | 7 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Substructure | 7 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Concrete tee beam |
| Length | about 209 ft |
| Location | 5 Mi SE of Varnville |
| NBI structure number | 000000000002553 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | March 2024 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | 8: foundations stable, scour above the top of the footing |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the South Carolina department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Hampton County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-95 over Pocotaligo River | 1969 | 53,000 | Fair |
| I-95 NB over S-37 | 1969 | 26,500 | Fair |
| I-95 SB over S-37 | 1969 | 26,500 | Fair |
| I-95 SB over S.c. 68 & S.c.l. RR | 1969 | 26,500 | Fair |
| I-95 NB over S.c. 68 & S.c.l. RR | 1969 | 26,000 | Fair |
| I-95 over Trib to Combahee Riv | 1969 | 26,000 | Fair |
All bridges nearby: Hampton County, SC bridge conditions · every bridge in Hampton County · South Carolina bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.