I-26 over Saluda River
Lexington County, South Carolina · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- I-26 over Saluda River in Lexington 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 1959 and reconstructed in 1985, making it 66 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 91,400 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2023).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 110 of the 230 inventoried bridges in Lexington County rated fair (47.8%); 10 (4.3%) are rated poor.
- Its traffic status in the 2025 inventory is open, no restriction (NBI item 41).
- Its condition class and component ratings are unchanged from the 2024 inventory.
- Its most recent inspection on record is dated November 2023, 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 → (34.02374, -81.10362)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Superstructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
| Substructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Prestressed concrete stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 700 ft |
| Location | 4 Mi W of Cola |
| NBI structure number | 000000000003022 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | November 2023 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | 5: foundations stable, scour within the limits of the footing or piles |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the South Carolina department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Lexington County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-26 over Stoop Creek | 1960 | 143,200 | Good |
| I-26 over RR NS | 1958 | 93,100 | Fair |
| I-26 over Sc 302 | 1959 | 90,900 | Fair |
| I-20 over RR Cn&l | 1964 | 88,300 | Fair |
| I-20 over Stoop Creek | 1964 | 88,300 | Good |
| I-20 over Saluda River | 1965 | 88,300 | Fair |
All bridges nearby: Lexington County, SC bridge conditions · every bridge in Lexington County · South Carolina bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.