U.S. 221 over J. Strom Thurmond Dam
Oconee County, South Carolina · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- U.S. 221 over J. Strom Thurmond Dam in Oconee County, South Carolina, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the deck, rated 5 (fair condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1950, making it 75 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 1,350 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2020).
- It is one of 120 of the 215 inventoried bridges in Oconee County rated fair (55.8%); 27 (12.6%) 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 August 2024, on a 24-month routine inspection cycle.
- It has fracture-critical members (NBI item 92A): steel tension members without a redundant load path, which get their own scheduled inspections.
- 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 → (33.66111, -82.20049)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Superstructure | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Substructure | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Steel girder and floorbeam |
| Length | about 1,095 ft |
| Location | J.strom Thurmond Dam |
| NBI structure number | CEPSASGASCJST01 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | August 2024 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | 8: foundations stable, scour above the top of the footing |
| Fracture critical (item 92A) | Yes |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the South Carolina department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Oconee County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-85 NB over Hartwell Reservoir | 1961 | 25,400 | Fair |
| I-85 SB over Hartwell Reservoir | 1961 | 25,400 | Fair |
| I-85 NB over Fairplay Creek | 1961 | 23,650 | Fair |
| I-85 SB over Fairplay Creek | 1961 | 23,650 | Fair |
| US 76 over Seneca Creek | 1958 | 23,000 | Fair |
| Sc 28 over Richland Creek | 1961 | 16,300 | Good |
All bridges nearby: Oconee County, SC bridge conditions · every bridge in Oconee County · South Carolina bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.