AAA: Midlands Bridges Among State's Worst

A Richland County bridge is rated the worst in the state for the 12th time, according to a report released by AAA this week.

The I-26 bridge that passes over C.N. and L. Railroad three miles northwest of Columbia has been number one on the list every year since 2000, except in 2009 when it was number two. About 547,400 cars pass over the bridge weekly.

Lexington County has the state's second-worst bridge, according to the report, which takes into account the bridge's safety rating as well as the amount of traffic it carries. The I-26 bridge passes over Southern Railway three miles west of West Columbia. 

Two other bridges on I-26 in Lexington County also came in near the top of AAA's list. The bridge that passes over S.C. 302 two miles southwest of West Columbia is the fourth-worst, and the one that passes over U.S. 1 one mile west of West Columbia is the fifth-worst. 

No work is scheduled for any of the Lexington County bridges on the list, according to the report.

Two other Richland County bridges made AAA's list. The U.S. 176/River Drive bridge that passes over the Broad River was number 19 on the list. It is currently under construction.

The I-126 bridge that passes over Southern Railroad was last on the list at number 20.

South Carolina has the lowest highway funding per mile in the country, with the fourth-largest state-maintained highway system, covering more than 41,000 miles, according to the report.

"Inadequate funding for road and bridge maintenance over the past decade means we still have a significant number of substandard bridges in South Carolina,” said David E. Parsons, president and CEO of AAA Carolinas. “We need to find new sources of funding for our state’s Department of Transportation.”