AAA: Midlands Bridges Among State's Worst

Lexington County and Richland County each had three bridges to make AAA's list of worst overpasses in the state.

Richland County has the state's worst bridge, according to the report that takes into account the bridge's safety rating as well as traffic. The Interstate 26 bridge passes over the C&L Railroad three miles northeast of Columbia.

Lexington County, meanwhile, has three of the worst five bridges:

2. I-26 bridge over Southern Railway three miles west of West Columbia

4. I-26 bridge over SC 302 two miles southwest of West Columbia

5. I-26 bridge over U.S. 1 one mile west of West Columbia

South Carolina’s gas tax is the main funding supply for the S.C. Department of Transportation and has been unchanged since 1987, according to a release from AAA.

“It's less expensive to keep bridges in good repair than it is to replace them,” said David E. Parsons, president and CEO of AAA Carolinas, said in the release.

“The state legislature needs to step up and find a way to increase the revenue streams South Carolina’s bridges and highways clearly need.”

Secretary of Transportation Robert St. Onge said in the release: "All SC open bridges are safe for use by the motoring public within whatever restrictions are posted.”