The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) Commission has approved updates to the state’s bridge program, directing an additional $200 million to advance bridge development statewide.
The funding comes from the state as lawmakers approved a one-time boost for the state’s growing list of bridge repair, renovation and replacement projects. The funding will contribute to SCDOT’s goal of 530 completed bridge projects over the next ten years.
The agency will use the money to advance priority projects, supplementing the bridge program’s current budget of $239 million. The additional funding won’t be able to cover all projects included in the program but will enable the department to progress the most critical projects.
The injection of funding will enable SCDOT to accelerate replacement or repair on 119 bridge projects across the state. Out of those initiatives, 109 are already underway.
Currently, the program has 416 bridge projects either completed or underway. An additional 114 are outlined in SCDOT’s 10-year transportation plan for future construction. The department has set a goal of completing and updating 530 bridge structures over the next decade.
The department is now seeking public feedback on amending the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) to incorporate additional bridge projects along interstate, primary and secondary routes. These efforts will focus on preserving, repairing and replacing listed bridges.
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