The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) broke ground recently on a bridge project that would replace the I-95 bridges over Lake Marion.
The project, one of the most significant infrastructure investments in South Carolina, will replace the existing bridges over the lake, originally constructed in the 1960s. The new bridges are designed to improve safety, reliability, and mobility along the I-95 corridor. The corridor is a major artery for freight and passengers along the East Coast.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), announced the groundbreaking of the Interstate 95 bridges over Lake Marion replacement project, one of the most significant infrastructure investments in South Carolina. The project will replace the existing northbound and southbound bridges over Lake Marion, originally constructed in the 1960s, with modern structures designed to improve safety, reliability, and mobility along the I-95 corridor. This critical route serves as a major artery for freight and passenger travel along the East Coast.
“Today’s groundbreaking is a proud moment for Team South Carolina and a testament to what can be accomplished when state and federal partners work together to deliver for the people of South Carolina,” South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said on April 6. “These new bridges will strengthen one of our most important transportation corridors, improve safety for drivers, and help drive continued economic development across our state.”
The project is funded in part by $175 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration as part of the Bridge Investment Program created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The grant was officially announced on July 17, 2024, and will replace the bridge complex in Clarendon and Orangeburg counties.
“For years, we have worked to secure the resources needed to modernize this critical corridor,” U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-SC) said. “This investment will not only improve safety and reliability but also strengthen our economy by ensuring goods can move efficiently along the East Coast. I am proud to support this project and the benefits it will bring to South Carolina and beyond.”
The project will see the full replacement of both northbound and southbound structures, and improvements to the surrounding roadway approaches. Once complete the new bridges will meet current engineering standards and provide long-term durability with reduced maintenance needs.