COLUMBIA, S.C. — In Richland County, an 87-year-old bridge is now broken down past the point of meeting safety standards. The State Department of Transportation will replace it but roads in the area could close for an entire year.
Several community members from Cottontown and Earlwood came to a SCDOT meeting Thursday to get more information about the proposed future reconstruction of the River Drive bridge between Anthony Avenue and Beaufort Street. The bridge runs above a CSX railway line.
SCDOT says it is time for the bridge to be replaced.
"We do bridge inspection reports, and those reports show us that the bridge is aging and deteriorating," said project manager, Darren Ledbetter.
The construction of the bridge will take about one year.
While crews work to replace the bridge people who live or work in the area will have to use Sunset Drive and North Main Street instead.
The Department of Transportation says they do not have an exact cost for what it will take to replace the bridge at this point.
Once the work is done, the bridge will remain sturdy for another 75 years. Construction on the bridge is expected to begin in 2025 and is estimated to last until the following year.
SCDOT is accepting public comments about the proposed bridge project until April 21. To give a comment on the bridge replacement, call the project manager, send an email, or fill out an online form to give your thoughts.
CONTACT THE PROJECT MANAGER
- Email: LedbetterDL@scdot.org
- Mail: ATTN: Darren Ledbetter, P.O. Box 191, 955 Park Street, Columbia, SC 29201
- Call: (803) 737- 0172
- Online Form: scdotgis.online/US176RiverDrive (not compatible with Internet Explorer)