COLUMBIA, S.C. — Residents and motorists who use River Drive to commute to and from work should be aware that South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is holding a public information meeting 5-7 p.m. Thursday, April 6, on the upcoming temporary closure of River Drive so that the bridge over the CSX Railroad line can be replaced.
The meeting, held at the Earlewood Park Community Center, 1113 Recreation Dr., will be a drop-in meeting with displays for viewing and an opportunity for citizens to provide written comments. There will be no formal presentation at the meeting.
SCDOT proposes replacing the bridge because it has been deemed to have structural deficiencies. The bridge was constructed in 1936. The project would include replacing the existing bridge structure and constructing the roadway to meet current design and safety standards.
During this replacement process while River Drive would be closed, traffic would be diverted along North Main Street and Sunset Drive. Residents in the Earlewood, Eau Claire and surrounding neighborhoods may be impacted by the detoured traffic.
SCDOT anticipates right-of-way acquisitions to be completed in 2024 with construction beginning in 2025. The project should take 12 months to complete.
