South Carolina Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony on New 3,000ft Bridge

The South Carolina Department of Transportation celebrated and opened up the $77 million Sea Island Parkway bridge on U.S. 21 today.

Source : South Carolina Department of Transportation

April 26, 2021

Author : Patty Rodriguez

The $77 million project is the largest in the state’s 10-year Strategic Plan to replace hundreds of bridges that have become structurally deficient in the state.

Local media The Island Packet reports that the new bridge was constructed and designed by United Infrastructure Group.

The company surely had unique challenges. The outlet notes that the project for the Sea Island Parkway bridge faced “permitting, design, and construction challenges” as well as the pandemic and a hurricane. The bridge itself is 3,353 feet long and 65 feet high, according to a SCDOT press release. SCDOT Secretary Christy Hall said it’s so tall so that shrimp boats can easily pass beneath it.

According to a SCDOT page on the project, the new bridge has 12-foot wide lanes and 10-foot shoulders in each direction. Not only is the bridge vital because the Harbor River has an average daily traffic of 6,200 vehicles, but it also serves as the designated hurricane evacuation route for Beaufort County.

Despite all the challenges of this unique bridge, United Infrastructure Group was able to complete the project 60 days ahead of schedule.

Demolition on the old bridge will begin tomorrow, and you can bet that we’ll be posting videos should they become available. 

In a truly innovative and eco-friendly undertaking, the old bridge will be used as an artificial reef 55 miles off the coast to help improve the habitat of the economically important fishery. The decks may also be used for artificial reefs closer to the shore.

Category : Department of Transportation Green Construction Investment in Infrastructure Bridges

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