What's in store for 2025

In his January 2025 address, Secretary Powell discusses the agency's vision for the new year and how SCDOT leadership expects to continue progress in 2025 with Momentum 2050.

SCDOT responds to Winter Storm Cora

On Friday, December 10, Winter Storm Cora brought freezing rain, snow and ice to parts of the state.

Earlier in the week, SCDOT began preparing to respond to the impacts by pretreating the roads and getting important messages out to the public about potential roadway issues.

In addition to salting and brining the roads, crews across the state prepared materials and equipment to respond to Cora. Assistance crews mobilized and were there to help when we began to see impacts. Headquarters and district employees stood by and assisted those on the road by answering phones and providing food during the storm.

The video below shows part of the brine making process.

Thank you for keeping South Carolina safe!

All lanes of Midlands Connection open as project nears completion

The Midlands Connection Widening Project is nearing completion with all lanes open.

Drivers using I-26 now have an extra lane traveling in both directions from Exit 85 in Little Mountain to Exit 101 in Irmo. This 16-mile improvement creates more lanes and newly replaced overpass bridges, interchange improvements, and noise barriers.

Last summer, SCDOT began working to replace the Airport Road bridge over Rocky Creek in Greenwood County.

In 2022, the original bridge closed after it had been determined that it no longer met agency safety standards. Progress on the new bridge has been expeditious. Most recently, crews have been working on the foundation of the bridge.

In December, crews placed a set of beams and girders, which are key structural components for the new bridge. It is expected to be completed later this year.

Our Roads Take You Places:

SC 9, SC 56 and SC 296

SCDOT maintains SC 9, SC 296, and SC 56 in quaint Spartanburg County. While traveling through, here are three places you could visit along your way!

State's Interagency EV Working Group meets about what's next

On December 13, the state’s Interagency EV Working Group met at SCDOT to talk about NEVI program’s progress in 2024 and what’s ahead this year.

Director of Engineering Support Rob Bedenbaugh and State Permit Engineer Glen Bramlit, the minds behind SCDOT’s NEVI involvement, spoke in front of the group made up of that include the Office of Regulatory Staff, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Office of the Governor.

Building Bridges in District 4

As we enter the new year, Bridge Package 14 in District 4 is nearing completion. Five bridges were awarded contracts at the beginning of 2023, and four completed construction in 2024.

Each bridge is a closed and load-restricted secondary bridge in Cherokee County.

Jesse Hames, District 4 Special Projects Engineer, oversaw this bridge package and said it was an exciting project.

“I enjoy what I do and work with really good people. These bridges are spread across the county; none are close to each other… We’ll work to get it done.”

To most, the task of building five bridges can seem overwhelming. Hames explained that five bridges are a small number for a typical bridge package. In his career, Hames said he has helped complete 16 bridges for one package.

A bridge package allows SCDOT to fulfill multiple needs simultaneously for various bridges around a particular area.

Hames, who has worked at SCDOT for the last decade, said this bridge package gave him a chance to serve the community that raised him.

“It's just a definite sense of pride,” Hames said. “I'm very blessed that I get to manage contracts in District Four. I was born and raised in Cherokee County, and it's not like I relocated to take this job. I take a lot of pride in improving the infrastructure in my hometown.”

Work is still underway on Hammett Grove Road, but the other bridges on the list are complete, and Hames said the project will add a sixth bridge in the new year. The sixth bridge on North Gate Road in Cherokee County is anticipated to be repaired by Fall 2025.

New roundabout helps make Lee County safer

The former intersection of US 401 and SC 341 was found to be an area of frequent crashes. SCDOT crews were able to build a roundabout with several features to make this area safer for everyone traveling through. Take a look at the new and improved intersection.

The Road to Success: How this Asst. Shop Foreman is shaping his career at SCDOT

Terrell Dugar recently earned his Bachelors of the Arts in Mechanical Engineering degree from E.C.P.I University, while working full-time as an assistant shop foreman.

This was a journey that required dedication and careful time management as he completed the requirements in just two and a half years. With nearly eight years at SCDOT, Terrell balanced his professional responsibilities with academic demands by prioritizing his time, setting clear goals, and maintaining a structured schedule.

His passion for problem-solving and innovation inspired him to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering, a field he describes as the ideal blend of creativity and technical expertise. Terrell’s daughters were his primary motivation, as he wanted to demonstrate the value of perseverance.

“I wanted to show them the value of hard work and dedication,” said Terrell.

Throughout his journey, Terrell was supported by an incredible group of colleagues and mentors who played pivotal roles in his success.

“Thomas Breland, our RME, always pushed me to stay focused and supported my goads and what I wanted to achieve," said Terrell. "Ryan Keitt, our ARME, instilled a 'never quit' attitude that reflected in my coursework, especially during difficult periods juggling life, work, and school."

"My Foreman, Jamison Canady, ensured I had the allotted time to complete my coursework while adhering to company policies, making the journey so much better," said Terrell. "Teena Sisco also pushed me to never let any situation hinder my goal.”

Terrell credits his role at SCDOT with deepening his practical understanding of Mechanical Engineering. He explained his degree helps particularly in troubleshooting, vehicle maintenance, and applying engineering principles to real-world challenges.

Terrell views graduating as a stepping stone to advancing his career at SCDOT, where he hopes to implement innovative solutions and improve infrastructure. Passionate about road design and interstate systems, Terrell aims to contribute to safer and more efficient transportation networks that positively impact communities.

Reflecting on his journey, he considers balancing full-time work and education his greatest accomplishment, and a testament to his resilience and commitment. Terrell's advice to others is:

"Stay organized, communicate openly, and don’t forget self-care," he says. "The journey is demanding, but the rewards are worth it.”

On S-33 (Ascauga Lake Rd) at Breezy Hill Baptist Church – Breezy Hill Baptist Church has expressed their thanks for new crosswalk flashers and pedestrian buttons installed to help during church hours, during weekly school home-schooling activities, and special church events throughout the year. The church leadership holds the safety of their members, visitors, and children with the utmost importance. SCDOT staff met with the pastor and church security to discuss their concerns and understand what would best accommodate their needs. The church staff now says they are happy with the extra visibility the new lights added to the crossing.

SC 302 (E Pine Log Rd) & S-79 (Banks Mill Rd) – This location needed a left turn-protected arrow for southbound E Pine Log Rd. The city did a traffic study and determined this need. SCDOT crews installed the protected left turn signal. Even before installing the new light, the Aiken County SCDOT Maintenance Office received many thankful phone calls.

Adopt-A-Family 2024: Another Merry Success

Each year, SCDOT employees support one another by donating gifts to those struggling around the holidays. The 2024 Christmas season was no different. SCDOT staff was able to serve 34 families, purchase over 680 gifts, and raise over $6,500.

Thank you for helping!