SCDOT Making Major Progress on Interstate Projects Across the State

SCDOT is advancing projects across our interstate system to reduce congestion, improve roadway conditions, and enhance safety.

Serving as one of the nation's busiest corridors, several critical improvement projects are happening statewide along I-95.

The I-95 bridges over Lake Marion replacement project is underway after a groundbreaking with USDOT.
Widening I-95 from four lanes to six, starting at the Georgia state line in Jasper County, is under construction.
And a new system to system interchange is being constructed at the I-26 / I-95 interchange in Orangeburg and Dorchester counties to accommodate future growth.

Across the Midlands, progress continues on the Carolina Crossroads project in Columbia, the Scout interchange in Blythewood, and overnight resurfacing efforts on I-26 and I-85 in the Upstate.

As SCDOT continues to anticipate unprecedented growth in our state, projects like these reflect our continued commitment to building safer, more efficient roadways.

Crews Make Significant Progress on the Leesburg Road Widening Project in Richland County

Bordering Fort Jackson, the 4.5-mile-long Leesburg Road Widening Project in Richland County is designed to increase capacity and safety for both motorists and pedestrians.

To keep up with increasing demand, the road is being widened from two to four travel lanes, with a paved center median. Nearly 25,000 vehicles travel on Leesburg Road, near Garner’s Ferry Road, every day.

Along with increasing travel lane capacity, a new bridge and retaining wall are being built, as well as new sidewalks. This project is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

A Smoother Ride Coming to Two Upstate Interstates

Drivers traveling through Newberry, Laurens, and Anderson Counties may notice active construction along I-26 and I-85 as crews work to complete interstate preservation and rehabilitation work.

Most of the preservation work is happening overnight, with crews currently working on I-26 westbound in Laurens County to mill off the existing pavement surface and apply a new final layer of asphalt. The same type of work is happening in the lower part of Anderson County on I-85. In Newberry County, crews are currently working on an interstate rehabilitation project on I-26. This is a more extensive process, which includes replacing up to 10 inches of asphalt.

The interstate preservation projects in Laurens and Anderson Counties are expected to be completed in the fall, while work in Newberry County is anticipated to wrap up later this summer. The Powdersville-area project that has not started yet is scheduled for completion in 2027.

All Hurricane Helene Emergency Bridge Replacements Complete in the Upstate

SCDOT has completed the replacement of four bridges in the Upstate that were damaged by Hurricane Helene storms, officially completing all of the emergency bridge replacements in Greenville and Spartanburg Counties.

In the aftermath of the storm, SCDOT engineers assessed bridges across the state and identified 10 that required emergency replacement, including four in Greenville County and one in Spartanburg County.

To streamline the process and get these bridges rebuilt as quickly as possible, four of them in Greenville and Spartanburg were grouped into a single bridge package, which means all the projects go on one contract, so work can happen simultaneously to minimize disruptions for drivers.

As of April, SCDOT has completed construction on three bridges in Greenville County on South Hudson Street at Unity Park, West Washington Street along the Swamp Rabbit Trail, and the pedestrian bridge at Jones Gap State Park, as well as one bridge in Spartanburg County on New Cut Road.

Each of these bridges is a vital part of the communities they serve, helping people travel safely every day. Together, they also stand as a strong example of our beautiful state’s resilience, coordination, and ability to recover.

Crews in York County Working Diligently on Zinkler Road Bridge Replacement

York County residents and commuters alike will soon have a new bridge along Zinker Road over Fishing Creek Tributary, thanks to SCDOT's commitment to address South Carolina's aging bridges.

Construction on the new bridge began earlier this spring and will replace the previously load-restricted bridge. The former, 60-year-old bridge was held up with timber piles, which are now being replaced with steel beams to make for a stronger structure.

While the area is rural and residential, with only 1,600 vehicles traveling the route each day, bridge replacements like this one are important to keep South Carolina's road network strong and durable statewide.

A Major Intersection Improvement Underway in Greeleyville in Williamsburg County

Beyond city limits, SCDOT is working to make a small-town intersection safer for all residents.

In Williamsburg County, we are working with our partners to make significant safety improvements to the intersection of Easler Highway (S-45), Holliman Road (S-80), and Old Greeleyville Road (S-593).

Holliman Road will be relocated eastbound to tie into Old Greeleyville Road. This will improve safety within the intersection, encouraging drivers to navigate the intersection with more caution. Additionally, sidewalks for pedestrians will be installed as part of the project to ensure that the intersection can be used by all travelers.

The project is expected to be completed later this year.

US 321 in Hampton County Receiving Upgrades Thanks to the Rural Road Safety Program

By this summer, SCDOT will have finished upgrading 10 miles along US 321 between the town of Estill and the Jasper County line. The project involved repaving the highway, widening the shoulders, and installing rumble strips to the center and edges of the road. Crews have also completed 8-inch full-depth patching to US 321, which has allowed damaged sections of the highway to be removed and repaired.

As a part of SCDOT's "Rural Road Safety Program," projects like this one have already led to a 30% reduction in fatal and serious injury crashes statewide, as well as a 54% drop in the number of fatal and serious injury crashes involving roadway departures.

By 2027, SCDOT is on track to have improved 1,300 miles of rural roads in the state.

Major Progress Happening on Interstate Widening on I-95 in Jasper County

SCDOT contractors are in the middle of a major project to widen the initial 8-mile stretch of I-95 as travelers enter South Carolina from Georgia. Crews are expanding the interstate from four to six lanes and replacing most of the major bridges within the limits of this project, including the bridge over the Savannah River.

Currently, crews are working mostly within the median of I-95 while working to widen the road. Work has already been completed to shift traffic away from the median so crews can safely begin expanding bridges and creating new inside travel lanes. Later this year, traffic shifts toward the median are expected to take place so that crews can continue bridge expansion while creating new outside travel lanes.

Crews have already demolished the John Smith Road bridge over I-95, located just south of the exit onto US 278. The bridge is expected to be replaced over the course of the next nine months. The project is expected to be finished by the fall of 2030.

SCDOT Engineers to be Recognized With Prestigious ACEC Award for New I-26 Bridge over Lake Bowen in Spartanburg County

SCDOT engineers are being recognized for their quick thinking and resourcefulness in restoring the I-26 bridge over Lake Bowen in Spartanburg County. After inspectors found rapidly worsening cracks, the team acted fast to prevent a shutdown impacting 30,000 daily drivers.

Instead of closing the interstate, engineers used innovative techniques like post-tensioning to strengthen the bridge while keeping traffic moving and prepared a nearby SC 9 bridge as a backup route.

The repairs extended the bridge’s life by more than 20 years, improved safety, and removed weight restrictions, delivering lasting benefits for the community.

Please join us in congratulating the team that worked to make this emergency repair successful.

In the winter of 1966, crews set out on barges in the freezing Lake Marion waters to begin constructing the I-95 bridges that cross over the water. Recently, SCDOT hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to begin the bridge replacement project.