From Storm to Strength: South Carolina’s Transportation Recovery after Hurricane Helene | | |
At Jones Gap State Park in Greenville County, SCDOT marked the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene by celebrating the reopening of a bridge damaged during the storm. When Helene struck on September 26, 2024, it caused widespread destruction across South Carolina and neighboring states, washing out roads, collapsing bridges, and isolating communities.
The event highlighted both the scale of Helene’s impact and the resilience of South Carolina’s recovery. SCDOT emphasized the dedication of its workforce, the importance of partnerships, and the state’s commitment to building stronger, safer infrastructure for the future.
| | Changes Coming to Manning Avenue Bridge in Sumter County | | |
For more than 80 years, the Manning Avenue bridge in downtown Sumter has connected communities and carried countless travelers. Now, SCDOT is preparing for the next chapter. Plans are underway to carefully replace the bridge, preserving its history while ensuring it meets today’s safety and mobility needs.
SCDOT plans to maintain the Art Deco features of the Manning Avenue bridge while also adding additional pedestrian safety features and lighting. Utility work will begin in 2026, and he bridge is expected to be completed in 2028.
| | Engaging With Local Communities Statewide Through SCDOT Speaks | | |
Through SCDOT Speaks, representatives from the agency travel statewide to talk with local communities about current road projects and initiatives, fostering impactful dialogue between SCDOT and community members affected by these developments. Public Outreach Manager Adriane Radeker tells us more about how the program works and the ways she engages with communities statewide.
If you would like to request a speaker to come to your local event, please fill out the speaker request form.
| | Upstate Bridge Update: Dill Road over Middle Tyger River | | In Greenville, SCDOT has just completed the new bridge on Dill Road over the Middle Tyger River, one of several bridges replaced in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Work officially commenced in February and took just under seven months to complete. Its completion is essential to the continued recovery of the state, keeping communities of all sizes connected. | | Giving SC the Green Light: A Closer Look at Traffic Signals with SCDOT
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SCDOT maintains thousands of traffic signals across the state to keep drivers and pedestrians moving safely. Colby Hall, District 4 Signal Shop Supervisor, is one of many who help make sure those signals are working properly.
Each day, Hall checks the state’s Central Management System for any flagged issues, then heads out to service signals in the field. For him, it’s more than just maintenance, it’s about making a difference.
While SCDOT doesn’t maintain every signal in South Carolina, Hall and his team take pride in the ones they do, because every working signal means safer, smoother travel.
| | New Multi-Use Path and Roundabout Shine in Murrells Inlet | | |
In Murrells Inlet, two new infrastructure projects, a roundabout and a multi-use path, are nearing completion.
The roundabout, located at the intersection of Old Kings Hwy. and Riverwood Dr., was constructed to enhance safety and reduce crash frequency at what was previously a traditional four-way intersection with two-way stop control. Construction on the roundabout began on June 24, 2024, and reached substantial completion at the end of July 2025.
Roundabouts are becoming more frequent across South Carolina and their effectiveness is proven. They’ve been found to reduce total crashes by 35 percent, injury crashes by 75 percent, and fatal crashes by 90 percent. In South Carolina specifically, based upon an evaluation of 12 single-lane roundabouts in use since 2011, fatal crashes were reduced by 100 percent.
The multi-use path, which connects to the roundabout, also reached substantial completion at the end of July 2025. It aims to improve connectivity in the area via alternative modes of transportation by connecting several residential areas to the East Coast Greenway, the Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk, and various local businesses.
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Road Improvements in Jasper County:
See What’s Complete and What’s Coming Next
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SCDOT is making big progress in Jasper County to improve safety and travel.
The US 17 widening project near the Georgia border is set to finish in Summer 2026, expanding the road to four lanes with a grass median and bike path. Paving on SC 170 is nearly complete, adding more room for drivers, while safety upgrades on US 321 between Tillman and Hardeeville include wider lanes, rumble strips, and new guardrails. This past May, the US 278 bridge over Beaverdam Creek was replaced after storm damage, restoring a key route for local drivers.
| | SCDOT's Mr. RoadEO is Retiring After 40 Years | | After more than 40 years of service, Sam Riddle is retiring from SCDOT. Known to many as the heart of the Equipment Operators’ RoadEO, Sam has dedicated decades to supporting his colleagues and ensuring this signature event runs smoothly. He and his wife, Anna, are now beginning their next chapter, and we thank Sam for his commitment, hard work, and the countless memories he has helped create at SCDOT. | | SCDOT Awarded Project of The Year by the American Society of Civil Engineers | | |
Last month, SCDOT received the American Society of Civil Engineers – South Carolina (ASCE-SC) Project of the Year award for the Harden Street Vulnerable Road User Corridor Safety Project that was completed in June 2025.
This award recognizes an important safety improvement in the downtown Columbia area. This section of Harden Street is heavily traveled by both pedestrians and drivers alike. A traffic study identified the corridor as a high-crash area that posed a significant risk to the community, but through the improvement project, it has transformed into a safer area that is more accessible for all road users.
Through a coordinated partnership between SCDOT and the City of Columbia, the agencies implemented multiple safety enhancements beginning in March 2024. The improvements include raised medians, upgraded crosswalk signals with enhanced visibility and audio features, and revised parking and access throughout the corridor to encourage safer travel behavior in locations where crashes were more likely. A road diet was also conducted to calm traffic and provide a shorter crossing distance for pedestrians.
The Harden Street project demonstrates how state and local partnerships can successfully prioritize road user safety while supporting community needs and local economic activity. It exemplifies the importance of community input and how data-driven solutions can support the successful completion and impact of a road safety project.
| | A Recap of the 2025 SCDOT Innovation Showcase | | |
SCDOT’s 2025 Innovation Showcase brought together employees from across the state to share tools and ideas that make our work safer, smarter, and more efficient.
From simple fixes to big solutions, these innovations are helping shape the future of transportation in South Carolina.
| | In South Carolina, there is a touch of history everywhere, including Hearon Circle right along Highway 56 in Spartanburg County. Completed in the 1950s, the circle is named after Charles O. Hearon, a member of the first State Highway Commission and a pioneering figure in highway development. This fascinating intersection remains a well-traveled corridor that helps keep communities and businesses throughout the Upstate connected. | | |
Transverse rumble strips play a big role in roadway safety. As vehicles drive over them, the strips create vibration and sound that alert drivers to slow down, pay attention, and prepare for upcoming changes in traffic conditions.
By providing drivers with a clear, physical reminder to reduce speed and stay alert, especially near high-risk areas like active work zones, transverse rumble strips help prevent crashes and improve safety for everyone on the road.
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SCDOT placed fourth overall in the 2025 Southeastern Regional Equipment Operators Training Conference and RoadEO. The year’s conference and competition was held in Lexington, Kentucky, where equipment operators from 13 southeastern state DOTs competed across seven events.
Pictured above: Jonathan Goodding, Andrew Baust, Jacob Craatz, Lance Atkins, Nathan Lance, Jake Pagels, Scotty Anderson, Rusty Smith, John Davis, Tyler Stewart, Jeremy Etters, Brandon Varnadore, Tommy Johnson and Jeremy Shrewsberry.
Individually, Tyler Stewart placed 3rd in the Tractor Truck with Lowboy Trailer event, Jeremy Shrewsberry placed 3rd in the Tandem Axle Dump Truck event, Brandon Varnadore placed 2nd in the Single Axle Dump Truck event, and Jeremy Etters placed 2nd in the Backhoe event.
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