SCDOT crews were out on the road to assess damages and rapidly respond to storm related damages. Secretary Hall met with Orangeburg County Director of Emergency Services Billy Staley, along with officials in Orangeburg and Dorchester counties.

For about a week before August 30, the date on which Idalia made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast as a category 3 hurricane, SCDOT’s storm response teams had been watching the storm and were preparing to respond if needed. The storm moved through South Carolina, downing trees and dropping large amounts of water in some areas, but generally doing less damage to the state than other hurricanes in the past have done.

As soon as it was safe to do so after the storm moved away on Wednesday night, SCDOT began the recovery process by assessing damages and identifying areas where standing water or fallen trees would prevent traffic from driving.

Along several parts of the coast, there were localized flooding along rural roadways and aside busy highways. In some areas, heavy rains washed away asphalt, downed trees, and vehicles were found floating in the water. Despite this, crews worked efficiently to secure hazardous zones. 

As cleanup continued, Secretary Hall and other SCDOT leaders visited impacted areas and talked with SCDOT maintenance employees about recovery efforts.

While we do all we can to prepare for hurricanes and other types of severe weather, they are unpredictable. It is impossible to fully measure the impact of these storms until after they have passed. SCDOT stands united to keep South Carolina's roadway network safe and clear it as quickly as possible for traffic.

See SCDOT video footage about storm preparations:

• VIDEO: Union County Crew Prepares to Assist with Hurricane Idalia
• VIDEO: Hurricane Idalia Storm Preparations

Join us for a chat with Asphalt Materials Lab Testing Supervisor Susan Dukes Snyder. Learn what role SCDOT's Office of Materials and Research fills for the department and get a behind-the-scenes look at the testing processes for the asphalt that goes into every paving project across the state.

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You may not be thinking about snow and ice just yet—but SCDOT’s York Maintenance team is. They are making sure equipment is running correctly and training all team members so that when snow and ice threaten the safety of our roads— they’re ready to respond. 

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Tens of thousands of vehicles travel on I-95 in South Carolina every day. Let's take a look at some paving work happening now in Orangeburg County, between the interchange of I-26 and the bridge over Lake Marion. This is one project SCDOT is working on to Fix the Drive on I-95.

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What is right of way? This definition has to do with maintaining and expanding roads.

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Have you ever wondered how road signs end up at the perfect spot? Or how they remain so visible from a distance? Join us in uncovering the art and science behind how road signs are made.

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SCDOT has finished repairs to the pedestrian walkway adjacent to S.C. 6 at the Lake Murray Dam. With repairs complete, pedestrians are free to use the entire length of the walkway from both the Irmo and Lexington sides.

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Residents and visitors to the Georgetown area will soon see work starting on the U.S. 17 bridge over the Waccamaw River. Work was scheduled following a recent underwater inspection indicating repairs should be made on the four centermost piers. In addition to fixing the four piers, the project scope includes reconstructing the bridge deck and strengthening the bridge girders within the impacted area.

With U.S. 17 being a significant route for the surrounding area’s beaches and coastal communities, as well as a hurricane evacuation route, the bridge will remain open to traffic throughout the project. Between January and March 2024, traffic will be maintained with a single lane in both travel directions during bridge deck reconstruction. Work is expected to begin in fall 2023 with completion anticipated in summer 2024. Visit the project website to learn more.

Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties have seen a lot of paving over the past year. Since July of 2022, more than 120 lane miles of paving has been done across these three counties, and have scheduled more than 200 lane miles of paving contracts in the future. Check out this video for a tour of recent paving progress in the area.

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If you work at headquarters, you’ll run into Day Custodian Annie Ladson just about every day. For the past 17 years, she’s proudly worked to keep our workplace tidy and clean. On August 4, a group of coworkers arranged to give her a special surprise for her 70th birthday. Security Specialist Pam Fahy helped keep Ladson distracted while Sandra Suber of Procurement directed a group of coworkers to put out balloons, cake, ice cream, food and other treats to prepare for the noon surprise.

“Annie is hard one to trick,” Fahy said. “So I used “mostly” the truth to get her out of the building. I told her I just needed help and she was down to help.” 

Ladson’s coworkers from Building Maintenance, Corey Roberts and Darrell Williams, were busy helping with the setup.  Fahy continued, “I was keeping Corey updated by text throughout the trip. Corey and Mike Foster took the food from us when we arrived and went to the cafeteria. Annie and I went to grab some additional plates and proceed into the cafeteria like it was a normal day. Only it wasn’t a normal day, and she was surprised. To be fair, me too. I did not expect that many people but I am happy that everything worked out.” 

When she walked in the cafeteria, more than 50 employees started singing “Happy Birthday” to her. She was surprised – her coworkers had successfully kept it all secret. Also in the crowd were nine of her family members who Suber arranged to be there. Ladson was married to the late James Ladson who passed away in 1996. She has two daughters and four grandchildren.

Ladson said she loves her job at SCDOT. She retired from Allied Chemical (now doing business as Honeywell) before coming to SCDOT. She started in 2006 working through temp agency cleaning the entire building at night. In 2015, she became a full-time SCDOT employee and joined Building Maintenance as a day custodian.

Her supervisor, Facilities Maintenance Manager James Brown Jr. said, “Ms. Annie has been walking these floors for 17 years and counting. Her work speaks for itself around the building. She graciously cleans areas like the Secretary’s Office, female restrooms and the canteen. But it does not stop there. She is always willing to give a hand where needed. It has been and continues to be a pleasure having Ms. Annie working in Building Services.”

After the celebration, she said, “I like my job. I like the people I work with. I work with some great people in building maintenance and people in the building are also great. And on Friday during my birthday celebration, there was a lot of love shown. I appreciate it and thanks to everybody.” 

Pintle hooks offer CDL drivers extra support and durability while towing heavier loads. This video details how to safely connect and disconnect a Class A vehicle and a trailer. You’ll learn how to inspect the pintle hook itself and other surrounding parts, how to communicate with a designated spotter while aligning the pintle hook and trailer, how to lower the trailer, engage the landing gear, and install the safety pin. Beyond this training video, SCDOT’s Safety and Health Office can help you with questions about how to complete this task safely.

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Work continues in the town of Silverstreet in Newberry County on the new SC 34 bridge over the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks. The bridge started construction in March 2022. The bridge clearance is approximately 24 feet and it measures 185 feet long and 47 feet wide.

Due to the tight construction area for the bridge, the bridge was built in stages and traffic shifted onto new lanes on the bridge as they were finished. Likewise, the old bridge was removed as the new parts were built. 

The bridge is expected to be completed by the end of November 2023. Work is not completed, but the roadway is open in both directions. Please slow down in the work zone and look out for crews working.

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Check out this aerial view to see the Carolina Crossroads Project taking shape. This footage was taken above I-126 near Colonial Life Boulevard.  

The Carolina Crossroads project will provide a safer, more modern interchange design along the I-20/26/126 corridor near Columbia. Learn more at scdotcarolinacrossroads.com.

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SCDOT's Charlie Brown shares some information and helpful tips on filling out an application for state employment.

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Looking east on U.S. 1 in Camden, near intersection of U.S. 521, February 1953.

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Office of Public Engagement

media@scdot.org

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