Maintenance: A Day in the Life

Take a look at a “day in the life” with SCDOT maintenance operations by spending some time with Operations Engineer Andy Rowe. Based in SCDOT’s Richland County Maintenance Office, Rowe takes us through his daily routine, talks teamwork, and more.

Summer Travel Tips

If you're headed on a summer road trip, it’s important to make sure your vehicle is ready, pack the right supplies, and plan your route. Check out our tips for summer travel essentials for before, during, and after you hit the road. Please travel safely, especially near construction zones. Have a great drive!

Click here for the video.

Hurricane Season Readiness

On June 8, 2023, SCDOT employees across the state participated in the annual hurricane lane reversal drill. The drill is a rehearsal for SCDOT and SCDPS employees to coordinate procedures in case a hurricane requires an evacuation of coastal areas.

Be Hurricane Season Ready

At the start of each hurricane season, SCDOT gets ready by participating in state emergency planning exercises, taking part in an annual lane reversal drill, and brushing up on emergency plans.

You can be ready for hurricane season, too. Taking some simple steps now can make it easier to keep you and your family safe should a storm should come our way. Here are some tips for how to prepare:

Review evacuation information for your area. This can be found in the South Carolina Hurricane Guide, updated each year by SCEMD.

Make a plan in advance for where to go during an evacuation. Keep in mind specific needs for children, pets, and loved ones with medical conditions.

Keep up-to-date with weather through local news channels and official weather sources such as the National Hurricane Center.

Create an emergency supply kit like this one from the National Weather Service, which includes drinking water, medication, flashlights, batteries, and more. Store the kit in a plastic bin or duffel bag for easy handling.

Consider in advance where to store or secure loose items, such as sporting equipment and outdoor furniture, to prevent damage to your home in case of a storm.

In the event of an actual storm, stay tuned to SCDOT’s press releases and social media channels for information about road conditions and more.

Painting Season is Underway!

You may start seeing shiny new lines on the roads you drive on. That's because it's painting season. This video explains what goes into painting and why crews are more active during the warmer months. Watch the video here.

Do you know your road signs?

Traffic signs are meant to help ease the driver into what they are seeing. Color coordinating makes it easier to identify for the driver, and helps with remembering their meaning. Shapes can also classify road signs:

Octagon: illustrates a STOP sign

Pentagon: demonstrates a school sign

Horizontal Rectangle: represents information or direction

Vertical Rectangle: posts regulations

Diamond: recognizes a warning

Circle: shows a railway crossing

Pennant: warns you of a no passing zone

Highway hypnosis, fatigue and routinely driving familiar roads are just a few of the many reasons that drivers can miss the presence of a traffic sign. Even the most experienced drivers make this critical mistake. It is very important that every driver familiarizes themselves with the shape, color and meaning of each sign, and makes a habit of anticipating and recognizing when they are in sight.

Think you know your traffic sign colors? Take this quiz and find out!

District 7 Paving Projects

Take a look at some of the paving projects going on in District 7.

Crews were paving Braugh Street in Orangeburg on Tuesday, June 27, 2023.

Broughton Street in downtown Orangeburg is being paved at night to avoid interrupting daytime traffic through town.

A section of U.S. 21 (Columbia Road) in Orangeburg has recently been repaved north of Chestnut Street.

Repairing the Socastee Swing Bridge

On June 12, SCDOT was notified of damage on the historic Socastee Swing Bridge in Horry County. Crews worked to repair the damaged portion so the bridge could be reopened.

Click here to see the video.

District 2 crew build wheel chair ramp for SCDOT safety officer recovering from open-heart surgery

Bob Collins, an OSHA Safety Officer in Saluda County, is known by those he works with as a gentle giant who enjoys riding his motorcycle and is caring toward his coworkers.

Unfortunately, Bob recently underwent open-heart surgery and his condition was touch and go. But if anyone doubted just how much his coworkers admired and cared for him, there’s no doubt now.

An email was sent out on June 14 asking for volunteers to help build Bob a wheelchair ramp for his house so that his recovery might go smoother and on June 17, in just three hours, Bob’s coworkers, with help from Joseph Ministry, mowed grass, weed-eated and built a wheelchair ramp for his home.

“I can tell with a whole heart that everybody there walked away feeling humbled that we were able to help one of our own,” said John Timmerman, ARME, Greenwood Maintenance.

Bob’s condition has gotten better in the meantime and we’re excited to share that he’s on the road to recovery.

“Bob has always been willing to assist, volunteer, and lead by example,” said Phil Unrue from District 2 Safety. “Care and concern for his employees in Saluda and Newberry Counties as well as SCDOT as a whole are paramount and does not go unnoticed.”

Bob’s coworkers say he is sorely missed and they look forward to seeing him recover and come back to work once his rehabilitation is done.

The SCDOT team wishes Bob a speedy recovery!

Artificial Intelligence used for traffic counting at SCDOT

Recently, you may have heard a lot about artificial intelligence (AI). Did you know that SCDOT is using this technology for traffic counting?

Next time you’re driving you may see a device, like the one pictured, on the roadside. It’s an AI camera that counts traffic and collects data about the vehicles on SC’s roads.

In April, nine AI cameras were placed and are now being used to help collect that data. These cameras collect three things: vehicle classification, volume and speed. The nine AI cameras currently in use are “learning sites” that allowed the cameras to learn the 13 different FHWA vehicle classification categories before data was presented for SCDOT usage.

The camera snaps a photo of the vehicle so that the classification can be verified. Vehicle classification is a federal requirement that must be collected.

What else is that data used for?

SCDOT uses traffic data in many ways including planning, construction and maintenance, hurricane/disaster reporting and submission to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) which determines appointment of federal funds to the state, to name a few.

Now, additional Classification AI cameras are being installed and are projected to be online sometime in July.

These cameras are used in addition to traditional traffic counters with (i.e. cables on top of the roadways [temporary counters] or installed in the pavement [permanent counters] that track the amount of cars that drive over them.) Some locations are not suitable for in-ground sensors which can deteriorate over time and be damaged during construction projects. The AI cameras are able to collect the data without having to be installed in the ground.

Then and now: Here are two looks at the intersection of U.S. 176 and U.S. 601 in

St. Matthews – the first from November 1953 and the second from May 2022.

Recipe of the Month

SCDOT Graphic Designer Zoe Cook has a recipe that is perfect for summer. Try out her Fizzy Cherry Limeade Mocktail for a fresh and bubbly treat to keep you cool!

Click here to see the recipe.

Want to share a recipe with us? Send us an email!