SCDOT Ready for Future of Transportation

At the South Carolina Transportation Forum in Columbia, transportation leaders, industry partners, and innovators from across the state are coming together to shape the future of our transportation system.

From addressing rapid population growth and rising costs to modernizing project delivery and streamlining processes, the conversations happening here reflect the work already underway at SCDOT and with the state's General Assembly.

Together, we are exploring new tools like permit reform and choice lanes, while strengthening collaboration to deliver projects more efficiently and prepare for the future of South Carolina.

SCDOT, USDOT Break Ground on I-95 Lake Marion Bridge Replacement Project

Yesterday, SCDOT, along with state and federal officials, held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction on the replacement of the I-95 bridges over Lake Marion in Clarendon County.

Speakers at the ceremony included South Carolina Secretary of Transportation Justin Powell, Governor of South Carolina Henry McMaster, U.S. Congressman James Clyburn, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Administrator Sean McMaster, who each highlighted the importance of the project and the strong partnership that made it possible.

This major infrastructure investment will enhance safety, improve traffic flow, and support regional and interstate commerce along one of the Southeast's most critical transportation corridors.

Learn more about the project and stay up-to-date on the latest updates by visiting the project website.

SCDOT, SCDPS Highlight Progress in South Carolina Roadway Safety

In a joint press conference on Friday, March 27, SCDOT and SCDPS joined forces to tout the progress both agencies have made toward roadway safety over the last year.

Traffic fatalities are down 21% since 2021, reaching the lowest level in 10 years. That means hundreds of lives saved and countless families spared. This progress is the result of safer roads, strong enforcement, and committed partnerships across our state.

SCDOT has also launched the "Be That Driver" campaign, a new statewide campaign focused on the choices we all make behind the wheel. Because safer roads only work if we all do our part.

Together, we can keep this momentum going and save even more lives.

Bridge Replacement Work Underway on US 378 Over Twelve Mile Creek in Lexington County

SCDOT has started replacing the US 378 bridge over Twelve Mile Creek in Lexington County to improve safety, modernize the structure, and accommodate future growth in the area.

The project will support increasing traffic, currently about 37,000 vehicles daily and projected to reach 47,000 by 2040, while adding pedestrian-friendly features like sidewalks and more space between traffic and walkways.

Construction is underway, with crews installing foundational elements such as steel piles and drilled shafts that will support the new bridge. To reduce disruptions, work is being done in phases, with two lanes in each direction maintained during peak travel times.

The five-lane bridge is expected to be completed by August 2027, and drivers are urged to stay alert and follow traffic changes in the work zone.

Introducing the New SCDOT Project Portal: Your One-Stop Shop for Infrastructure Updates

SCDOT creates and maintains project websites to keep the public informed, in line with our Public Involvement Policy.

Now, it’s even easier to stay up to date. We’ve launched a new online Project Portal that makes it simple to find information about projects happening across South Carolina.

This new tool replaces our old “Projects Under Development” page with a more user-friendly experience. Quickly see which projects are open for public comment, in the planning stage, or already under construction - all in one place. Projects can also be sorted by county to find projects happening near you.

Explore projects in your area today by visiting the SCDOT Project Portal.

SC 412 Bridge Replacement over Big Generostee Creek in Anderson County

With construction beginning last fall, SCDOT is transforming the SC 412 bridge over Big Generostee Creek in Anderson County into a box culvert.

The change in design came after utility partners determined that overhead lines in the area could not be relocated. As a result, SCDOT identified a box culvert as the most efficient solution for this shorter crossing.

A properly maintained concrete box culvert is designed to last more than 70 years.

The new culvert will remove a previous load restriction, allowing the roadway to accommodate all legal loads. This project is part of an ongoing effort by SCDOT to eliminate load-restricted bridges across the state.

The new box culvert is expected to be completed this summer. As work wraps up, drivers are encouraged to follow posted detour signs and use caution when traveling near the construction zone.

18 Miles of Paving Upgrades Starting Soon in Spartanburg County

As paving season approaches, drivers in the Upstate can expect to see some major improvements to routes around the Spartanburg area very soon.

A total of 18 miles of roadway will be upgraded along these seven routes: Dewberry Road (S-1009), Bud Arthur Bridge Road (S-737), Jerusalem Road (S-572), Archer Road (S-192), Foster Grove Road (S-191), Allen Bridge Road (S-118) and SC 215.

In Pauline, SC 215 carries an average of 3,000 drivers through the area each day.

SCDOT’s 2026 Pavement Improvement Program adds an additional 732 miles of paving projects statewide, which are added to the previously approved 7,700 miles of paving projects advanced since the state gas tax increase in 2017.

With data-driven project selection and continued investment, SCDOT’s Pavement Improvement Program prioritizes ride quality improvements, safety feature enhancements, and an extended lifespan of the critical routes that keep South Carolinians connected.

Crashes Drop After Rural Road Safety Improvement Project on US 521 in Lancaster County

SCDOT is seeing measurable safety improvements along U.S. 521 in Lancaster County after the completion of a Rural Road Safety Project spanning from Arrowood Avenue all the way to Walnut Creek Parkway.

Identified as one of 55 rural, non-interstate routes in need of safety upgrades, crews worked diligently to install raised pavement markings, rumble strips, improved clear zones, widened shoulders, and additional guardrails along the 12-mile corridor.

Completed in 2020 and after five years of data collection, the results show meaningful progress along this corridor:

11% reduction in fatal and serious injury crashes
80% reduction in roadway departure fatal and serious injury crashes

SCDOT continues to use data-driven, engineering-based solutions to improve safety across South Carolina’s rural road network.

Rural Road Safety Project Complete on US 701 in Georgetown County

More than nine miles of US 701, connecting Georgetown and Horry counties, recently underwent numerous rural road safety upgrades between the Plantersville community and the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge.

SCDOT installed new guardrails along the busy route, added center and edge-line rumble strips to the road, and expanded the shoulder by four feet on both sides.

These improvements were made as part of SCDOT’s Rural Road Safety Program, which has led to 30% fewer fatal and serious injury crashes around our state, while also reducing run-off-the-road crashes involving fatal and serious injuries by 54%.

Within the next year, SCDOT is on track to have improved 1,300 miles of rural roadways statewide, like this one, since the program began in 2017.

Widening Work Is Wrapping up on I-26 in Berkeley County

SCDOT is close to completing a major widening project along I-26 in Berkeley County.

By this fall, SCDOT will finish widening seven miles of the interstate, between mile markers 187 and 194, from four lanes to six lanes. It’s one piece in a much larger effort to widen all of I-26 between Charleston and Columbia.

As part of this update, SCDOT is installing some of South Carolina’s first roundabout interchanges. Located at exit 187, drivers exiting from either side of I-26 will now enter one of the roundabouts, which are designed to help alleviate congestion during busy travel times.

As part of the project, the twin bridges over the Cypress Swamp have been removed and are entering the next stage of construction. The bridges are being widened, and a new shoulder is being added to make them safer for drivers.

Restoring Smooth Travel to I-95 Southbound in Clarendon County

At the southbound crossing over Tearcoat Branch, work is now underway to fix a dip in the road near mile point 128 on I-95 southbound in Clarendon County.

The dip is caused by part of the bridge support settling over time, which made the road surface sink. Past repairs were temporary, but this project will provide a long-term solution.

Crews are installing new supports under the bridge and will carefully lift the roadway back to its original level, creating a smoother and safer ride.

To safely complete the work, traffic will be reduced to one lane in the area at times. The project is expected to be finished by the end of summer 2026. Until then, drivers should slow down, stay alert, and watch for crews in the work zone.

3 Innovators to Represent SCDOT at AASHTO AIM Innovation Showcase

On April 12, three innovators representing SCDOT will travel to Savannah, Georgia, to showcase their inventions at the third annual AASHTO Innovation Management (AIM) Innovation Showcase.

The AIM Innovation Showcase, held during the AASHTO Spring Meeting, highlights grassroots innovations from state departments of transportation and the broader transportation sector, while also providing an opportunity to discuss ongoing program initiatives.

The AIM Showcase serves as the next level for participants recognized in SCDOT’s annual Innovation Challenge, offering a national platform for employees who are developing ideas to improve safety and efficiency in public service.

This year’s showcase will feature 14 participants from across the country, including three from SCDOT:

Paul Phillips (District 5) presenting Vertical Work Zone Sign Rack innovation
Rebecca Owen (District 2) presenting Technology Integration in Field Operations innovation
Donald Mahoney (District 7) presenting Dump Truck Debris Shute innovation

SCDOT wishes Phillips, Owen, and Mahoney safe travels and the best of luck as they represent the agency on a national stage.

Two District Engineering Administrators Retire

Both Kyle and Kevin's dedication to SCDOT has made a lasting impact. Their expertise and contributions have driven tremendous progress throughout the state, leaving the roads in their communities safer for years to come.

With 28 years of service to South Carolina, Kyle Berry is retiring from SCDOT.

As a second-generation SCDOT employee, Kyle held multiple positions before serving as the DEA for District 5 in the Pee-Dee region. He started as a Resident Construction Engineer, a role from which his father, W.C. Berry, retired in Marion County.

He is active in his local community of Latta and is involved in numerous church and civic activities, which include serving as a Board of Stewards member and Sunday school teacher at Latta Southern Methodist Church. He is also the Chairperson of the Barbecue Committee for the annual Latta Pig Pickin' event.

Following his recent retirement SCDOT, Berry began a career in the private sector. Berry enjoys spending his free time with his family - his wife Crystal, and two daughters, Maddie and Hannah Lauren.

After 36 years of service to South Carolina, Kevin McLaughlin is retiring from SCDOT.

Beginning his career in the Traffic Engineering Department at Headquarters in Columbia, he moved to Greenwood County in the late 1990s to serve as the District 2 Traffic Engineer. He assumed his role as District 2 Engineering Administrator in 2012.

Kevin enjoys fishing, hiking, and trail and bike riding in his free time. He’s also very involved in his church community. Through his involvement, he helps build access ramps for people with mobility challenges. In his retirement, he is looking forward to traveling and spending more time with his family.

Over the next several issues of the Connector e-Edition, we’re taking a trip down memory lane. Specifically, we’ll be showcasing vintage photographs and graphics of Interstate 95 originally published in Carolina Highways Magazine - the predecessor to The Connector.

As SCDOT moves forward with major modern improvements to the I-95 corridor, this series will take a look back at the origins of the route. When I-95 was first built in South Carolina in the 1960s, photographers from the South Carolina State Highway Department were on the ground documenting everything from initial grading operations to the rise of bridges and interchanges.

To kick things off with this throwback series, take a look at this graphic from January 1963. It offers a glimpse into the early plans for I-95 as it was first charted through Jasper County. While the route was built largely in the same location as shown here, one notable difference is the final location of the Savannah River bridges.

In this proposed route, the bridges were originally charted to cross the river further south. Those very bridges are currently being replaced as part of I-95 Widening and Improvements Project – which is upgrading the first 10 miles of I-95 in Jasper County.