BRIDGES STILL FAILING, WE’RE STILL DOING NOTHING

I’m not sure why some people seem to think that man-made structures are going to magically repair themselves when they begin falling apart, but about every six months theres a new story about the fact that South Carolina bridges are on the brink of collapse. And every six months that story says we’re doing nothing to fix the problem.

Like in March when, half a year after the Minnesota bridge collapse, we were reminded by AAA that bridge safety was still a major issue in South Carolina. We did nothing.

So unsurprisingly yesterday the Associated Press noted that, of South Carolina’s 20 busiest, structurally deficient bridges, just one has seen major work in the past year. None of the rest are even scheduled for repairs. NONE!

Despite that, few media covered the story. But if you drive over these bridges, you might want to pay attention:

- I-26 over Southern Railway, 3 miles west of West Columbia, Lexington County. 85,300 average daily traffic. No work completed or future plans.

- I-26, over CN&L Railroad, 3 miles northwest of Columbia, Richland County. 83,400 average daily traffic. No work completed or future plans.

- I-26 at S.C. 642 (Dorchester Road), in North Charleston, Charleston County. 83,100 average daily traffic. No work completed or future plans.

- I-26 at U.S. 1, 1 mile west of West Columbia, Lexington County. 79,000, average daily traffic. No work completed or future plans.

- I-26 at S.C. 302 (Airport Boulevard), 2 miles southwest of West Columbia, Lexington County. 77,300, average daily traffic. No work completed or future plans.

- S.C. 171 (Folly Road) at James Island Creek, 4 miles southwest of Charleston. Charleston County. 47,100, average daily traffic. Repairs in progress.

- I-385 at I-85, northbound, 6 miles east of Greenville, Greenville County. 41,600, average daily traffic. No work completed or future plans.

- I-385 at I-85 southbound, 6 miles east of Greenville, Greenville County. 41,600, average daily traffic. No work completed or future plans.

- I-85 at Brushy Creek, southbound, 8 miles north of Williamston, Anderson County. 33,650, average daily traffic. No work completed or future plans.

- S.C. 277 at I-77, 7 miles north of Columbia, Richland County. 31,600, average daily traffic. No work completed or future plans.

- S.C. 85 at Southern Railroad and S-42-995, 3.2 miles northwest of Spartanburg, Spartanburg County. 31,600, average daily traffic. No work completed or future plans.

- S.C. 85 at S-2, 3.2 miles northwest of Spartanburg, Spartanburg County. 31,600, average daily traffic. No work completed or future plans.

- U.S. 29 at Mountain Creek, 4.5 miles southwest of Greer, Greenville County. 31,600, average daily traffic. No work completed or future plans.

- U.S. 29 at Enoree River, 4.5 miles southwest of Greer, Greenville County. 31,600, average daily traffic. No work completed or future plans.

- U.S. 76 Bypass at U.S. 521, 3 miles west of Sumter, Sumter County. 30,800 , average daily traffic. No work completed, plans for future work.

- U.S. 178 at Caw Caw Swamp, 0.5 miles north of Orangeburg, Orangeburg County. 30,300, average daily traffic. No work completed or future plans.

- U.S. 21 at Albergotti Creek, near Beaufort, Beaufort County. 30,300, average daily traffic. No work completed, plans for future work.

- I-385 at S.C. 14 and CSX Railroad, 15.1 miles northwest of Laurens, Laurens County. 29,800, average daily traffic. No work completed or future plans.

- U.S. 378 at Twelve Mile Creek, 3 miles northeast of Lexington, Lexington County. 29,700, average daily traffic. No work completed or future plans.

- U.S. 17 at Ashley River, in Charleston, Charleston County. 29,200, average daily traffic. No work completed or future plans.