$1.9M project set to be complete in September
The North Pacolet River bridge along Hwy. 14 just outside Landrum is being replaced.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) project budget is approximately $1.9M, which includes construction of a new bridge, roadway approaches and utilities.
The state awarded the contract to the low bidder, Saddlebrook Construction of Pickens, S.C., in October 2010. Saddlebrook’s bid was $1.5 million, which did not include roadway approaches and utilities.
The new bridge will be located approximately 40 feet from the current bridge, which will be kept intact during construction for continued traffic flow.
DOT Assistant Program Manager Jonathan Chasteen said traffic counts over the bridge were high enough for the state to decide to leave the current bridge open during construction rather than create a detour.
The current bridge was listed as being structurally deficient for future projected traffic counts.
“It’s an old bridge and nearing the end of its useful life,” Chasteen said.
During a 2007 state traffic count, 4,800 cars per day traveled over the bridge, according to state reports. Chasteen said the traffic count along that section is projected to be more than 7,000 cars per day in year 2030.
Chasteen said contractors plan to do their best to minimize disruption in traffic during construction of the new bridge. Once the new bridge is ready for traffic, the old bridge will be removed.
The project is scheduled to be completed Sept. 30, 2011.