Reopened ahead of schedule: East Butler Road Bridge over I-385 welcomes back Mauldin drivers

Commuters and residents across Mauldin can officially ditch their detour maps. The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has officially reopened the East Butler Road bridge crossing over Interstate 385, bringing a welcomed end to a summer traffic headache.

The bridge—a vital artery connecting Mauldin’s residential neighborhoods, high school, and bustling commercial corridors—closed on June 15 for extensive deck rehabilitation and resurfacing work. SCDOT officials initially slated the project for completion around August 5–6, contingent on weather conditions.

Locals took to community forums this weekend to celebrate the early reopening, sharing news of smooth pavement and open lanes just in time for the workweek and upcoming back-to-school traffic.

A Much-Needed Face-Lift

Because crews needed to resurface the existing bridge deck safely and efficiently, SCDOT determined that carrying out the work under live traffic was unfeasible. That decision required a weeks-long full closure, routing thousands of daily drivers through detours along Woodruff Road and I-385 ramps.

The completed resurfacing is expected to extend the structural lifespan of the bridge over I-385 while delivering a smoother ride for drivers traveling between downtown Mauldin, East Butler Road businesses, and neighboring Simpsonville corridors.

Community Relief Ahead of School Rush

For area families and local business owners, the timing couldn’t be better. With local school calendars kicking into gear later this month, having Butler Road restored to full capacity clears up a major bottleneck near Mauldin High School and surrounding subdivisions.

City residents are encouraged to remain mindful of any final punch-list crews or minor striping details in the coming days as traffic patterns return to normal.