SCDOT receives $23.5 million federal grant for statewide bridge replacement initiative

Following an announcement from the US Department of Transportation, the South Carolina Department of Transportation announced that it has received a competitive $23.5 million Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant to replace several aging bridges across the state.

In total, 18 bridges across nine counties—Berkeley, Colleton, Darlington, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, and Williamsburg, will be replaced to improve safety for drivers. The total cost to replace the selected bridges across the state is $116,644,428.

Many of the bridges being replaced by the grant award are between 50 and 100 years old and are classified as being in poor condition. Several also have load restrictions or are currently closed, underscoring the need for replacement.

Closed and load restricted bridges limit access for drivers and reduce connectivity for the communities that depend on these routes. These conditions can also disrupt emergency response, school transportation, and commercial traffic.

“Our bridges remain a top priority in keeping our transportation system safe and reliable,” said South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster. “Working together with our federal partners, we are continuing to make important investments that benefit South Carolinians.”

The BUILD grant allows SCDOT to bring the carefully selected bridges up to more modern standards, remove local restriction postings, and build bridges that can withstand extreme weather and natural disasters.

Secretary of Transportation Justin Powell said, “SCDOT will move quickly to put these funds to use and get construction underway. We appreciate the continued investment in South Carolina from the Trump Administration and Secretary Duffy. Today’s announcement is another example of SCDOT keeping its promise to provide a safer, more reliable transportation network that connects communities and supports economic growth across South Carolina for generations to come.”

SCDOT will move forward with the bid process this fall with design and construction following in 2027. With plans for accelerated schedules, we currently anticipate these projects to be completed by the end of 2029.

SCDOT will provide updates to community members as projects get underway and will work to sequence construction and optimize traffic control coordination to minimize travel impacts. SCDOT encourages community members to stay tuned to our website for updates as these projects progress.