The state Department of Transportation reported last week that repairs to state-maintained roads affected from October’s historic flooding are “ahead of schedule.”
Spokesman Robert Kudelka said Nov. 25 that state road closures are down from a peak of 541 on Oct. 5 to 69, an 87 percent increase. He said 13 of the remaining 69 road closures were expected to re-open by Thanksgiving.
But none of those 13 were in Clarendon County.
Residents got a bit of a respite the weekend before Thanksgiving when Sumter Highway in Silver reopened, but 11 state-maintained roads in Clarendon County remain closed for repairs. Three of those roads have an “undetermined” designation for an anticipated opening date, including Rainbow Lake, Gunter and Old River roads.
Gov. Richardson Road’s washout will require a full bridge replacement, which is estimated for summer 2016.
“Twenty-four highway and bridge contractors have been engaged on 10 bridge replacement or major bridge and culvert repair projects in four counties, including Clarendon,” Kudelka noted.
DOT Secretary Christy Hall said she is proud of her crews, who have put in long hours in the past eight weeks.
"The SCDOT team has shown their dedication and commitment to the people of S.C. through their hard work and perseverance," Hall said in an email.
Hall said she hoped to have a final estimate for how much damage to roads will cost sometime in December.
Clarendon County Administrator David Epperson asked Clarendon County Council in November for a $1.75 million bond resolution to resolve the county’s roads. Council held two special meetings to pass the resolution, along with the regularly scheduled monthly meeting.
