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County and town propose a scaled-down Hilton Head eastbound bridge to preserve state funding
Summary
Facing a roughly $190 million shortfall, Beaufort County and the town proposed a re-scoped eastbound bridge replacement for Hilton Head — a 3-lane bridge designed for three lanes but initially striped for two — and will seek state infrastructure-bank approval to retain $300 million in combined funding.
Jared (county staff) briefed the committee on a repackaged plan for the Hilton Head bridge project and the next steps in seeking state approval.
Jared said recent work between county and town leaders produced a joint resolution to ask the state infrastructure bank and DOT to allow a scaled-down project that preserves the available $300 million (including a $120 million DOT grant) while reducing scope. "We have a hundred and $90,000,000 shortfall," he said. To keep the existing funds intact, the county and town agreed on a redefined project: a bridge replacement for the eastbound lanes sized for three lanes but initially striped as two until future funding allows the road portion to be completed.
He described the technical intent as "build for tomorrow with funds we have today," noting the new span would be designed for a 75-year lifespan. The submission to the state infrastructure bank is pending; Jared said the county and town planned meetings with the bank and DOT and would make an official submittal. If the bank accepts the proposal and the $120 million remains available, the project would proceed under the county/town plan. If the bank rejects the plan or provides less funding, the county and town would return to their councils to decide next steps or the state might proceed with a smaller DOT-run replacement of the single failing span.
Committee members asked about timelines and the relationship to future sales-tax proposals. Jared said a repackaged plan’s goal is to be out to bid by late 2027 if the state funding path is approved. He also noted that county leaders have discussed a possible future sales-tax measure (earliest 2026) to help fund remaining corridor work and future lanes.
Ending: County staff said the next steps are a meeting with the state infrastructure bank and DOT; the committee will be updated after the bank's response to the submittal.
