Beaufort County council approves revised US‑278 bridge plan and funding amendment with SCDOT and SIB

Beaufort County Council on May 27 approved a resolution redefining the US‑278 corridor project — also called the William Hilton Parkway Gateway Corridor — to align the scope with available funding and a revised schedule.

The council’s action followed a presentation by county administration describing a reduced project scope that retains a new eastbound span (scribed for three lanes but initially configured for two), preserves the existing westbound structure for access to Pinckney Island and narrows earlier, larger proposals. County administrator Mike Moore said the total project estimate is $311,600,000 with county contribution of $101,000,000, SCDOT contribution of $90,600,000 and a $120,000,000 commitment from the State Infrastructure Bank (SIB). Moore said $13,070,000 has already been spent on the effort.

The council also passed a late amendment that clarifies how cost overruns will be shared: SCDOT will be responsible for a pro‑rata share not to exceed 29.08% of total overruns based on its $90,600,000 share of the $311,600,000 estimate; the county will provide the remainder. That amendment passed on a roll‑call vote, and the main motion as amended also passed on roll call.

Why this matters: the corridor and bridge project has been the most discussed item in Beaufort County for years. Residents and Hilton Head elected officials told council repeatedly that replacing the structurally deficient Mackay Creek span is necessary for safety but that wider corridor work and intersection fixes on Hilton Head Island must also be funded and planned. Supporters of the revised plan argued it reduces construction impacts and preserves the county’s state funding, while opponents called it a “bait and switch” that removes corridor capacity work that residents wanted funded.

Key details and timeline

- Project total estimate: $311,600,000; county: $101,000,000; SCDOT: $90,600,000; SIB: $120,000,000. Already expended: $13,070,000. - Contingency: staff said a 20% contingency is included in the estimate (roughly $62 million of the total project cost). - Design and delivery: county staff said the project would move to traditional design‑bid‑build to reduce schedule risk and that recent SCDOT design work avoided relocation of an underground water line, saving roughly $15–$20 million. - Construction schedule presented by SCDOT: construction start March 2028; projected completion around January 2031. The agreement includes deadlines tied to the SIB commitment; if the project is not completed by the agreed date, the county risks losing the SIB funds and would be obligated to repay the SIB per the bank’s standard terms.

Public comment and council concerns

Public commenters — including Hilton Head Town Council members and residents — criticized the revised scope for dropping many on‑island corridor improvements. Melinda Turner of the Hilton Head Town Council told the county, “All cost overages will be the shared responsibility of the DOT and the county, and the county will be on the hook for all the SIBs payments if the project is not completed per the timeline. This gives residents some pause as they think about who would ultimately pay the bill.”

Opponents also argued that the county should let SCDOT replace the deficient span, use the county’s previously approved local funds for on‑island corridor fixes, and avoid taking on long‑term obligations.

Supporters, including Senator Davis, said the reduced plan makes progress on both safety and resiliency, and he urged town leaders to supply a concrete island master plan so state and federal funding can be aligned with local corridor work. Senator Davis told council, “I am not saying that this bridge... is going to solve that problem. But if you develop a master plan and we put the financing in place, you can have that done concurrently.”

Council votes and motions

- Amendment (explicitly defining SCDOT responsibility for overruns at 29.08%): moved by Vice Chair Tabernick; seconded by Councilman Passamette. Roll‑call recorded votes include: Tabernick (yes), Passamette (yes), Reitz (no), Mark Lawson (yes), Glover (yes), Dawson (yes), Cunningham (yes), Brown (no), Bartholomew (yes), Chair Alice Howard (yes). The amendment passed. - Main motion (resolution authorizing the revised project and IGA changes), as amended: passed by roll call with recorded no votes from Council members Reitz and Brown and yes votes from the remaining council members.

Discussion vs. formal action

Council discussion included questions about contingency, SCDOT’s willingness to share in overruns and contract incentives or penalties for timeliness. Administration and the delegation said the SIB’s standard terms require repayment if the work is not completed by deadline and that the county’s commitment to meet schedule obligations has been public since earlier grant negotiations. The formal council actions were the amendment and the main motion recorded above.

What comes next

County staff will finalize the intergovernmental agreement and continue negotiations with SCDOT and the State Infrastructure Bank. Senator Davis and county staff indicated they will continue advocacy with state partners. The agreement retains construction responsibilities with SCDOT; staff said details on contract incentives and liquidated damages should be negotiated into the procurement documents.

Sources and attribution

Reporting is based on the May 27 Beaufort County Council meeting, presentations by County Administrator Mike Moore, statements from Senator Davis, and public comment from town officials and residents.

Ending

Council members split along cautious and forward‑moving lines but ultimately voted to accept the revised corridor plan and funding amendment. The project will move into the next design and agreement stages with SCDOT and the SIB, while on‑island corridor advocates seek a separately costed master plan and funding commitments from the town.