Beaufort County reviews scaled plan for US 278 bridge after referendum fails; SIB sets March 31 deadline

Beaufort County officials and local elected leaders met at a special Beaufort County Council workshop to review options for the US 278 corridor project after an updated cost estimate pushed the project beyond currently committed funding. State Senator Tom Davis outlined a scaled plan that would use roughly $300 million on hand to build a new three-lane eastbound span while keeping the existing westbound lanes in service until a later phase; the State Infrastructure Bank (SIB) has given the county until March 31 to present a funding plan or risk DOT taking limited action on the aging eastbound span.

Why it matters: The US 278 crossing is the primary road connection to Hilton Head Island. County and town leaders said the bridge’s condition affects daily commutes, emergency response and the island’s economy. Updated engineering and market data pushed the project estimate to about $488 million, creating a roughly $190 million shortfall against funds county staff say are available.

Sen. Tom Davis, speaking by phone, framed a short-term approach to fit available resources. “Given that there is not feasible for local government to come up with another $90,000,000 at this time,” Davis said, he and delegation colleagues proposed using about $250,000,000 to build a new three-lane eastbound span beginning at Moss Creek and continuing past Pinckney Island to the Windmill Harbor area, leaving the existing two-lane eastbound span in place during construction and dismantling it afterward. Davis said the three-lane build would keep…