Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the US 278 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
US 278 widening planned from I‑95 to county line; bridges may be widened rather than replaced
Summary
ICE told the board US 278 will be widened in phases from I‑95 to the county line near USCB and Palmetto Electric. SCDOT bridge inspections indicate the roughly 30‑year‑old concrete-girder bridges may be widened instead of replaced, which would reduce cost and schedule risk.
Consultants said the US 278 widening will run from I‑95 (Exit 8) to the county line near the USCB driveway and the Palmetto Electric facility, and that the work is being planned in phases to coordinate with nearby municipal projects.
"The bridges are about 30 years old…and he said they're fine enough that he thinks…and he'll have to get the okeydoke from headquarters in Columbia, but they can be widened instead of replaced," Jeff Buckalew said, summarizing the SCDOT district bridge engineer’s assessment. Buckalew said staying with widening where feasible would materially lower costs and speed construction compared with full replacement.
He described coordination with the City of Hardeeville, which has an existing developer-funded improvement at John Smith Road and is amending that contract (Stantec is the engineer) to extend design toward I‑95. ICE said right-of-way, utilities and environmental permitting remain the main cost and schedule risks for US 278 phases.
