I-85 bridges over Lake Hartwell

A South Carolina DOT official tells Senator Thomas Alexander, Oconee-Pickens Republican, that his agency and Georgia are getting ready to seek a federal planning grant to be used toward the long-term project to replace the I-85 bridges over Lake Hartwell near the Georgia border.  101.7/WGOG NEWS contacted Alexander about a rumored design that would re-direct part of I-85 on the Oconee side to an alternate route as a better cost alternative; however, SCDOT’s Ted Creech says, “SCDOT has longer-term plans to replace these bridges, but we have not begun design, engineering or other phases of preparing this project.  So, at this point we do not know what options for design or alignment might be developed.  Here’s Creech’s communication to Alexander:

Subject: I-85 Bridges Over Lake Hartwell – SCDOT

 

Senator Alexander,

 

Per our conversation yesterday, you indicated that a local radio station had inquired about the prospect of SCDOT replacing the I-85 bridges over Lake Hartwell at the Georgia border. I checked with our Engineering, Preconstruction and Grants offices, and here is an update.

 

SCDOT has longer-term plans to replace these bridges, but we have not begun design, engineering or other phases of preparing this project. So, at this point, we do not know what options for design or alignment might be developed.

 

SCDOT and Georgia DOT are preparing to submit a joint application for a USDOT planning grant under one of USDOT’s competitive grant programs. The grant application will be submitted in a few months (once USDOT establishes the grant deadline). After the application is submitted, it will then be several more months before these planning grant awards are announced.

 

If we receive a grant, we would then begin work on initial design alternatives. With a project this large in scope, multiple design options would be developed and vetted by the FHWA and other agencies. We would also conduct public meetings to receive input from citizens before moving toward a final design.

 

Ted Creech

Director – Governmental Affairs

South Carolina Department of Transportation