Road near Salem to close for culvert project

The Andrew Pickens Ranger District of the Sumter National Forest is announcing an upcoming road and aquatic habitat improvement project.  Partnering with the U-S Fish and Wildlife Service, crews will replace a culvert on the Cherokee Road (also known as Winding Stairs Road).  During the three-week project, Cherokee Road will be closed for thru traffic.  According to the forest service announcement, the project is aimed at eliminating the barrier that prevents fish from moving through.  The existing culvert is too small, causing the stream to blow out downstream of the road crossing and create a lip at the pipe outlet that makes it hard for aquatic species to make their way downstream.  The new structure will be bottomless and allow fish to move up and down the stream.  The new culvert also should mitigate future flooding from high-water events.