COLUMBIA, SC — Governor Henry McMaster, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, and U.S. Congressman James E. Clyburn announce the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has been awarded $175 million by the Federal Highway Administration to replace four bridges on I-95 over Lake Marion. This award is one of the largest federal discretionary grant awards ever received by SCDOT.

Graham and Clyburn led the South Carolina Congressional Delegation in securing funding for the project. In November, McMaster sent a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg supporting the delegation's efforts.

The grant will allow the four bridges, originally constructed in 1968, with narrow shoulders and roadway approaches, to be rebuilt into one bridge with two 12-foot travel lanes in both the southbound and northbound direction. The project would provide a barrier-separated bicycle and pedestrian path.

The project will also provide space for a potential future additional travel lane in each direction with a 10-foot minimum inside shoulder and a 12-foot outside shoulder in each direction.

“Today's announcement marks the beginning of a long-awaited and nationally important project that will transform this region," SCDOT Secretary of Transportation Justin P. Powell said. "SCDOT worked aggressively to make this project shovel ready, and I expect the project will be under contract next year. This bridge is a critical link in the east coast supply chain and connects the communities here with economic opportunity, education, and health care. We are making tremendous progress to advance the priorities of South Carolinians, and I look forward to delivering a project that will make our state proud.”