Jim Fair
A 10-foot concrete culvert is replacing the 96-inch drainage pipe, left, that collapsed last August.
Jim Fair
Once the culvert is finished fill-in dirt will prepare the road for asphalt.
Traffic has been re-routed since the bridge collapse last August. The bridge is scheduled to be open to traffic in late May or early June.
Weather and construction delays will push the completion of the project, near the intersection of Chandler and Taylor Road, into late May and possibly June. A mid-April finish was previously announced.
Traffic to Chandler Creek Elementary has been rerouted throughout the school year.
The bridge, over Frohawk Creek, was washed out last August when a 96-inch drainage pipe collapsed and a gas line was exposed during a torrential rain. Two people in a wedding party were injured when their vehicles fell into the hole during the collapse.
Heavy rains, which caused streams to overflow, have hindered workers finishing the 10-foot concrete culvert beneath the highway, according to Brandon Wilson, district assistant maintenance engineer of the S.C. Department of Transportation.
“It’s not any one stream that is causing the flooding,” Wilson said. “There’s been a lot of construction on Wade Hampton Boulevard and the water needs somewhere to go. The last big rain we had in Greer (April 19) the water came up halfway to the culvert.”
On at least two occasions, worker’s tools were washed downstream, as far as a mile. And construction equipment was reportedly stolen, according to a worker who asked not to be identified since he wasn’t allowed to speak for his company.
Greer CPW completed its work last month of installing a 12-inch sewer line to replace the former 8-foot line. Once construction is completed CPW will attach a water line, said Matthew Brady, CPW spokesperson.
One the culvert is finished backfill dirt will be hauled in, the road will need asphalt and striping and new guardrails will be installed.