Julie McCombs
It's taken nearly the entire school year, Aug. 9 - May 22, for the Memorial Drive Extension bridge to be repaired.
Julie McCombs
A 10-foot concrete culvert was built to strengthen the infrastructure at the Memorial Drive Extension bridge that collapsed last Aug. 9.
The bridge that was washed out near Tryon Street is open. The project took more than nine months to repair, almost the entire school year, when heavy rains that flooded Frohawk Creek on the night of Aug. 9.
The bridge served as a main thoroughfare for parents taking their children to Chandler Creek Elementary School.
Greer Commission of Public Works announced Monday, at its monthly commissioners meeting, the bridge had reopened. The Greer utility replaced a natural gas pipeline that was exposed by the erosion during the bridge collapse and flood.
A 10-foot concrete culvert beneath the highway was constructed by the South Carolina Department of Transportation. A 96-inch drainage pipe collapsed the night of the flooding. A bed of rocks on each side of the bridge has been added to help prevent a re-occurrence of the rapidly flowing waters last summer.
Two vehicles fell into the hole while attempting to cross the washed out road. Two people were injured and the gas pipeline was exposed.
A city fireman also had to be rescued when he was swept downstream during the rescue attempt.
Another vehicle entered the washout on Nov. 3 when high winds blew the safety cones and caution tape away. No injuries were reported and no further damage to the pipeline occurred.
Three delays, caused by more heavy rain during construction, pushed the completion date back three times. It was completed last Friday.