USDOT awards $175 million contract to replace older I-95 bridges in South Carolina

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded a $175 million federal grant to the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) to replace aging infrastructure along Interstate 95 over Lake Marion. Funded through the Bridge Investment Program (BIP), the project aims to replace four 55-year-old bridges that connect Clarendon and Orangeburg Counties.

The I-95 corridor serves as a critical freight and travel route along the East Coast, carrying approximately 39,000 vehicles per day. However, the existing bridges have come under scrutiny over safety with narrow shoulders and outdated roadway approaches contributing to congestion.

The Lake Marion Bridge Replacement Project will deliver a structure designed to handle growing transportation needs. The new bridge will include three lanes in each direction, with future capacity to expand to four lanes. The project marks the first federal grant agreement under the current administration implementation of the BIP.