South Carolina ramps up massive road projects to tackle congestion and repair decades-old highways amid rapid population growth
South Carolina ramps up massive road projects to tackle congestion and repair decades-old highways amid rapid population growth
Justin Powell, leader of South Carolina’s Department of Transportation (SCDOT), is no stranger to groundbreaking ceremonies. With nearly seven years at the agency, Powell has witnessed a dramatic transformation in the state’s roads and infrastructure.
Thursday marked the kickoff of an $825 million project to widen a congested 10-mile stretch of Interstate 95 and replace bridges over the Savannah River at the Georgia border. The celebration took place in the air-conditioned Hardeeville welcome center, a relief from August’s summer heat.
This project is just one piece of South Carolina’s booming highway investment. From $2.7 billion spent on roads eight years ago, the agency is poised to surpass $7 billion in construction projects statewide. Among these is a $2 billion effort to improve the complicated junction where Interstates 20, 26, and 126 converge in Columbia. Additionally, plans are underway to expand 70 miles of I-26 from Charleston to Columbia and eventually reconstruct the half-loop of Interstate 526 around Charleston potentially costing up to $7 billion.
Once plagued by neglected roads almost half of the state’s 41,000 miles of pavement were in poor condition a significant portion of the network has been repaved. Meanwhile, thousands of aging bridges are nearing replacement.
South Carolina’s population has grown by 1.5 million in 25 years, shifting complaints from potholes to traffic congestion. “This is not little ol’ South Carolina anymore,” Powell remarked, highlighting the challenge of maintaining an interstate system built for a much smaller population.
The department’s troubled history includes decades of corruption and political horse-trading. But recent structural reforms and increased funding, including a 12-cent gas tax hike, have empowered Powell’s agency to restore trust and progress.
Still, critics remain. The conservative Freedom Caucus questions the agency’s spending efficiency and suggests using artificial intelligence to streamline regulations, alongside proposals to transfer road maintenance responsibilities to counties. Powell acknowledges the idea but cautions that unwinding nearly a century of state control would require time, money, and expertise.“It took us 90 years to get here,” he said. “It would probably take us that long to find our way out.”
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