PICKENS — Two bridges over the Saluda River and another over the Tyger River have been identified as needing repair or replacement to keep serving their daily drivers — but the fixes come with a cost to drivers.
The three bridges are in Greenville County, but the S.C. Department of Transportation is hosting its public information meeting on May 2 in Pickens because most of the commuter routes will affect drivers in northern Pickens County.
The meeting is focused on the bridge over the South Saluda River on S.C. Highway 288 — about halfway between Pumpkintown and Marietta — that will require a 15.3-mile detour.
The detour goes north to S.C. Highway 276 and south through Cleveland and should last about one week, according to SCDOT. These repairs should begin in 2025 and take around three months to complete.
Bridge repairs on U.S. Highway 276 over the Middle Saluda River — north of Marietta near the intersection with S.C. Highway 11 — will not require a detour. Its construction date is still to be determined.
The Mays Bridge Road bridge over the South Tyger River that is already closed and has a detour in place is also on the list for expected repair. It will remain closed with its 4-mile detour until the bridge is completed.
The May 2 meeting will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on May 2 at Oolenoy Baptist Church at 201 Miracle Hill Road. It is a drop-in style, and no formal presentation will be given, though SCDOT representatives will be available to provide additional information on detour routes and projected timelines.
These repairs are part of SCDOT’s statewide bridge repair program that aims to preserve and extend the life of each bridge. It also reduces the number of load-restricted bridges, thus improving mobility in the region.
The public comment period on these three projects ends May 17.
