13.9.19

Palmetto Conservation Update on US 15/301 Bridge Over Lake Marion

Palmetto Conservation Foundation  provided this update via Facebook on September 12, 2019. Good News!
For South Carolina citizens, especially those living in Clarendon and Orangeburg counties near the towns of Santee and Summerton, we would like to inform you that the SC General Assembly passed the following proviso: 117.162. (GP: Bridge Stabilization and Repair) 

The SC Department of Transportation (DOT) and Santee Cooper are jointly directed to develop a detailed plan and cost estimate for stabilizing and repairing the US 15/US 301 bridge over Lake Marion for public pedestrian and bicycle traffic based on a study conducted by the Palmetto Conservation Foundation using the bridge as a connector route for the Palmetto Trail

In developing this plan and cost estimate, the Department of Transportation and Santee Cooper shall include input from the Santee Cooper Counties Promotion Commission, the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, Clarendon and Orangeburg Counties, the Cities of Summerton and Santee and the Palmetto Conservation Foundation.

Currently a group of the stakeholders from the above entities are working to meet with SC DOT and Santee Cooper to begin the process of determining the cost involved to reopen the Hwy 301 Bridge between the town of Santee and Clarendon County across Lake Marion. This process is taking time but we are thrilled that we have the backing from the General Assembly in this effort.

We will try to keep you updated on this process and would love to hear from SC citizens who are interested in this project. Please send communication to info@palmettoconservation.org and Mary Shriner of Santee Cooper Country at mshriner@ntinet.com


October 2019 Update: SCDOT has hired an engineering firm to check the safety of the bridge and causeway and to present a cost estimate to stakeholders on making the bridge bicycle/pedestrian/maybe golf cart accessible. SCDOT expects to have the study completed in December with cost estimates to the group by mid January 2020.  Senator Brad Hutto of Orangeburg, SC House of Representative Gilda Cobb Hunter of Orangeburg, Orangeburg Councilman Johnny Ravenel, Summerton Councilman Dwight Stewart, Santee Mayor Donnie Hilliard and Summerton Mayor Mac Bagnal along with representatives from Senator Tim Scott’s office and Senator Lindsay Grahams office are all among supporters of this initiative.

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