U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham attended a groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of construction to replace several bridges on Interstate 95 over Lake Marion, according to an April 7 announcement. Governor Henry McMaster, U.S. Congressman James Clyburn, and officials from the South Carolina Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration also participated in the event.
The project is funded by a $175 million federal grant secured by Graham and described as one of the largest discretionary grants ever received by the South Carolina Department of Transportation. The new bridges will serve five counties in South Carolina.
“I enjoyed being with Governor McMaster, Congressman Clyburn and our state DOT officials as well as federal highway officials for the groundbreaking of a new, modern bridge across Lake Marion that serves five South Carolina counties and the first of many to be replaced. This is one of the most consequential infrastructure projects in our state. I’m proud of the role my office played in securing $175 million in federal funding for this vital infrastructure project,” said Senator Graham.
Graham said that replacing these bridges is urgent because they were originally constructed in 1968 and their failure would force drivers into a lengthy detour: “The current bridges constructed in 1968 need to be replaced as quickly as possible. If the bridges ever failed, it would create a 70-mile detour, which would create a traffic nightmare across the area.” He added that “the new bridges…will accommodate more vehicles and have been outfitted to carry water pipes across the lake that will more efficiently supply clean water to the Lake Marion area of South Carolina.” Graham concluded, “I’m pleased that by working together with federal, state and local officials, we set in motion the building of new bridges on I-95 that will be vital to the future of South Carolina’s economy.”
Graham has served on multiple Senate committees including Appropriations, Judiciary, Environment and Public Works; he also chaired the Senate Budget Committee according to his official website. He retired from service after 33 years as a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserves according to his official website. A native who grew up in Central, South Carolina with his blue-collar family operating a restaurant and pool hall according to his official website, Graham earned both undergraduate and law degrees from University of South Carolina according to his official website.
The replacement project aims not only at improving transportation but also at supporting economic growth for surrounding communities.
