Crews are working to complete the earthwork activities for the new SC 41 and Clements Ferry Rd. intersection so asphalt paving can begin in the coming months.
Moving from Substructure to Superstructure
Construction on the bridge is progressing step by step. The last of the bridge’s 30 columns, for the 15 piers, will be poured by mid-June. The completion of these columns will enable crews to move on to forming the remaining pier caps and complete the last three reinforcing struts for the tallest piers.
Columns, pier caps, and reinforcing struts are all a part of the bridge’s substructure. The substructure supports the superstructure by distributing loads to the shaft foundations which extend deep in the ground. The superstructure supports the bridge deck which will carry traffic as well as the future multi-use path. With the placement of girders underway, crews are now constructing both the bridge’s substructure as well as its superstructure.
Precast off-site in Savannah, GA with steel and concrete, each of the bridge’s 112 precast girders are approximately 131 feet long, 6 feet tall, and weigh124,000 lbs. Girders erected over land are being delivered by tractor-trailer trucks while barges and tugboats will deliver girders for spans erected over the water. Girder erection will continue from now until mid-July with the initial girder installations occurring on the south side of the bridge.
While there are a lot of girders to place in a short window of time, crews are doing their best to minimize traffic interruptions on SC 41 while maintaining the project schedule and a commitment to quality. Motorists are urged to continue to follow posted speed limit signs, focus on the road first, and practice patience to ensure traffic continues to move efficiently through the construction zone.
For more project information, please contact SCDOT Resident Construction Engineer,
Daniel Burton at burtond@scdot.org or 843-972-6200.