One of SC 9’s four structurally deficient and functionally obsolete bridges crossed over a nearly 200-year-old power-generating canal. Compromising either the high-hazard embankment or canal during bridge reconstruction would have been catastrophic to the Town of Lockhart, causing flooding to the residential area.
Knowledge of FERC requirements is atypical for South Carolina Department of Transportation projects, so Mead & Hunt leveraged resources within our full-service firm to navigate this process. Internal Mead & Hunt dam experts determined construction requirements before chronicling construction activity within the canal zone. Our project team could then anticipate and mitigate potential risks with greater accuracy. Construction was completed without a single compliance issue or contractor-related delay.
To maintain the historic nature of this once-vibrant mill town, conserving a turn-of-the-century home beside SC 9 was a top priority. By installing a retaining wall beside the house, we minimized impacts and the project footprint. We then preserved original stone retaining walls and repurposed impacted stones as an aesthetic feature for the Town’s welcome sign.
Mead & Hunt’s design included upgraded pedestrian accommodations. Multi-use paths and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramps provide locals safe access to homes, stores and trails throughout the corridor.
