Road upgrades for Beaufort & Jasper Counties coming soon. Here’s what and when
Drivers across Beaufort and Jasper counties can expect to see some road projects over the next year as the South Carolina Department of Transportation rolls out its latest round of pavement improvements.
Now in its ninth year, SCDOT’s Pavement Improvement Program is bringing attention to local highways, secondary roads and even neighborhood streets in a statewide push to upgrade South Carolina’s infrastructure.
As part of the 2026 Pavement Improvement Program, which was approved in May, the SCDOT will improve 732 miles of roadway across the state.
Here’s what to know about this program and which roads in the Lowcountry will see improvements.
How are the SC road projects selected?
The following road projects were ranked based on existing data from the state’s Transportation Asset Management Plan, which focuses on four key areas of improvement, including highway safety, bridges, road resurfacing and interstate capacity.
The road selection process is in place to ensure that each county across the state is given a fair and strategic distribution of paving funds.
Note: The roads and projects that the SCDOT handles are distinct from those handled at the county levels.
What are the types of pavement updates?
Three primary types of pavement improvements are used statewide by SCDOT: preventive maintenance, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
For Beaufort and Jasper counties, the upcoming work includes both rehabilitation and reconstruction projects. The scope of this work includes:
- Rehabilitation: Restoring existing roads to improve condition and extend lifespan.
- Reconstruction: Bringing deteriorated roads back to a serviceable/original condition.
Project timeline
Each improvement project is ranked based on need, with priority levels ranging from 1 (most urgent) to 3 (least urgent).
The ranking process incorporates scoring systems, engineering assessments and local knowledge of the roadways by the SCDOT.
How is this funded?
The upcoming projects are funded through the New Gas Tax Trust Fund, which was created in 2017, under Act 40.
That legislation increased the state gas tax by 12 cents over six years and established transparency in spending, with these funds being deposited into the Infrastructure Maintenance Trust Fund.
Since its implementation in 2017, these are the amounts spent and total miles improved for Beaufort and Jasper Counties, according to the SC Alliance To Fix Our Roads:
- Beaufort: $62 million, 96 miles improved
- Jasper: $133 million, 234 miles improved
To date, SCDOT states it has invested more than $4.8 billion in pavement improvements.
2026 SCDOT updates for Beaufort and Jasper roadways
Beaufort County road projects
Major roads:
- SC 170 / Okatie Highway: 5.46 miles (Mile 15–21), Rehabilitation, Priority: 1
Secondary roads:
- Pope Avenue Roundabout – 0.26 miles, Rehabilitation, Priority: 1
- South Forest Beach Drive – 1.0 mile, Rehabilitation, Priority: 3
- Duke Street – 0.18 miles, Rehabilitation, Priority: 2
Neighborhood roads:
- Fish Haul Road – 0.44 miles, Rehabilitation, Priority: 1
- Cuthbert Farms Road – 0.98 miles, Reconstruction, Priority: 2
- Agnes Major / Paige Point – 0.27 miles, Reconstruction, Priority: 3
Jasper County road projects
Major roads:
- US 278 / Grays Highway – 6.6 miles, Reconstruction, Priority: 1
Secondary roads:
- SC 119 / Sand Hills Road – 1.2 miles, Reconstruction, Priority: 1
Neighborhood roads:
- SC 425 / Frontage Road – 1.8 miles, Reconstruction, Priority: 1
To view all of the road projects outlined for 2026 by the SCDOT, click here.
