Who will be plowing major Beaufort County roads during snowy, icy conditions? What to know
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the bridges to Hilton Head Island closed during a 2018 winter storm. Those bridges remained open, but the Charles E. Frazier Bridge — which crosses Broad Creek near the Spanish Wells area — closed for wintry conditions. (Updated 8:38 a.m. Jan. 22, 2025)
The Hilton Head Island area is forecast to see snow and freezing rain Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning, which would mark the first instance of wintry weather in Beaufort County since January 2018.
Here’s what local governments and the South Carolina Department of Transportation are doing to prepare for the possible wintry weather, including who’s in charge of roadway maintenance and street closures.
SCDOT
Snow plows and salt on roads are both handled by SCDOT, according to spokesperson Hannah Robinson.
Crews began applying salt and brine on roadways across Beaufort and Jasper counties on Sunday and would continue throughout the week, Robinson said. She could not specify which roads had been pretreated but said “crews start with interstate and primary routes” before moving onto secondary roads.
Agency personnel also operate snow plows to remove snow and ice on roads within the state’s jurisdiction. SCDOT-maintained roads include most major routes within Beaufort and Jasper counties, including U.S. 278, S.C. 170, U.S. 21, I-95, S.C. 46 and Ribaut Road.
As of Wednesday morning, SCDOT had four snow plows on the roads in Beaufort County and eight in Jasper County, Robinson said. Those trucks were also equipped with salt and brine spreaders, and both counties were expected to receive a “few more” trucks from assistance crews later in the day.
For a database of which local streets are maintained by SCDOT, use the agency’s Roadway Information System.
Beaufort County
Like all other local municipalities, Beaufort County does not have its own snow plows or winter weather equipment. Local officials will “rely heavily on the partnership and leadership” of SCDOT, according to county spokesperson Hannah Nichols.
The Emergency Management Division of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office will monitor road conditions during the winter storm and coordinate responses to traffic accidents.
Hilton Head Island
As always, any closure of the Hilton Head bridges will be decided by SCDOT. During a bout of freezing rain in January 2018, officials closed the Cross Island Parkway and the Charles E. Frazier Bridge, a portion of U.S. 278 that crosses the Broad Creek in central Hilton Head. The bridges to and from Hilton Head never closed during the 2018 winter storm.
Gated communities on the island like Sea Pines and Hilton Head Plantation are in charge of maintaining their own roads, according to town spokesperson Heather Woolwine.
The island’s main loop, made up of William Hilton and Cross Island parkways, is maintained by SCDOT.
Bluffton
The Town of Bluffton says it is in charge of maintaining 13 streets, the majority of which are in the historic district. Officials also have sand bags to aid in emergency responses, according to town spokesperson Debbie Szpanka.
Szpanka added that the town has a large amount of sand for use in emergency situations, such as when a specific road ices over and needs to be treated.
This story was originally published January 21, 2025 at 1:49 PM.
