SC bridge over I-95 closing for months starting March 23. Here’s what to know

A bridge carrying John Smith Road over Interstate 95 in Jasper County will close starting March 23 for a full replacement expected to last the rest of the year. The closure affects a route connecting U.S. Highway 17 and U.S. 278 north of downtown Hardeeville.

FULL STORY: SC bridge over I-95 closing for remainder of year. Here are the details

Here’s what to know about the road closure:

• The John Smith Road overpass will be closed to through traffic beginning March 23 and “for the remainder of the year,” according to the South Carolina Department of Transportation.

• Drivers who use the bridge to cross I-95 should detour via Exit 5 or Exit 8 during the closure.

• Local traffic, including residents of the Royal Oaks development west of the overpass, will still be able to access portions of John Smith Road.

• The bridge is one of 14 being replaced as part of SCDOT’s I-95 corridor improvements and widening project. That broader plan includes reconfiguring Exit 8 to Hilton Head Island into a “diverging diamond interchange” designed to reduce bottlenecks.

• SCDOT asks drivers to slow down around Exit 8 and pay attention to signs and crews in the area.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.