‘Blood, sweat and tears’ put into the US 278 corridor project. Has it been a waste?
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The State Infrastructure Bank rejected Beaufort County’s joint resolution for the U.S. 278 corridor project Monday, bringing the county back to square one — at least for the next few days.
The decision follows the county’s narrow effort to meet a March 31 deadline to submit a viable funding plan for the deteriorating Mackay Creek Bridge. That deadline came after warnings from the South Carolina Department of Transportation that it would proceed with its own version of a replacement if no plan was submitted. Although the county did submit a plan on time, the SIB did not approve it, meaning SCDOT may still take over the project — especially if the SIB’s $120 million in funding is withdrawn.
The SIB denied the plan because it violated the original project agreement between itself and the county. Concerns also included one-way lane proposals, funding priorities, ambiguous cost estimates and the potential for cost overruns. However, unlike Charleston’s transportation project, which was fully terminated, the SIB granted Beaufort County an extension — giving it 60 to 90 days to address the issues.
The problem? The bridge, which state inspectors rated as “poor,” might not last that long.
“We are one hurricane away from having that bridge not be operational, and that’s the worst nightmare that anyone can talk about,” said County Council Member Mark Lawson.
Senator Tom Davis, who represents Beaufort and Jasper Counties and helped secure initial funding for the project, told the council that SCDOT Secretary of Transportation Justin Powell said a decision would be needed in the next few weeks.
Hoping to save the project, Davis said SIB Board Chairman John White is willing to meet with the county within the week.
No decision to amend the resolution was made at the council meeting, but members voiced concerns about the project. Most agreed that any further delays would likely increase costs.
The corridor project has already faced years of setbacks due to rising costs and a failed sales tax referendum, forcing local officials to seek alternative funding solutions without raising property taxes. At a recent workshop, council members discussed why the 2024 sales tax referendum failed and how they might address voters’ concerns to pass a future one.
For the corridor project, the county still aims to stay within its almost $300 million budget while addressing current and future traffic demands.
At the Monday meeting, Council Member Tom Reitz suggested stepping back and reassessing the project, noting that waiting could help if inflation rates shift, potentially making the project more cost-effective. He also floated the idea of retrofitting and cleaning up the existing bridge. But most council members — including Council Member Logan Cunningham — strongly opposed further delays, urging the county to move forward as quickly as possible.
For those suggesting the project go back to the drawing board, Davis had a pointed reminder:
“That award — that $120 million — represents a lot of blood, sweat and tears by a lot of people in this room to get that money.”
This story was originally published May 13, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
