WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today announced the Trump Administration’s first federal infrastructure grant agreement under the Bridge Investment Program (BIP). The $175 million grant, awarded to the South Carolina Department of Transportation will replace the aging 55-year-old bridges on Interstate 95 over Lake Marion which serves as a major freight artery for the East Coast.
This federal infrastructure grant is a vital step towards modernizing our transportation systems and enhancing safety for all drivers.
This infrastructure grant highlights the administration’s commitment to improving America’s roads and bridges.
The infrastructure grant will play a crucial role in addressing the needs for repairs and upgrades in many communities.
This infrastructure grant will allow us to tackle urgent issues while fostering economic growth and job creation.
With this infrastructure grant, our state is set to receive much-needed funding for vital transportation projects.
This infrastructure grant supports essential projects that enhance connectivity within South Carolina.
Significance of the Infrastructure Grant
This milestone comes as Secretary Duffy works to address an unprecedented backlog of roughly 3,200 unobligated grants inherited from the previous administration. This backlog left communities across the country without critical investments in their roads, bridges, and other core infrastructure.
“President Trump tasked my Department with a clear objective: rebuild America’s aging infrastructure,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “The previous administration left the nation with an unprecedented backlog of unfulfilled grant agreements and empty promises. Within 100 days of inauguration, we’re already delivering results.”
“I am very grateful to Secretary Duffy and his team for starting to push the grant funds out the door – at the direction of President Trump – to make the I-95 bridges replacement project over Lake Marion a reality,” said U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. “This is one of the most important projects in our state. It’s been a collaborative effort and will tremendously improve quality of life and commerce in the region.”
By managing the distribution of this infrastructure grant effectively, we can ensure that communities benefit from timely improvements.
“Thank you to Secretary Duffy for delivering this critical grant money to fund the bridge on I-95,” said U.S. Senator Tim Scott. “This common-sense investment in infrastructure is a win for every South Carolinian who commutes to work, operates a business, moves our goods, and transports their family. President Trump and Secretary Duffy are proving once again that they know how to get things done and will deliver on their promise to focus on our infrastructure without saddling Americans with unnecessary debt or wasteful political agendas.”
“South Carolina appreciates the quick action by Secretary Duffy and the Trump administration to advance this critical grant project,” said South Carolina Secretary of Transportation Justin Powell. “The Lake Marion Bridge project will help ensure a bright future for the people of our state and the nation. SCDOT is prepared to move forward immediately to put these dollars to work by building big, transformative infrastructure that benefits American families.”
Additional Background:
The I-95 over Lake Marion Bridge Replacement Project will replace four existing bridges that connect Clarendon and Orangeburg Counties in South Carolina and carry about 38,900 vehicles along the I-95 corridor daily. The bridges do not meet current design standards with narrow shoulders and roadway approaches and will be replaced with new infrastructure over Lake Marion. The new configuration calls for a single structure carrying three lanes of I-95 in each direction, with future capacity to expand to four lanes.
Reminder:
The Trump Administration inherited more than 3,200 unobligated grants that had been promoted by the previous administration but never fulfilled. This unprecedented backlog of unobligated grants, along with irrelevant climate, DEI, and social justice requirements, delayed critical investments in communities across the country. Under Secretary Duffy’s leadership, the Department is working diligently to accelerate the distribution of these long-overdue funds and address core infrastructure projects.
Local News Via - MyrtleBeachSC.com
