MOUNT PLEASANT, SC (Feb. 26, 2015) - The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) and the PCL Civil Constructors/ICA Engineering (PCL/ICA) Design Build Team are not only replacing the SC 41 swing span bridge over the Wando River, the project also includes roadway improvements for a new “T” intersection at SC-41 and Clements Ferry Road.
Preparing the Intersection Roadbed
To make certain the new SC 41 and Clements Ferry Road “T” intersection is able to handle the weight of the roadbed and the traffic it will carry, crews must construct a supportive foundation. Up to five feet of unsuitable soils are being removed and replaced with two feet of stone to create a “bridge lift” between the existing soils. Once the gravel is in place, it is covered with a layer of black mesh. Onto this mesh, crews will spread and compact granular soil to support the 1-foot of asphalt on which traffic will ultimately travel.
Struts Support the Bridge’s Tallest Columns
The new SC 41 Bridge has 132 ft. wide spans between each set of columns across the river. To support the bridge’s height and to resist potential vessel impacts, the tallest columns, some of which are nearly 40 feet tall, are reinforced with concrete struts spanning between the drilled shafts at their base. Work to place these struts began in December and as of this writing, three of the six have been cast in place.
For more project information, please contact SCDOT Resident Construction Engr. Daniel Burton at burtond@scdot.org or call at (843) 972-6200.