95 percent of SC roads reopened from Helene damage: SCDOT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — More than 95 percent of roads closed from Hurricane Helene in South Carolina have reopened, and $2 million in federal emergency funds are being used near a state park, the S.C. Department of Transportation reported Friday.

Three weeks after Helene devastated the Upstate and western North Carolina, acting Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration Kristin White visited the area with Secretary of Transportation Justin Powell and other officials to tour damage to roads and bridges in the area.

“FHWA is on the ground working alongside South Carolina DOT to help rebuild and support communities devastated by Hurricane Helene,” White said. “We are committed to supporting South Carolinians with the funding and resources needed for ongoing recovery. FHWA’s initial $2 million in emergency relief funding is a down payment on a long-term investment to help rebuild critical roads and infrastructure to connect communities.”

The emergency funding will be used on U.S. 276 in Caesar’s Head State Park.

“I am glad to see the support behind getting these roads and bridges in Oconee County reopened quickly,” said state Sen. Thomas Alexander. “I appreciate the coordination between state and local officials to prioritize emergency repairs and recovery.”

More than 900 roads and bridges were closed due to storm-related damage, and SCDOT has already worked to reopen 859 of those closures. State officials say they are expediting emergency repair plans and beginning work to repair and safely reopen the roads and bridges that remain closed.

Debris crews will continue to work through the end of the year in the most impacted areas to ensure that communities are able to fully clean up and get back to normal.

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