Boiling Springs residents frustrated over road closure lasting through “at least the end of the year”

BOILING SPRINGS, S.C. (WSPA) – Residents, commuters and nearby businesses are feeling the frustrating effects of a local road being closed because of mother nature.

A part of Old John Dodd Road, a two-lane mostly residential road that runs parallel to Highway 176, was shut down by Spartanburg County earlier this month after storms ravaged the community.

Heavy rain caused flooding on part of the road just after Shadow Dance Lane, which stranded a sedan on August 3.

Viewer video shows the sedan sitting on part of Old John Dodd Road nearly a day after the rain swept through the area.

“We’re terrified,” said Michelle Ihetu, a nearby resident. “We’re thinking that the house is going to submerge soon, so we’re trying to get our essentials; we’re calling 911. Soon we see a fire truck coming and they can’t even come to us because a car [is] stuck.”

It wasn’t until officials investigatied the storm’s aftermath when they realized that the area, where the car was trapped, was no longer safe.

In a Facebook post on August 11, Spartanburg County said that stretch of road would be closed through at least the end of the year due to a damaged culvert.

A culvert is a structure that channels water past an obstacle or to a subterranean waterway.

In a statement to 7NEWS, Scottie Kay Blackwell, the county’s communications manager said:

“We are currently evaluating the hydrology to determine the proper size for the culvert that will need to be installed to avoid future flooding. Once determined, the County will go through a bid process to retain the services of a vendor who will then build the culvert. These large culverts are not items that are pre-made and available to purchase because each one is sized based on geometry of the road, stream, etc. This bid and manufacturing process will likely take several months. Once the culvert is available, it will likely take 8 to 10 weeks to install the new stormwater system, weather permitting.”

Residents nearby said the alternative paths are frustrating.

“Big trucks and lots of cars are coming in, having to U-turn [and] come around [Shadow Dance Lane],” said Ihetu. “And my sister and I park alongside the road [inside Shadow Dance Lane].”

“I have to take a right, instead of a left,” said Bo Prack, a nearby resident. “Go all the way around to the four-way, take a left and then there’s a lot of traffic right there. I got to take another left, go to the light, take another left, and get [my kids] to their daycare so it’s a hassle, but I always forget the bridge is closed.”

The forced detours are also leaving Certified Import Repair, an auto repair business located just several dozen meters from where the closure is, suffering from the lack of traffic.

“We had at least three or four people cancel appointments because they don’t know how to get in through [Pisgah Church Road],” said Hannah Steinecke, a manager at Certified Import Repair. “They only know how to get in from [Belcher Road].”

Steinecke explained many of their customers are older and do not use digital navigational aids such as Google Maps or Apple Maps.

The section of Old John Dodd Road that’s closed off seperates the neighborhood both Ihetu and Prack live in from Hendrix Elementary School, First Baptist North Spartanburg Church and other businesses like Certified Important Repair.

In a statement to 7NEWS, Spartanburg County District 2 Spokesperson Adrian Acosta said:

“We estimate that ultimately the closure at Old John Dodd Road will add a few minutes to approximately 10 buses’ routes. We continuously encourage our parents to download our bus app . It allows for real time information about drop off and pick up times. There is also an accompanying desktop site for this great tool. We also have a bus delay line that parents can call at any time. We kindly ask for our families’ patience as we work through this most recent closure.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.