The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) proposes to improve U.S. 17 (Speedway Boulevard) from the Georgia SR 404 Spur on Hutchinson Island in Chatham County, Georgia, approximately four miles north to S.C. 315 (South Okatie Highway) in Jasper County, South Carolina (refer to Figure 1). The improvements include the widening of U.S. 17 from two to four travel lanes, with a 36-foot wide depressed median. The purpose of the project is to increase the capacity of the roadway in order to meet traffic and safety demands on U.S. 17 between Hutchinson Island and S.C. 315.
The proposed widening would require that a new bridge structure be constructed over the Back River in order to accommodate the additional travel lanes. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is currently in the process of replacing the existing, structurally-deficient U.S. 17 bridge over the Back River. GDOT is constructing a two-lane bridge structure on the upstream, or northwest side, of the existing bridge. The existing bridge will be demolished upon completion of the new bridge. As part of the U.S. 17 widening project, SCDOT proposes to construct a new, two-lane bridge structure over the Back River within the footprint of the existing bridge. The typical section of the new bridge will consist of two 12-foot travel lanes and ten-foot shoulders. The new bridge structure and its approach roads on Hutchinson Island will be constructed completely within existing right-of-way.
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