by Leah Justice
leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com

As the bridge over the Lake Lanier Dam ages, the S.C. Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is investigating its future, which could mean the future closure of the bridge.

Tryon Town Council met with DOT representatives during its October meeting, which included the discussion of problems replacing the bridge because it is on top of the Lake Lanier Dam, owned by the Town of Tryon.

SCDOT Assistant Program Manager Emily Toler said the Lake Lanier bridge is a very unique situation with the DOT having a right of way along Lakeshore Drive and being responsible for maintaining the bridge. The bridge has dropped below a rate of 50, according to Toler, on a scale from 1 to 100, which requires investigation into what should be done in the future.

Toler said SCDOT has hired a consultant to investigate all available options for replacement, with all options proving to be problematic.

The state’s bridge maintenance engineer has estimated the bridge has another 12-15 years of useful service life based on the current condition of the bridge and the low volume of traffic utilizing the bridge. According to traffic counts, 125 vehicles cross the bridge per day.

Toler said replacing the bridge at its current location is problematic because the dam and spillway would have to be upgraded to meet current standards. The SCDOT understands that the dam and spillway are considered substandard per current S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDEHC), according to Toler.

“Not only would this be costly, but SCDOT would essentially become co-owner of the dam through approval of an SCDHEC permit to modify the dam,” Toler said. “SCDOT is not willing to assume partial ownership of the dam.”

Replacing the bridge upstream would require the roadway elevation to be raised approximately 9-10 feet to pass the design flow beneath the bridge. That option would impact several residences as well as alter/impede the path of floodwaters upstream of the dam. This option was eliminated from further consideration, Toler said.

The last and only feasible option for replacement is to replace the bridge downstream, which would have to be done on the North Carolina side of the state line, Toler said. This option is considered very problematic, Toler said, mainly because South Carolina does not have power of eminent domain in North Carolina, which would lead to difficulty acquiring the property needed. Toler said a governmental entity in North Carolina, such as Tryon, would have to assume ownership of the bridge. Replacing the bridge in North Carolina would also be costly because of the steep terrain and design challenges. She said estimates are that the bridge replacement would cost $5-$6 million.

Toler said SCDOT receives a limited amount of federal funding each year to address the state’s bridge replacement and rehabilitation needs and there are approximately 1,606 substandard bridges statewide.

Commissioner George Baker asked if SCDOT has contacted the NCDOT for a partnership. Toler said that may be the next option.

If no other option is available, the SCDOT may elect to maintain the bridge until it must be closed for safety reasons. At that time the public will be notified of the decision, according to the SCDOT.

The west side of the lake can be accessed by Jervey Road, which is currently closed because of a sinkhole. The east side of the lake does not require the crossing of the bridge.

The Town of Tryon has owned the dam, the lake and the property downstream of the dam since the early 1980s. The first dam, constructed around 1924 burst and a new dam was constructed shortly after.

Howard Greene said he rode across the bridge 90 years ago and he also saw the dam that busted there when it covered up half the valley below it. Paul Pullen said the Army Corps of Engineers rebuilt the dam.