SCDOT Heavy Equipment Operators sharpen skills,
display excellence at 2023 State RoadEO
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SCDOT employees put their skills to the test during the 2023 Equipment Operators’ RoadEO State Finals on May 24. Having won competitions at their respective districts, there were 81 participants on this year’s state roster. Focusing on efficiency and skill, this annual statewide competition allows highway workers the opportunity to display their mastery of vehicle handling, trailer maneuvering and heavy equipment precision.
RoadEO is comprised of six individual events: Single Axle Dump Truck, Tandem Axle Dump Truck, Tractor Truck with Lowboy Trailer, Backhoe, Motor Grader, and Tractor with Mower. Contestants are judged on their operating skills as they navigate various obstacles and challenges, while racing against the clock. Performance, completion times and infractions that result in point deductions are all reflected in their scores.
The first and second place winners from each event will advance to the Southeast Regional Competition in September. Third-place winners will practice alongside their teammates to prepare for regionals, and serve as alternates.
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Deep Water Bridge Inspections Key to Preventive Maintenance
At Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina, deep water bridge inspections offer valuable insights into identifying the status of bridges regularly, so necessary repairs or maintenance can be carried out promptly, ensuring the bridge remains safe and operational throughout its service life.
Click here to watch the video.
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Bridge repair completed on
SC-576 in Marion County
Just before this year’s Memorial Day weekend, SCDOT completed bridge repairs along a popular route to and from the Grand Strand. S.C. Route 576 is now open to traffic in both directions.
Click here to watch the video.
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Williamsburg Maintenance workers help stranded baby deer
SCDOT employees at Williamsburg Maintenance were working outside in the truck shed when they noticed a baby deer had made it into the maintenance yard and could not find its way back outside of the fence.
Danny Whitehead, Tracy Stone, Dean McClary and Theron Bull worked quickly to help round up the distressed baby deer and release it back into the woods to its mom.
Great work from this crew on an unexpected animal rescue!
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South Carolina Highway Patrol dedicates special edition Mustang fleet to former SCDOT employee Dick Jenkins | |
Those who know former SCDOT employee Richard “Dick” Jenkins may remember that he has a special interest in old cars, especially Ford Mustangs.
On May 11, the South Carolina Highway Patrol along with the South Carolina Department of Public Safety and SCDOT, dedicated three special edition Ford Mustang patrol cars to Jenkins. Inside each car is a placard that says “Dick Jenkins Edition.”
Mr. Jenkins and his wife Cicely were able to hop in the cars, turn them on and flash the lights as Jenkins former coworkers and friends gathered in celebration. Jenkins retired in 2017 after 42 years of service to the state of South Carolina.
Mike Bowman, State Traffic Management Coordinator, worked with Jenkins and said he was charismatic. “Working with Dick was always fun and educational,” Bowman said. “His institutional knowledge in all facets of engineering was incredible. He was a true champion and pioneer in the field of incident management, especially kicking off the SHEP program in 1996.”
During his time SCDOT Jenkins worked with municipal and federal partners to manage the design and installation of the first computerized signal systems across the state, was responsible for establishing the State Highway Emergency Program (SHEP) in 1996, and played an important part in traffic safety in the state. It’s no wonder why many state agency representatives were in attendance during the dedication, including Secretary of Transportation Christy A. Hall, SCDPS Director Robert Woods, SCHP Colonel C.N. Williamson and several others.
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Upcoming Bridge Project on I-20 over the Wateree River
SCDOT will replace one bridge and rehabilitate two other bridges on I-20 in Kershaw County. These bridges are approaching the end of their service life, and the project will prepare I-20 to continue as a connection for commercial traffic and travel.
Click here to watch the video.
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SCDOT Paves Driveways?
See District 4 maintenance employees on the job in York County and hear them explain why summer is the best time for asphalt paving and why they're out installing a driveway apron.
Click here to watch the video.
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Public meeting held about Long Point Road and I-526
SCDOT held a public meeting in Mount Pleasant, where members of the public were invited to attend and provide their comments plans for the interchange.
Click here to watch the video.
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SCDOT Officials Participate in Governor's Hurricane Tabletop Exercise
In preparation for the June 1 start of hurricane season, SCDOT officials took part in Governor McMaster’s hurricane tabletop exercise on May 4.
Alongside other state agencies and emergency management organizations, SCDOT officials heard from experts about the outlook for this hurricane season, participated in discussions about evacuations, and joined in a tabletop emergency exercise.
SCDOT has a range of responsibilities during inclement weather, including keeping roadways clear for emergency personnel, implementing coastal evacuation-related lane reversals, monitoring flood conditions, and clearing roadways following a storm.
In any storm situation, SCDOT works to support the Governor’s coordinated emergency response team that includes state agencies, local authorities, and other emergency management professionals.
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Dorchester Maintenance Facility Dedicated to Marshall Murdaugh | |
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On May 15, on what would have been his 88th birthday, the friends, colleagues and family of Mr. Curtis Marshall Murdaugh gathered in front of the Dorchester Maintenance Facility to dedicate the facility in his honor. Mr. Murdaugh had a 54-year career with SCDOT, serving as a Resident Construction and Maintenance Engineer for Dorchester County. In addition, he served for over 20 years on the Dorchester County Transportation Authority Committee for Colleton County and was the manager of the Wildflower Program in South Carolina.
Click here to watch the video.
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SCDOT Congratulates New Certified Public Managers
Four SCDOT employees recently graduated with the 2023 class of South Carolina’s Certified Public Manager (CPM) program. Pictured from left to right, they are:
- District 4 Construction Engineer Melanie Mobley,
- Chief of Professional Services Nick Pizzuti,
- Preconstruction Program Manager Brian Dix, and
- Director of Environmental Services Chad Long.
SCDOT congratulates these employees on their achievements and appreciates their commitment to excellence in serving the people of South Carolina. The South Carolina Certified Public Manager (CPM) Program is a nationally accredited management development program for managers and supervisors in South Carolina state government. Established in 1996, the South Carolina CPM Program strives to encourage innovative management practices and high ethical standards. The mission of the CPM Program is to provide quality training for public administrators, to assist agencies in developing future leaders, and to recognize management as a profession in the public sector.
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SCDOT Deputy Secretary for Engineering Leland Colvin to Retire | |
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At their meeting on May 18, the South Carolina Department of Transportation Commission recognized Deputy Secretary for Engineering Leland Colvin, P.E. for his 28 years of extraordinary service to the South Carolina Department of Transportation and the State of South Carolina. Read the full resolution here.
Mr. Colvin is retiring from the South Carolina Department of Transportation on July 1, 2023 after faithfully serving the department for 28 years in a variety of engineering roles including Program Manager for the Charleston Area, Statewide Design/Build Engineer, Director of Construction, Chief Engineer for Operations, Chief Engineer for Project Delivery, and Deputy Secretary for Engineering.
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Paving is in Progress in Greenville and Pickens
It’s been springtime at SCDOT and freshly paved asphalt roads are in season. Here's a look at two recent paving projects in the upstate. In Greenville County, crews were out on a sunny day paving U.S. 276 in Marietta. In Pickens County, paving is taking place at night on U.S. 123 because of the high volume of daytime traffic. Here’s a look at a newly paved stretch of that road in Easley. Since 2018, more than 7,000 miles of resurfacing is underway in accordance with SCDOT’s 10 Year Strategic Plan.
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SCDOT Begins I-26 Interchange Improvement Project at
U.S. 21 in Lexington and Calhoun Counties
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SCDOT broke ground on the I-26 interchange improvement project at exit 119 near U.S. 21 on May 5. The project will reconfigure the existing interchanges and frontage road connections, providing a modern interchange that will support commercial traffic needs and continued economic development in Lexington and Calhoun counties. The project is underway and is expected to be complete by Spring 2026. Estimated to cost a total of $62.1 million, the project was planned in partnership with the Columbia Area Transportation Study (COATS), which identified the interchange’s improvement as an area priority. Attending the groundbreaking ceremony and pictured from left to right are: Commissioner Gene Branham Sr., Secretary of Transportation Christy A. Hall, Governor Henry McMaster, Senator Nikki Setzler and Representative Russell Ott. | |
Here's a look back at the Intracoastal Waterway near Georgetown in September 1963, where the South Island Ferry is carrying a car across the water. | | | | |
