Project
Hopewell Church Road Bridge

Client
Anderson County
Anderson, South Carolina  

Scope
In late August 1985, the Beaverdam Creek Bridge on Hopewell Church Road in Anderson County collapsed under the weight of a truck. Anderson County, with financial assistance from the Federal Highway Administration and the South Carolina Department of Highways and Public Transportation replaced the old bridge with a new reinforced concrete bridge on steel piles.  The new bridge, constructed in essentially the same location as the old bridge, is 150 feet long rather than 60 feet, as was the old bridge, and is approximately 6 feet higher.  The new bridge provides less obstruction and floodplain encroachment to Beaverdam Creek than the old bridge.

The proposed design consisted of a two lane paved road, generally following the present alignment of the existing road.  Any changes in the alignment were made to conform with good design practices and to meet existing design requirements.  The typical roadway section consists of a 22-foot paved surface with 6-foot shoulders on the roadway and 9-foot shoulders where guardrail is placed.  The right-of-way for the roadway is 66 feet, and for the bridge, 150 feet.  Intersections with existing roads were constructed at grade and met all requirements for adequate sight distance.

The project involved a hydraulic study of the drainage basin and obtaining clearances from numerous state and federal environmental and historic preservation agencies.

Cost
$340,000

Completed
January 1988