Cypress Gardens bridge to be completed in two weeks

BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.—According to Tom Smith, emergency preparedness director for Berkeley County, SCDOT officials say that the Cypress Gardens bridge is expected to be completed by September 30^th.

“I am putting a star on my calendar on Monday, Sept 29^th, marking when I project the bridge will be complete, and Tuesday, September 30^th, when I plan to resume driving up Cypress Gardens Road again (hallelujah!),” Smith wrote in an e-mail.

According to Kevin Clark with the SCDOT, work crews with Cape Romain Contractors, the company awarded the contract to repair the bridge, are working six days a week, fourteen hours a day, from sun up to sunset, to maximize working in the daylight hours. Clark says the company has been trying to take all Sundays off to prevent the crew from burning out.

Smith stated that the SCDOT gave the bridge contractor a $20 million per day incentive to finish the bridge 30 days early.

“Since the bridge was originally scheduled to be complete by October 28^th the bridge contractor will maximize their profit if they finish the bridge on September 28^th,” stated Smith. “Since the bridge contractor will not increase their profit by completing the project earlier than 9/28, I think they will minimize overtime and expediting for any work that completes the project before 9/28.”

In April, officials say multiple cars belonging to CSX derailed from the train, colliding and destroying the bridge. One month after the incident, a Moncks Corner attorney filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of approximately 3,000 people impacted by the bridge’s temporary closure.

PRIOR STORIES:

Bridge collapses on train, causes derailment on Cypress Gardens Road

SCDOT announces replacement plan for Cypress Gardens Road bridge

CSX facing lawsuit for Cypress Gardens bridge collapse

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Nikki Gaskins Campbell

A lifelong Berkeley County resident, Nikki Gaskins Campbell is an Emmy-nominated journalist with more than 20 years of experience covering news. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a degree in broadcast journalism.

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