​The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is beginning construction of a bridge replacement along S-340 (Hellams Circle) over Mountain Creek in Laurens County. The bridge replacement is part of SCDOT's 10-Year Plan to replace or repair more than 465 aging bridges across the state by 2027. 

The existing Hellams Circle bridge is being closed, and a detour will be in effect for the estimated four months of construction. The new bridge will be constructed along the same alignment as the current bridge.

Replacing deteriorating, load-restricted bridges are one of SCDOT's 10-Year Plan programs, which include repaving aging roads, making rural roads safer, and improving key portions of interstates. SCDOT has tripled its road work during the past several years to improve South Carolina's roads after more than 30 years of deferred maintenance due to a lack of funding.

Motorists can use SCDOT's 511 Traveler Info 511sc.org to check for road conditions and detours. For more information concerning this project, the public may contact SCDOT Resident Engineer Jeremy Hodges at (864) 889-8031 or HodgesJT@scdot.org.