By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com

SIX MILE — The South Carolina Department of Transportation is working to learnmore about what caused a 57-year-old bridge to partially collapse Monday.

Law enforcement alerted SCDOT to severe damage to a bridge on Crowe Creek Road (S.C. Highway 133) Monday, a release said. Crews worked to install a closure and detour.

The bridge, built in 1968, was already scheduled for a replacement due to its age and design, SCDOT said Monday.

While the bridge was rated fair during its last inspection, held in the spring of this year, it was load restricted, prohibiting heavy trucks and vehicles from crossing.

“SCDOT crews are working now to assess the extent of the damage and making a plan for expedited replacement,” the release said. “At this time we anticipate this closure will be in place for months while construction work gets underway.”

A detour of more than 22 miles was announced Monday by the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Motorists traveling southbound on Crowe Creek Road will be directed to take Shady Grove Road to Walhalla Highway (S.C. Highway 183).

Drivers will then take a left turn onto Walhalla Highway before turning back onto Allgood Bridge Road. They will proceed south on Allgood Bridge Road to Walhalla Highway before turning left onto Walhalla Highway and at approximately 4.0 miles turn right back onto Crowe Creek Road.

Motorists traveling northbound on Crowe Creek Road will be directed to take Walhalla Highway toward Pickens to Allgood Bridge Road. They will turn right and follow Allgood Bridge Road to the intersection of Walhalla Highway, which they will then turn back left toward Shady Grove Road. Drivers will then proceed west on Shady Grove Road until they reach Crowe Creek Road.

SCDOT asks drivers to avoid the area of the collapsed bridge and to use alternate routes.