Apr 23 2025
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has awarded a $175 million grant for infrastructure development in South Carolina, marking significant progress in addressing the country's infrastructure backlog. The funds will focus on replacing the I-95 bridges over Lake Marion, a critical project for the region.
Secretary Duffy emphasized the administration's commitment to rebuilding infrastructure, stating, “President Trump tasked my Department with a clear objective: rebuild America’s aging infrastructure. The previous administration left the nation with an unprecedented backlog of unfulfilled grant agreements and empty promises. Within 100 days of inauguration, we’re already delivering results.”
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham expressed gratitude towards the efforts of Secretary Duffy and President Trump. “I am very grateful to Secretary Duffy and his team for starting to push the grant funds out the door – at the direction of President Trump – to make the I-95 bridges replacement project over Lake Marion a reality. This is one of the most important projects in our state.”
Similarly, U.S. Senator Tim Scott praised the administration's focus on infrastructure, saying, “Thank you to Secretary Duffy for delivering this critical grant money to fund the bridge on I-95. This common-sense investment in infrastructure is a win for every South Carolinian who commutes to work, operates a business, moves our goods, and transports their family.”
South Carolina's Secretary of Transportation, Justin Powell, also acknowledged the rapid response, stating, “South Carolina appreciates the quick action by Secretary Duffy and the Trump administration to advance this critical grant project. The Lake Marion Bridge project will help ensure a bright future for the people of our state and the nation.”
The project aims to replace four outdated bridges in Clarendon and Orangeburg Counties with a new structure on I-95 featuring three lanes in each direction, and the capacity for future expansion. This effort is part of Duffy's strategy to address the inherited backlog of over 3,200 unobligated infrastructure grants.
The Trump administration's effort, under Secretary Duffy's leadership, focuses on distributing these funds to vital infrastructure initiatives, dispelling concerns about delays tied to previous administrative requirements. The South Carolina bridge replacement is one of the key projects benefiting from this renewed focus on infrastructure improvement.
