CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, S.C. — Anthony Grantham must now add seven miles and 20 minutes to his drive every time he leaves the house. The bridge over Harris Creek at Patrick-Society Hill Road at Byrd Road washed out in recent storms.
"It's frustrating for everybody that lives in this little corner," Grantham said.
The bridge has a gaping hole in the middle of the road where you can see through it down to the rushing creek below.
Days after heavy rain stopped, the water is still high along roads and bridges in Chesterfield County that saw more than 20 inches of rain recently.
Fortunately, a driver spotted the hole before an accident happened and called the Department of Transportation.
About 300 cars a day travel the rural cut through road, which will likely be detoured for up to six months.
"I've never seen anything like it. These bridges down the road have been out. They stayed out about two years, now this one up the road's out," Grantham said.
DOT engineer Kent Wagner said there could be more to come because some damage likely hasn't been revealed yet.
Though engineers did inspections after recent storms, some damage takes time to become a visible hazard.
"There may be places that we don't even know about yet where it's eroded and the damage hasn't been found yet," Wagner said.
There has been a statewide concern as to how dot will pay for repairs to roads and bridges damaged by flood waters.
Wagner said Chesterfield County has mostly smaller projects that are within budget, and making repairs shouldn't be an issue.
Still, he urges drivers to report problems if they see them, and don't drive around barricaded roads or bridges.
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