Bull Swamp Bridge to reopen in August after months of repair

ORANGEBURG, S.C. — After months of construction and community disruption, the Bull Swamp Bridge in the Orangeburg County town of North is expected to reopen in the coming days, according to town officials.

The bridge, which was severely damaged by floodwaters last November, has undergone extensive repairs. Since then, construction crews have worked continuously to restore the vital connector.

“We get 10,000 car coming through here every day, so we haven’t been getting this, and people have been taking detours in Neeses and hurting revenue and business in North, like new restaurants and gas stations, so we missed this,” North Mayor Jeff Washington said.

The bridge’s closure has impacted residents and local businesses alike. 

While touring the site, a local contractor shared with WLTX that three key items still need to be completed before reopening: installation of guard rails, road striping, and raised pavement markers.

One resident, Joe Nance, who lives next to the bridge says, he is looking forward to the re-opening of North Road and so are his neighbors.

“You have a lot of people who say when they come to Orangeburg they have to drive far and that’s the biggest challenge,” Nance explained. “You know, so 15 minutes everyday, if you drive that road is a pretty big detour, so it will make a big difference.”

The mayor also said improvements were made to help the bridge withstand future storms.

“Well, they put down six new pipes under the bridge that will flow the stream through, and I don’t think the dam will go back up, so I think we’re in good shape. I think it will be able to hold the water in case of heavy flows,” Washington said.

With hurricane season underway, Washington said he’s hopeful the upgrades will provide long-term protection for the town.

If the bridge does not open by Sunday, the next possible reopening date could be in mid-August, the mayor added.