Grant will pay for bridge repair

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham today announced the South Carolina Department of Transportation will receive a $1,852,750 Emergency Relief (ER) grant for the repair of a collapsed bridge on State Road 209 at King's Creek in Cherokee and York counties.

The bridge collapsed Aug. 26 as a result of heavy rains and flooding associated with Tropical Storm Fay.

ER program funds can be used for the repair or reconstruction of Federal-aid highways and roads on Federal lands that have suffered serious damage as a result of natural disasters or catastrophic failures from an external cause.

These funds are awarded to a state after the president or the governor issues a formal emergency declaration and the state files a request for ER for the cost of damages to its eligible highways.

Eligible repair work includes emergency repairs needed to restore essential traffic, minimize the extent of damage, or protect the remaining facilities as well as permanent repairs necessary to restore the highway to its pre-disaster condition.

The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation.