A major route around downtown Greenville will be closed soon. Here’s why & for how long

A major thoroughfare around downtown Greenville will be closed for six weeks beginning May 3.

The four-lane Church Street bridge is in the last phase of a year-long project estimated to cost the State Department of Transportation $30 million.

Crews will be removing the concrete through a process called hydrodemolition, which uses high-pressure water jets that don’t damage structural steel rebar or cause micro-cracks.

The bridge is expected to reopen Jun 12.

Church Street is also known as U.S. Highway 29 and is a major thoroughfare for drivers entering the city from Interstate 385.

“As the bridge has aged, and traffic volumes have increased, the condition of the structure has deteriorated to the point that a large-scale rehabilitation is necessary,” DOT said on its website.

Average daily volume was 26,300 vehicles in 2021. DOT predicts there will be 38,000 on the road by 2039.

“Based on the Federal Highway Administration’s InfoBridge Database, the bridge no longer meets current design and safety standards and the structure is currently considered only to be in fair condition,” DOT said.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation called the bridge one of Greenville’s most prominent landmarks.

The bridge deck has been improved, drainage system updated and the overall condition of the structure has been addressed. The work also included steel girder painting, joint sealing, and fixing the concrete.

One side of the sidewalk will be increased to 9 feet wide from 5 feet, and stairs down to McBee Street will be replaced. Better lighting and a handrail are included in the project.

The bridge was built in 1959 and extends 0.32 miles from Washington Street to Camperdown Way.

Two lanes of the four-lane bridge remained open during the first phases of construction and all were open during the March Madness basketball tournaments.

Multiple detours will be offered as well as an option to avoid downtown entirely by using Pleasantburg Drive and Interstate 85.