High-rise bridge leading into Beaufort nears completion

Construction to widen Highway 70 in one town and add a high-rise bridge has been going on for just over a year and now the finish line for the project is in sight.

The 65-foot high-rise bridge is just one part of the Department of Transportation's $66.4 million project and it is now just a few months away from completion.

Construction on the Gallant's Channel Bridge began on June 1, 2016 and officials with the Town of Beaufort say DOT engineers tell them the bridge is nearly done and is expected to be open in mid to late September.

As part of this construction, Highway 70 leading into Beaufort is also going to be widened to four lanes and a new bridge on Turner Street will take travelers to the historic Downtown Beaufort area.

As the project nears completion, town officials say they are excited about the new opportunities this project has opened up.

"We're excited about that there are some real unique opportunities for Beaufort that we hope we'll be able to capitalize on, but also change some things here for folks, like changing some traffic patterns will be safer for folks and, all and all, we think it's going to help us out in the long run," says Kyle Garner, the director of Planning and Inspections.

The high-rise bridge will replace the current entryway into Beaufort where drivers had to drive over a drawbridge. As a second part of this project, the drawbridge will be taken out.

Town officials say they hope to have plans for a new town park in that area complete by the end of this year.

Construction to take the bridge out will begin in next year.

Town officials say they think the Turner Street Bridge, which will lead to downtown, will ultimately make it easier for drivers and help businesses.

The Turner Street Bridge project is also expected to be complete in mid to late September.

The Department of Transportation says this new traffic pattern will help keep traffic flowing better by eliminating bridge openings.