A public forum with the South Carolina Department of Transportation to discuss road projects took place at Platt Springs Methodist Church in Springdale Monday night. One of the topics addressed was the repair of the dam on Wilton Road.

The road has been impassable since an earthen dam on the road was washed out in the flood of October 2015.

It’s a complicated process, with legal considerations, said Rep. Micah Caskey, who represents the area in the State House. He attended Monday’s meeting.

The SCDOT presented three possibilities to repair the road.
Caskey said one option could have Wilton Road opened in a year.

“Option one is to rebuild the road in its current location. That option requires the dam owners, private citizens, to agree to certain conditions, like allowing SCDOT to tie-in the road to the dam and the dam owners agreeing to continue their maintenance of the dam,” Caskey said.

Caskey said option one is preferred by the SCDOT. He said the SCDOT is hopeful the dam owners will agree to the plan by the end of September. Caskey said some property owners have already agreed.

He said option one will require an environmental impact study, but would probably result in the road being opened in about 12 months.

Springdale Mayor Michael Bishop was also at the meeting. He said option one, at about $600,000, will be the least costly of three options SCDOT presented.

Also attending the meeting were: Lexington County Council Chairwoman Debbie Summers, Springdale Town Council members: Viki Sox Fecas and Steve Hallman, West Columbia City Council members Trevor Bedell and Mike Green, were at the meeting, as were Sen. Katrina Shealy, and Rep. Mac Toole.

Caskey said option two is to build, or redirect, the road on the downstream side of the existing road. This approach would require a bigger environmental impact study, as well as the acquisition of the property in that area before construction could begin. option two would take about 12-18 months before the road could be opened.

Option three is to build a bridge over the existing dam and road. Option three would cost upwards of $5-to-$6 million and take 18-24 months.
“In my opinion, this isn’t really a viable option,” said Caskey.