Boiling Springs Residents Battling Road Closure Woes
Locals and Businesses Experience Road Closure Challenges
In Boiling Springs, South Carolina, Mother Nature has cast an ominous cloud over residents, daily commuters, and local businesses. The reason being a road closure issue that has irked the local community. Part of Old John Dodd Road, a two-laned primary street that aligns with Highway 176, was officially closed by the Spartanburg County earlier this month. The decision followed a severe storm that hit the area.
A Flawed Culvert Instigates the Closure
Post the storm, heavy rains triggered flooding on a segment of the road close to Shadow Dance Lane, leading to a sedan being stranded on August 3. Following the immediate storm aftermath and inspection, officials identified that the area where the vehicle was trapped was unfit for use. Spartanburg County announced on August 11 through a social media post that a segment of the road will remain closed until the end of the year due to a malfunctioning culvert, a structure that channels water around an obstacle or towards an underground water route.
Detailed Evaluation of the Culvert Underway
Scottie Kay Blackwell, the county’s communications manager in a statement mentioned, “We are currently evaluating the hydrology to ascertain the accurate dimensions for the culvert that will be installed to circumvent future flooding. Once determined, we will initiate a bid process to enlist services of a vendor to construct the culvert. Since these culverts are customized based on the road and stream geometry, the manufacturing and bidding process may take a few months.”
Residents and Businesses Suffer the Brunt
Meanwhile, neighboring residents and businesses are bearing the brunt of the situation. Alternate paths are causing considerable inconvenience. Additionally, Certified Import Repair, an auto repairing business, positioned only a few meters away from the closure, is experiencing declining customer visits due to the drop in traffic.
Equally affected are the residents of the neighborhood located near Hendrix Elementary School, First Baptist North Spartanburg Church, and Certified Import Repair. The road closure has disrupted their daily commuting, causing everyday hassles.
Mitigating The Problem: Spartanburg County District 2 Steps In
In response to the issue, Spartanburg County District 2 issued a statement indicating that the closure of Old John Dodd Road might add a few minutes to about 10 bus routes. It encouraged parents to download their bus app for real-time information about drop-off and pick-up times. They have also set up a bus delay line that parents can call anytime for information.
It’s clear that this road closure issue has caused considerable stir among the people and businesses of Boiling Springs. While the county is taking considerable steps for the resolution, the ongoing inconvenience underlines the need for quicker solutionsthat can alleviate the challenges faced by the locals.
