High-speed chase attorney in Bennettsville, SC

BENNETTSVILLE, S.C. (WPDE) — Driving through Bennettsville has become a maze of detours, road closures and changing traffic patterns as crews work on major water, sewer and road projects throughout the city.

While the improvements are expected to strengthen the city’s infrastructure, some business owners say the ongoing construction is creating challenges for them and their customers.

Two major projects are contributing to the disruptions.

One is a water and sewer improvement project funded through a $10 million grant from the South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority.

Bennettsville City Councilwoman Caraline Harpe, who represents District 3, said the work downtown is being completed in three phases and is nearing its end.

“The main focus of what you’re seeing downtown is water and sewer upgrades that is being funded through a 10 million dollar grant,” Harpe said. “It’s called a SCIPP grant and it’s from the South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority. And so it’s been going in three phases, and we’re actually nearing the end of that.”

The other major project is the Cheraw Street Bridge replacement, which is being handled by the South Carolina Department of Transportation. That project is expected to be completed next year.

For businesses in the area, the construction could mean continued disruptions for months.

Hope Crane and her husband, Jeff, co-own Magnolia on Main Cafe in downtown Bennettsville.

The couple said the detours, road closures and ongoing construction have taken a toll on their business and made it more difficult for customers to reach them.

For Hope Crane, one of the biggest frustrations has been communication between city leaders.

“The communication has probably been the most frustrating part of it,” she said.

Jeff Crane said the timing of the construction has also been difficult for the business, particularly during the spring and summer months, when they typically see more customers, including people traveling from outside the area.

“April through September is really heavy, especially with out of town traffic coming in and we just didn’t have anybody,” he said. “And it was like, ‘What is going on?’ and we had no idea.”

Crane said some road closures appeared to happen with little advance notice.

“All of a sudden you come in one day, and the street is closed and nobody knows,” he said.

He said customers who find it difficult to navigate the closures and detours may simply choose to go somewhere else.

The Cranes said they would like more advance notice about when roads will close and how long those closures are expected to last.

But Hope Crane said their concerns extend beyond the impact on their business.

“It’s not just about customers; and it’s not just about money,” she said. “It’s about we really care about our people and we want to make sure they’re okay.”

Bennettsville City Administrator William Simon told ABC 15 that the downtown construction is expected to be completed by the end of next month.

However, there is still no specific timeline for all the detours in the city.

Simon said that is because the projects are being handled by different entities and contractors, with different funding sources, deadlines and responsibilities.

In a statement to ABC 15, Simon said:

“These improvements represent a substantial investment in Bennettsville’s infrastructure, and while getting to the finish line has been challenging, the resulting improvements to our water, sewer, transportation, and roadway systems will benefit the community for many years to come.”

City officials also acknowledge that the project has not always gone smoothly.

Harpe asked residents to remain patient as the work continues.

“I’d like for everyone to know please be patient with us with the city, with the people out here working,” Harpe said. “And just know that we’re doing our best. There have been some hiccups in the process as there will be with a project like this, something we’re not used to seeing in a small town.”

Sections of Cheraw Street and West Main Street remain closed as construction continues.

Harpe said city leaders are also working on ways to improve communication with residents about road closures and detours.

She recommends residents sign up for the city’s “Text My Gov” service, a text-message alert system that provides government-related updates. Click here to learn more.

BENNETTSVILLE, SC (WMBF) - Cracked roads, construction detours and decades of deferred maintenance: Bennettsville drivers are frustrated, and city leaders say help is on the way.

Several roads in the area have cracks, bumps, or holes, some of which have been patched up. But even so, people said the road conditions are not up to par.

“It’s awful to buy a brand new car when you go down the road, and you got so many bumps,” said Don McAlister.

City administrator William Simon said some city-owned roads have not been maintained for decades, but the city is on a path to improve them.

Simon said County Transportation Committee (CTC) grant funding helped repair four roads. According to a Facebook post made Sunday, the roads that were paved were chosen by the CTC. The South Carolina Department of Transportation also helped in road upgrades.

Simon added the city would like to pave more city-owned roads, but they lack the funding needed and are working to secure more money by working with the state and other agencies.

“We need more funding,” Simon said. “We want to be able to maintain and pave more city-owned roads, and we just don’t have the funding for it.”

But the roads aren’t the only thing people are frustrated about.

There are several construction projects happening simultaneously around the city. Simon said ongoing projects are from different agencies.

These projects are funded by a 2021 South Carolina Infrastructure Investment Program (SCIIP) grant and are aimed at improving infrastructure, such as water line upgrades and sewer upgrades, according to Simon. He said city utilities have not been heavily invested in for decades.

Because city utilities are under the road, construction may impact the streets due to crews having to cut into the road.

“So when our citizens see that, it is a terrible inconvenience to them, and we try to keep them informed so that we don’t disrupt their lives too much, but that is what happens because of the nature of those utilities locations,” said Simon.

Though the project aims to be beneficial in the long run, all of the work happening at once across the city has created a headache for drivers navigating construction zones and road closures.

“It’s terrible. But any which way you go, you find something,” said Donna Taylor. “Cause I went Saturday, I was going to the graveyard, and they were doing construction down that way, and I had to go another way, and then I went that way, and they were doing construction there.”

Simon said most work is slated to be complete by the end of the calendar year and asked people to be patient.

Those with concerns can contact City Hall at (843) 479-9001 or visit bennettsvillesc.com.

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