Born and raised in Upstate, South Carolina, I've witnessed a surge in growth like never before. Everywhere you look, new developments are sprouting—homes, businesses, and schools are springing up to accommodate the influx of people moving here. In fact, South Carolina was the #1 moved-to state last year, according to U-Haul. Yet, amidst all this growth, one crucial element is glaringly missing: our infrastructure is not being adequately updated or maintained. What little work is being done often amounts to nothing more than band-aid repairs.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) manages the
fourth-largest state-maintained highway system in the U.S., overseeing over 41,000 miles (around 41,299 miles) of roads, including interstates, U.S. routes, and extensive secondary roads, despite South Carolina being a smaller state in land area and population. This large network, encompassing over 90,000 lane miles and thousands of bridges, makes SCDOT's responsibility proportionally much greater compared to many other states, often leading to significant maintenance challenges and funding needs.  The SCDOT is also responsible for ensuring that our roads, bridges, and transportation networks can handle the increasing demands of our rapidly growing state. However, it seems they are falling behind on their responsibility to plan and execute necessary infrastructure upgrades. Insufficient infrastructure not only leads to traffic congestion and longer commute times but, more importantly, poses significant safety risks to the residents of our state.

We must investigate the true reason behind SCDOT's inability to keep up with our state's infrastructural needs. By understanding the root causes, whether it's funding issues, bureaucratic challenges, or lack of foresight, we can take informed steps toward a sustainable solution. For instance, increasing transparency in how resources are allocated and spent could uncover inefficiencies or mismanagement.

For example, the intersection at M&J’s Restaurant near Tyger River Fire Dept. in Lyman was approved to become a roundabout in 2022. Construction was slated for 2023 according to the SCDOT website, this was what was on their website until Summer of 2025 when I called their office to figure out why things had not started 2 YEARS LATER.  They could only blame the business on the corner being built, the SCDOT’s plans should have superseded that business if the project was already APPROVED before the business was built.  This is just one of many examples of how poorly our DOT is ran here, I just want to get to the bottom of WHY?

I take another example into consideration and even called the GOVERNORS OFFICE to make sure they were aware of how severe the situation was in Pickens County.  They had 11 bridges out at one time during 2025, many of my friends from Pickens said this was adding headaches and many minutes to their commutes to work and school.  NO ONE AT THE GOVERNORS OFFICE KNEW!  I was dumbfounded, this is an actual crisis now with the amount of people living here and continuing to move here. 

Moreover, South Carolina should consider adopting best practices from other rapidly growing states that have successfully managed infrastructure pressures. Public-private partnerships, innovative technology applications for traffic management, and community-led planning initiatives are strategies worth exploring.

Ultimately, investing in robust and future-proof infrastructure is not only a necessity but a right for all South Carolinians. We need the SCDOT to engage with local communities, engineers, and planners to create actionable and inclusive upgrades.

Please join me in calling for a comprehensive investigation into SCDOT's operations and constraints. Ensuring transparency and accountability will pave the way toward a safer and more efficient infrastructure for the future of South Carolina. Sign this petition to demand change and prioritize the safety and well-being of our communities.

Chart for each controlled by state highway showing SC as the 4th largest.  NC is 2nd on the chart and their roads still seem smoother than ours.  

https://americansforprosperity.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Two-Roads-State-Controlled-Miles.pdf