Street is open for traffic in time for the USC-Georgia game  

               The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has completed repairs and resurfacing on Huger Street in the block just south of Blossom Street due to a large sinkhole that appeared in the northbound lanes on August 27, 2008. This section of Huger Street reopened one day ahead of schedule on Thursday afternoon September 11, 2008. The sinkhole that measured 18-feet in depth resulted from a collapsed storm drain.

               When the problem appeared SCDOT engineers worked with law enforcement agencies and the City of Columbia to design a detour around the sinkhole, including a lane reversal plan that allowed two lanes of Huger Street to be used as a route to and from Williams-Brice Stadium for the August 28 football game between the University of South Carolina (USC) and North Carolina State University.

               All lanes of Huger Street were closed on Friday August 29 to allow the repair work to resume. The entire street was closed in that area due to the depth of the sinkhole. This precaution was taken for the safety of the workers making the repairs and for the safety of the public. Over the course of two weeks, SCDOT Maintenance crews worked upwards of 14-hour days to complete the project. The work to repair the sinkhole included:

• installation of 132 feet of concrete pipe
• installation of two 60-inch drainage structures
• construction of three catch basins
• installed curb, gutter and sidewalk
• the excavated area required over 1,000 cubic yards of fill material
• resurfacing the street required 725 tons of asphalt, with new pavement markings and line striping.
• The project involved environmental and archaeological issues in addition to the construction.
• Despite weather delays, the project was finished one day ahead of schedule.

               SCDOT set a deadline of September 12 to have the work completed in time for the USC-Georgia football game. Huger Street is one of the major traffic arteries used by those who attend games at Williams Brice Stadium.  Transportation Secretary H. B. “Buck” Limehouse Jr. said it was important to accommodate football fans for Saturday’s game, particularly Georgia fans from out of town. “We put a high priority on having this street available for game traffic before Saturday, especially Georgia fans who may want to get an early start on their way home following the Gamecock’s victory over the Bulldogs Saturday afternoon,” said Limehouse.

               The game is scheduled for 3:30 Saturday September 13, 2008 at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia.

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