The South Carolina Department of Transportation has collected $185 million since July 2017 when the gas tax was implemented at the pump.
Drivers have been paying an extra .2 cents a gallon at the pump since last year as part of the Roads Bill, a initiative to raise money for road repairs.
The chief engineer for project delivery for SCDOT says being able to make these changes to state infrastructure is a long-time in the making.
“For the past 30 years we haven’t had the level of funded that we needed to improve our infrastructure,” said Randall Young.
So the extra money collected at the pump will be able to replace dozens of roads and bridges, which is being prioritized by condition…worst comes first.
Right now the department is in the process of making changes to a 20-mile-stretch of road in Lexington County. The department will resurface the road, widen the lanes, and install safety measures like rumble stripes.
Randall Young explained, “Unfortunately SC D-O-T is #1 in fatal accidents and serious injuries in the nation..so widening shoulders to accommodate people who may leave the roadway but have a chance to correct themselves and come back on the roadway.”
Each year the price at the pump will go up by .2 cents for the next 6 years. The department is committed to $261 million in projects.
To see a list of expected changes in your area click HERE.
