MONETTA, S.C. (WJBF) -UPDATE: Anthony Burns with South Carolina Department of Transportation’s Aiken Office tells WJBF the bridge along Old Shoals Road which crosses McTier Creek near Mt. Pleasant Road will remain closed until further inspection by SC DOT can be done.
The roadway was closed Tuesday morning due to 6 inches of sudden rainfall that caused high flows of water passing from a local dam.
SC DHEC tells WJBF that the nearby dam has been inspected today and was not breached nor overtopped during today’s rainfall event. The rain did cause a large amount of discharge from the pond and dam’s spillway.
SC DOT’s Anthony Burns said that bridge inspectors came out to inspect the roadway along Old Shoals, but it is going to remain closed until water is off the bridge and the water below has receded enough for a full bridge inspection. Along to SC DOT, the bridge is a relatively new structure.
Residents in the area and commuters who take Old Shoals Road near Monetta should find an alternate route, as the roadway near Mt. Pleasant is expected to be closed until the full structure can be inspected.
A dirt road portion of Old Shoals Road near Wire Road is also closed due to extensive erosion during the rain event.
According to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, the dam did not fall.
Derrek Asberry, S.C. DHEC Public Information Officer said, Our regional dam safety engineer based in Aiken visited the dam earlier and observed that it did not fail, nor was it overtopped. His observation was that the flooding of Old Shoal Road is a result of high flows passing through the dam’s primary and auxiliary spillway. Local authorities are aware of the situation and are taking appropriate actions.
Heavy rain has caused some major flooding in Monetta, S.C.
According to NewsChannel 6 meteorologist, John Lynn, the area of Monetta has gotten 5-6 inches of rain in the latest 12 hours.
Officials say that this is all overflow from Shealy Pond near-by.
Earlier reports said the bridge was in danger of collapsing, authorities say that is no longer the case.
