News Summary
The Greenville County School Board has authorized SCDOT to begin the replacement of the South Hudson Street bridge, damaged by flooding. This reconstruction will take about eight months. Additionally, weather forecasts predict strong storms may hit Greenville soon, emphasizing the need for vigilance. While temporary storm threats remain, long-term benefits from the bridge construction are anticipated, improving local traffic flow.
Greenville, SC – The Greenville County School Board has approved plans allowing the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) to proceed with the replacement of the South Hudson Street bridge, which suffered significant damage due to flooding from Tropical Storms Debby and Helene. The bridge replacement is part of an initiative to expedite the reconstruction of ten bridges across the state identified for emergency replacements. The reconstruction of this particular bridge is expected to take around eight months to complete once construction begins.
Additionally, local weather updates indicate that the immediate threat of storms across Greenville has diminished, with clear skies anticipated overnight. However, gusty winds and scattered showers are still predicted through Thursday evening. Meteorologist Sydney Sullivan warns that strong storms could develop on Friday, with a low to medium chance of severe weather. Potential impacts from Friday’s storms may include damaging winds, hail, and the possibility of isolated tornadoes, with rainfall expected to be less than a quarter-inch across much of the Upstate.
To facilitate the bridge replacement, a right-of-way acquisition from the Greenville County School District will be necessary. This acquisition involves a 0.028-acre plot of land adjacent to A.J. Whittenberg Elementary School, for which SCDOT will provide $50,000 in compensation to the district. The district’s land ownership transition is expected to be finalized by the end of the week, which will allow SCDOT to initiate the reconstruction work without delay.
According to the Greenville School District’s Superintendent, the current closure of the bridge has negatively impacted traffic flow in downtown Greenville. Nonetheless, officials highlight that the eventual repairs and new construction will offer significant improvements and benefits to local traffic patterns once completed.
In conjunction with this infrastructure update, a cold front is projected to sweep through the Upstate on May 30, bringing winds gusting up to 22 mph starting around 1 p.m. The National Weather Service has issued a severe weather outlook for the western Upstate ahead of this cold front’s arrival. This forecast includes a “slight risk” for severe weather, suggesting potential for damaging winds, localized flooding, and tornadoes as the front progresses through the region.
While the immediate forecast shows diminishing storms, vigilance is advised as outcomes from Friday’s weather system may vary depending on the speed and movement of the cold front. Following this period of inclement weather, a return to sunny conditions with highs expected in the low 80s is anticipated for the weekend.
As Greenville prepares for these developments, both the bridge reconstruction and weather outlook remain focal points for local officials and residents alike. Continued monitoring of the latest weather reports will be crucial as the area experiences dynamic atmospheric changes in the coming days.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- Greenville Online: Greenville School Board Approves Land Transfer
- First Alert 4: EF-2 Tornado Confirmed in Greenville
- Post and Courier: Severe Weather Forecast for Greenville
- The Weather Channel: Current Weather in Greenville, SC
- WYFF 4: Greenville Weather Update
- Google Search: Greenville South Carolina
Author: HERE Greenwood
The HERE Greenwood Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Greenwood community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Greenwood Our team includes lifelong Greenwood residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent listing of the historic Grier Building, Greenwood’s railroad and textile heritage, and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Piedmont Technical College programs). Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
