The Times and Democrat - Clyburn bridge hits roadblock

COLUMBIA – Environmental groups in South Carolina filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday to stop what they call senseless construction of a $150 million road and bridge project over Lake Marion.

Rep. Jim Clyburn has long advocated the project, saying it would help bring economic development to the rural, low-income area and reunite black communities split by the lake’s creation decades ago.

“The people I represent tell me this is what they need. This is what they want,” Clyburn, D-S.C., said in a phone interview. “This project has been important to them for decades.”

He called it one piece of an economic-boosting puzzle that includes a regional water system, the area’s scenic beauty, and an inland port.

But environmentalists and Republican leaders call the bridge an unneeded project that would destroy wetlands and disturb wildlife habitats for no clear economic gain.

“This project makes no sense,” said David Farren, attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center, which is representing the Wildlife Federation, Coastal Conservation League and Audubon groups of South Carolina.

The lawsuit claims the state Transportation Department wrote a flawed environmental impact report that ignored data showing the project would lose money and concerns about the surrounding natural areas. The suit also names the Federal Highway Administration, which oversaw the study and authorized construction.

Clyburn said the report shows the project won’t harm the environment, and the plaintiffs just won’t accept that. “They already have a preconceived notion about this and no amount of facts would in any way get in the way of those,” he said.

The lawsuit hopes to halt the permitting process of a 7-mile road and 3-mile bridge linking Lone Star in Calhoun County to Rimini in Sumter County.

“The bottom line is, SCDOT is pushing a wasteful construction project while turning a blind eye to the project’s true cost,” said law center attorney Blan Holman.

An updated estimate puts the project at $150 million. Congress has designated about $25 million so far, according to the state Transportation Department. Spokesman Pete Poore, said the agency does not comment on pending litigation. A Federal Highway Administration spokeswoman also said her agency didn’t comment on pending lawsuits.

Last December, the Transportation Department sought a permit to fill, excavate or clear 15 acres of wetlands for the project. During the public comment period in February and March, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers received more than 700 letters and 90 percent of them opposing construction, said Richard Darden, the Corps’ project manager.

The Corps also received petitions with 750 signatures against and 1,500 for the project, he said. Clyburn said the petition signed by people who live in the area should be given more weight.

The state Transportation Department is reviewing the public comments. The Corps is awaiting its response and seeking more information before deciding whether to grant or deny the permit. There is no timetable for a decision, Darden said.

The connector would degrade what Holman called the “crown jewel of central South Carolina.” Areas surrounding the proposed bridge include the Congaree National Park, Manchester State Forest and the Santee National Wildlife Refuge.

About 80 percent of the project’s estimated cost would come from the federal government, Farren said, who along with Holman, added the money would be better spent on transportation projects elsewhere in the area.

Gov. Mark Sanford, a Republican who has long said the project was fiscally irresponsible, applauded the groups’ efforts.

“We just don’t think it makes sense to spend upwards of $100 million on a project through pristine wetlands when there’s a perfectly good bridge down the road, and one even closer in need of repair,” said Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer, referring to Interstate 95 and state Highway 601.

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Marsha wrote on September 19, 2006 9:35 PM:"There are so many people in that part of South Carolina living below or at the poverty level. If we want a productive thriving ecomomy, with people that are self sufficient and living without depending on the government for assistance, then I Strongly reccommend support for Mr. Clyburn. Building that connection will encourage industry as well a provide easy acess to and from cities that have jobs. I have always supported Mr. Clyburn and always will. He is doing a wonderful job! "

confisus sum wrote on September 19, 2006 10:25 AM:"An economic cost-benefit analysis conducted for the Southern Environmental Law Center found that expenditures on the Connector would exceed expected project benefits by more than $48 million. Despite these findings, SCDOT still refuses to analyze the project's economic costs and expected benefits. In 2003, NBC News featured the Connector in its "Fleecing of America" segment. Two nearby bridges-the U.S. Route 601 Congaree River bridge and the Interstate 95 bridge over Lake Marion-already provide adequate crossings for area traffic. The Connector would do little to improve mobility and economic conditions in Calhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg, and Sumter counties. SCDOT's July 2000 feasibility study found that the Connector would shorten travel times between the towns of Orangeburg and Sumter by as little as three minutes, and would not trigger significant economic development. On the contrary, the road could undermine local businesses that rely on revenues from visitors to natural areas threatened by the road. South Carolina is struggling to maintain its existing roads and bridges. SCDOT has warned that 2,000 of the state's highway bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, and that 100 or more of those are in the four-county region of the proposed project. SCDOT has identified $56.9 billion in state transportation needs over the next twenty years-a substantial portion of which is for highway and bridge maintenance-but at current funding rates, the state will fall $30.6 billion short of that total. With this in mind, "anonymous", please refrain from your racist overtones. While you blindly follow flawed and wasteful spending of tax dollars, because the individual proposing it has attached race to his platform, you remove any credibility you may have to effectively discuss this topic."

Anonymous wrote on September 17, 2006 3:37 PM:"You are some closed minded rural thinkers no wonder the state lags behind Ga. and N.C. You cannot possibly think that continue to think in that same 1950's style of thinking is going to produce jobs and growth in S.C. The leadership in S.C. is so far behind in their way of thinking it takes roads and infrasture to encourage industries to relocate or locate in areas such as Lone Star. There is a great need for a direct route between the growing cities of Orangeburg and Sumter and would do a lot bring connect those cites with Calhoun County in the middle. Swamps,deer and agriculture will find it's place and your wanting to continue to have a rural way of live and way of thinking will keep that part of S.C. in the 1950's forever. Think outside of the nine dots rural white thinkers"

Thomas wrote on September 15, 2006 8:43 PM:"If the bridge brings economic development to that area then I strongly support Mr. Clyburn. Thats the problem with people in small towns and conservative views.. you fight change and growth, therefore you remain ignorant and closed minded. Change is Good. "

My 2 Cents wrote on September 15, 2006 10:41 AM:"Who with two brain cells that synapse would think that spending an estimated $150 million dollars for a bridge would be a solution for anything more than finding a way to have our tax dollars literally thrown into a lake? It is always amazing to me how many people think that money spent by the federal and/or state government is "free money". Are these people not tax payers, too? Would this bridge be so important to these communities if they had to pay to use it each time they crossed it? No..I'm sure they would choose the old route. In the meantime, if built ALL OF US pay for a few to cross it."

confisus sum wrote on September 14, 2006 10:30 AM:"Voted NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends. (Dec 2005) Voted NO on making permanent an increase in the child tax credit. (May 2004) Voted NO on making the Bush tax cuts permanent. (Apr 2002) Voted NO on $99 B economic stimulus: capital gains & income tax cuts. (Oct 2001) Voted NO on Tax cut package of $958 B over 10 years. (May 2001) Voted NO on eliminating the Estate Tax ("death tax"). (Apr 2001) Voted NO on $46 billion in tax cuts for small business. (Mar 2000) Rated 21% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes. (Dec 2003) I think the above information proves that Mr. Clyburn is not interested in saving our tax dollars, but rather spending them. I am sure he would not want to reduce taxes. This would reduce the funds necessary to complete his legacy monuments. Disgusting."

ed wrote on September 13, 2006 2:33 PM:"I,too, would like to know where the petition was passed around. I grew up in that community and still have family and friends there; all of who say the same thing. It would be a gross waste of taxpayer money to build the bridge; not to mention forever changing one of the most beautiful areas of our state."

disillusioned droog wrote on September 13, 2006 2:08 PM:"Willie Dantzler: You really gave me a great laugh. You're right!"

Willie Dantzler wrote on September 13, 2006 1:42 PM:"I have a perfect solution, why doesnt the federal government just give a 10,000 dollar gas card to every resident of lone star that had planned on using the new bridge. We'd save at least 100 million doing that. And everyone would be happy. The residents in the area would have gas money for when they want to drive 30 miles out the way to get to the other side of the lake. Environmentalist would have their pristine environment(except for the big RR Track right in the middle) and Cyburn gets his name in the paper one more time. Everyone is happy!"

Tim Chappell wrote on September 13, 2006 12:52 PM:"I drive on roads everyday within the city limits of Orangeburg,including the one I live on,That are in dire need of repair and Rep Clyburn wants to build a bridge in the middle of a swamp.Rep Clyburn should drive around his district one day and see for himself what 125 million dollars really need to be spent on."

confisus sum wrote on September 13, 2006 10:59 AM:"While we debate this ridiculous waste of tax dollars, we should review what Mr. Clyburn is attempting to do. He is attempting to establish a legacy of personal monuments. This bridge, and the 75 MILLION dollar Clyburn transportation center at SCSU. I wonder how much support the $225 MILLION dollars spent on these two monuments would provide to his constituents? I venture to say quite a bit. His disgusting use of race in pushing this bridge monument, shows just how low he is willing to go to get his name remembered. But if built, when people cross this bridge, they won't remember it as a positive legacy of Mr. Clyburn, but rather as another example of a politician wasting tax dollars to further his own ego, while ignoring the needs of his people. "

Cole wrote on September 13, 2006 8:48 AM:"I don't know where the petition was passed around because I would have signed it. We have too many roads in SC that are in bad need of repair. When you call DOT they say there isn't any money for repairs. So why build more roads we can't have fixed?"

James Murray wrote on September 13, 2006 6:31 AM:"Why would we want to build a bridge from nowhere to an even more remote area? We have more pressing needs in South Carolina."

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