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Article published: May 2, 2005
Sanford uses kayaking to push agenda
Governor's fitness outing promotes conservation of area swamp

SPARKLEBERRY SWAMP — The Spanish moss waved gently from the trees on Sunday as a mid-afternoon breeze pushed through.

Nearby, the water of Sparkleberry Swamp slowly ebbed by.

But Gov. Mark Sanford says that "unique sound" of silence could be taken for good if a $110 million proposed bridge, dubbed the Briggs-DeLaine-Pearson Connecter, linking Lone Star in Orangeburg County to Rimini in Clarendon County is built.

"We wouldn't be listening to birds out here, we'd be listening to tractor-trailers," Sanford said of the proposed bridge.

Sanford spoke of the "pristine" swampland and how building the bridge would destroy the habitat that is home to various wildlife, including several endangered or threatened species such as the bald eagle and red-cockaded woodpecker, during a two-hour kayak trip Sunday as part of his Family Fitness Challenge.

The proposal's key supporter, U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., says the bridge will not destroy the swamp's natural beauty, but will help open the area for industrial development, bring in much-needed jobs and improve the local school system.
The bridge would connect Rimini and Lone Star by crossing the northern tip of Lake Marion.

The 2.8-mile bridge spanning the Santee River would be part of a 9.6-mile road development that would begin west of Lone Star at S.C. 33 and S.C. 267, traveling along secondary state road 326 until reaching the lake.

At that point, the bridge would cross the waters, running north of and parallel to the railroad until reaching Rimini.

According to a state Department of Transportation survey, the approach would force three landings, including Pack's Landing, to be relocated.

Once in Rimini, the road would continue to follow the railroad until reaching secondary state road 52 in Sumter County.

Sanford said that the project would save three minutes in driving time between the region's two major cities, Orangeburg and Sumter.
Clyburn, who rallied with his supporters off Interstate 95 on Sunday, declined the governor's invitation to kayak the swamp, but Sanford said he hopes Clyburn will take it upon himself to look at the area and its "unique beauty that is becoming harder and harder to come by."

Sanford offered another invitation following the trip, saying Clyburn should go, "If not with me, then at some point on his own.

"We all have our own personal perspectives," Sanford said.

The governor invited the Bowman family of Orangeburg to join him on Sunday to gain their own perspective of the area as well.

"It seems like a lot of money to spend for a small population," Marilyn Bowman said of the proposal. She and her husband, Dick, and daughter Jessica were gearing up for a hike of the area on Sunday when Sanford extended the invitation to kayak to them. The bridge "would upset the true beauty of this area. We would hate to see it messed up with stores and fast-food restaurants."

J.T. Martin, a Sumter resident and a Central Carolina Technical College environmental education student, said he came out to find out what was going on for himself after hearing of the governor's kayak trip.

Martin, who is part of the school's Earth Club and kayaks the swamp often, said cutting three minutes of drive time for a commute would not be worth damaging the area.

"It would be a shame to destroy something like this when it's not necessary," he said.

Contact Staff Writer Crystal Owens at cowens@theitem.com or 803-774-1270.