SCDOT seeks public comment on replacing Simms Reach Road bridge near Kingstree

The South Carolina Department of Transportation is seeking public comment on a proposal to replace the Simms Reach Road bridge over the Black River in Williamsburg County, a project that also involves acquiring 1.5 acres of right of way from land proposed for Black River State Park.

The development was reported by Live 5 News on July 23, 2026. The bridge project is in Williamsburg County, where Kingstree serves as the county seat and county-government center.

Bridge proposal includes park-related property

SCDOT’s proposed action combines two issues with a direct local connection: transportation access along Simms Reach Road and the future use of property associated with a proposed state park.

The agency is seeking public comment on replacing the bridge rather than announcing a completed construction project. The 1.5 acres is identified as proposed right of way, meaning the reported plan involves acquiring land needed for the road project. The acquisition has not been described as completed.

The affected property is part of land proposed for Black River State Park. The park’s proposed status is significant to the project because the right-of-way request could affect how future recreation property and the road corridor fit together. The proposal does not establish that the park has been created.

Potential local impact

For residents who use Simms Reach Road, replacing the bridge could change how people travel through the area while the project advances. The bridge’s location over the Black River makes the proposal relevant to local access, even though the available description does not provide a construction schedule or details about traffic changes during work.

The project also creates an intersection between a state transportation decision and a proposed public recreation site. People with an interest in the road, nearby property or the future park can use the public-comment process to raise concerns or offer views while SCDOT considers the plan.

Williamsburg County’s government is based at 201 W. Main St. in Kingstree, reinforcing the town’s connection to decisions involving the county. The bridge itself is described as a Williamsburg County project, not as a project located in Kingstree proper.

The next known step is SCDOT’s public-comment process. The proposal remains subject to that process, and the reported development does not announce final construction funding, a start date, a completion date or the outcome of public comments.