Damaged roads worsen from heavy rain in Orangeburg County

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WIS) - It’s been seven months since flash flooding washed out many roads in Orangeburg County.

However, residents expressed frustration about many of the roads around the county, saying they are getting worse.

Residents say heavy rain since the flooding in November is causing a pond in the Oakmont Dr. neighborhood to overflow, further washing the road away.

Cannon Bridge Rd., which also washed out during the flood, is still not repaired.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation’s (SCDOT) road closure map shows six roads are still closed from the November flood.

Neighbors showed WIS the overflow of the pond. Saying they are worried things could get worse.

“This is how that other lake started. It overflowed and started washing it out. And this one here, if this one overflows enough, then this is gonna end up like the front lake. The whole thing is ridiculous,” said Oakmont Drive resident Reginald Brewer.

Residents near Cannon Bridge Road in Cope expressed their frustration that the road was still washed out.

“Oh, it’s very frustrating,” said Melissa Hughes. “I even had a guy, yesterday, who was like ‘Why don’t we all get together and I’ll put the cement pipes in. Fix it ourselves.’ Everybody’s like, yeah, that’s a good idea. But we know it’s got to be done by [SCDOT].”

SCDOT says it is researching the pond on Oakmont Drive with the state Department of Environmental Services.

SCDOT says the research will asses what type of pipe structure will be necessary for better waterflow in the pond.

A spokesperson says it plans to have a reconstruction plan by the end of the summer.

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