PLEASE BE ADVISED: PCL Civil Constructors, Inc. and the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) expect to completely close Ben Sawyer Boulevard (SC 703) over the Ben Sawyer Bridge for 10 days (236 hours) no sooner than Friday, February 5, 2010.

This notice and the placement of variable message signs (VMS) on Ben Sawyer Boulevard and the Isle of Palms Connector are being provided to give at least seven days of preparation time for motorists, residents, and business owners.

For access on and off of Sullivan’s Island during the bridge closure, the signed detour route is Coleman Boulevard (SC 703), Chuck Dawley Boulevard (I-526), Isle of Palms Connector (SC 517), Palm Boulevard, and Middle Street.

A full closure is necessary to position the new swing span and approaches onto the existing bridge’s foundation piers. The bridge’s design-build contractor, PCL Civil Constructors Inc., will be working two shifts, 24 hours a day, with the goal to complete closure activities as soon as possible. There are both financial incentives and dis-incentives in the SCDOT contract to encourage minimum disruption to traffic and businesses.

The final road closure start time is connected to the closure of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway which can be impacted by weather and tides. Currently, the Waterway is anticipated to close on Wednesday, February 3, 2010.

SCDOT will continue to update the public throughout the waterway and road closure with message boards, the project website www.BenSawyerBridge.org, media notifications, and now with Tweets from SCDOT_BenSawyer.