Balfour Beatty Joint Venture Breaks Ground on I-95 Bridges over Lake Marion Replacement Project

April 22, 2026

Clarendon and Orangeburg Counties, S.C. - Balfour Beatty, in joint venture with McLean, joined the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to mark the groundbreaking of the Interstate 95 bridges over Lake Marion replacement project, one of the most significant infrastructure investments in South Carolina.

"Our team is excited to break ground on a project that reflects a shared commitment to delivering critical infrastructure along one of the most important transportation corridors on the East Coast," said Mark Johnnie, senior vice president and chief operating officer of U.S. Infrastructure operations at Balfour Beatty. "We are proud to partner with SCDOT and McLean to advance a project of this scale and complexity that will improve safety, reliability and long-term mobility for the traveling public."

The project will replace the existing northbound and southbound bridges over Lake Marion, originally constructed in the 1960s, with modern structures designed to improve safety, reliability and mobility along the I-95 corridor. This critical route serves as a major artery for freight and passenger travel along the East Coast.

The project is supported by a significant federal investment made possible through one of the largest federal discretionary grant awards ever received by SCDOT, underscoring the strong partnership between state and federal leaders to modernize America's infrastructure. Following a concerted effort by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, the $175 million grant award represents a USDOT milestone as the first federal grant agreement under the Bridge Investment Program.

I-95 is one of the most heavily traveled interstate highways in the nation, connecting major markets from Florida to Maine. The Lake Marion bridges serve as a vital link in that network, carrying thousands of vehicles each day, including a significant volume of commercial traffic.

The project includes full replacement of both bridge structures and improvements to the surrounding roadway approaches. Once complete, the new bridges will meet current engineering standards and provide long-term durability with reduced maintenance needs. Construction will be phased to minimize disruptions to traffic along this vital interstate corridor.

For quotes from other officials attending please visit scdot.org.