The South Carolina Department of Transportation and their contractor, Flatiron-Zachry, have been constructing the I-85 and I-385 new intersection in Greenville, South Carolina since February of 2016. The project will improve the safety of the traveling public, increase public capacity for this interchange and create a financial boost for the economy in a very fast-growing region of this county. 

The scope of this project is to construct several new bridges and overpasses all while widening the lanes going to these new bridges. In total, the project will have ten bridge structures constructed, two new flyovers, some rehabilitation done to two current bridge structures, and some modification on the foundations of one existing bridge.

Hot dip galvanizing has been specified on several bridges on this I-85 corridor portion in South Carolina for many years. The reason for the hot dip specification is due to the proximity of these bridges when winter weather arrives to this South Carolina “Upstate” area. Most of the time this area of the corridor will see the creation of ice and a wintry mix of frozen rain and sleet. The South Carolina Department of Transportation will try to improve the wintry weather road conditions using different types of brine that contain salt. This salt can seep into the concrete and create a corrosion problem for non-coated reinforcing steel. 

The concern for a future corrosion problem combined with the maintenance free longevity of galvanized reinforcing is the reason for this specification.