Laurens County Begins North Laurens Culvert Replacement

Laurens County, South Carolina, September 30, 2025

News Summary

Laurens County has begun replacing an undersized culvert on Chapman Road with a 16 feet 2 inches by 5 feet 1 inch aluminum box culvert, including grading, drainage work, and paving. Additional stormwater improvements at the Sullivan Road crossing will include green stormwater solutions to reduce erosion, filter pollutants, and improve infiltration. The project is funded in part by a $1,576,005 ASIP award with a $161,268 county cost share. SCOR will manage day-to-day construction and Laurens County will assume ownership and maintenance upon completion. Work is expected to last six to eight months and protect against a 25-year, 24-hour storm event.

Laurens County Stormwater Improvement Project — North Laurens Culverts Underway

Construction began the week of September 15, 2025. The project will replace an undersized culvert along Chapman Road with a 16 feet 2 inches by 5 feet 1 inch aluminum box culvert and includes grading, drainage work, and paving to support the replacement. Additional stormwater improvements will be completed at the Sullivan Road crossing. Project engineering, design, and construction are funded in part by a $1,576,005 award from SCOR’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Stormwater Infrastructure Program (ASIP), with Laurens County providing a cost share of $161,268.

Key project facts and timeline

A Notice to Proceed for the project was issued on July 21, 2025. SCOR is responsible for day-to-day project management and Laurens County will take ownership of and maintain the drainage improvements upon project completion. The work is expected to last 6 to 8 months and is anticipated to protect against flood risks from a 25-year, 24-hour storm event.

Scope and engineering approach

The project will upgrade an existing, undersized closed tunnel culvert under Chapman Road that currently channels water under obstructions like roads and could not accommodate present and anticipated levels of stormwater runoff. The upgrade will increase the culvert’s capacity to convey a larger quantity of stormwater under Chapman Road. The scope includes grading, drainage work, and paving/overlay to support the culvert replacement. The project uses a combination of natural (green) and manmade stormwater infrastructure. Additional stormwater improvements will be completed at the Sullivan Road crossing.

Funding and local role

Project engineering, design, and construction are funded in part by a $1,576,005 award from SCOR’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Stormwater Infrastructure Program (ASIP). Laurens County is providing a cost share of $161,268 for the project. To date, SCOR has committed approximately $65 million in ARPA Stormwater Infrastructure Program funds for improvements across South Carolina. SCOR will manage the day-to-day project activities while Laurens County will take ownership of and maintain the drainage improvements upon project completion.

Officials and statements

Melissa D. Ferqueron is Laurens County Interim Administrator. Melissa D. Ferqueron said: We are excited to see this project move forward because effectively managing stormwater is a critical aspect of ensuring the safety of our residents. Melissa D. Ferqueron stated that storm events as recent as Hurricane Helene have demonstrated the necessity of building infrastructure adequately suited to address future hazards.

Representative Mark N. Willis commented that given new developments and growth around the project, it is positive that the County is acting proactively to reduce the risk of future flood events.

Ben Duncan is Chief Resilience Officer. Ben Duncan said: We applaud Laurens County for including work beyond just upsizing the existing culverts. Ben Duncan said the project includes green stormwater solutions. SCOR/Ben Duncan stated green stormwater solutions will reduce erosion caused by flooding. SCOR/Ben Duncan stated green stormwater solutions will filter pollutants from floodwaters. SCOR/Ben Duncan stated green stormwater solutions will help stormwater infiltrate into the ground.

Why the work is needed

The County’s ASIP application states that stream crossings in northern Laurens County routinely flood. The ASIP application states such flooding results in roadway closures. The ASIP application states such flooding results in damage to county roads. The ASIP application states such flooding results in stream bank erosion. The existing culvert under Chapman Road is described as a closed tunnel channeling water under obstructions like roads. The existing Chapman Road culvert could not accommodate present and anticipated levels of stormwater runoff. The project will upgrade the existing culvert to convey a larger quantity of stormwater under the road.

Context from recent storms

Recent storm events have highlighted risk across the region. Hurricane Helene / Tropical Storm Helene has claimed multiple lives across South Carolina. The Department of Public Safety confirmed 20 deaths in the Upstate region and statewide reporting lists 41 people have died in South Carolina as a result of Helene. The National Hurricane Center said Helene is the most deadly in South Carolina since Hurricane Hugo in 1989, when 35 were killed. County-level reports include three deaths in Laurens County, eight deaths in Spartanburg County, seven deaths in Greenville County, six deaths in Aiken County, two deaths in Chester County, one death in Chesterfield County, one death in Greenwood County, three deaths in Newberry County, one death in Richland County, three deaths in Saluda County, and one death in York County. The Department of Public Safety confirmed a fifth life was reported in Anderson County related to the storm. Two people were struck by falling trees in their homes. One person died in a morning head-on collision. One individual was swept away by stormwater. Karen Denise McCall, 60, of Anderson, was killed Friday morning when her car was swept away on a flooded Harbin Road. A helicopter search team discovered Karen Denise McCall’s overturned Toyota sedan Saturday in a wooded area near the road. Christine Lynn Schmeiske, 55, died when a large tree fell across the center of her home at 419 W. Whitner in Anderson. Christine Lynn Schmeiske was trapped under heavy debris and pronounced dead at the scene. Sandy Lee Fisher, 54, of Anderson, died at 18 Williams Road when a tree fell through her home. Sandy Lee Fisher was found under debris.

Weather note

Considerable cloudiness. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 74 F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 62 F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Updated: September 30, 2025 @ 6:04 am. Updated: September 30, 2025 @ 5:44 am.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Key project features

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

Additional Resources

• GoLaurens: Laurens County Stormwater Improvement Project — North Laurens Culverts Underway
• Wikipedia: Stormwater
• FOX Carolina: SCOR Stormwater Improvement Construction Begins North Laurens County
• Google Search: SCOR ARPA Stormwater Infrastructure Program Laurens County
• Greenville News: Hurricane Helene impacts in Upstate South Carolina
• Google Scholar: Hurricane Helene 2025 South Carolina
• My Clinton News: Clinton will be looking for a new city manager
• Encyclopedia Britannica: City manager
• GoLaurens: Arrest report for September 27
• Google News: Laurens County arrest report

Author: Construction FL News

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