Monetta bridge shut down, overflowing with water for over 12 hours

AIKEN COUNTY, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - There was incredible video out of Aiken County where a bridge near Monetta was overflowing with water for almost 12 hours. The bridge was shut down while officials worked to figure out what caused all the water to gush.

A South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control dam safety engineer says the dam did not fail or overflow. The water came from nearby Shealy Pond, and it was not the first time local residents have had problems with this bridge.

“2015 was similar to what we have now except it was up over the bank the water came up over the bank and the bridge half of it went out in just a short time a matter of hours,” said Joann Keatts, a resident.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation was waiting for the water to stop before they can decide if the bridge is safe to use.

Neighbors say it took 18 months for the bridge to be finished after it flooded in 2015.

Officials say Shealy Pond was overflowing Tuesday after heavy rainfall. Neighbors are worried about the inconvenience potential bridge damage will have.

“Well, it’s pretty annoying because it takes me an extra 10 minutes if I go into Aiken an extra five miles around anywhere I go if I go to visit someone on mount pleasant then I’ve got to go all the way around,” said Keatts.

But it isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a major safety issue. Old Shoals Road is a major cut-through route for commuters and school buses.

“Well, I think that was a scary situation this morning because my neighbor said the bus went over it and that’s when he called in when he saw the school bus go down the road,” Keatts said Tuesday.

It’s just a waiting game for SCDOT right now until the rain stops adding to the pond level and the water dries up.

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