HOPKINS, S.C. (WIS) - Residents along Toms Creek Road say the deteriorating 4.5-mile stretch has been a source of frustration for years, with some calling it unsafe and costly to navigate.
The two-lane road, located off Garners Ferry Road in southeast Richland County near McEntire Joint National Guard Base, is dotted with dozens of patches that residents say don’t hold up over time.
Shawnteal Boyd, who has lived along the road for nine months, said she has had four tire blowouts since moving to the area.
“I have busted four tires living here,” Boyd said. “And the potholes are not just small little potholes. They are very large and very deep.”
Drivers describe the road as narrow, uneven and poorly lit. Residents say it’s too thin to withstand buses, delivery trucks and growing neighborhood traffic.
Berry Tillman, a longtime resident, said he has learned to adapt to the conditions.
“Basically, if you’re smart, you drive down the middle of it and avoid the sides and the potholes,” Tillman said. “Once they fix them after a little rain, they’re back to where they started. You avoid some of the potholes. You miss one and hit two.”
Tillman said the cracks along the road edges are hazardous and the problems have persisted for decades.
“It’s always unsafe when you can’t drive normal,” Tillman said. “It’s just something you get used to, but I would love to see it change.”
Records show six crashes on Toms Creek Road in the last five years, leaving four people injured.
Many residents in the community say they want the road resurfaced and widened.
“They need to come in and redo the whole entire road,” Boyd said.
Tillman said he believes the rural location may be why repairs haven’t been prioritized.
“This one must be at the bottom of the list, like it keeps getting pushed to the bottom,” Tillman said. “I’m glad you’re here getting this on camera. Because it sure would help.”
The South Carolina Department of Transportation did not respond to multiple requests for comment over four business days about whether Toms Creek Road is a candidate for resurfacing or widening, or how often crews have addressed potholes on the road in the last two years.
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