Bluffton road work this fall: Pritchard Street drainage, Bridge Street and Boundary Street streetscapes, the US 278 bridge plan and live closures on 511SC.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. This page is refreshed weekly. Town projects come from the Town of Bluffton’s capital projects dashboard; state road conditions from 511SC.

Most big roads through Bluffton are state roads run by the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT): U.S. 278, S.C. 46, S.C. 170 and the routes to Interstate 95. Town streets in and around Old Town are the Town of Bluffton’s, and several are being rebuilt. For what is closed right now, check 511SC before you leave.

Who to call

  • Live closures, crashes and lane closures on state roads: 511SC online, or the 511SC app for iPhone and Android
  • State roads, potholes and signals on SCDOT routes: SCDOT, 855-467-2368
  • Town street, sidewalk or sign problems: report on SeeClickFix or call the Town of Bluffton, 843-706-4500
  • Town capital projects: Pat Rooney, Capital Improvement Program manager, 843-706-4521
  • Emergencies and crashes with injuries: 911

Town projects under construction

From the town’s capital projects data, last updated by the town this fall:

  • Pritchard Street streetscape and drainage. New catch basins, storm drains and water quality work on Pritchard Street, the north-south street along Heyward Cove in the Historic District. The town says construction is under way and expected to be finished in fall 2026. Contact: Dan Rybak, 843-540-3925.
  • Bridge Street streetscape, Phase 2. Sidewalks, on-street parking, street lighting, crosswalks, a pedestrian boardwalk and drainage on Bridge Street, the east-west street that parallels the May River. Phase 1 was finished in March 2024; the town says Phase 2 construction will be completed in fiscal 2027. Contact: Constance Clarkson, 843-540-3575.
  • Wharf Street lighting. Decorative streetlights on Wharf Street from May River Road to Bridge Street, to be installed by Dominion Energy.

Town projects in design

  • Boundary Street streetscape. A separated sidewalk and buried power lines on Boundary Street, one of the busiest streets in the Historic District. Easement work has run through fiscal 2026, and the town’s schedule calls for construction to finish by fiscal 2027.
  • Calhoun Street streetscape. Calhoun Street from May River Road to Water Street: wider sidewalks, paver parking, crosswalks, drainage, lighting and underground power. Easement acquisition is planned for fiscal 2027, with phased construction in fiscal 2028 and 2029, depending on the budget.
  • Holly Hill and Washington Square connector roads. Two new connectors, one from New Riverside Road west toward Anthem Drive and one north from Discovery Place and Innovation Drive in Buckwalter Place. The town says construction will start right after permitting.
  • Pathway safety improvements, Phase 3. Crosswalks, lighting and traffic calming at 28 locations outside the Historic District, including Buck Island, Simmonsville and Buckwalter Park, with design and construction due in fiscal 2028.

Expect lane shifts, flaggers and lost parking spaces near each site while work is going on. The town’s Signs, Road, Trail and Tree Maintenance page explains which streets it maintains; the road maintenance map is in the town’s Map Gallery.

U.S. 278 bridges to Hilton Head Island

The largest project on the horizon is the U.S. 278 Corridor Project, which will replace aging bridge spans between the mainland and Hilton Head Island, about 11 miles east of Bluffton. In June 2025 the South Carolina State Transportation Infrastructure Bank voted to award $120 million, and Beaufort County said final design is expected to begin in mid-2026, with construction anticipated to begin in 2028. The county is working through the environmental review with SCDOT. The Town of Hilton Head Island keeps a corridor project page.

No closures for the bridge work have been announced. SCDOT posts public hearings and comment periods on its project portal.

Getting to I-95

Bluffton drivers reach Interstate 95 at the U.S. 278 interchange in Jasper County, west of town. Check 511SC for lane closures on I-95 and U.S. 278 before a long trip.

What this means for you

  • Check 511SC before a drive on U.S. 278, S.C. 46 or S.C. 170.
  • In Old Town, Pritchard Street and Bridge Street have work crews this fall; allow extra time and watch for lost parking.
  • Report a pothole or a broken sign on any Bluffton street through SeeClickFix; the town forwards state road problems to SCDOT.
  • The U.S. 278 bridge construction is not expected to start before 2028.

Related: getting around Bluffton, parks and trails and hurricane prep for Beaufort County.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I check road closures in Bluffton?

511SC, the South Carolina Department of Transportation’s traveler site and app, shows live crashes, lane closures and construction on state roads. Town street projects are on the Town of Bluffton’s capital projects dashboard.

When will construction start on the new US 278 bridges to Hilton Head?

Beaufort County said in June 2025 that final design is expected to begin in mid-2026 and construction is anticipated to begin in 2028, after the State Infrastructure Bank approved $120 million.

What road work is happening in Old Town Bluffton?

The town lists Pritchard Street drainage and streetscape work under construction, expected to finish in fall 2026, and Bridge Street Phase 2 streetscape construction set for completion in fiscal 2027. Boundary Street and Calhoun Street streetscapes are in design and easement work.

How do I report a pothole in Bluffton?

Report it to the Town of Bluffton through SeeClickFix. The town fixes its own streets and passes reports on state or county roads to SCDOT or Beaufort County.