Traffic across dam to be cut to 1 lane

Traffic on the portion of U.S. Highway 221 over Thurmond Dam will be reduced to one lane starting Monday to accommodate a yearlong construction project.

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The $3.9 million rehabilitation project involves replacing welds and other components of the dam's spillway gates. Similar work will be under way at Lake Russell.

The contractors, Atlantic Marine Construction Co. and Hartman Walsh, hope to start work next week, said Hartman Walsh spokesman Matt Tonnies.

"Unfortunately, we will need to close one lane on the dam for operations," he said. "It will remain closed for about a year."

The renovations are being financed with federal stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.