Riverwalk expansion along the Saluda River coming soon

West Columbia, SC (Angelica Iglesias) – Two riverwalk projects are underway along the Saluda River. The Saluda Riverwalk and the Interstate 26 Saluda River Crossing will give over three miles of public access to the lower Saluda River that is not currently available.

The Saluda Riverwalk is already under construction and will be ready within a year. It will be a new section of Greenway that will run along the lower Saluda River at the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden linking to the Columbia Canal. Phase I of the project will extend approximately 3 miles, almost the entire length of Interstate 126. It is being funded by the Richland County Transportation Penny Program.

The Interstate 26 Saluda River Crossing will be the first Greenway pedestrian bike bridge across the Saluda, bridging Lexington and Richland Counties. It will follow underneath the I-26 Bridge. Funding is being provided by the South Carolina Department of Transportation and the City of West Columbia through state and federal funding. They are currently designing the bridge and expect to have the project finished by late 2018.

The Saluda Riverwalk will end and connect at the I-26 Saluda River Crossing going toward the Lexington Medical Center. Phase II of the Riverwalk is still in the planning stages.

The projects are the vision and direct action of The River Alliance. According to their website, they are a 501 c(3) non-profit public/private sector partnership “uniquely involved in the goals of protecting the region’s rivers, creating public river access, and providing positive benefits to the surrounding communities.”