Bridge Dedication Ceremony to honor Waccamaw Siouan Tribe

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A dedication ceremony will be held Saturday, May 17, to officially name the Old Lake Road overpass in Columbus County in honor of the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe.

The event is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Waccamaw Siouan Tribal Center, located at 7239 Old Lake Road in Bolton. Officials from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, tribal leaders, and invited guests are expected to attend.

The bridge, which spans U.S. 74/76 near Lake Waccamaw, was named through legislation passed by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2024. The bill directed NCDOT to dedicate the structure to the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe.

Opened to traffic in late 2024, the overpass replaced a reduced conflict intersection. It was part of a $44 million highway improvement project that also included the construction of a new interchange at nearby Chauncey Town Road.

The Waccamaw Siouan Tribe received state recognition in 1971 and has approximately 1,800 registered members, primarily residing in Bladen and Columbus counties.