COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- The South Carolina Department of Transportation says thieves have stolen more than 100 storm drain grates along Interstate 85 and U.S. 276 in the Upstate.
State maintenance engineer David Cook says the thefts and the holes left behind create serious hazards to drivers. He says replacing them will cost taxpayers money and tie up traffic as workers close lanes to put in new ones.
Cook says the heavy cast iron grates likely required two people to lift.
The agency says 68 two-piece grates were stolen from I-85's median next in Anderson County. Officials believe they were taken last weekend.
In Greenville County, about 35 storm drain grates were stolen from U.S. 276 this week. An additional 22 grates were taken from other routes in Greenville County, including on I-85.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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