Continuing its historic growth across North America, infrastructure and engineering firm Gannett Fleming has opened its first South Carolina office. Long-time South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) official Roy Tolson will oversee the firm’s strategic growth across the state as the South Carolina transportation area manager.

Tolson is a 45-year industry veteran with extensive program management experience who most recently served as the director of innovative finance/tolls for SCDOT. In that role, he increased resources for state and federal projects and provided oversight for the Cross Island Parkway toll facility on Hilton Head Island. His prior SCDOT leadership positions included interim director of budget and cash management, director of the office of railroads, and director of program management. He managed major projects during his tenure, including the initial development of Interstate 526 from Mount Pleasant to Interstate 26 in Charleston County, the development of the Cross Island Parkway in Beaufort County, and the development of the widening of South Carolina Route 72 and U.S. Route 25 in Abbeville, Greenwood, and Laurens counties.
Tolson holds an Associate Degree in civil engineering technology from Central Carolina Technical College, studied geometric design at Northwestern University, completed the management development program for engineers at the University of South Carolina, and is a graduate of the Strategic Training for Transportation Agency Representatives program at SCDOT.
“Given his extensive knowledge of South Carolina’s infrastructure and his innovative approach, Roy is the perfect person to formally establish our presence in the state,” said Mike Holder, PE, vice president and regional business line manager for transportation. “While Gannett Fleming is no stranger to South Carolina, we look forward to extending our full suite of services and providing best-in-class client relations across the state.”
The firm has already partnered with South Carolina’s infrastructure leaders on a variety of projects, including the acoustics review and traffic noise analysis for the SCDOT Carolina Crossroads I-20/26/126 Corridor Improvement Project. This is the highest interstate priority for the state as it is in the heart of South Carolina and serves as the major conduit for commerce, commuters, and visitors. GeoDecisions®, Gannett Fleming’s geospatial technology division, has also conducted geographic information systems studies of infrastructure, operations, and throughput at the Port of Charleston. These analyses support deployment and distribution at this and dozens of seaports nationwide.