Postal Service won't drive over a certain bridge and doesn't have to

CLOVER, S.C. — David Kee and Samuel Kee live along Willis Farm Road in Clover, South Carolina.

It's a private road. In other words, the government didn't build it or the bridge in the middle of the road.  The Kees say their neighbor built it and that they helped.

But there aren't any guardrails, and it's a long way down. They have no way of knowing whether the bridge meets state safety standards.

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While the Kees drive across it often, the U.S. Postal Service won't allow its letter carriers to risk it.  "My medicines. I know two of them got sent back because they can't deliver them to my address," David said.

For Samuel, it's even more emotional. He lost his wife recently and has health problems. So this is just one more challenge.  "Since I lost my wife April 7th ... it's just a burden. It's hard on me."

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But USPS has a duty to protect its workers. It doesn't trust the bridge and doesn't have to. "Safety is a top priority," USPS said in an email to Action 9. "Postal safety officials have determined the bridge, which is not state maintained, is unsafe for postal vehicles to drive across."

Action 9's Jason Stoogenke found three options for the Kees:

• Move their mailboxes to the other side of the bridge
• Move their mailboxes to the main road
• Get a P.O. box

Stoogenke talked to USPS and it said it would be OK with any of those.

Cox Media Group