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In addition to our advocacy efforts, we seek to keep our fellow Islanders informed on transportation infrastructure activities on our Island. We hope you find this monthly update of consolidated State, County, and City information useful.
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Johns Island transportation infrastructure highlights for the last month include:
- Work on the Northern Pitchfork is progressing, including the installation of a traffic signal on Maybank Highway at Fenwick Hall Allee.
- The Main/Mary Ann Point safety study is being updated to include a larger stretch of road.
- State approval of funding for permitting and land acquisitions for the Mark Clark Extension project has not been forthcoming.
- The County has not yet released its plan for funding the Mark Clark Extension.
The details are given below. If you know of other efforts or have questions, don't hesitate to contact us at RationalRoads@gmail.com.
Northern Pitchfork
Work continues on the Northern Pitchfork, as seen in the photo above as viewed from River Road. One of the reasons the start of construction took so long was the difficulty in meeting the more stringent (and necessary) stormwater requirements of the City. The wet nature of this land is evident in the photo above. To our knowledge no grand trees were removed for this effort.
A traffic signal signal is being installed on Maybank Highway at Fenwick Hall Allee as part of the Northern Pitchfork effort. The City has placed a temporary signal at this intersection (see the photo above) that will be used until the County installs the permanent signal for the project. The temporary signal is expected to go live in mid-April.
The City is not waiting to install the traffic signal until the project is complete because this is the second deadliest stretch of road on Johns Island. Only Main Road around Mary Ann Point Road is deadlier.
Main and Mary Ann Point Safety Study
The County has revised their final draft of the safety study to account for a larger study area near the intersection. The graphic above shows the nine fatal collisions on this section of road since 2010. A final report should be published by the end of the month. We will FOIA this document when it is available and pass it along to you.
Mark Clark Extension (aka 526)
At the end of January County Council authorized $75M be sent to SCDOT for permit work and land acquisitions for the Mark Clark Extension (MCE) project. Over two months later, the State Joint Bond Review Committee (JBRC) has yet to authorize the State Infrastructure Bank (SIB) to release their matching $75M. Until that happens, there are limited funds to continue work on this project.
The County has yet to release their plan to fund this $2.2B project (less the $420M the state will provide). It is uncertain if the $2.2B includes the cost for litigation, bond servicing, and needed improvements to River and Brownswood Roads as well as contingencies for cost overruns.
Why must improvements to River and Brownswood Roads be included in the cost of the MCE project? The graphic above shows the projected morning and afternoon peak period levels of service (a measure of congestion) for the years 2030 and 2040. In these diagrams green indicates a good level of service (i.e. congestion free travel) while red is really bad and maroon is even worse.
Even if this project were completed in 2030 (it is not anticipated to be completed until 2036), the traffic directed onto River and Brownswood Roads as a result of this project would result in unacceptable levels of service.
No prudent person would spend $2.2B to route traffic onto unimproved River and Brownswood Roads where it would be at a virtual standstill. Hence, this effort must be included in the project cost.
In addition to identifying that River and Brownswood Roads need to be improved to accommodate the MCE, these diagrams also illustrate that by 2040 both the northbond MCE and Maybank Highway will be at a level of service of F (maroon color)
The diagrams above were obtained from the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCD-COG) and are based upon the CHATS Travel Demand Model. They do not include the impact of the new elementary school on upper River Road.
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Mark Clark Extension (aka 526): The County must develop a plan to fund their portion of the project and to also cover the cost for litigation, bond servicing, and needed improvements to River and Brownswood Roads as well as contingencies for cost overruns. The Joint Bond Review Committee must also approve the State Infrastructure Bank to provide the $75M matching funds. Unknown timeline.
Main Road and Mary Ann Point Road Intersection: Determine what improvements will be made, funding, and schedule by the end of April.
Maybank Hwy at Fenwick Hall Allee: Install temporary traffic signal by mid April.
Main Road Corridor Segment C (aka Bohicket Road): The County will hold a public meeting in the Spring of 2023.
Main Road Corridor Segment A (aka 17 and Main flyover): Design-build contract to be awarded in Q3 of 2023.
Northern Pitchfork: Complete by end of 2023 or early 2024.
Upper River Road (Main to Maybank): Repave in 2023.
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Consolidated Johns Island Transportation Project Schedule
There is some uncertainty in this schedule, especially for projects that are further out in time. For example:
- The duration of Segment C of the Main Road Corridor Project will vary based upon which alternative is chosen.
- The start of the Mark Clark Extension is dependent upon funding.
Our website has details on all the transportation projects on Johns Island.
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Useful Charleston County Contacts
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County Council
County Staff
- Bill Tuten: County Administrator, 843-958-4001, BTuten@charlestoncounty.org
- Jim Armstrong: Deputy Administrator for Public Services (which includes roads), 843-202-6145, jdarmstrong@charlestoncounty.org
- Steve Thigpen: Public Works Director, 843-202-6146, SThigpen@charlestoncounty.org
- Devri Detoma: Transportation Engineering Manager, 843-202-6144, DDetoma@charlestoncounty.org
- Herbert Nimz: Main Road Corridor Project Manager Segment A, 843-607-8596, hnimz@charlestoncounty.org
- Alex Owsiak: Main Road Corridor Project Manager Segment C, 843-202-6155, aowsiak@charlestoncounty.org
- Sheila Parker: Northern Pitchfork Project Manager, sparker@charlestoncounty.org, Office: 843-202-7624; Cell 843-754-7609
- Mackenzie Kelley: Pavement Manager, MKelley@charlestoncounty.org
You can find a complete list of contacts here.
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