In addition to our advocacy efforts, we seek to keep our fellow Islanders informed on transportation projects on our Island. We hope you find this monthly update of consolidated State, County, and City information useful.
The key changes since our last update are:
- The Main Road Corridor Segment A (aka 17 and Main flyover) contract award was delayed from Q4 of 2023 to Q1/Q2 of 2024.
- The Main Road Corridor Segment C (aka Bohicket Road) public meeting was delayed from Oct 2023 to early 2024.
- The Main Road and Mary Ann Point Road safety audit was released.
- The repaving of upper River Road (Main to Maybank) weas delayed from 2023 to 2024.
|
|
Main Road Corridor Segment A
(17 and Main Flyover)
In December 2022 the County had anticipated contract award for Segment A to occur in the summer of 2023. They are now anticipating to award it in the first half of 2024 (Q1 is the objective, but it may slip into Q2).
It is instructive to examine this project to understand just how long it takes to accomplish infrastructure projects.
Residents approved funding for the project in a November 2016 referendum. County Council approved funding for the project in May 2018. With an anticipated contact award in early 2024 and an estimated construction duration of 3 years, that means the project would be completed in early 2027.
That is 10-1/2 years from public approval and 9 years from funding authorization to completion of the project. And that is for a project that had overwhelming community support, had no lawsuits from governmental or community groups, and had no Live Oak tree removal issues.
Given how far behind infrastructure is relative to housing growth, we will never meet our transportation needs by simply building more roads at the current pace. It's time to start looking holistically at community, transportation, land use, schools, and the environment to come up with better solutions.
Main Road Corridor Segment C
(Bohicket Road)
The County had intended to go out for public input for Segment C on October 12th . However, due to issues with the tree survey, they will reschedule the meeting for early 2024. That pushes the project completion date into 2029.
As we had previously reported, it is anticipated the preferred solution will be a combination of Alternatives 1A and 6.
Main and Mary Ann Point Roads: Road Safety Audit
The County completed a Road Safety Audit (RSA) for Main Road at Mary Ann Point Road. You can read the report here. The graphic above show the nine fatalities that have occurred near this intersection over the last eleven years.
In the short-term, the report recommended signing improvements, vegetation clearing and adding lighting for an estimated cost of $275,000.
The report also recommended in the long-term to look into the following alternatives :
- Installation of Intersection Turn Lanes
- Conversion of Intersection to a Roundabout
- Minor Curve Relocation
- Significant Curve Relocation
Note that according to the report the volume of traffic did not warrant adding a traffic signal.
It was interesting that the repot did not consider the roundabout to be a "preferred alternative" since its "primary crash reduction type is to help mitigate angle crashes not run off road crashes".
The report seems to miss the mark. The primary reason to make improvements at this intersection is to reduce fatalities. The secondary reason it to reduce collisions from those turning at this intersection.
The two alternatives to relocate (flatten out) the curve will only result in vehicles going even faster.
The report eventually acknowledges this when it states that "the installation of a roundabout with proper warning signage should reduce speeds on southbound Main Road as a driver approaches Mary Ann Point Road and the following curve in Main Road."
Speed kills and only the roundabout addresses the primary issue of fatalities.
This report provides an insight into the cost of infrastructure projects. The report provided rough estimates for various alternatives.
- Add Lighting: $100,000
- Signing Improvements and Vegetation Clearing: $175,000
- Minor Curve Relocation: $1,500,000
- Installation of Intersection Turn Lanes: $1,800,000
- Significant Curve Relocation: $4,500,000
- Conversion of Intersection to a Roundabout: $5,000,00
So basically about $5M to provide major improvements to an intersection! On Johns Island alone the Main/Mary Ann Point, Main/Chisolm (by the schools), River/Brownswood, River/Murraywood/Rushland Landing, and River/Cane Slash intersections all need major improvements.
If you extrapolate this to the entire County, you can easily see that we might need to improve 10 intersections a year over the next 10 years at $5M each. This would require a total of $500M!
And this doesn't even address major road improvements such as widening Main Road from River Road to Maybank Hwy. One has to wonder where all the money will come from.
Upper River Road Repaving
The County plans to spend $3M to $4M to mill, patch, and resurface upper River Road (Main to Maybank). This work had been expected to be completed in 2023, but now the expected completion is by the summer of 2024.
The delay stems from the bidding process. The County was going to bid the project with other resurfacing contracts. However, since they are utilizing higher performance striping they need to bid it as a stand-alone project.
The project should be out for bid in September. Bids will be open for 30 days, then the contractor generally starts 60 to 90 days after all their bonding info is in. The duration of the project is expected to be 120 days. So the project should be completed in 9 to 12 months.
|
|
2023
- Main Road and Mary Ann Point Road Intersection: SCDOT/County signing improvements and vegetation clearing by the end of 2023.
2024
- Northern Pitchfork: The County to complete this effort by Feb 2024.
- Main Road Corridor Segment C (aka Bohicket Road): The County will hold a public meeting in early 2024.
- Main Road Corridor Segment A (aka 17 and Main flyover): The County to award a design-build contract and begin construction by Q2 of 2024.
- Upper River Road (Main to Maybank): The County to repave by Q3 2024.
- Main Road: The County to repave Main Road from Mary Ann Point Road to Maybank Hwy in 2024.
2026
- Main Road Corridor Segment C: Begin construction in Q1 2026.
2027
- Main Road Corridor Segment A: Project completed by Q2 2027 (3 year estimate for construction).
2029
- Main Road Corridor Segment C: Project completed by Q1 2029 (3 year estimate for construction).
To Be Determined
- Greater Maybank/River Intersection: Release of joint County/City working group recommendations is TBD.
- Main Road and Mary Ann Point Road Intersection: Long-term solution is TBD
- Mark Clark Extension (aka 526):
- Release of the funding plan to the public is TBD.
- The state's Joint Bond Review Committee review of the funding plan to obtain $75M matching funds from the State Infrastructure Bank is TBD.
- Phase 1 (West Ashley to Johns Island) construction: Four year construction estimate, start is TBD (last estimate was 2028).
- Phase 2 (Johns Island to James Island) construction: Four year construction estimate, start is TBD (last estimate was 2032).
|
|
Our favorite article was this one about reducing speed limits on Kiawah Island Parkway to improve safety. Makes one wonder why the same drivers are not demanding reduced speeds on Betsy Kerrison Parkway, Bohicket Road, and River Road.
Collisions
Road Safety
Road Projects, Johns Island
Road Projects, Off Island
|
|
|
|
