JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) – Charleston County officials will decide how to fund future design plans for the Maybank Highway transportation improvement project.
Finance Committee members are scheduled to vote Thursday on whether previously allocated funds from Phase 3 should be moved to focus on the next chapter.
Phase 3 included construction of North Pitchfork, located between River Road and Maybank Highway. It was completed and officially opened to the public on March 25th. The project left him with nearly $1.8 million.
Since the new road opened, many homeowners have argued that more signs and advertising could be installed in the area, but it remains to be seen whether this will have an impact on ongoing traffic issues. It may be too early.
“We're completely overwhelmed with traffic here. This saves people from having to come to the intersection of Maybank and River Road, where they could go into a rake and run into the intersection,” Thomas said. Masu. “If we had more options, some of those problems would be alleviated.”
Rich Thomas, who has owned a home on Johns Island for 16 years, said any move by the municipality to ease traffic congestion would be welcomed. He supports the county allocating remaining funds from previous projects to the chapter.
Mr Thomas said the area was in need of change and had been in the planning process since 2004, with more recent plans in the works.
Phases affected include construction of Southern Pitchfork and widening of Maybank Highway from River Road to the Stono River Bridge.
If the Commission declines to use the remaining funds, staff could consider a referendum to determine the use of CHAT and SIB funds or additional transportation sales tax.
Thomas said infrastructure hasn't had a chance to keep up with population and traffic growth. He worries that this means these projects are coming too late to make a big difference.
“It's going to develop more and more. These places have been waiting for this road to open before they can start moving people,” Thomas says. “There are people who have been bailed out, and there are people who have lived here so long that they have that option. These people are moving into all these new apartments, developments, condos, townhouses. They're doing it for work. Here's the thing: The economy is growing, and that's great. But with that growth comes a responsibility to support it wisely.”
The committee is scheduled to meet and vote on the item at 5 p.m.
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