JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) – Charleston County officials are set to decide how future design plans will be funded for the Maybank Highway traffic improvement project.
Finance Committee members will vote on Thursday whether previously allocated funds from Phase Three should be shifted to focus on the next chapter.
Phase three included the construction of the Northern Pitchfork located between River Road and Maybank Highway. This was completed and officially opened to the public on March 25. The project left nearly $1.8 million remaining.
Since the new road opened, many homeowners say the area could use more signage or advertising, and it may be too soon to tell if this will make a dent in an ongoing traffic problem.
“We’re completely overwhelmed here by traffic. It’ll keep people from having to come to the Maybank-River Road intersection. They could turn into the pitchfork, come across that intersection,” Thomas says. “Having more options will give way to alleviate some of those problems.”
Rich Thomas, a Johns Island homeowner of 16 years says any move from municipalities to mitigate the traffic would be appreciated. He supports the county allotting the remaining funds from the previous project into this chapter.
Thomas says the area is long overdue for a change, with plans being in the works since 2004, and recently making headway.
The phases it will impact would include the construction of the Southern Pitchfork and the widening of Maybank Highway from River Road to the Stono River Bridge.
If the committee denies the use of remaining funds, staff could look into using CHATs and SIB funds or a referendum vote to determine an additional transportation sales tax.
Thomas says infrastructure has not had a chance to catch up with the population and traffic growth. He fears this could mean it is too late for these projects to make much difference.
“More and more development. These places were waiting for this road to open before they could start moving people in,” Thomas says. “There are some people who’ve bailed out, some people who have lived here longer and have that option. These people moving into all these new apartments, developments, condos, townhouses; they come here for jobs. The economy is growing, that’s a great thing. Except, along with that growth comes the responsibility to support it wisely.”
The committee will meet at 5 p.m. to vote on the topic.
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