25 replies to this topic

[CorgiMatt]

I wonder how highway construction funds are being spread in SC.  This post could be put in the SC Highways forum if there is one, or in the SC Politics forum.  But economic development as it relates to highway improvements is a strong theme in the attached article from the NY Times.

http://www.nytimes.c...o...tml?_r=1

[krazeeboi]

The planned $500 million seven-mile connector from I-526 to James Island in the Charleston area that many Lowcountry residents oppose is preventing the state from awarding money for major road, rail and bridge projects in other parts of South Carolina. Critics say the seven-mile connector from Interstate 526 to James Island is unnecessary, expensive and won’t improve traffic flow. They also note that it will open development corridors in ecologically important areas, such as Johns Island.

Statewide, officials in other counties have asked for funds from the SC Transportation Infrastructure Bank, but also are waiting. Project requests include $221 million to extend Dave Lyle Boulevard in York County, $63 million to improve Interstate 20 in Aiken County near the Savannah River Site and $86 million to complete the Bluffton Parkway in Beaufort County, according to the transportation department. In the Columbia area, local officials want a new road linking Columbia Metropolitan Airport to Interstate 26, which is expected to cost $80 million. The other is the rail and street improvement project, which would affect Assembly, Huger and North Main streets. That’s expected to cost about $100 million.

If the I-526 extension goes through, it will be years before bank money is available to pay for other projects, DOT officials acknowledged. For now, the bank would need more incoming revenue to provide money for additional projects.

[teshadoh]

^  Out of those projects, only the I-20 improvement in Aiken County truly sounds necessary.  As long as the Dave Lyle extension idea has been proposed (I remember it from the 80's) it would only succeed in spreading sprawl westward to Lancaster County.

[Spartan]

I'd rather see the Assembly St project in Columbia happen if 526 can't be completed.

[BrasilnSC]

Spartan, on 01 February 2011 - 11:42 AM, said:

I'd rather see the Assembly St project in Columbia happen if 526 can't be completed.

I have to agree.....it's the only urban project and will have the most positive impact, IMO.  The others all seem to promote sprawl.

[krazeeboi]

It looks earlier this week, Charleston County Council voted to nix the I-526 extension. One reason is because the amount that the state infrastructure bank pledged to go towards the project isn't enough. And although nothing says that this is happening as a result (which it very well could be), two days later, state Transportation Commission on Thursday voted to seek about $388 million in bond money to pay for five major road projects across the state, including the Midlands’ long-delayed airport connector to I-26, known as the John Hardee Expressway.