Traffic Congestion, Road Construction, & Improvement Projects

[gman430]

Don't look now but Mayor Knox White and the city's director of public works Mike Murphy have come out swinging against the SCDOT and federal government for the slow pace of the Fairforest Way and Church Street improvement projects in the area according to an article from the Greenville News. Some experts:

“The timeline on these projects, it almost makes a real mockery out of the idea that it's going to stimulate,” White said, describing their slowness as “appalling.”

White said the same issue has played out across the country and that, for Greenville, much of the cash designed as an economic injection may not actually happen until 2011.

Murphy describes a frustrating process caused largely by federal requirements and the newness of the stimulus.

“I think more than anything else it was the creation of the stimulus program, everybody hustling around, how to make it work, and then getting all the permits, requirements and environmental studies, getting all that completed,” he said.

According to the article, a series of regulations (acquiring right-of-way pieces of land, an environmental assessment and permits for any wetlands impact) tied to federal funding as well as a less-than-ideal set of bids for the Church Street project have kept the plans from moving any faster. Construction just now finally started on the Fairforest Way project last week after it had to go through the same ordeal. Original bids for the Church Street one went out in July but they all came in higher (lowest one 10% higher) than what funding was available so the SCDOT is going to try and bid out the project again in October with hopes of having more and lower bidders. Construction would start on the project in early 2011 if successful. Once again, our federal government has proven why their approval rating is so low.

Edited August 28, 2010 by citylife

[gman430]

-Construction has started on the Brown Street project downtown. The city wants this road to be like "Printers Alley" in Nashville once complete. You can see a site plan here of the improvements that will be made which includes making the sidewalk look like a piano: http://www.greenvill...ateway_Add1.pdf .

-Construction started last month on the Fairforest Way project. Once complete, it will be similiar in style to Innovation Drive that goes through the ICAR campus.

-Bids go out this month for the Church Street improvement project. Hopefully this time they come in at or below estimated construction costs by the DOT.

-Bids have gone out and been awarded to fill those grass medians on Woodruff Road between Verdae Blvd. and Laurens Road with real landscaping.

Edited October 8, 2010 by citylife

[GvilleSC]

-Bids have gone out and been awarded to fill those grass medians on Woodruff Road between Verdae Blvd. and Laurens Road with real landscaping.

FINALLY!

[GvilleSC]

-Construction has started on the Brown Street project downtown. The city wants this road to be like "Printers Alley" in Nashville once complete. You can see a site plan here of the improvements that will be made which includes making the sidewalk look like a piano: http://www.greenvill...ateway_Add1.pdf .

This is absolutely going to be a fun experience when complete. It's great to see it moving forward. It'd be great to see the building at Coffee & Brown Street across from the Corner Pocket replaced with retail/more night scene entertainment to go along with the vibe they're looking to create. Furthermore, the "private parking" lot could use a better function. Nonetheless, Brown Street is going to feel a LOT less like a DARK back alley and more like a celebrated destination of sorts.

[gs3]

-Construction has started on the Brown Street project downtown. The city wants this road to be like "Printers Alley" in Nashville once complete. You can see a site plan here of the improvements that will be made which includes making the sidewalk look like a piano: http://www.greenvill...ateway_Add1.pdf .

I like everything about this, but especially the attention to small details like "string lighting".

[RiverWalker]

It'd be great to see the building at Coffee & Brown Street across from the Corner Pocket replaced with retail/more night scene entertainment to go along with the vibe they're looking to create.

If you mean the property at 20 E. Coffee St., there were some very striking young women handing out koozies at Fall for Greenville advertising "Hoops and Hops Sports Bar," said to be opening soon at that location. Reported to be "upscale and very sports oriented," it's probably far enough away from the new Carolina Ale House to have its own following. Hugh (Eddie) St. Clair is the owner, and Karrie of Karrie's Deli (near Furman) will run the kitchen. According to Metromix, "They’re shooting for (sports pun!) opening the first weekend in December."

[Skyliner]

I'm guessing he was referring to the property listed as "office complex" on the PDF, which sits across Brown Street from Corner Pocket Taproom.

[GvilleSC]

I'm guessing he was referring to the property listed as "office complex" on the PDF, which sits across Brown Street from Corner Pocket Taproom.

You're right Skyliner. I'd like to see the 'office complex' and the adjacent parking redeveloped.

[RiverWalker]

You're right Skyliner. I'd like to see the 'office complex' and the adjacent parking redeveloped.

While I think that would be excellent, I don't see that happening. (At least not anytime soon.)

[GvilleSC]

While I think that would be excellent, I don't see that happening. (At least not anytime soon.)

Sure. All I'm saying is that it's the block's missing link. Otherwise, the entertainment, with the exception of DT's, is clustered on one side.

[gman430]

Public meeting November 4th regarding the I-385 widening project: http://www.gsabusiness.com/news/36538-hearing-set-nov-4-on-interstate-385-improvements?rss=0

[Gville2012]

Any ideas why the Church St. estimated total project cost dropped from $5.1 million to $4.57 million ( http://dbw.scdot.org/activeprojects/ProjDescription.aspx?PC=13304&C=Greenville&TY=24 )? Either it is a good thing because the bid came in lower then expected or SCDOT lowered the budgeted amount from last year. The time frame has remained unchanged.

[vicupstate]

Any ideas why the Church St. estimated total project cost dropped from $5.1 million to $4.57 million ( http://dbw.scdot.org/activeprojects/ProjDescription.aspx?PC=13304&C=Greenville&TY=24 )? Either it is a good thing because the bid came in lower then expected or SCDOT lowered the budgeted amount from last year. The time frame has remained unchanged.

The project must have changed in some way to reduce costs. The original bids came back to high. New bids are due next year, from what I have heard.

[gman430]

I-385 widening project to start construction officially on November 30, 2010 with completion slated for October 24, 2012. Official website here: http://www.scdot.org/inside/I-385/default.shtml

The project must have changed in some way to reduce costs. The original bids came back to high. New bids are due next year, from what I have heard.

New bids for the project went out in October of this year. Not sure what came of that though.

[GvilleSC]

Anyone have an update on Brown Street's makeover?

[gman430]

Anyone have an update on Brown Street's makeover?

City workers are doing storm water drainage work during the first phase of the project, Miller said. That part should be completed by mid-November.

Then beginning in January, work will begin on streetscaping. The work should take about eight months.

Source: http://www.journalwa...gets-a-makeover I noticed them doing drainage work on Brown Street a few weeks ago so it looks like everything is moving forward on time.

Edited November 23, 2010 by citylife

[GvilleSC]

City workers are doing storm water drainage work during the first phase of the project, Miller said. That part should be completed by mid-November.

Then beginning in January, work will begin on streetscaping. The work should take about eight months.

Source: http://www.journalwa...gets-a-makeover I noticed them doing drainage work on Brown Street a few weeks ago so it looks like everything is moving forward on time.

Thanks! This is going to be such a GREAT improvement and another dimension for DT. 8 months is a long time, but I think it must speak to the scope of the project...

[gman430]

FINALLY!

The landscaping for the Woodruff Road grass medians has now been installed. Rock gravel with several trees in each median.

In other news, the improvement project for Highway 276 in Mauldin has been delayed until Spring 2011 due to bids coming in over-budget.

Edited November 30, 2010 by citylife

[gman430]

-To jump-start the Church Street improvement project, the City of Greenville will sign an agreement with the SCDOT saying they will pay for any cost over-runs: http://www.greenvill...010/Item14g.pdf Current amount of money budgeted for the project is $5,100,000.

-Apparently, the Salters Road widening project has started construction according to this except from a recent Greenville News article regarding the I-85/I-385 interchange improvement project:

Sumerel said he believes the widening of Salters Road will do a better job alleviating Woodruff headaches and providing alternate connections than the new exit would have.

That project is underway and will soon extend a five-lane road with bike lanes from Verdae Boulevard across I-85 to the Carolina Point Parkway, Cooper said.

Edited December 11, 2010 by citylife

[vicupstate]

According to the Gville News, City Council approved covering any overages for Church Street. Hopefully, this project will FINALLY start.

[Gville2012]

Hopefully we will continue to get more updates. Great info... Thanks!

http://dbw.scdot.org/activeprojects/ProjDescription.aspx?PC=13304&C=Greenville&TY=24 - now lets see some updates on the SCDOT website instead of delays.

Edited December 15, 2010 by dwfrp2010

[gman430]

Do you by chance have a link to this article?

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20101214/BUSINESS/312140056/Drugstore-expected-on-Greenville-s-Main-Street

You have to have a username/password though. Excerpt:

The council also voted to annex the 24.3-acre Caledon Woods apartment complex, adding 350 new city residents, and approved an agreement that puts the city at risk for any costs beyond $5.1 million that the state has budgeted to dramatically remake a portion of Church Street.

[GvilleSC]

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20101214/BUSINESS/312140056/Drugstore-expected-on-Greenville-s-Main-Street

You have to have a username/password though. Excerpt:

Fun fact: if you know the title of the story you'd like to read on The Greenville News website, Google it. The links from Google will give you the entire article for some reason... It's a great loop hole.

[Galley]

At the recent Greenville Bicycle Master Plan meeting we heard from a resident of the Overbrook community. Prior to the E. North St. road diet, he was afraid to let his young boys use the sidewalk because of the excessive speeds. With the reduced speeds, and the added buffer of the bicycle lanes, he is no longer afraid.

[GvilleSC]

At the recent Greenville Bicycle Master Plan meeting we heard from a resident of the Overbrook community. Prior to the E. North St. road diet, he was afraid to let his young boys use the sidewalk because of the excessive speeds. With the reduced speeds, and the added buffer of the bicycle lanes, he is no longer afraid.

I always forget about East North Street's re-do. It's another HUGE transformation. That's nice to hear! It's great to have skeptics experience the difference and share their story to various groups. Thanks for being there and then sharing on here!