US21 - SC802 CONNECTOR ROAD

General Information: Length of Road - Approximately 1 mile Purpose of Road - To reduce pressure on Highway 21/802 Lady's Island intersection and improve the flow of traffic going to and coming from the St. Helena general area. Number of present vehicle trips/day on Lady's Island Drive - 22,500 Estimated Cost of Road - $6.2 million Source of Funding - Beaufort County Impact Fees Who is designing the road? - Kimley - Horn How long will it take to build the road? Design - 1 year (2007) | Construction - 1 year (2008) Map overview: click me Current Status: CHOICE OF ROUTES FOR CONNECTOR ROAD ANNOUNCED! At a public hearing, held at the Sea Island Presbyterian Church conference room on June 20, the engineering firm of Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. announced their recommended route for the Highway 802/Highway 21 connector road. The proposed route (see map) will have an additional turn lane on Sea Island Drive and exit Sea Island Drive/Highway 802 at the site of the present Hazel Farm road then follow a route that eventually exits on the northeast side (nearer the Village Center) of the Tidewatch Center. As part of this concept, Cougar Drive, exiting from the Lady’s Island Middle School will be realigned to be directly opposite the point the connector road joins with Highway 21/Sea Island Parkway. Rational for selection of this route for the connector road includes the fact that it: - Is the shortest actual distance of all routes considered. - Reduces the number of cars going through the intersection by 15,000 cars per day. - Requires the relocation of the least number of existing residences (1) of any alternative. - Will have the intersection with Sea Island Drive opposite the future Crystal Lake Park. - Has a projected cost (including right of way) of $6.2 million. - Will require a traffic signal at both entrance and exit. In the earlier public hearing on the subject of the connector road recommendations had been received that a close look be taken at redesigning the US 21/SC 802 intersection in the hope that it would solve future traffic problems without the need for a connector road. First and foremost, although it could improve the efficiency of the intersection, the study indicated that, even with an estimated $3.4 to $4.6 million worth of intersection improvements, it simply could not solve present or future traffic problems. Additional disadvantages of an “intersection improvement only” solution included additional restricted access to the existing businesses in the general area plus some loss of parking space, the need to move existing utilities and the intersection becoming even less pedestrian friendly than it is at the present time. On October 23,2006 Beaufort County Council approved the recommended route for the connector road and directed Kimley-Horn engineers to begin design of the road. LIBPA will work with the engineers regarding the design and there will be an opportunity for public comment.