See conceptual video: http://www.ccroadwise.org/video.html

Public Hearing on Bees Ferry Road Widening Project, May 4

            Charleston County moves forward on one of the second Transportation Sales Tax bond referendum projects.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), Charleston County Government is holding a public hearing to share information regarding environmental impacts with the public and to gather comments on the Environmental Assessment for the Bees Ferry Road Widening Project.

The hearing will be from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, May 4, at West Ashley High School (4060 Wildcat Boulevard; Charleston, SC 29414).

The project is funded by the Transportation Sales Tax and managed by the Charleston County RoadWise Program.

The first public meeting for the Bees Ferry Road Widening Project was held on July 26, 2007. At the July 26 meeting, staff provided information and gathered public comments on plans to widen Bees Ferry Road.

Since that meeting, preliminary plans have been prepared and have been approved by Charleston County Council and the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), and the Environmental Assessment has been approved by the Federal Highway Administration and SCDOT.

The May 4 meeting format will be as follows:

• 6 - 6:30 p.m.: Anyone who wishes to verbally comment at the public hearing must sign up between 6 and 6:30 p.m. when entering the public hearing. Each comment will be limited to two minutes and may not be transferred.

• From 6 - 7 p.m., the hearing format will be informal. Large aerial displays of the entire project will be available for viewing, and project team members will be present to discuss the project on a one-on-one with attendees.

• At 7 p.m., project representatives will make a brief, formal presentation about the project purpose and need, schedule and potential impacts to the community and environment.

• Immediately following the presentation, citizens will have the opportunity to make formal, verbal comments regarding the proposed project. The informal portion of the public hearing will continue after this time.

The following will be available to the public during the May 4 hearing:

• Maps and drawings of the proposed improvements

• Documentation of the project’s environmental effects

• Tentative schedules for right-of-way acquisition

• Tentative schedules for construction

Property owners and business owners on or near the project are requested to attend. Area residents will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments regarding the possible social, economic and environmental effects of the project. Attendees will be able to individually discuss the plans with representatives of Charleston County and the project’s design team. Charleston County will accept written comments for a two-week period following the public hearing.

Details on the Bees Ferry Road Widening Project:

• The 4.5-mile-long project will widen Bees Ferry Road between U.S. Route 17 (Savannah Highway) and S.C Route 61 (Ashley River Road) from a two-lane undivided roadway to a multi-lane divided roadway.

• The intersection of Bees Ferry Road and Savannah Highway will be relocated 1,150 feet to the north of the existing intersection and the existing roadway will be widened from a two-lane section to a four-lane/five-lane section with accommodations for bicycles and pedestrians.

• The project will include a new pedestrian bridge at Bear Swamp Creek and a bridge replacement at a branch of Church Creek.

• The proposed improvements will also provide for future connection to the West Ashley Circle, a proposed ring-road system at Glenn McConnell Parkway.

• Existing traffic signals will be upgraded and a new signal will be added to the relocated intersection of Bees Ferry Road and Savannah Highway.

• Construction is scheduled to begin in March of 2010 and finish in February of 2012.

Related maps and/or drawings, the environmental assessment, and other information is available for public review at:

• S.C. Department of Transportation’s (SCDOT) Central Office at 955 Park Street in Columbia

• SCDOT’s North Charleston Office at 6355 Fain Boulevard, in North Charleston.

• The Charleston County RoadWise office at 4401 Belle Oaks Drive, Suite 105 in North Charleston

A copy of the environmental assessment will also be available 15 days prior to the hearing at:

• The Charleston County Public Library, 68 Calhoun Street, Charleston

• The St. Andrews Regional Public Library, 1735 N. Woodmere Dr., Charleston

The Charleston County Transportation Sales Tax referendum was approved by voters in November of 2004. Collection of the Transportation Sales Tax began in May of 2005 and will continue for 25 years or until $1.303 billion is generated for transportation and greenspace related projects and improvements.

The Bees Ferry Road Widening Project is one of the projects approved by voters in the second Trasportation Sales Tax bond referendum in November of 2006. The voters authorized the County to issue an additional $205 million in bonds, which will be repaid through Transportation Sales Tax proceeds. The entire amount of the second bond referendum is allocated for the following transportation improvement projects:

• Glen McConnell Parkway/I-526 Loop Ramp

• Bees Ferry Road Widening

• Folly Road/Camp Road Intersection Improvements

• Future Drive Loop to Ladson

• Maybank Highway Widening

• Medical University Roadway Infrastructure Improvements

Charleston County RoadWise is the name of the Charleston County Government’s management program for the construction of roads, highways, resurfacing, paving and drainage projects that are funded by the Transportation Sales Tax.

Visit the official Charleston County RoadWise Web site www.ccroadwise.com for more information on these projects, public meeting notices and up-to-date news and information.