Charleston County News Release

MEDIA CONTACT

Name:   Jennie Davis Flinn, Charleston County Public Information Officer

Phone: (843) 958-4012

Email:   jflinn@charlestoncounty.org

Release Number: 3130

Release Date: June 21, 2010

See project information online: http://www.ccroadwise.org/gm_526_const.html

Traffic Alert: Temporary Overnight Closure of I-526 Exit Ramp for Glenn McConnell/I-526 Improvement Project

From 10 p.m. on Tuesday, June 22, to 6 a.m. on Wednesday, June 23, road crews will temporarily close the westbound I-526 exit ramp #11A toward SC 61 South / Ashley River Road to install a barrier wall as a part of the Glenn McConnell / I-526 Improvement Project in West Ashley.

The public is asked to take notice of traffic control signs and message board information. All road work is dependent on the weather.

During the closure, traffic will be detoured along the following route:

• Traffic will be directed to the end of I-526 westbound at Sam Rittenberg Boulevard (SC 7). 

• Detour signs will guide motorists to take a left onto Sam Rittenberg Boulevard, and then left onto Orleans Road.

• Once motorists reach the Paul Cantrell Boulevard intersection, they will take a right onto southbound SC 61.

Every effort is being made to schedule necessary lane closures for the project during off- peak, nighttime and weekend hours when possible. Any other road work on the project that could disrupt traffic will be announced through news releases issued to local media and posted on both the Charleston County Government and Charleston County RoadWise Web sites.

When completed, the Glenn McConnell / I-526 improvements will include:

• The widening of Glenn McConnell Parkway to provide an additional lane in each direction for the full length of the project.
   

• The widening of Magwood Drive at the Glenn McConnell Parkway intersection (Home Depot/McDonald’s side of the highway) to allow for dual left-turn lanes and a through or right-turn lane onto Glenn McConnell Parkway.
   

• The widening of Magwood Drive at the Glenn McConnell Parkway intersection (hospital side of the highway) to provide for a left-turn only lane, a single through lane, and right-turn lane onto Glenn McConnell Parkway.
   

• Adjusting the stoplight timing at the intersection of Magwood Drive and Glenn McConnell Parkway to allow left turns from both northbound and southbound lanes of Magwood Drive to occur at the same time.
   

• Closing the median on Glenn McConnell Parkway at Frontage Road to prohibit left turns and U-turns for improved safety.
   

• Lengthening the left-turn lanes on Glenn McConnell Parkway toward I-526 eastbound (toward North Charleston and Mount Pleasant) in order to allow more room for vehicles waiting to turn.
   

• Construct a five-foot-wide concrete sidewalk along Magwood Drive to connect to the existing sidewalk. Pedestrian signals will be installed on both sides of Glenn McConnell Parkway to allow for pedestrians to cross the intersection.
   

• Create earthen sound buffers that include landscaping, along the northbound lanes of the Glenn McConnell Parkway to provide a buffer for nearby neighborhoods.

The public can get up-to-date project information, including construction status and traffic alerts, online at http://www.ccroadwise.org/gm_526_const.html.

Charleston County RoadWise is the name of 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 Web site at www.ccroadwise.org for public meeting notices and up-to-date news and information about all Charleston County Transportation Sales Tax projects.