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: 3279

Release Date: May 9, 2011

See photos from today’s ceremony: http://www.charlestoncounty.org/newsimages/bee-courtenay.htm

Construction Complete on Bee Street and Courtenay Drive Improvement Project

Charleston County completes major bond project funded by the Transportation Sales Tax

Charleston County Government held a ceremony today to celebrate the completion of the Bee Street and Courtenay Drive Improvement Project in downtown Charleston. The project, which was completed in one year, was funded by the Charleston County Transportation Sales Tax Program.

The project improved traffic flow into and around downtown’s medical campus and surrounding areas during peak hours, and provided drainage relief along the Bee Street area.

Speakers at the ceremony were:

• Teddie E. Pryor, Sr., Charleston County Council Chairman

• Joseph P. Riley, Jr., City of Charleston Mayor

• Kenneth Holseberg, President of Gulf Stream Inc. (project contractor)

• Dennis J. Frazier, MUSC Administrator of Facilities and Capital Improvements

• Carolyn Adams, Director, Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Administration Medical Center

• Kim Keelor, Roper St. Francis Healthcare Corporate Communications Director

The Bee Street and Courtenay Drive Improvement Project was requested by the city of Charleston and approved by voters in the second Transportation Sales Tax bond referendum. Due to the assistance of approximately $2.6 million in federal funds, the County’s total cost of project was $2.3 million.

Details of the project:

• The conversion of Courtenay Drive from Spring Street to Cannon Street from two-way traffic to one-way southbound traffic (toward the medical complex).

• The widening of Courtenay Drive between Cannon Street and Ralph Johnson Boulevard to accommodate an additional lane in each direction and improvements at its intersection with Bee Street.

• The complete demolition, reconstruction, and widening of Bee Street from Courtenay Drive to Lockwood Boulevard to improve drainage and reduce roadway settlement.

• The relocation of 1,200 feet of 12-inch water line along Bee Street from Courtenay Drive to Lockwood Boulevard.

• Improvements to the roadway drainage system on Courtenay Drive and Bee Street to complement the City of Charleston’s future Spring/Fishbourne Drainage Improvement Project.

• Upgraded traffic signals installed at the intersections of Courtenay Drive at Cannon Street and Courtenay Drive at Bee Street. The upgraded traffic signals will include pedestrian hand/man signal heads and improved crosswalks.

Quotes about the project:

• "We are excited to finish this big project. Like all our projects, this one was developed through extensive public input. In this case, the City of Charleston and the hospitals also played a large role in determining what changes would truly improve the traffic situation in this area." - Teddie E. Pryor, Sr., Charleston County Council Chairman

• "The completion of the Bee Street and Courtenay Drive Improvement Project provides critical safe roadways to accommodate the patients, staff and faculty of the MUSC, VA Hospital, the traveling public and other medical facilities in the area.  Providing this infrastructure is a must for this economically vital service area as they respond to the medical needs of the community. The roadway is now built to present vehicular and pedestrian traffic a safer and more accommodating route." - City of Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr.

• "Roper Hospital has thousands of patients, employees and families who come to the campus daily. The completion of this street, curbing, sidewalk and storm drainage project will greatly improve transportation to our hospital. RSFH is proud to have worked cooperatively with our friends and colleagues from MUSC and the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce to support and campaign for the passage of the Transportation Sales Tax to make the completion of this project possible. We are grateful and thankful to all who worked on this project to make our streets and access roads more convenient, more safe and much more attractive for all." - David Dunlap, President and CEO, Roper St. Francis Healthcare.

• "Thanks to completion of this important road project, traffic flow will be greatly improved while problems with flooding will be lessened. This will have a direct positive impact on our patients as well as our employees and physicians."  - Matt Severance, CEO, Roper Hospital.

The public can get more information and see photos of the construction process online at http://www.ccroadwise.org/musc.html. Visit the official website at www.ccroadwise.org for public meeting notices and up-to-date news and information about all Charleston County Transportation Sales Tax road projects.