Residents like Sabrina Faircloth, who has lived along the road for nearly 30 years without issue, say the construction has brought a host of problems.
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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Some residents near Leesburg Road are voicing frustration and concerns over a $50 million expansion project that has disrupted their daily lives and raised questions about safety and transparency.
The project, approved by the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) in 2022, aims to widen a 4.5-mile stretch of Leesburg Road. However, some residents like Sabrina Faircloth, who has lived along the road for nearly 30 years without issue, say the construction has brought a host of problems.
“Nobody comes to tell us anything at all, so we don’t know anything anymore. We truly don’t,” Faircloth said.
Faircloth described the construction as a major disruption, citing loud noises, drainage issues, and vehicle congestion as daily challenges. She and her neighbors are also worried about future problems like increased speeding, safety hazards from blind spots, and a sidewalk they feel is unnecessary.
Faircloth and some others in the neighborhood are urging SCDOT to prioritize better communication and consider residents’ concerns as the project continues.
“I would say two things need to change: someone to check on people after it rains—go check on the low-lying areas where the pipes aren’t done. Maybe they can’t get out of their house, maybe they’re handicapped. And number two, check on the grass and weeds around the barrels every once in a while,” Faircloth said.
Faircloth said overgrown vegetation and construction materials have created blind spots, leading to near-misses when pulling onto Leesburg Road.
Faircloth recalled that updates were more frequent when construction first began.
“When they first started, there was one guy, an older gentleman, who introduced himself and said, ‘Hey, if you have any issues, please come to me.’ That was one good thing,” she said.
But those updates stopped as the project progressed.
“Well, now it’s a whole different set of people, and nobody seems to care anymore. So I don’t know where that guy went,” Faircloth said.
News19 reached out to SCDOT for an update on the project and its anticipated completion date. In a statement, SCDOT said the project is expected to be completed by late 2026.
“The goal is never to pause work,” the statement read. “However, some operations are temperature-sensitive, such as paving, which can’t be performed unless temperatures are high enough.”
Despite assurances from SCDOT, Faircloth worries about what the road will look like once the project is complete.
“Unfortunately, I have a feeling it’s going to get worse because it’s going to be four lanes—two lanes going each way—with a sidewalk on the side. I think people are going to fly even more,” she said.