CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – The state department of transportation wants public input on safety improvements for a roughly 7-mile-long stretch along U.S. Highway 17.
These miles along Savannah Highway qualify for the Federal Highway Safety Improvement program. The initiative targets public roads to lower traffic deaths and injuries. The program uses studies to look at crash data, car turn patterns and area conditions to find the best possible safety efforts.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation is working between Hughes Road and Wappoo Road on the highway. The department recorded nearly 2,600 crashes and 18 deaths on the corridor between 2017 and 2022.
The department is asking for public comment on the project starting Jan. 29. Comments can be made through the department website.
Businesses along the roadway share the same sentiments on the amount of traffic that passes through. Some complaints include the high traffic volume making it difficult for customers to enter and leave business or plaza parking lots during the day. Other complaints mention the need for paving as well as proper lighting in areas. One business owner even identifies the area as “crash central.”
Owner of Ashley Bakery Eileen Ferri opened her family business along the highway 23 years ago. Ferry says she sees the growth in the area which leads to the increasing amount of traffic and concerns.
“Of course, a lot of traffic has evolved on the highway, but the biggest problem is people running red lights,” Ferri says.
The department aims to add safety elements like new pavement markings, crosswalks and pedestrian countdown signals, along with new signs.
“I see people in scooters coming down White Oak and it’s dangerous, it really is,” Ferri says. “They can get across where Palmetto Ford is but other than that there are no ways for them to get across the highway that are… accessible.”
Public comments can also be mailed to Project Manager Kaylon Meetze at 955 Park Street, P.O. Box 191, Columbia, SC 29202-0191. The in-person drop-in style meeting will take place Feb. 13 at City Church of Charleston along Wappoo Road.
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