By GENE ZALESKI, T&D Staff Writer Thursday, November 19, 2009
A public information meeting is scheduled on Thursday, Dec. 3, related to the proposed improvements to the Interstate 95/U.S. 301 interchange and U.S. 301 Connector Project.
The S.C. Department of Transportation has scheduled the informal drop-in meeting from 5-7 p.m. in the Lake Marion High School cafeteria at 3656 Tee Vee Road in Santee.
The public will have an opportunity to review and discuss the project with SCDOT and Federal Highway Administration representatives.
“Right now we are developing our displays,” said Randall Young, SCDOT Midlands regional production engineer. He said the public will be able to see the plans for the project at the meeting.
The proposed improvements consist of modifying the I-95/US 301 interchange from a partial-access to a full-access interchange. Currently, there is a U.S. 301 northbound entrance onto I-95 and a southbound exit onto U.S. 301.
The project would involve construction of both a southbound and a northbound entrance and exit to both highways.
The proposed improvements also include building a new location roadway to connect U.S. 301 from I-95 to S.C. 6 near Naval Station Road.
The U.S. 301 connector would accommodate a five-lane section from I-95 tapering down to a three-lane section to S.C. 6. The connector road also includes a bridge over the CSX railroad approximately halfway between I-95 and S.C. 6.
The proposed project is partially funded by SCDOT through money allocated to the Lower Savannah Council of Governments region, Congressional earmarks and Orangeburg County.
A total of about $10 million has been allocated for the estimated $30 million to $35 million project.
Young said comments shared by the public during the Dec. 3 meeting will be gathered and reviewed, along with the various regulatory agency comments. The comments will be used in preparation of the final design plan (which will be used in the purchase of right-of-ways) and the environmental plan, he said.
A public hearing will be held in about a year to release the final plan, and the public will be able to express their opinions on the project, Young said.
After the public hearing and review of comments, rights-of-way will be purchased, construction documents will be finalized and the project will go to construction pending funding availability.
For more information, contact Young at 803-737-4682.
Persons with disabilities who may require special accommodations to attend the Dec. 3 hearing can contact Karen Davis at 803-737-1549 for assistance.
T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.
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