Dec. 2 Nighttime Lane Closures in Preparation for Johnnie Dodds Boulevard Improvements Project

Traffic Alert: Dec. 2 Nighttime Lane Closures in Preparation for Johnnie Dodds Boulevard Improvements Project

Charleston County Government announces new, nighttime road work that will affect northbound traffic on Johnnie Dodds Boulevard (U.S. 17) this week. The work is being done in preparation for the Johnnie Dodds Boulevard Improvements Project in Mount Pleasant.

The following work is necessary to erect permanent construction signs across the Mt. Pleasant side of the Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge:

Thursday, Dec. 2 northbound lane closures one mile near the Ravenel Bridge:
• Drivers should expect northbound, outside lane closures on Johnnie Dodds Boulevard and one mile north bound of the Ravenel Bridge.
• The work will be done between 9 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 2 through 6 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 3.
• At no time will the entire roadway be blocked to traffic.
• If the weather is poor on this date, the work will be completed during the same timeframe on the next weather-permitting day.

All motorists traveling through the project area are asked to be aware of equipment and crews and to be prepared for delays beginning this week. Alternative routes are recommended if possible. The public is also asked to notice traffic control signs, reductions in speed limit and message board information, and to note that all road work is dependent on the weather.

The project, which is expected to be completed in the fall of 2012, is funded by the Charleston County Transportation Sales Tax and managed by Charleston County Government’s RoadWise Program, in close coordination with the Town of Mount Pleasant and the S.C. Department of Transportation. The goal of the project is to improve the traffic flow in and out of Mount Pleasant, especially before and after school and work hours.

Every effort is being made to schedule necessary lane closures for the project during off- peak, nighttime and weekend hours when possible.

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.

The public can get up-to-date project information, including construction status and traffic alerts, online HERE

Johnnie Dodds improvements to affect appearance of Mount Pleasant

By Jonathan Rivers
Published June 15, 2010

Following years of speculation and planning, the stretch of U.S. Highway 17 extending through Mount Pleasant will experience an extensive makeover beginning late this summer.

The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce’s Developers Council met this morning to reveal the final decisions regarding several Charleston area roadway improvements.

Paramount in the discussion was the renovation plans of Johnnie Dodds Boulevard from the foot of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge to just north of the Interstate 526 interchange in Mount Pleasant.

The need for improvements along this stretch of highway has been an issue since a 2000 transportation plan study highlighted the town’s need to widen its main roadway to avoid congestion caused by a high volume of traffic.

The project is estimated at $80 million and includes widening the stretch of U.S. Highway 17 to three lanes in each direction and adding bike lanes and sidewalks along the frontage roads. The renovation also calls for an overpass carrying traffic over Bowman Road and extensive modifications to the intersections at Anna Knapp Boulevard and Shelmore Boulevard.

The development effort not only affects the highway’s commuters, but also the overall appearance of the town along that route.

“The town of Mount Pleasant will likely shift its development focus over the long term,” said Jim Fisher of TranSystems, lead engineer for the project’s preliminary design.

The new layout will encourage the town to stimulate development along the frontage roads, as the proposed improvements would make storefronts and offices in this area more visible and accessible, Fisher said.

Fisher also noted the town will add more prominent signage to welcome incoming traffic as well as a “way finder” system that will direct commuters to specific sites, shopping centers and hotels.

A major challenge engineers have faced is the limited right of way available to widen the roads in certain areas. Some buildings will be within feet of the frontage roads following the proposed project.

The primary source of funding for the project is the Charleston County Roadwise’s half-cent transportation sales tax. The county began collecting the tax in May 2005 to fund an array of Charleston County road improvements.

“About $70 million of the $80 million required for completing the project has been budgeted for and funded by the Roadwise transportation-half cent sales tax,” said Fisher, emphasizing that the estimate of the project’s final cost is closely in line with Charleston County Roadwise’s budget.

Fisher also noted that federal requirements have been considered so that if there is a need for funds in the future, they have the means through which to acquire them.

The project is expected to start in August.