The South Carolina Department of Transportation announced on April 14 that it will hold a public hearing and open-house meeting on April 28 at Woodland High School regarding proposed improvements to the Interstate 26 corridor between mile markers 172 and 187 in Berkeley and Dorchester counties.
According to the announcement, SCDOT proposes to widen and improve approximately 15 miles of Interstate 26 from just west of the existing interchange of I-26 and US Highway 15 (Exit 172 A-B) to just west of the I-26 and SC Highway 27 (SC 27) interchange (Exit 187). The project includes reconstruction of the US 15 (Exit 172) and SC 453 (Exit 177) interchanges to accommodate the widening as well as future traffic volumes. Reconstruction of the Exit 187 interchange at SC 27 is not included in this project.
The department said, “The purpose of the project is to improve traffic operations and existing geometry associated with roadways and bridges along I-26 between mile marker (MM) 172 and 187. The project is needed due to existing and projected traffic volumes and operating conditions along this section of I-26.”
SCDOT seeks input from the public on the proposed project, with comments accepted from April 13 through May 13. Physical copies of the project’s environmental assessment will be available for review at several locations: Dorchester County Library at St. George, SCDOT Dorchester Maintenance Office, SCDOT Headquarters in Columbia, as well as online at i26improvements.com/mm172-187.
The open-house meeting will take place from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., where attendees can view project displays, speak with SCDOT representatives, and sign up to provide verbal comments during the hearing. The formal public hearing begins at 6 p.m., featuring a presentation followed by an opportunity for comments. Comments may also be submitted online, by mail, or by email.
More information about comment submission methods or event details can be found in the organization’s press release.
