By AMY BANTON
An informational meeting will be held Tuesday regarding the Silver Bluff Road corridor improvement project.
This proposed corridor improvement project by the S.C. Department of Transportation would span from Indian Creek Trail to Richardson Lake Road on Silver Bluff Road, which is a stretch that's around one and half miles long.
The plan has been to expand the two-lane section into three lanes. The added turning lane is to help with the traffic flow by alleviating any congestion caused by cars waiting to make a turn on the busy road.
The concept plan, which has a few revisions made from comments gathered at the last informational session, will be displayed with SCDOT representatives available to answer any questions.
SCDOT has been working on plans for this improvement project for almost six years. In 2007, SCDOT had originally planned to widen the two-lane road to five lanes, but residents expressed concern with the design.
The last meeting was held in May 2011 to gather comments from residents. Two plans were presented to residents, including a design recommended by SCDOT and another requested by the City of Aiken that included a shift in alignment to minimize the right-of-way impact on residents.
The reviews from residents were mixed at the last meeting. Some liked the city's plan better, others preferred SCDOT's plan, and a few even suggested to go back to the original plan.
SCDOT program manager Kevin Gantt said once they collect any comments made by the public at this session, they will go back to the Augusta Regional Transportation Study Policy Committee and SCDOT can move forward if all is approved.
"It's been long process, and we've really done our best to incorporate the public's opinion in the development of the project," Gantt said.
The meeting will be from 5 to 7 p.m. at Town Creek Baptist Church, 250 Town Creek Road.
This meeting will be conducted in a drop-in format, and a brief presentation will be given at 6 p.m.
For more information, call Gantt at 737-5808.![]()
An informational meeting will be held Tuesday regarding the Silver Bluff Road corridor improvement project.
This proposed corridor improvement project by the S.C. Department of Transportation would span from Indian Creek Trail to Richardson Lake Road on Silver Bluff Road, which is a stretch that's around one and half miles long.
The plan has been to expand the two-lane section into three lanes. The added turning lane is to help with the traffic flow by alleviating any congestion caused by cars waiting to make a turn on the busy road.
The concept plan, which has a few revisions made from comments gathered at the last informational session, will be displayed with SCDOT representatives available to answer any questions.
SCDOT has been working on plans for this improvement project for almost six years. In 2007, SCDOT had originally planned to widen the two-lane road to five lanes, but residents expressed concern with the design.
The last meeting was held in May 2011 to gather comments from residents. Two plans were presented to residents, including a design recommended by SCDOT and another requested by the City of Aiken that included a shift in alignment to minimize the right-of-way impact on residents.
The reviews from residents were mixed at the last meeting. Some liked the city's plan better, others preferred SCDOT's plan, and a few even suggested to go back to the original plan.
SCDOT program manager Kevin Gantt said once they collect any comments made by the public at this session, they will go back to the Augusta Regional Transportation Study Policy Committee and SCDOT can move forward if all is approved.
"It's been long process, and we've really done our best to incorporate the public's opinion in the development of the project," Gantt said.
The meeting will be from 5 to 7 p.m. at Town Creek Baptist Church, 250 Town Creek Road.
This meeting will be conducted in a drop-in format, and a brief presentation will be given at 6 p.m.
For more information, call Gantt at 737-5808.