Editor's note: The Aiken Standard will continue updates on Aiken's road projects throughout the week. Today's article is about University Parkway. Thursday's edition will highlight Christee Place.
Proposed aesthetic and physical changes to University Parkway appear to have gained traction with S.C. Department of Transportation representatives, according to the City of Aiken's hired engineering firm.
That sentiment was shared by Rick Toole, of Augusta-based company Toole Engineering, during Aiken City Council's Monday meeting.
Toole shared updates with Council members and staff about the various road projects in which the City was currently engaged; assisting Toole were Glenn Parker, the City's Capital Projects Sales Tax manager, and George Grinton, the City's Engineering and Utilities Director.
Toole said staff met with SCDOT in May to review the University Parkway project.
He said the project was "well received" by SCDOT representatives, who asked the City to provide all environmental studies and plans on the parkway.
Several months ago, City officials shared plans to widen University Parkway from the intersection at Richland Avenue to the intersection at Robert M. Bell Parkway.
University Parkway now stands between a two-lane and three-lane roadway; some parts do widen to four lanes.
Improvements include widening the parkway to be more consistent with traffic to and from USC Aiken and Aiken Regional Medical Centers, which would include a five-lane section from Richland Avenue to Physicians Drive.
The road will then transition to a divided four-lane section to Medical Park Drive.
The remainder of the road to the Parkway would include a divided three-lane section, which includes the addition of sidewalks and bicycle lanes.
One of the more visible changes will occur at the entrance into the Trolley Run subdivision.
City officials are proposing to put a stoplight at the entrance of the large subdivision; and instead of drivers turning left or right to make their way to University Parkway, a road would be constructed at the light, allowing drivers a straight shot through to the area of USCA and Aiken Regional.
The City also is proposing that instead of a stoplight connecting Trolley Line Road and University Parkway, a roundabout be put in, alleviating traffic congestion.
Because of this construction, the road to the left of the Trolley Run subdivision would be removed, and instead allowed to be turned into green space. Most of that property is owned by USCA, who reportedly has plans to "beautify" the space.
In May, the subcommittee of the Augusta Regional Transportation Study approved amending the Transportation Improvement Program to include the proposed widening of University Parkway, by adding funding of $4.6 million provided by the state and $6 million provided by the City of Aiken and Aiken County.
Toole said SCDOT should be finished with its internal review likely by late July, and the City's next step is to follow up with SCDOT to review its comments.
Maayan Schechter is the local government reporter.