Columbia Residents Face Traffic Turmoil Amidst Construction Boom

Columbia Residents Face Traffic Turmoil Amidst Construction Boom

Columbia is buzzing with growth, but there’s a catch – a major traffic headache is brewing! A flurry of new construction projects in the corridor around River Drive, Sunset Drive, and North Main Street is causing headaches for residents who are fed up with delays and unsafe driving conditions. The city is transforming, but for locals, it feels like the bustling changes have hit a snag on the roads.

Speeding and Swerving Woes

Take a stroll down River Drive, and you might notice it’s not the same calm route it used to be. Once a quiet stretch, it’s now buzzing with relentless traffic, leaving some residents seeing red. One Earlewood resident took to social media in late October, sharing a frustrating experience that took an incredible 32 minutes to navigate just a few blocks. They pleaded, “Something needs to be done!” It seems people are finding sneaky ways to dodge traffic by speeding down dirt paths, making complaints necessary.

Another concerned local echoed their sentiments, pointing out that the roads have turned dangerous, with cars whizzing by at alarming rates of 45-50 miles per hour. There’s a real fear of collision as drivers swerve and cut each other off on a road that used to be manageable.

Police Intervention

In response to mounting concerns, the Columbia Police have stepped in. They began policing River Drive more actively starting in September. Dawned with a memo from the police department on November 8, it was noted that police issued 20 tickets over two months. However, to many residents’ disappointment, these tickets did not appear to be effective during peak commute times, as there was “little to no speeding” reported then.

The police also set up a temporary speed trailer to warn drivers going too fast, but there was a hitch. A processing error meant the results of a two-month speed study couldn’t be retrieved. Just when it seemed like things might get better, there’s another bump in the road.

Construction Chaos Ahead

And what’s causing all this traffic chaos? A major construction project on Sunset Drive that started in April! With a budget of $5.2 million, this project aims to enhance roadway utilities, add new paving, and create a new five-foot wide sidewalk. Unfortunately, construction is projected to continue until mid-2025. As if that wasn’t enough, this roadwork has rerouted traffic down River Drive, worsening the already tricky situation.

City officials are aware of the complaints. Councilman Tyler Bailey is collaborating with the police department to figure out how to alleviate the traffic trouble. He acknowledges, “The people who are having complaints, those complaints are valid,” echoing the frustrations of many locals.

What’s Next for Columbia?

As we dive deeper into the future of this growing corridor, there’s more on the horizon. Recently, the South Carolina Department of Transportation announced the addition of buffered bike lanes along River Drive, aiming to bolster safety for all types of users. And there’s more! New apartment projects are popping up, including the affordable Benton Crossing, and plans for a 300-unit market-rate complex coming up soon at Sunset and River Drive.

What’s concerning many is that next year, part of River Drive may close for nearly a year as the state prepares to replace a bridge over the CSX railroad, which would reroute traffic back to Sunset Drive. “We want to limit a huge increase in traffic for a year-long detour,” stressed John Wilkinson, president of the Elmwood Park Neighborhood Association.

Finding Balance Between Growth and Safety

Wilkinson, however, believes it’s important to balance growth with community needs. Despite the long queues and chaotic traffic, he remarked that the area has the capacity for growth if managed wisely. “A lot of people complain about traffic, but we want development, and we know that will come with some more traffic,” he elaborated.

The residents of Columbia are eager for solutions as they navigate construction and increased congestion. As the city blossoms, they hope it can do so without leaving them in the dust.