Lexington County Proposes New Interstate Exit to Alleviate Traffic

News Summary

Local officials in Lexington County are proposing a new interstate exit on Calks Ferry Road to relieve traffic congestion on Interstate 20. With daily traffic reaching 48,400 cars, the county plans to invest nearly $1 million for engineering and traffic studies. The project has received unanimous support from the county council and aims to improve traffic flow significantly. While construction timelines remain uncertain, local residents are hopeful for relief from congestion, especially during school rush hours.

Lexington County Tackles Traffic Woes with New Interstate Exit Proposal

If you’ve ever been stuck in traffic in Lexington, you know just how frustrating it can be. Well, the local officials are stepping up to the plate and proposing a shiny new interstate exit that promises to ease those pesky traffic jams along Interstate 20. Exciting, right?

What’s Happening?

Word has it that the proposed exit will be located on Calks Ferry Road, conveniently situated just past the bustling Red Bank area. The county has recognized the need for this change after observing some alarming traffic data. In fact, a whopping average of 48,400 cars have been zooming down this stretch of highway daily in 2023! With that kind of action, it’s no wonder the local roads are becoming overcrowded.

Big Bucks for Engineering

Lexington County plans to invest nearly $1 million to kickstart this exciting project! This includes a unanimous vote from the county council on March 11 that approved the engineering contract to get the ball rolling. A budget of $995,000 will be allocated specifically for engineering consulting, covering everything from an essential traffic study to initial design plans.

Planning for the Future

Now, before we can see any signs of construction, there’s still a bit of planning to tackle. The project will require a thorough traffic analysis and an Interchange Justification Report for the Federal Highway Administration. And while this may sound like a lot of paperwork, it’s all part of making sure the project is a success!

It’s important to note that officials have been working on advancing this crucial project for the past eight years. But now, they’re finally taking steps to make it a reality, with the proposed interchange aiming to significantly improve traffic flow at the already congested Exit 51 at Longs Pond Road.

Community Support and Anticipation

Local residents have expressed overwhelming support for the plan, sharing their frustrations about heavy traffic on Longs Pond Road, particularly during school rush hours. Adding this new exit could very well provide a new route to bypass these traffic challenges, with the proposed exit being just six minutes away from Longs Pond Road.

With such a great need in the area, it’s no surprise that Councilman Darrell Hudson believes this project has been long overdue. He mentioned that up until recently, no formal requests had been made to take a closer look at the traffic situation in this part of town.

No Exact Timeline Yet

While many folks are eager to see this new exit come to life, officials have yet to provide a specific timeline for its completion. It’s anticipated that the project may receive official approval within the next ten years or less, but plans still need to be finalized, including detailed design and cost assessments before it can be presented for both state and county approval.

In the meantime, residents can stay hopeful that this new exit will help alleviate those frustrating traffic woes and make their daily commutes just a little bit smoother. So here’s to less time spent in traffic and more time enjoying all the fantastic things Lexington has to offer!

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Additional Resources

• The State: Lexington County Traffic Proposal
• Wikipedia: Lexington County
• WLTX: Proposed I-20 Exit in Lexington County
• Google Search: Traffic Issues in South Carolina
• Lexington Chronicle: Red Flag Fire Alert
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Traffic

Author: HERE Lexington