Lexington County Moves to Address Traffic Congestion

News Summary

Lexington County officials are proposing a new interstate exit off Interstate 20 at Calks Ferry Road to alleviate traffic congestion, particularly in the Red Bank area. With 2,500 new residents in the past decade, the county acknowledges the need for infrastructure improvements. The engineering phase of the project has received unanimous approval, with a budget of $1 million allocated for consulting and traffic studies. Community support for the project is strong, as residents hope this new exit will ease rush hour traffic frustrations.

Lexington County Takes Big Steps to Tackle Traffic Woes

If you’ve been feeling the pain of traffic congestion in Lexington County, there’s hope on the horizon! Local officials are proposing a shiny new interstate exit designed to help ease the heavy flow of vehicles, especially in the bustling Red Bank area. This exciting development could change how residents navigate the region and make daily commutes a little smoother.

Proposed Location and Planning

The new exit is set to be located off Interstate 20 at Calks Ferry Road. This location is viewed as a strategic point to alleviate some of the pressure currently placed on the area. With nearly 2,500 new residents having moved to Red Bank over the past decade, the county recognizes that something’s got to give. To kick off this ambitious project, local leaders have greenlit an engineering phase, which recently received unanimous approval from the county council. The total budget for this phase is about $1 million—specifically, $995,000 has been allocated for engineering consulting, a thorough traffic study, and the vital design work needed to get things rolling.

Building the Foundation

Before construction can commence, several necessary steps are in place. The county will need to complete a comprehensive traffic analysis and also prepare an Interchange Justification Report for the Federal Highway Administration. This document is crucial for securing the green light for the actual construction of the interchange. Acknowledging that this initiative is just the start, Brent Hyatt, the director of public works in Lexington, expressed enthusiasm for the engineering phase, marking it as a significant early step.

History and Community Support

Interestingly, the proposed interchange has been on the radar for quite a while—about eight years, in fact! The project found its place in last fiscal year’s budget when state legislators strategically set aside $1 million in anticipation of the community’s growth. Council member Darrell Hudson, who has been closely involved in this effort, stressed that while no formal requests were made for the interchange in the past, residents have voiced their frustrations regarding congestion, particularly with schools serving the area.

The unavailability of specific daily traffic counts for the proposed interchange area is surprising, but information from the state Department of Transportation reveals that an average of 48,400 vehicles travel on Interstate 20 from the Longs Pond Road exit to S.C. 6 daily in 2023. With current traffic at that level, the need for relief becomes even clearer.

Future Prospects

The new exit will serve as a fantastic alternative to using Longs Pond Road, which can feel like a parking lot during peak hours and is approximately a six-minute drive away from the proposed site. Many local residents are hopeful and have expressed that a new exit would significantly alleviate the frustrating traffic jam situation, especially during school pick-up and drop-off times. This strong community backing reinforces the push for the project to move forward.

As for when all of this might happen? Well, that’s still to be determined. Hudson is optimistic and hopes that the project will gain approval within the next ten years or perhaps even sooner. Final costs and design details remain under wraps and will be nailed down before anything is presented for further state and county approvals.

Wrapping Up

All things considered, the proposed interchange off Calks Ferry Road could be a game changer for traffic in Lexington County. It reflects the community’s evolving needs and the county’s commitment to enhancing local infrastructure. With a steady increasing population and growing traffic woes, this new exit might just be the breath of fresh air local drivers have been waiting for.

Keep your fingers crossed, Lexington! Change is on the way.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

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Additional Resources

• WLTX: Proposed I-20 Exit in Lexington County
• ABC Columbia: Lexington County Under Burn Ban
• WACH: Motorcyclist Killed in Collision
• Lexington Chronicle: SC Forestry Commission Issues Red Flag Fire Alert
• Lexington County Sheriff: Community Tip Leads to Drug Arrests
• Wikipedia: Traffic Congestion
• Google Search: Traffic Management
• Google Scholar: Traffic Interchange Design
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Traffic Engineering
• Google News: Lexington County Traffic

Author: HERE Lexington