http://www.scdot.org/I526/default.shtml (http://www.scdot.org/I526/default.shtml)
I just happened to stumble upon this while browsing SCDOT's Web site. Looks like a draft EIS has been completed on the will-be-completed-in-the-future extension of Interstate 526 from the current western end at Savannah Highway (U.S. 17) to the James Island Expressway (S.C. 30), running through West Ashley, Johns Island and James Island.
The site does have the proposed alignments of the extension, with a proposed interchange at Maybank Highway (S.C. 70).
According to the website, SCDOT's preferred alignment calls for at-grade intersections and a regulated speed limit between 35mph and 45mph. The preferred alternative map (http://www.scdot.org/I526/pdfs/RPA_Overview.pdf), otherwise known as Alternative G, shows at-grade intersections with two new connector roads on Johns Island that will link the proposed road with River Road. Also noted is that the current end of SC 30 at SC 171 will also be an at-grade interchange once the route is complete.
Given that SCDOT's preferred alignment is for an at-grade route and lower speed limits, I cannot see how this would be an extension of Interstate 526. The only way I see the interstate being extended is if they went for Alternatives A, C, D or E.
I remember seeing plans for this that were completely grade separated a while back.
Some slightly delayed news from last Thursday, but the Charleston County Council voted unanimously (8-0) against SCDOT's plan for I-526 (http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011/apr/15/plan-for-i-526-rejected/). A follow-on 5-to-3 vote recommended the "No Build" alternative. There's some question though as to whether this would ultimately stop SCDOT from building the project.
South Carolina seems to have a larger "environmentalist" lobby than people think. That being said, you wonder why US 17 out of Charleston towards I-95 took this long to be 4 laned. From whom i have talked to in Charleston metro, they don't want I-526 but complain about the traffic at the same time!
Quote from: froggie on April 19, 2011, 05:45:33 PM
Some slightly delayed news from last Thursday, but the Charleston County Council voted unanimously (8-0) against SCDOT's plan for I-526 (http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011/apr/15/plan-for-i-526-rejected/). A follow-on 5-to-3 vote recommended the "No Build" alternative. There's some question though as to whether this would ultimately stop SCDOT from building the project.
Quote from: Jerseyman4 on July 30, 2011, 05:14:15 PM
From whom i have talked to in Charleston metro, they don't want I-526 but complain about the traffic at the same time!
This article (http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120810/PC16/120819939/1006/i-526-referendum-on-charleston-county-council-agenda) reports that the voters may get to decide whether there will be a completion of the Mark Clark Expressway extension/ I-526 across Johns and James Islands:
Quote
In a quick and unexpected move, Charleston County Council will decide Tuesday whether to ask voters in the November election whether they support the controversial completion of the Mark Clark Expressway across Johns and James Islands.
The proposal council will consider bringing to voters rules out the state Department of Transportation's preferred alternative for the road, the parkway-style Alternative G. But it does not specify whether the road would be a more traditional, high-speed interstate highway, or take some other form.
Councilman Vic Rawl requested the proposal be placed on the group's agenda. It also includes a provision to rule out the need for consent from the cities and towns through which the road would pass. State law requires consent from municipalities ....
Proposed referendum question Charleston County Council will consider Tuesday:
Should the Mark Clark Expressway extension/I-526 project be completed with the understanding that the recommended preferred alternative (Alternative G) should not be considered and that any municipal consent (pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. 56-5-820) should not be applicable?
Should be an interesting meeting ...
The original plan that I saw about 20 years ago for this, was to be a full freeway design.
The NIMBY's have organized a movement against any Interstate 526 extension:
https://www.facebook.com/nix526
QuoteNix526.org is a grassroots group of ordinary citizens working to protect James and Johns Islands from the useless expansion of I-526. 36 seconds is not worth $556 million in taxpayer money, nor is it worth harming the homes of 780 families.
Quote from: Alex on August 11, 2012, 04:51:32 PM
The NIMBY's have organized a movement against any Interstate 526 extension:
https://www.facebook.com/nix526
QuoteNix526.org is a grassroots group of ordinary citizens working to protect James and Johns Islands from the useless expansion of I-526. 36 seconds is not worth $556 million in taxpayer money, nor is it worth harming the homes of 780 families.
And yet the NIMBY's at the same time complain about the traffic! And it takes much more time than 36 seconds to build a freeway.
Makes me wonder why people are so ignorant about wanting to be responsible citizens... :banghead:
Quote from: NYYPhil777 on August 11, 2012, 04:58:01 PM
And it takes much more time than 36 seconds to build a freeway.
I haven't seen the page....but surely 36 seconds refers to the estimated savings in travel time versus existing roads. If people really think a freeway can be built in 36 seconds, God help us !
Quote from: broadhurst04 on August 11, 2012, 08:49:14 PM
Quote from: NYYPhil777 on August 11, 2012, 04:58:01 PM
And it takes much more time than 36 seconds to build a freeway.
I haven't seen the page....but surely 36 seconds refers to the estimated savings in travel time versus existing roads. If people really think a freeway can be built in 36 seconds, God help us !
Now I see... 36 seconds isn't a lot of travel time being shaved off (should the I-526 extension been built)!
Quote from: NYYPhil777 on August 12, 2012, 12:20:07 AM
Now I see... 36 seconds isn't a lot of travel time being shaved off (should the I-526 extension been built)!
There are several river crossings and accesses that will provide a number of trips that will save 10 minutes or more over existing roads.
Quote from: NYYPhil777 on August 11, 2012, 04:58:01 PM
Quote from: Alex on August 11, 2012, 04:51:32 PM
The NIMBY's have organized a movement against any Interstate 526 extension:
https://www.facebook.com/nix526
QuoteNix526.org is a grassroots group of ordinary citizens working to protect James and Johns Islands from the useless expansion of I-526. 36 seconds is not worth $556 million in taxpayer money, nor is it worth harming the homes of 780 families.
And yet the NIMBY's at the same time complain about the traffic! And it takes much more time than 36 seconds to build a freeway.
Makes me wonder why people are so ignorant about wanting to be responsible citizens... :banghead:
I know this area reasonably well, and I think an extension of I-526 would save a little more than the 36 seconds claimed by the NIMBYs. They probably took one line in an environmental impact statement out of context.
Additional consideration - the Low Country of South Carolina is vulnerable to a hurricane strike (the last
bad one was Hugo in the late 1980's), and having a decent highway network in that part of the Palmetto State is important for evacuation reasons.
Quote from: Grzrd on August 11, 2012, 03:55:23 PM
This article (http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120810/PC16/120819939/1006/i-526-referendum-on-charleston-county-council-agenda) reports that the voters may get to decide whether there will be a completion of the Mark Clark Expressway extension/ I-526 across Johns and James Islands
This article (http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120815/PC16/120819485/1005/voters-won-t-weigh-in-on-i-526) reports that the Charleston County Council voted 6-2 Tuesday with one abstention against placing the I-526 extension on the ballot Nov. 6:
Quote
....Voters won't be weighing in on the extension of the interstate across Johns and James islands after Charleston County Council voted 6-2 Tuesday with one abstention against placing it on the ballot Nov. 6 ....
Council member ... Vic Rawl ... said the purpose of placing it on the ballot was to gauge whether there was widespread public support for the road project and, if such support existed, send a strong, clear message to the state Department of Transportation.
That's important because Charleston County in January voted to turn over the long-stalled project to the DOT, but the department hasn't yet agreed to take it. If it doesn't, the county could be on the hook for $11.6 million already spent on the project. The DOT needs to be reassured the public supports the road, Rawl said ....
Quote from: Grzrd on August 15, 2012, 09:46:02 AM
Quote from: Grzrd on August 11, 2012, 03:55:23 PM
This article (http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120810/PC16/120819939/1006/i-526-referendum-on-charleston-county-council-agenda) reports that the voters may get to decide whether there will be a completion of the Mark Clark Expressway extension/ I-526 across Johns and James Islands
This article (http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120815/PC16/120819485/1005/voters-won-t-weigh-in-on-i-526) reports that the Charleston County Council voted 6-2 Tuesday with one abstention against placing the I-526 extension on the ballot Nov. 6:
I wish like Hades that highway projects would be on the ballot more often.
Anti-highway/anti-mobility groups know that such votes are frequently going to go against them, and their anti-highway efforts are usually much more successful behind the scenes and at public meetings and hearings (where they can engineer a (relatively-speaking) large anti-highway turnout) on proposed improvements or additions to the highway network.
The controversy continues, and this article (http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20121129/PC16/121129332/1268/are-there-other-options-for-i-526&source=RSS) indicates that a December 13 vote by the Charleston County Council may be pivotal:
Quote
Charleston County Council stands poised to decide whether to turn over the controversial completion of I-526 to the city – which surely would build it – but other options might enter the picture before an expected Dec. 13 vote.
This article (http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20121214/PC16/121219648/1165/county-council-votes-to-build-i-526) reports that the Charleston County Council voted, 5-4, to build a parkway version of the I-526 extension:
Quote
Council members voted 5-4 in favor of completing the road across Johns and James islands, a project that has been on the books since the 1970s. Councilman Elliott Summey presented a resolution to move forward with the parkway plan for the project, also known as Alternative G. That plan included an overpass at Folly Road on James Island, an overpass at East Shore Lane in West Ashley and a consistent speed limit of 45 mph. Councilwoman Anna Johnson submitted amendments to the plan, and council approved those. They included safety improvements in some James Island neighborhoods; mitigating noise, light and emissions; improvements to some intersections on James Island; and compensation for a drop in property value for some residents who live within 1,000 feet of the road.
Even though the $558 million project was approved, it will be years before construction begins. It faces a lengthy federal approval process, and likely challenges to environmental permits.
From the article:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FrEqCP.png&hash=345fdc0e17df81458b2228819a4acc555bb8ae53)
Quote from: Grzrd on December 14, 2012, 11:04:08 AM
This article (http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20121214/PC16/121219648/1165/county-council-votes-to-build-i-526) reports that the Charleston County Council voted, 5-4, to build a parkway version of the I-526 extension;
Good move. Though this will not be cheap.
Will there be at-grades? The article only mentions a couple of overpasses, and the map doesn't really tell you what's going on. "Parkway style" could be anything from two-lane undivided with no grade separation (US 202, PA) to multi-lane divided with full access control (Cross Island, Cross County, etc., NY). I presume, with the 45 mph speed limit and desire to reduce the impact of people complaining about freeways (damned people), it'll be signed as SC 30.
Quote from: Steve on December 14, 2012, 06:15:36 PM
Will there be at-grades?
The SCDOT I-526 Updates page (http://www.scdot.org/I526/updates.shtml) describes Alternative G as follows:
Quote
The study team merged the alignment of Alternative D (formerly Alternative 11) and the parkway design of Alternative F (formerly Alternative 36) into a hybrid alternative, Alternative G.
Alternative F is described as follows:
Quote
Alternative F extends from U.S. 17 across the Stono River to Johns Island but it is proposed as a four-lane parkway with low speeds ... Access to the parkway would be provided at intersections with Maybank Highway, Folly Road, and other future connections.
So, I am assuming that there are at-grades in the modified Alternative G approved by the County Council.
I just hope that it will be designed in such a way as to allow for easy and economical upgrades if and when they ever become necessary. At least the corridor is being developed.
Mike
Atlernative G is discouraging to complete Interstate 526 as an interstate highway. First, bicycles and pedestrian traffic is not allowed on interstate highways. Second, interstate highways do not have at-grade intersections unless they are at their termini. Third, most interstate highways exceed 45 miles per hour. If the remaining section is to be completed properly later, it will cost mose at that time than now.
Though Charleston County council voted in favor of a parkway option, hurdles will remain.
Quote from: CarolinaPaladin on December 19, 2012, 02:52:10 PM
First, bicycles and pedestrian traffic is not allowed on interstate highways.
False.
Quote from: NE2 on December 19, 2012, 09:28:14 PM
Quote from: CarolinaPaladin on December 19, 2012, 02:52:10 PM
First, bicycles and pedestrian traffic is not allowed on interstate highways.
False.
Well, in this case, it's unlikely that you'd have an Interstate built without removing that traffic from the corridor or at least shoving it farther out of the ROW. Though it's certainly possible.
Quote from: CarolinaPaladin on December 19, 2012, 02:52:10 PM
Atlernative G is discouraging to complete Interstate 526 as an interstate highway. First, bicycles and pedestrian traffic is not allowed on interstate highways.
Some states do allow some bike traffic on Interstate shoulders.
And bike/ped trails have been built as part of Interstate projects.
Opposing groups respond to approval of I-526 project (http://www.live5news.com/story/24134241/councilman-completion-of-i-526-expected-to-be-approved-thursday) (WCSC, CBS, Charleston, SC)
It looks like Interstate 526 is taking a major step toward completion.
City council voted in favor of this extension.
QuoteCHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - Charleston City Council leaders voted to approve a resolution Tuesday night, supporting Charleston County in its efforts to complete the final phase of I-526.
During a public comment period, locals had an opportunity to speak out in favor, and in opposition, of the resolution.
"It will be the end of Johns Island," William Saunders, of Johns Island, said. "If it's built, it's going to completely destroy Johns Island."
But those in favor say 526 would ease traffic congestion along Highway 17, support public transportation avenues as well as offer an evacuation options once extended to Johns Island and James Island.
- https://www.live5news.com/story/31825119/charleston-city-council-votes-to-support-of-i-526/?fbclid=IwAR0w7PtChdZwKwWb_HsD3V4NnzPNT5qL_7emUI4Dlcv9oswmOHzAuZVWw3k
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on November 18, 2019, 08:26:58 PM
City council voted in favor of this extension.
QuoteCHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - Charleston City Council leaders voted to approve a resolution Tuesday night, supporting Charleston County in its efforts to complete the final phase of I-526.
During a public comment period, locals had an opportunity to speak out in favor, and in opposition, of the resolution.
"It will be the end of Johns Island," William Saunders, of Johns Island, said. "If it's built, it's going to completely destroy Johns Island."
But those in favor say 526 would ease traffic congestion along Highway 17, support public transportation avenues as well as offer an evacuation options once extended to Johns Island and James Island.
- https://www.live5news.com/story/31825119/charleston-city-council-votes-to-support-of-i-526/?fbclid=IwAR0w7PtChdZwKwWb_HsD3V4NnzPNT5qL_7emUI4Dlcv9oswmOHzAuZVWw3k
Hopefully SCDOT can get their stuff together and redesign the roadway as a proper 60 mph 4-lane urban freeway rather than the "parkway" concept developed, and it can be a true extension of I-526 - if they ever get it built.
^^^^ yeah I had initially thought this was to be a freeway and yet the more I looked into it the more at grade intersections I found and low and behold. Figures although I have never been to South Carolina so I'm unaware of its politics. I wonder if they could make a compromise much like those nearby the Legacy Parkway in SLC had. Ban trucks and impose a lower speed limit for 5 years or so if that is what it takes.
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on November 18, 2019, 09:05:13 PM
^^^^ yeah I had initially thought this was to be a freeway and yet the more I looked into it the more at grade intersections I found and low and behold. Figures although I have never been to South Carolina so I'm unaware of its politics. I wonder if they could make a compromise much like those nearby the Legacy Parkway in SLC had. Ban trucks and impose a lower speed limit for 5 years or so if that is what it takes.
Does the 2016 reevaluation (https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1Ww12rlToPzi3fFQ_rlK9qYy6qzLuBu8o) still represent current plans? From what I saw, the reevaluation eliminated all signalized intersections, unfortunately except for one at Riverland Drive. I couldn't find any more recent plans.
I thought connecting Interstate 526 and State Highway 30 was canceled permanently in 2016? Is there still a possibility (however remote) that it might still be constructed?
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on November 19, 2019, 05:58:33 PM
I thought connecting Interstate 526 and State Highway 30 was canceled permanently in 2016? Is there still a possibility (however remote) that it might still be constructed?
From Oct 2018 -
https://www.postandcourier.com/news/interstate-project-revived-months-after-bank-board-voted-to-squash/article_dba9f024-c5bf-11e8-a0dd-7bf3159f5087.html
Also from Jan 2019 -
SC Transportation Infrastructure Bank and Charleston County Couincil both voted today to approve a new agreement for funding the I-526 extension southwest of Charleston. The State Bank will put up $420M and the county is responsible for the rest (last estimate is $300M or so)
https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/state-bank-approves-new-deal-to-extend-i--in/article_4e04aa38-14e9-11e9-aba5-63f8d3549f74.html
Note the article cited in reply #26 is from 2016.
The project is officially started from SCDOT's point of view (https://www.scdotmarkclark.com/). Here is a description of where they are at https://www.scdotmarkclark.com/s/MCX-Newsletter-Template-2019-08-13_v2.pdf
^^^ the article I cited is from 2016 but was recently updated.
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on November 20, 2019, 01:10:58 AM
^^^ the article I cited is from 2016 but was recently updated.
There were no changes in the article itself (webarchive - https://web.archive.org/web/20160428201153/http://www.live5news.com/story/31825119/charleston-city-council-votes-to-support-of-i-526), so all of the actions in the article occurred before the project was (temporarily as it turned out) cancelled in early 2018.