ELGIN, S.C. — Commuters on Highway 1 in Richland and Kershaw Counties may soon see major changes to improve traffic flow and safety.
This comes as the Central Midlands Council of Governments, in partnership with the consulting firm AECOM, conducts a feasibility study on the heavily trafficked stretch from Spears Creek Church Road to Watts Road.
For residents like Darlene Dent, the current conditions are challenging. “Too congested, backed up, not wide enough, too much traffic, too many accidents,” she says of the seven-mile corridor.
Dent is hoping to see improvements. "More stop lights, wider road, less congestion, for sure. It's bad."
Bill Jordan, a senior transportation planner with AECOM, has been overseeing the project and preparing for public feedback.
“The study is seeking to address traffic issues now, as well as into the future,” said Jordan.
AECOM has reviewed approximately 20 intersections along the route and assessed projected growth and traffic volume. According to their study, there have been 614 crashes along the 6.7-mile stretch over the last 5 years.
“We looked at growth percentages into the future, and traffic along this corridor is obviously substantial now and will continue to get worse, so we need to start addressing what we can do from a safety perspective, but also a congestion perspective," Jordan said.
“The struggle is there are so many subdivisions and people trying to get on Highway 1, turning left, turning right, a lot of the cars get backed up," commuter Richard Ham said. "There’s definitely some danger zones, one right behind me I can’t tell you how many wrecks I’ve seen in the last 15 years, just right here. Some stoplights need to be in place, some widening of the roads—it is dangerous and difficult."
The Central Midlands Council of Governments will hold two public meetings next week to unveil the proposed plans.
The first will take place on Monday, November 18, at Miracle Deliverance Outreach, located at 115 Catawba Hill Drive in Elgin, from 5 to 7 p.m. A second meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 19, at Blaney Baptist Church, located at 1400 Blaney Road in Elgin, also from 5 to 7 p.m.