COLUMBIA, S.C. — The plan to extend Shop Road could take a big step forward on Thursday as Richland County leaders are expected to approve a $2.57 million service order to advance the project.
Right now, Shop Road ends at its intersection with Longwood Road, where it's stopped by a large plot of land including Mill Creek. The next phase of the project, known as Phase 2, proposes extending the road by 1.4 miles, crossing over Mill Creek and its floodplain, to connect to Montgomery Road.
The extension will create a three-lane road with a bridge over Mill Creek, easing traffic flow in the area. Currently, drivers must navigate a detour around Mill Creek to reach Montgomery Road.
Mike Maloney, Richland County’s Director of Public Works, said the project was designed to minimize disruptions to nearby neighborhoods.
"We looked at an area that would be as least impactful as possible," Maloney explained. "The idea is not to be where there are developed properties, homes, homesteads, and things like that in the Montgomery Road area."
The $2.57 million service order with CECS, Inc. will fund essential design and engineering work, including environmental permitting, traffic studies, and storm water planning. The total budget for Phase 2 is $24 million.
Maloney said the extension is part of a larger vision to eventually connect Shop Road to Garners Ferry Road.
"That's kind of a business route, you know, with truck traffic and that sort of thing on those roads," Maloney said.
According to meeting documents, approval of the service order will allow the project to progress to more detailed designs. Once those designs are ready, the public will have an opportunity to provide feedback at an information meeting.
