REMBERT, S.C. — As discussions heat up over the potential expansion of Highway 521, residents in Kershaw and Sumter counties find themselves with mixed emotions.
Kershaw County Council is set to vote on a resolution on Tuesday night, taking a stance against any plans or projects aimed at widening the bustling highway.
"A 4-lane highway from Rembert to Camden is not needed," said Marty Daniels, who lives on US-521.
Marty and her brother Joe Daniels are vocal opponents of widening the project.
"Any expansion is going to take agricultural land, timber production and dedicate it to a roadbed that we don't think is necessary," says Joe Daniels.
Their sentiments echo the growing sentiment against the proposed expansion.
In December, the Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments confirmed a feasibility study was underway to assess the potential expansion of 521 to four lanes from Spencer Road in Sumter to I-20 in Camden.
Katie Guinn is the Chairwoman of Kershaw County Council and sits on the Santee Lynches Regional Council of Government board. Guinn says frustration prompted her to put the resolution on the agenda.
"In talking with the citizens recently, they asked, 'Will County Council take a position?' and my response was, 'I don't know; we can see," Guinn said.
Guinn outlined three major issues influencing the decision. "Safety and also how far that road will go into federally protected land or historic land. The third issue is what does it mean for the future of that area," Guinn said.
However, resident Juanita Britton of Rembert in Sumter County says this needs to be done. "You don't have anywhere you can pull off if you have a flat tire. We need to get it done."
Sammie Tucker Jr., a Kershaw County Council member and Chairman of the Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments board believes it's premature to vote on the resolution.
"It's been approved to go forward with the feasibility study. There's nothing else been approved beyond that, but we must get the feasibility study in order to take the next steps. Saying no, we don't want it, we don't need it, is an uninformed decision because you don't have the study to make those decisions".
While the resolution will be voted on this week, it doesn't halt the project.
"It doesn't do anything. It doesn't take an actual action, it is just resolving that this council believes this way on this topic," Guinn said.
County Council is scheduled to vote on the resolution on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Kershaw County government office.
Back in December, when we spoke to the Council of Governments, they mentioned the study could take months. If the project moves forward, it could take years to finish.