Residents hear I-526 expressway extension alternatives
By Kristen Hankla
Some say encroaching development eventually will force out lifelong residents of Johns and Wadmalaw islands. Bill Saunders thinks the proposed extension of Interstate 526 will drive them out 30 years sooner.
"It's going to hurt all of us from those islands," Saunders said. "We're just asking the community to support us."
Saunders is co-founder of Concerned Citizens of the Sea Islands, a group that organized a series of workshops with the Coastal Conservation League last week to look for alternatives to the Mark Clark Expressway extension. A team of traffic engineers used residents' comments to create different solutions to area traffic problems, which it presented to a crowd of about 120 last Thursday.
The Post and Courier
Urban designer Addie Weber works to put residents' ideas onto paper last Thursday before a public presentation of alternatives to the Mark Clark Expressway extension.
The presentation and workshops fueled the debate for the $420 million project that the State Infrastructure Bank Board already has agreed to fund. The extension would run from Savannah Highway in West Ashley, through Johns Island with an interchange at Maybank Highway and to the James Island connector where it currently spills onto Folly Road.
Plans for the road were created in the early 1970s and updated in 1985. The extension would include four lanes plus a 48-foot median for future expansion.
According to Megan Desrosiers of the Coastal Conservation League, the proposed extension is a result of the same transportation planning mentality that created the less-than-ideal Savannah Highway, Maybank Highway and Folly Road.
"We need a new concept for transportation planning. ... Forward-thinking cities are taking down freeways," she said.
Jane Lareau, also of the league, said the Mark Clark extension simply would move congestion from West Ashley's roadways to certain ones on Johns Island.
"The Mark Clark is going to be a disaster for Johns Island," she said, citing a Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments study that found the expressway would increase the island's population 20 percent to 40 percent.
"I know that there are road solutions that will fix the congestion problems west of the Ashley better than the Mark Clark," she said.
The solutions presented by Glatting Jackson Kercher Anglin, the transportation engineering company hired by the league and the citizens group, included dispersing traffic onto a network of smaller roads and creating town centers or "nodes" that would bring businesses and services closer to residents.
The presentation was music to Seabrook Island resident Banner Hughes' ears. "I thought it was a done deal," she said of the expressway extension. "I would be delighted if something like this could be done instead."
Others, such as Peggy Bohne of West Ashley, didn't think viable solutions were presented. "If they live on Bees Ferry and all work downtown, connectivity (of smaller roads) isn't going to do any good as far as I am concerned."
Bohne said the expressway extension would ease traffic on Savannah Highway and St. Andrews Boulevard, which she lives near. "Our quality of life is being affected drastically by all the traffic," she said, citing the noise and pollution created by cars "just sitting on (S.C. Highway) 61." Opponents say the minimal improvements to traffic congestion in West Ashley are not worth the dismal effects the expressway would have on Johns Island. A study by the Council of Governments estimates that in the year 2030 about 2,000 fewer cars would use Savannah Highway each day if the Mark Clark extension were in place.
Supporters say the freeway is the best solution for crowded roads they think will only get busier.
"We shouldn't ignore the fact that we need more roads," said Robert Getsinger of James Island. "We've got the money coming for it; let's get it done."
Richard Fowler, also of James Island, said the extension would help him get to Citadel Mall faster. And even if it eventually becomes congested, as the Council of Governments traffic study suggests, the expressway extension, he said, would be a more scenic place to get stuck than Savannah Highway.
Reach Kristen Hankla at 937-5548 or khankla@postandcourier.com.
E-mail this story
Printer-friendly versionComments
longview (anonymous) says...
I love the comment by the James Island and West Ashley crowds. "It will help me get to Citadel Mall quicker". "It would be more scenic than sitting on Savannah Highway." "It would help people who live on Bees Ferry and work downtown". The last post might be the most ridiculous concept of all of them. If you work downtown then MOVE closer to downtown - don't whine about traffic if you decide to move 15 miles outside of the city. Unbelievable. Similarly, if you want to get to Citadel Mall on Saturday morning without the traffic PLEASE MOVE from James Island. If the citizen's of John's Island decided that the 526 extension would be beneficial to them, then lets go for it. Otherwise, stop building roads to support unconscious development and transplants who really ought to live in Charlotte, Cleveland or ANYWHERE other than Charleston.
January 10, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
icbmman (anonymous) says...
Ah, more obtuse comments from the NIMBYs. Hey longview, the reason why people who live on Bees Ferry and work downtown live there is because THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE CLOSER TO DOWNTOWN!!! Good night, where the hell is the common sense??!!? A house in the Bees Ferry area is going to cost thousands less than one closer to downtown, but many people cannot control where they are employed. Many people cannot live where they work due to many circumstances, and developing a system to force them there isn't going to work.
The idiocy of the planners is mind-boggling. Building interconnected roads on Johns Island does absolute s--t for the people who have to work downtown, the north area, West Ashley, James Island, or even East Cooper. All those roads will do is shuffle traffic around the island and funnel it to the only outbound roads off the island: Maybank and Main. Again, (how many times do I have to say this?!?!!) people who commute are going to a destination, and what improves traffic is additional routes to those destinations. Give commuters more than one access point.
Chas' infrastructure has lagged for too long due to these activists like the CCL. Many Johns Island residents have said they want I-526...the only voice that's heard is the opponents since the supporters are too busy with things like work and family!
Just build the damn thing as well as the interconnected roads and enforce strict zoning laws. That is your best bet to keep Johns Island from becoming East Cooper.
January 10, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
longview (anonymous) says...
So, your solution is to just build more roads to support the ever expanding sprawl around our city? Brilliant. There is common sense for you. Keep in mind that I remain open to the idea of expanding 526 if John's Island people support it. Personally I think it would be tragic but Im not going to interfere with what the local John's Island population want to do. My guess is that an extension of 526 would result in the make John's like James. When was the last time you drove down River Road? There are countless subdivisions in progress that are being developed by unconcious developers and people who truely could care less about our area. People like you support that kind of development. You should move to Charlotte or Atlanta. It sounds like you enjoy traffic and interstates.
As for the whole "NIMBY" arguement....since when is wrong to oppose bad ideas, greed, and lack of vision? Your use of that terms makes your very arguement a childish one. "Just build the damn thing"? Only if that bridge takes you, the CCL, and the guy who just flattened 250 acres off Main Road for a "modern subdivision" on a one way road right out of town. Good luck John's IS. With friends like this, we need it.
January 11, 2008 at 11:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
icbmman (anonymous) says...
Oh, OK, so these alternatives won't do EXACTLY what you're worried about?! Do you honestly think that building interconnected, small, 2-lane roads all over the island won't encourage developers to build more home developments?!?! As a matter of fact your logic, as well as the CCL's and the extremist residents', ignores the real estate market downturn. Combine the downturn with strict zoning policies, and the island can be prevented from becoming massive suburbia; however, Johns is going to eventually be another bedroom community for Chas...you just admitted it yourself.
You're complaining about River Road's traffic and developers currently building on the island, but are you forgetting that I-526 hasn't even been built yet?! More convoluted logic that defies reality. If the extension continues to lag, with more developers building more houses, do you honestly think traffic will magically get better by just shuffling traffic around the island?! You refuse to acknowledge that this traffic HAS to go somewhere, usually to another point in the city. You can't actually debate my points about handling traffic to reach its destination, so you just throw out the same tired old rhetoric of "We don't wanna be Charlotte or Atlanta".
Chas is going to be bigger whether you like it or not. What's insane is people coming up with dimwitted ideas that will have a minimal impact and not solve the bigger picture/problem. Like I said before, the only way this interconnected road solution would work is if these roads are interconnected through multiple bridge networks, linking them to other areas like West Ashley and James Island. This would be FAR MORE EXPENSIVE and would provide GREATER DAMAGE to the scenic Stono River.
Good luck, indeed, to all the residents of the Chas area. There seems to be no ingenuity and creativity for solutions to traffic in just about all of your community leaders.
January 11, 2008 at 1 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
longview (anonymous) says...
Your proposal is to build 526 and more roads. This would absolutely ruin John's Island. If 526 extension goes in it will support the existing development on River Road and induce more of the same. I could care less if some developer who speculated on John's looses his shirt. The extension would do nothing but bail them out. Sounds like you must have bought a house from one of these great visionaries. Got caught holding a larger mortgage than you can afford? Sounds like it. Good luck - but changing the rural nature of the entire island because you messed up is greedy and wrong. John's does not have to become an extension of Charleston. Don't know where you came to that conclusion. Ignoring the real estate downturn? You are the idiot who supports building roads into areas that cannot absorb more growth. Extremist John's Island residents? Ha. You are joke and have no idea what you are talking about. People protecting themselves against "progressive" jackasses are anything but extremist. Label the CCL all you want but attacking people who fight a road across their land is out of line and really shows that you have no idea what you are talking about.
New concepts were the mission of the charette that just happened. Your solution to "just build the thing" shows the true lack of creativity. Charleston can and will be bigger but it doesn't have to come at the expense of ruining the rural character of the surrounding islands. The peninsula of Charleston is larger than Manhattan. Daniel Island hasn't even started to be developed. I love for you to explain why that hasn't happened.
Try this on as an idea. The people of Charleston are tired of having self serving leeches who say "roads are progress" drive the conversation. We don't want to be Charlotte. That is not rhetoric. Please understand. That is fact. I can't think of a Charlestonian, saving you my friend, who aspires to that end. Please leave us and our near sighted leaders and go back from wherever you are from....
January 11, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
icbmman (anonymous) says...
Longview, i.e. "jacka$$", as usual, all you can do in this debate is spew the same NIMBY rhetoric that I heard for years in my hometown. Sorry moron, Chas IS where I'm from, and I see it as the shining city of South Carolina that it should be...not some historic, coastal podunk village that you think it ought to be. Chas has for years been notorious for not being able to keep its young population with good jobs, and the only way to change that is to grow. People like you have ensured that we don't keep the natives by inhibiting the area to grow.
Reality check: Johns Island AND James Island are both extensions of Charleston. So is North Charleston, but let's not go into that idiocy. Actually, if it wasn't for the north area incorporating, the city of Chas would've probably concentrated its efforts and avoided Johns Island. Let that soak in...now take a look at a map. The city limits are extended on the island which already is an integral part of the city with Chas Executive Airport, Angel Oak park, and nearby Kiawah and Seabrook. Many downtown, north area, West Ashley, and James Island employees live on the island and commute from there. Wherever did you get the misinformation that the island was a rural village, by itself, in the middle of nowhere? Sounds like you've lived with your head in the sand too long.
I have nothing invested in the island as far as real estate. Nothing like making blatantly false accusations and spewing absolute BS instead of debating my points. You have failed to provide one legitimate argument or alternative solution...just the same "greedy developers", "leeches", and "all-you-want-is-to-pave-over-everything" accusatory vitriol. And yet, you accuse me of "supporting building roads into areas that cannot absorb more growth"...WTF?!?! And I'm the joke?! Do you even have a brain? I'm going to say this one more time: building I-526 and the interconnected roads will significantly improve traffic by shuffling traffic on the island and giving the traffic another route to its destinations. Strict zoning and limiting access to the island with one interchange can help preserve the island's character to an extent. The area can far absorb more growth, especially if it is limited.
If your view point isn't rhetoric, why did this group of people ban together to create the redneck slogan "Johns Island Rural Forever"? That's fine if you don't want to live in or near a big city...why don't you move to the sticks outside a small town like Georgetown or Beaufort? The people of Chas are tired of obstructionists like you inhibiting progress just so you can fulfill your selfishness by having your paradise and keeping everybody else from having it. All of your insults, false accusations, and unsubstantiated claims further indicate to me just how "extremist" you, the CCL, and the NIMBY residents are.
January 11, 2008 at 5 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Postandcourier.com is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Postandcourier.com does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not postandcourier.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.
Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by signing up!
Full terms and conditions can be read here.
Thank you for your interest in this story. The comment thread for this article has been closed.
- Most Commented
- Most Emailed
