Federal money planned for roads

“We want to clean up U.S. 601 and turn U.S. 601 into an appropriate boulevard leading all the way down to our universities,” Orangeburg County Development Commission Executive Director Gregg Robinson said.

The S.C. Department of Transportation is seeking public comment on the proposed installation of mast arm traffic signals at the interchange.

About $56,000 is being considered for the project as part of the S.C. Department of Transportation’s Transportation Alternatives Program.

The TAP is a federally funded program that provides local governments with an opportunity to pursue non-traditional transportation-related activities.

Orangeburg County officials have often stressed the desire for improvements of the city’s entrance or gateway roads.

Design proposals are already on the table for beautification projects at the interchange, including underground wiring, fencing and a gateway monument.

About $3.5 million has been set aside for the improvements in the next round of Orangeburg County’s capital projects sales tax.

Road paving

Several local pavement improvement projects have been identified for inclusion in the National Highway System Statewide Program.

Local projects include:

Orangeburg County

• 2.25 miles on John C. Calhoun Drive from Broughton Street to Rivelon Road in Orangeburg.
• 1.78 miles on U.S. Highway 78 from Freedom Road to Bridge Street west of Branchville.

Bamberg County

• .64 miles of Heritage Highway from Calhoun Street to Free Avenue in Bamberg.

Pavement improvement projects included in the Primary and Secondary Pavement Improvement Program include:

Orangeburg County

• 4.39 miles on U.S. 78 (Dorange Road) outside of Branchville from near Sub Road to near Rigby Road.
• 2.67 miles of Whetstone Road to Country Road near Woodford.
• 1.26 miles of Old Number Six Highway from Lone Star Road to Whistling Swan Road near Elloree.
• 1.63 miles of Gardner Boulevard from Boyer Road to Barksdale Street southwest of Holly Hill.
• 1.8 miles on Old State Road from a little past Coach Road to near Boyer Road near Holly Hill.
• 1.85 miles of Shillings Bridge Road from North Road to Lake Edisto Drive near Orangeburg.
• .46 miles on Bunch Ford Road from Eutaw Road to near Lindstedt Lane near Holly Hill.

Calhoun County

• 4.10 miles on Bull Swamp Road from U.S. Highway 21 to A Z Road near St. Matthews.
• .6 miles of Burke Road from Riley Road to New Hope Road near St. Matthews.
• .29 miles of Kennerly Road from Burke Road to near Stacey Bridge Road near St. Matthews.
• .82 miles on Old Belleville Road from Hammond Cross Road to Great Circle Drive near Sandy Run.

Bamberg County

• 3.64 miles of U.S. 601 from Clear Pond Road to Macedonia Church Road south of Bamberg.
• 2.65 miles of Cannon Bridge Road, a little past Virginia Road near Bamberg.

Review and comment

Both the FY 2016 Transportation Alternatives Program and the 2017 Federal Aid Pavement Improvement Program documents are available for public review and comment online until Dec. 22 at www.scdot.org/inside/public_comment.aspx.

A hard copy is available for public review and comment at the SCDOT District 7 office on U.S. Highway 178 in Orangeburg.

Comments should be forwarded to Vivian Patterson, public involvement manager, SCDOT Office of Planning, 955 Park Street, P.O. Box 191, Columbia, S.C. 29202 or pattersovm@scdot.org.