County seeks development-related road work during visit by SCDOT chief

Orangeburg County officials sought the state’s help improving roads for economic development during a Tuesday meeting with the head of the South Carolina Department of Transportation.

S.C. Secretary of Transportation Janet Oakley praised the county’s proactive efforts to improve its road network.

“You really are at a crossroads and have a tremendous hub,” Oakley told those gathered at the Orangeburg County Transit Center, a project supported by SCDOT. “You are poised to take off and be the next big area of the state for explosive economic growth.”

Orangeburg County Development Commission Executive Director Gregg Robinson said the meeting was focused on jobs and road improvements associated with jobs.

“The five improvements we discussed have a lot to do with the industrial corridor that already exists in Orangeburg,” Robinson said.

Robinson said the county would like to see improvements to U.S. 178 (Charleston Highway), the Orangeburg bypass (Joe Jeffords Highway) and U.S. 21 (Rowesville Road).

“When you get off the interstate (26) it is four lanes until you get to Joe Jeffords Highway, when it bottlenecks to two,” Robinson said.

The county also wants to widen Industrial Boulevard off of U.S. 601 near Interstate 26 leading to the Zeus Industries plant. It also sees a need for a connector between U.S. 301 and U.S. 21 Rowesville Road, joining Canaan Road and Weatherford Road.

Orangeburg County Administrator Harold Young said large trucks are having problems turning off of U.S. 301 onto Canaan Road in an attempt to get to the Orangeburg County Industrial Park on U.S. 21.

Young said trucks have to turn right onto U.S. 178 (Charleston Highway) and then immediately turn left onto Weatherford Road in order to go to U.S. 21.

Connecting Canaan Road with Weatherford Road would reduce the need for trucks to make the abrupt turns, he said.

Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler said the city wants to see the runways at the Orangeburg Municipal Airport extended from about 700 feet to about 1,000 feet.

“We want to be able to have cargo planes to help with economic development,” Butler said. He also noted an effort to improve the rail system.

Oakley also met with South Carolina State University President Thomas Elzey, Claflin University President Dr. Henry Tisdale and Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College President Dr. Walt Tobin.

Elzey touted S.C. State’s James E. Clyburn Transportation Center and the university’s desire to be a part of the state’s transportation plans.

“We have big plans for that center,” he said. “We certainly could use all the support to do that.”

Tisdale asked SCDOT to consider funding projects that would address student safety concerns involving the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks near the universities.

“What attracted the university to Orangeburg has now become a challenge,” Tisdale said.

Tisdale also said the university is also on board to help provide a skilled workforce for SCDOT.

Oakley expressed her willingness to work with the institutions to create the future workforce of SCDOT.

“We need to prepare for the next 50 to 100 years,” Oakley said. “The foundation of that is our people.

“Let’s not just say let’s talk about it, but let’s make it happen for some opportunities for internships and scholarships.”

n Contact the writer: gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5551.

By GENE ZALESKI

T&D Staff Writer

Orangeburg County officials sought the state’s help improving roads for economic development during a Tuesday meeting with the head of the South Carolina Department of Transportation.

S.C. Secretary of Transportation Janet Oakley praised the county’s proactive efforts to improve its road network.

“You really are at a crossroads and have a tremendous hub,” Oakley told those gathered at the Orangeburg County Transit Center, a project supported by SCDOT. “You are poised to take off and be the next big area of the state for explosive economic growth.”

Orangeburg County Development Commission Executive Director Gregg Robinson said the meeting was focused on jobs and road improvements associated with jobs.

“The five improvements we discussed have a lot to do with the industrial corridor that already exists in Orangeburg,” Robinson said.

Robinson said the county would like to see improvements to U.S. 178 (Charleston Highway), the Orangeburg bypass (Joe Jeffords Highway) and U.S. 21 (Rowesville Road).

“When you get off the interstate (26) it is four lanes until you get to Joe Jeffords Highway, when it bottlenecks to two,” Robinson said.

The county also wants to widen Industrial Boulevard off of U.S. 601 near Interstate 26 leading to the Zeus Industries plant. It also sees a need for a connector between U.S. 301 and U.S. 21 Rowesville Road, joining Canaan Road and Weatherford Road.

Orangeburg County Administrator Harold Young said large trucks are having problems turning off of U.S. 301 onto Canaan Road in an attempt to get to the Orangeburg County Industrial Park on U.S. 21.

Young said trucks have to turn right onto U.S. 178 (Charleston Highway) and then immediately turn left onto Weatherford Road in order to go to U.S. 21.

Connecting Canaan Road with Weatherford Road would reduce the need for trucks to make the abrupt turns, he said.

Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler said the city wants to see the runways at the Orangeburg Municipal Airport extended from about 700 feet to about 1,000 feet.

“We want to be able to have cargo planes to help with economic development,” Butler said. He also noted an effort to improve the rail system.

Oakley also met with South Carolina State University President Thomas Elzey, Claflin University President Dr. Henry Tisdale and Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College President Dr. Walt Tobin.

Elzey touted S.C. State’s James E. Clyburn Transportation Center and the university’s desire to be a part of the state’s transportation plans.

“We have big plans for that center,” he said. “We certainly could use all the support to do that.”

Tisdale asked SCDOT to consider funding projects that would address student safety concerns involving the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks near the universities.

“What attracted the university to Orangeburg has now become a challenge,” Tisdale said.

Tisdale also said the university is also on board to help provide a skilled workforce for SCDOT.

Oakley expressed her willingness to work with the institutions to create the future workforce of SCDOT.

“We need to prepare for the next 50 to 100 years,” Oakley said. “The foundation of that is our people.

“Let’s not just say let’s talk about it, but let’s make it happen for some opportunities for internships and scholarships.”

Contact the writer: gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5551.