DEVELOPMENT HUB: Delays at end, work on upgrading I-95/U.S. 301 interchange starts Nov. 6

The much-anticipated design plans and construction schedule for the upgrade to the Interstate 95/U.S. Highway 301 interchange were presented Friday afternoon to Orangeburg County community and government leaders.

“This has been a long time coming,” Orangeburg County Development Commission Executive Director Gregg Robinson told those gathered for the county’s annual industry appreciation luncheon at the Orangeburg Country Club. “We are talking about the ability to create a global linkage between our Port of Charleston to the Orangeburg area.”

After years of planning, work is scheduled to begin Nov. 6 on a $41 million upgrade to the interchange in eastern Orangeburg County.

“Teamwork makes the dream work,” OCDC Chairman Kenneth Middleton said, noting the success of the county and industries is about all coming together. “There is a wonderful energy in Orangeburg County and the reason is you. There is a buzz afoot.”

Randall Young, South Carolina Department of Transportation project engineer for the Midlands area, said a full-access interchange will be created where I-95 and U.S. 301 meet.

The plan also calls for U.S. 301, which currently ends when it merges onto I-95 northbound, to be extended to connect with Old Number Six Highway outside the Santee town limits. The S.C. 6 connector will connect to S.C. 6 between Intercoastal Lane and Milligan Road.

Young said the entire project will ensure that mainline traffic will not have to slow down.

“The plan will make sure you have easy access to I-95,” Young said. “The design that the partial cloverleaf gave us is the ability to get on I-95 free of stoppage what we called free flow.”

The project will allow those traveling on U.S. 301 north to access both S.C. 6 without having to get on I-95, as is currently the case, as well as accessing both I-95 north and south. Those traveling on U.S. 301 south will also be able to access I-95 both north and south.

The project will also include a five-lane and three-lane urban and rural transition going into and out of Santee on U.S. 301 and the S.C. Connector.

McCarthy and CECS are contracted to work the project.

The project is projected to last 440 days or 15 months. Work is scheduled to be complete in early 2015.

“The purpose of this project is to provide economic development for Orangeburg County,” Young said. “It is to provide the hub that will drive a lot of industries you are going to see come through here in years to come. That economic improvement is what spurred a lot of our trying to develop this project.”

The interchange is currently a rather unusual one.

Robinson recognized the “vision” of the project and its potential from Congressman James Clyburn, Orangeburg County Council Chairman Johnny Wright, and County Administrator Harold Young.

“In order for us to improve the poorest section of I-95 in the entire country, we have to have infrastructure,” Robinson said. “In order for us to deliver jobs to this area, we have to have the fundamentals.”

Young said the current interchange was built at a time when I-95 terminated at Santee.

The upgrade has been touted by county officials as a key to boosting economic development within the Global Logistics Triangle, which is name the county uses to market the area bordered by Interstate 26, Interstate 95 and U.S. Highway 301.

Detours are planned during the construction of the full-access interchange.

The upgrade is being funded by the Lower Savannah Council of Governments, $17.2 million; a federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery Grant, $12.1 million; federal earmarks, $11.2 million; and $500,000 in local funding from the Orangeburg County Transportation Committee.

The project’s initial approval of funding was through the LSCOG and Congressman James Clyburn’s office back in 2006. At that time about $3 million was allocated.

Initially, the project’s timeline was extended and it was much more expensive. Initial costs were about $35-45 million.

In 2011, about $13 million was identified through Clyburn’s office, COG and matching funds in Orangeburg County.

In 2012, a federal grant arrived, which not only provided the project with $12.1 million but also put it on a fast track.

In other matters, Holly Hill Holcim Inc.’s Plant Manager Joe McFalls was officially recognized as the Orangeburg County Economic Development Ambassador of the Year.

In March, Gov. Nikki Haley announced McFalls was the ambassador for the county during the state’s annual industry appreciation week.

Holcim has also been named the county’s industry of the year.

Orangeburg County industries, Universal Trade Solutions, Cox Industries, Federal Mogul Friction Products, Sunshine Recycling, Husqvarna, Mars Petcare, Aco Distribution. J.B. Hunt, Zeus and Monteferro USA were among the industries recognized for their contribution to the county’s economy. The county has more than 100 industries encompassing 13 million square feet.