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Federal Highway Funds create Lowcountry windfall
By Matthew French
Staff Writer
South Carolina will likely receive a major federal windfall, as the House of Representatives and Senate approved a highway-funding bill that recently emerged from a bicameral conference committee. Overall, the Transportation Equity Act will authorize nearly $3 billion for state roads, highway safety and transit programs.
Charleston and Berkeley counties stand to gain a considerable share, with more than $39.6 million slated for roadway projects there. The project that would likely receive the most money in those two counties, more than a quarter of the $39.6 million, would be the port access road, which would connect the South Carolina State Ports Authority’s terminal expansion in North Charleston with Interstate 26.
The Army Corps of Engineers is studying several different routes the access road could take, and whether it should be elevated or built at grade. Congress authorized $10 million for the access road.
The entire highway bill, which contains more than $286 billion in federal highway contract authority between 2004 and 2009, late last month passed both the House and Senate, but had not been signed by the president as of press time.
The largest chunk of change in the state will go to the construction of Interstate 73, a highway that will connect Interstate 95 with Highway 17 near Myrtle Beach. The I-73 construction is slated to receive $81 million.
The bill also includes about $5 million to be used for the demolition of the John P. Grace Memorial Bridge and the Silas N. Pearman Bridge. Demolition of the bridges is scheduled to begin later this month.
Other projects authorized for funding in the region include:
• $5.6 million for North Rhett Boulevard in Berkeley County.
• $1.6 million for the Railroad Avenue extension in Berkeley County.
• $3.2 million for Medical University of South Carolina roadway enhancements.
• $4.8 million for the Highway 17/Bowman Road interchange in Mount Pleasant.
• $3.0 million for an extension of the Mark Clark Expressway.
• $6.4 million for the Berlin Myers Extension in Summerville.
Matthew French covers governmental policy and legislation for the Business Journal. E-mail him at mfrench@charlestonbusiness.com.
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