Residents demand urgent action to tackle traffic crisis
August 20, 2024 | Dorchester County, South Carolina
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During a recent government meeting, significant concerns were raised regarding the impact of multiple construction projects on traffic and safety in Dorchester County, particularly in the Ponds community. Residents expressed alarm over the simultaneous development of a new elementary school, residential construction, and logging operations, all of which are expected to exacerbate existing traffic issues.
David Rubin, a resident of the Ponds, likened the situation to a warning of impending chaos, emphasizing that the construction could hinder essential services, including emergency response times. He highlighted the already busy and accident-prone intersection of Dorchester and Route 17, which serves as the main exit for the community. With an estimated 170,000 residents in Dorchester County facing daily traffic challenges, the potential for increased congestion and accidents is a pressing concern.
Chuck Bryant, chair of the Ponds Homeowners Association, echoed these sentiments, detailing the anticipated influx of construction vehicles and the strain on the single exit from the neighborhood. He noted that the area is already experiencing an average of one accident every five and a half weeks at the exit, raising alarms about safety as construction ramps up.
Residents proposed several solutions to mitigate the anticipated traffic chaos, including requesting the Department of Transportation (DOT) to grant an exemption for traffic light placement rules, which currently hinder the installation of necessary traffic signals. They also suggested the presence of flaggers at critical intersections and the installation of temporary traffic lights during construction hours to manage the flow of vehicles more effectively.
Additionally, concerns were raised about the timing of the school construction, with residents advocating for a delay until a dedicated access road is established to prevent further traffic complications.
The meeting concluded with a call for proactive measures to address these issues before they escalate into serious safety hazards, emphasizing the need for collaboration between residents, developers, and local government to ensure the well-being of the community.
David Rubin, a resident of the Ponds, likened the situation to a warning of impending chaos, emphasizing that the construction could hinder essential services, including emergency response times. He highlighted the already busy and accident-prone intersection of Dorchester and Route 17, which serves as the main exit for the community. With an estimated 170,000 residents in Dorchester County facing daily traffic challenges, the potential for increased congestion and accidents is a pressing concern.
Chuck Bryant, chair of the Ponds Homeowners Association, echoed these sentiments, detailing the anticipated influx of construction vehicles and the strain on the single exit from the neighborhood. He noted that the area is already experiencing an average of one accident every five and a half weeks at the exit, raising alarms about safety as construction ramps up.
Residents proposed several solutions to mitigate the anticipated traffic chaos, including requesting the Department of Transportation (DOT) to grant an exemption for traffic light placement rules, which currently hinder the installation of necessary traffic signals. They also suggested the presence of flaggers at critical intersections and the installation of temporary traffic lights during construction hours to manage the flow of vehicles more effectively.
Additionally, concerns were raised about the timing of the school construction, with residents advocating for a delay until a dedicated access road is established to prevent further traffic complications.
The meeting concluded with a call for proactive measures to address these issues before they escalate into serious safety hazards, emphasizing the need for collaboration between residents, developers, and local government to ensure the well-being of the community.
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