Local/state leaders discuss $195 million going to I-526/Long Point Road Project

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD) – The I-526/Long Point Road Interchange project in Mount Pleasant will get a major financial boost from the federal government.

“We just got word about an hour ago that the Long Point project has been approved at $195 million,” U.S. Congressman James Clyburn (D) announced Wednesday at the State of the Port Address.

Since then, the big news has sparked conversations between local leaders and the South Carolina Department of Transportation.

“We’re very excited and my district has had a lot of questions and concerns about this project for obvious reasons, such as how would it impact them in terms of the traffic,” South Carolina State Representative Kathy Landing (R) told News 2 Thursday.

Long Point Road is infamous for its congestion, especially with trucks heading in and out of the Wando Welch Terminal at the port.

The goal of the project is to reduce conflicts between port traffic and local traffic by constructing a flyover for trucks to get directly to the port from 526.

“The main purpose of this project is to get trucks out of Long Point Road, into and out of the port by their own spur,” explained Mount Pleasant Mayor Will Haynie. “And so, they will come off 526 directly into the port and they will come out directly onto 526, you know, heading towards Daniel Island.”

Mayor Haynie said he’s been told by SCDOT leaders the federal grant means the project is now fully funded and will move forward with the redesigned flyover local officials and residents advocated for.

The mayor met with SCDOT Secretary Justin Powell on Thursday and said he learned the project will be a design-build and that there will be a one-year procurement process for the award beginning in the first quarter of 2026.

“We’re getting the sound wall, and we’re keeping the turn in there by Waffle House to go into Belle Hall because none of those were in the original plan, but the approved and funded plan now has all the things that Mount Pleasant wanted in it,” Mayor Haynie shared. “It’s just a win-win all the way around.”

Rep. Landing said she was also told by DOT that concern, and others were addressed.

“Another concern was how much of properties…residential and commercial, would be affected. It turns out there’s just two businesses where the flyover that will come in for the trucks to go directly to the port will go right over them and they will have to relocate,” she said.

Rep. Landing said the two businesses have been contacted and will be compensated.

According to the project website, construction is expected to begin in Summer 2026.