Summerville residents voice concerns over proposed road widening project

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCBD) – Dorchester County leaders are considering a major road widening project in Summerville, but not everyone agrees it’s the right move.

A public input meeting was held Tuesday night at Alston-Bailey Elementary to gather community feedback on the proposed expansion of Central Avenue and Parsons Road. The project would widen Parsons Road to three lanes and Central Avenue to five lanes between Butternut Road and Parsons Road.

County officials say the upgrades are needed to ease congestion in one of the county’s fastest-growing areas. The plans also include a 12-foot shared use path and a 5-foot sidewalk to improve pedestrian and bike access.

But local advocacy groups like Bike/Walk Summerville are urging county leaders to reconsider the design, especially in areas near businesses and neighborhoods where five lanes may encourage higher speeds.

“It kind of implies to the public that certain ideas aren’t even on the table,” said Chris McClure, Executive Director of Bike/Walk Summerville. “That doesn’t really facilitate the best conversations.”

McClure says more clarity is also needed about the placement of sidewalks and shared use paths, and whether speeds will be safe enough for people to feel comfortable using them.

“Nobody uses Ladson Road bike lanes because 45 miles per hour with cars going by you, that’s not comfortable. You don’t feel safe,” McClure said.

In a statement, Dorchester County said the project will follow the South Carolina Department of Transportation’s Complete Streets policy:

“These projects will adhere to SCDOT’s Complete Streets policy and will prioritize the safety of all road users including pedestrians and bicyclists. The addition of a Shared Use Path and sidewalks will increase multi-modal connectivity in a safe and convenient manner.”

McClure said more public engagement is needed before plans are finalized.

“The more people that speak up and know about these things, and the more debate that is allowed to happen. We’ve got to get somewhere,” he said. “We’ve got to be in a better position than if it was just a small group of people that heard about the meeting.”

Dorchester County officials say feedback from Tuesday’s meeting will help inform next steps. No final decisions have been made.