Times Examiner Facebook Logo

Friday, March 29, 2024 - 09:28 AM

INDEPENDENT CONSERVATIVE VOICE OF UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

First Published in 1994

INDEPENDENT CONSERVATIVE VOICE OF
UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

Thomas Fears Impact on Economy, Kirven  Suspects Political Posturing

The South Carolina Department of Transportation has announced that a section of about 20 miles of the northbound lane of I-385 will be closed from I-26 to the Gray Court exit for 7-1/2 months beginning January 4, 2010.

Traffic going to Fountain Inn, Simpsonville, Mauldin, Greenville and points west and north of Greenville will be routed  farther north on  I-26 to Spartanburg and west on I-85 back to Greenville. The detour is about 15 miles further according to the SCDOT. 

Business operators between Greenville and Gray Court are concerned about the added cost of transportation and motel operators are worried about the impact it will have on room occupancy for sports tournaments and other activities, as well as business generated by the normal flow of traffic that is estimated at 10,000 vehicles per day that would be diverted. Truckers will be most impacted in view of the high cost of fuel.

Some of the local traffic will not use the detour but take shortcuts using two-lane roads to reach their destinations, possibly causing heavy traffic bottlenecks and increased accidents.

State Senator David Thomas chairs the Greenville-Pickens Area Transportation Study Metropolitan Planning Organization or GPATS. Simpsonville Mayor Dennis Waldrop is vice chairman and Greenville County Council Chairman Butch Kirven is a member of the GPATS.

Thomas was alarmed that his group was not informed of the planned closure until the $40 million contract had already been awarded by DOT with the closure being part of the contract.

“The proposed closure of the northbound lanes of I-385 from I-26 to the Gray Court area will create a transportation nightmare for the Greenville area,” Thomas said. “This plan calls for northbound traffic to be rerouted further north on I-26 to I-85 sending motorists tens of miles away from Greenville. The closure of the northbound lanes will cause turmoil to northbound motorists who may try to cut cross country only to find that there is no access to the highway.”

Thomas said closure of the northbound lanes for more than seven months may seem like a minor inconvenience, but he said it would create confusion and frustration when other alternatives should be used.

“This closure will create a negative economic impact on the Upstate. Local companies will have to pay extra transportation costs in time and fuel due to long detours,” Thomas concluded.

Rob Perry, DOT engineer and project manager, said DOT had meetings with the city of Laurens and Laurens County officials, but apparently had not informed lawmakers or anyone in Greenville County about the closure until the contract had been awarded and changes would be costly or impractical.

Thomas called for a meeting with DOT Friday morning at Greenville County Square. Perry represented the Department of Transportation and, in addition to Thomas, the meeting was attended by F. Hugh Atkins, chairman of the SC DOT Commission and Fountain Inn Mayor Gary Long. Several impacted business operators were also present in the audience including Steven D. Smith of Cross Creek Timber that operates large trucks on I-385.

Perry was asked why shorter sections of the highway could not be closed while construction is taking place. He said closing shorter sections would extend the length of the contract to as much as three years and cost much more.

Why not use one lane of the southbound lane for northbound traffic? Thomas asked.

Perry said that would create problems for emergency vehicles due to the poor condition of the roadside and serious accidents could be unreachable by emergency vehicles. Thomas asked Perry and Commission Chairman F. Hugh Atkins who represents the area on the SCDOT Commission to check again with the Laurens EMS and fire departments to make sure that is a correct understanding regarding emergency vehicles.

County Councilman Butch Kirven was not present at the Friday meeting, however The Greenville News reported that Kirven sees “political posturing” in the matter. It was not clear in the report whether he was referring to Thomas and his candidacy for Congress.

The DOT contract involves raising the height of bridges along the route and replacing some 20 miles of asphalt with 10 or more inches of reinforced concrete.

No comments

Leave your comment

In reply to Some User