Meeting Offers Peek at Road Project

BLYTHEWOOD (Oct. 19, 2016) – The Richland County Transportation Committee will be hosting the first community meeting that will offer a glimpse at the promised road widening, traffic roundabout at the Cobblestone Park entrance and other improvements for Blythewood Road from I-77 to Mueller Road.

The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 20, from 5 – 7 p.m. at Mueller Road Middle School.

The open-house format, according to Town Councilman Malcolm Gordge, will include an opportunity to view informational displays and make comments to the program development team for the project.

“They will also include details of the proposed road widening and the options that are up for comment including the placement of bike lanes and/or buffers between the street and the sidewalk or combined-use sidewalks,” Gordge said. “One interesting aspect of the project is that Locklier Road will not have an access point on Blythewood Road with the new configuration. The plan is to bend Locklier Road to exit onto Community Road.”

Drawings on the Richland County website show the basic improvements will provide for a five-lane section between I-77 and Syrup Mill Road reducing down to a three lane section from Syrup Mill to Mueller Road. Further widening of Blythewood Road as far as Fulmer Road is on the books at a later time.

“What will be of particular interest is the proposed traffic circle or roundabout at the Cobblestone Park entrance,” Gordge said. “A traffic light is not possible at such a close proximity to the lights at the I-77 ramp so a roundabout is a viable and effective alternative.”

“We hope there will be a good turnout of local residents and business owners,” Project Engineer Ben Lewis,” said. Lewis will be available at the meeting. “It will be some while before there is another meeting so now is the best opportunity for residents to learn more and express any concerns they may have,” Lewis said.

Bill Wiseman, Blythewood’s representative on the Transportation Penny Advisory Committee (TPAC) will also be in attendance to answer questions.

Comments can be submitted by email to [email protected] or by mail to Richland Penny Program, 201 Arbor Lake Drive, Columbia, S.C. 29223. The comment period ends Nov. 3.

For more information, go to Richland County’s richlandpenny.com.

 

Contact us: (803) 767-5711 | P.O. Box 675, Blythewood, SC 29016 | [email protected]