{"id":192,"date":"2026-05-21T11:05:57","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T11:05:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usmovingexpertss.com\/?p=192"},"modified":"2026-05-21T11:05:57","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T11:05:57","slug":"proposed-plans-dedicate-over-800m-to-lexington-congestion-relief-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usmovingexpertss.com\/?p=192","title":{"rendered":"Proposed plans dedicate over $800M to Lexington congestion relief, safety"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Help may be on the way for Lexington residents frustrated by escalating congestion in the rapidly-growing county.<\/p>\n

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Engineers looking at long-anticipated road improvements in Lexington County have come up with three potential improvement plans that slated to be completed by 2050, depending on what county residents are willing to pay.<\/p>\n

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The most expensive plan is projected to be about $3.2 billion, including 20 widenings and 160 intersections. The least costly of the three, based on current inflation rates and anticipated need, would be $800 million and include an estimated five road widenings and 40 intersection improvements.<\/p>\n

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Stantec \u2013 the engineering consultant steering the project \u2013 completed its first round of open houses in March, asking for public feedback in six different locations throughout Lexington County<\/u>. An additional survey, which closed April 17,<\/p>\n

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to the county\u2019s penny tax commission Monday.<\/p>\n

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More than 80% considered congestion relief the most important factor in their rating of a project.<\/p>\n

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Traffic congestion and road repairs \u2013 in combination with increased development \u2013 has become somewhat of a flashpoint in the Lexington County Council race. Jason Guerry, the sole challenger for the District 7 seat, has posted several online ads criticizing county council for a lack of traffic relief.<\/p>\n

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High-incident intersections and highways will be the first slated for improvement. Based on survey and incident data shared with the commission by Stantec, current plans include the widening of Highway 6 beginning at the Platte Springs intersection towards Edmund.<\/p>\n

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Funding for the improvement plan largely hinges on voter approval of a penny sales tax on the ballot in November 2027. But voters have rejected a penny tax in previous referendums in both 2014 and 2022, and the referendum has already been postponed once<\/u> in order to conduct more extensive traffic research.<\/p>\n

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The transportation plans proposed Monday present concrete uses for the potential revenue as the penny tax commission tries to increase voter support ahead of the 2027 referendum.<\/p>\n

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Lexington County Council Chairman Darrell Hudson, a long-time proponent of the penny tax, urged its importance in providing safer transportation and lowering congestion. A decade ago, Hudson proposed an additional I-20 interchange at Calks Ferry Road that remains in planning stages with Mead and Hunt architectural firm that would also be partially funded by the prospective penny tax.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe penny tax is the only option unless we want to property tax our people to death,\u201d Hudson said. \u201cIf it doesn\u2019t pass… that dirt road that you\u2019re worried about, those potholes that you\u2019re concerned about, the congestion management you\u2019re concerned about will be still be here, and they\u2019ll be here for your kids and grandkids.\u201d<\/p>\n

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However, it is ultimately up to Lexington County Council to decide what other sources of funding may be used.<\/p>\n

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Future cost estimations will be provided in the final plan based on historical inflation rates in the construction industry, but Beatty said those rates will be subject to fluctuations between now and whenever road work can begin.<\/p>\n

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\u201cTransportation affects everybody, either directly or indirectly, and it\u2019s the opportunity for the public to express their concerns [and] where they\u2019re feeling the impacts of traffic,\u201d Beatty said of the open houses and survey results.<\/p>\n

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Data from both open houses will be compiled into a final report expected to be presented to county council before the end of the year.<\/p>\n

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The next set of planned open houses will be held in late June and early July in Cayce, Irmo, Lexington, Swansea, Chapin and Batesburg-Leesville.<\/p>\n

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Specific dates and locations of upcoming open houses:<\/p>\n

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