Improving Safety, Mobility and Connectivity through Innovative Road Design
Wade Hampton Boulevard is a seven-lane highway, separating neighborhoods to the north and south. While the boulevard provides a key connection between the city and its suburbs, the road creates a barrier between the neighborhoods and the current design does not adequately address the needs for our most vulnerable users of the road: pedestrians and cyclist. The sidewalks are in poor condition and too close to the road. There are no bike lanes and speeding is common. Hundreds of driveway crossings make walking a hazard.
The proposed improvements will encourage higher quality economic investment along the boulevard, better serving the surrounding neighborhoods.
With these challenges in mind and a desire to work with the goals established in the 2019 Wade Hampton Blvd Strategic Plan, the City has partnered with SCDOT on a project to create a safe environment for pedestrians and bicycles, as well as slow down traffic and enhance the corridor.
The Wade Hampton Boulevard Corridor Improvement Project proposes:
- Creating a roundabout at North Church Street and Wade Hampton Boulevard
- Realigning White Oak Road and Bradley Boulevard
- Improving intersections and access management
- Creating a shared-use path with a landscaped buffer from travel lanes, and
- Evaluating creating a "gateway" approach near the project's east end at Bob Jones University
The project would advance the City's Vision Zero goals, an ambitious initiative to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries by redesigning roadways to enhance safety. City staff is currently working with traffic consultants AECOM, to complete the engineering designs.