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FHWA and SCDOT Release Mark Clark Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Julie Hussey - Civic Communications Inc.
Thu, July 29, 2010

CHARLESTON - After more than two years of study, South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) and Federal Highway Department (FHWA) have signed and publicly

released the Mark Clark Expressway Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), which identifies SCDOT’s Recommended Preferred Alternative.  

The Recommended Preferred Alternative (Alternative G) is a hybrid option developed in response to public comments.  Combining two of the thirty-nine (39)

potential options presented during the public involvement process, the Recommended Preferred Alternative is a four-lane parkway with bicycle and pedestrian facilities.    

The Recommended Preferred Alternative extends from the existing U.S. 17/I-526 interchange across the Stono River to Johns Island as a four-lane parkway facility with low speeds (i.e. 35 to 45 mph).

This alternative provides two connector roads onto Johns Island. These connector roads would tie into River Road north of Maybank Highway (between Rushland Landing Road and Penny Lane) and

River Road south of Maybank Highway (in the vicinity of Cane Slash Road) and would include improvements to the Maybank Highway/River Road intersection. 

On James Island, the parkway would pass through the northern edge of the James Island County Park.  After intersecting Riverland Drive, the parkway continues northeast, south of the Regatta Apartments,

Carmike James Island Cinema and the U.S. Post Office, tying into the existing James Island Connector/Folly Road interchange. Access is provided to Central Park Road via Riley Road and Up on the Hill Road. 

Now that the DEIS is completed, the Recommended Preferred Alternative will be presented to the public for comment at two public hearings on Tuesday, August 31 and Thursday, September 2 at Burke High School – 244 President Street.

The same information will be presented both nights with an open-house session beginning at 5:00 pm and a formal hearing starting at 6:00 pm.   Public and agency comments received at these meetings

and during the comment period will be incorporated with additional field studies to refine the project’s final design and mitigation measures.  These comments, studies and mitigation will be outlined in

the Final EIS –anticipated to be completed by spring of 2011, which will be followed by a Record of Decision from FHWA.   

“Completing the DEIS, recommending a Preferred Alternative and the upcoming public hearings are critical steps in the Mark Clark Expressway project.  This has been an open public process with three

rounds of public meetings and more than 1,800 public comments on the project.  Now that the Recommended Preferred Alternative has been released, we look forward to getting more feedback and comments

at the public hearings and during the comment period,” David Kinard, SCDOT Project Manager.

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In response to public comments and engineering studies, the Recommended Preferred Alternative for the completion of Mark Clark Expressway includes:
        
A four-lane parkway facility with a 15-foot, center median.

Low posted speeds (35-45 mph).

A multi-use path along the entire length to accommodate bikes and pedestrians.       

Connectivity to the James Island County Park and the West Ashley Greenway.

Two connector roads onto Johns Island which complement existing land use plans within the Urban Growth Boundary.  

The lowest cost ($489 million) of the seven reasonable alternatives.

The lowest number of relocations (26) of the seven reasonable alternatives.       

The lowest number of identified noise receivers (137) of the seven reasonable alternatives.

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