Here’s where SCDOT stands on Fort Mill, Rock Hill and Indian Land road construction.
On Nov. 22 South Carolina Department of Transportation area project leader Berry Mattox went through a long list of ongoing road improvements for elected officials and municipal leaders from Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Tega Cay, York County and Indian Land.
That update includes roads that won’t start construction for a year or more to others set to wrap up in days. It includes a delay for a needed Fort Mill turn lane and public meeting details on a major I-77 interchange.
Here’s what Mattox had to say:
▪ S.C. 160 at I-77
SCDOT will reconfigure the interchange at S.C. 160 and I-77. Also planned is widening of S.C. 160 from Sutton Road to U.S. 21. Traffic data collection is ongoing. Right-of-way could follow by fiscal year 2021, construction by 2023.
“We’re still looking at alternatives on the interchange itself,” Mattox said. “Within the next two weeks or so we’re going to begin our public outreach. We’re going to send out a flyer to let everybody know the project exists, give an idea of the schedule and advertising our public information meeting.”
That meeting likely will come Jan. 30 in the Sutton Road area. At that meeting likely three of what started as six configuration options will be presented for the $20 million project.
“We’ll present alternatives to the public, ask for feedback,” Mattox said.
▪ U.S. 521 at Marvin Road
A new southbound turn lane and right turn lane on Marvin Road comes with upgraded traffic signal timing.
“We are well into right-of-way, pretty much done with right-of-way on that,” Mattox said. “We currently are projected to move into construction, or obligate construction in June (of 2020).”
The listed cost for the Indian Land work in Lancaster County is $1.2 million. That amount is a placeholder.
“We’ve known all along that this was going to need additional construction funding,” Mattox said.
He should have a firmer figure within a month or two.
“I would anticipate it’s in the $2 million range for construction,” Mattox said.
▪ Celanese Road at India Hook Road
Turn lanes and additional turn lane storage will be added to the Rock Hill intersection. The $7.6 million project is on a similar schedule to the Marvin Road plan. Construction could get going late summer or early fall of next year.
“There is some pretty significant utility cost, but we feel good about the money we have to cover those costs,” Mattox said.
▪ Celanese at Riverview/Riverchase roads
Celanese Road will get turn lanes at its intersection with Riverview and Riverchase roads. The project also will connect Ligon Road, running somewhat parallel to Celanese, from Riverchase to Riverview. The $4.9 million project is under construction.
“We are looking at a completion date on the project is Nov. 30,” Mattox said.
▪ Pleasant Road at Carowinds Boulevard
More turn lanes and lane storage is coming in the Fort Mill area. The schedule is similar to improvements at Marvin Road in Indian Land and India Hook in Rock Hill. Construction funding should be in place early next summer, with construction starting late summer or early fall. The project is $2.1 million.
“We’re adding dual lefts on Carowinds, onto Pleasant, as well as some widening on Pleasant itself,” Mattox said.
The price likely will go up as construction nears.
“The project kind of changed from its inception,” Mattox said. “You’ve got the new entrance here into Carowinds, the back entrance. So the project has grown significantly from what it originally was conceptualized.”
Mattox estimates it could be $2-$2.5 million.
▪ East White Street/Firetower Road at Main Street
More left lane turn storage is coming to the eastbound leg of East White Street at East Main Street in Rock Hill. The completion date is Nov. 30. Like Celanese at Riverview/Riverchase, work could spill into December. The $2.8 million project is moving forward well, Mattox said.
▪ Clebourne Street at North White Street
A new right turn lane on Clebourne Street in Fort Mill, onto northbound U.S. 21, will improve a bottleneck area in the town. Construction bids came in Nov. 12, but were too high for SCDOT to approve.
“They were outside our award criteria,” Mattox said.
Bids exceeded engineers’ internal estimates to the point where the project will go back to bid in March. The project estimate is almost $1.8 million.
“We are adjusting the budget a little,” Mattox said. “Based on the bids we think we’re a little bit underfunded.”
Construction could begin early next summer, pending a successful bid in March.
▪ S.C. 160 phase two
Construction continues on widening of S.C. 160 from Possum Hollow Road in Indian Land to the York County line at Sugar Creek. The project will be five lanes from Possum Hollow to Rosemont and McMillan Park drives, then three lanes to Sugar Creek. A center turn lane will be added throughout the project.
“We are still on schedule for a summer 2020 open to traffic completion,” Mattox said.
The more than $21 million project is getting close to shifting traffic onto the new pavement side, he said, while work takes place on the part drivers are using now.
▪ SCDOT also has a good bit of bridge work going on in the area. Repair or reconstruction prep is ongoing for 11 bridges over Tools Fork, Fishing, Manchester, Burgis, Steele Stony Fork and Twelve Mile creeks.
