Greer Leadership Class XXXV attended the Greer Legislative Day in Columbia on Tuesday.
Julie McCombs
Rep. Tommy Stringer of District 18 meets with members of Greer Leadership Class XXXV.
Julie McCombs
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson speaks to Greer Leadership Class XXXV.
Stringer said the Department of Transportation approved the funding and also noted state and federal funds had been approved to replace the washed out bridge on Memorial Drive Extension. Work begins there later this month.
Stringer addressed Greer Leadership Class XXXV on its visit to the state house last week at the Greer Legislative Day in Columbia with the two traffic projects noted in a statement presented to the class.
The DOT’s rationale on the Blue Ridge roundabout, according to Stringer, is “The federal government gave (SCDOT) a grant to be used only for a safety improvement project. This means that the federal government will pay 90 percent of the cost and the state will pay 10 percent of the cost. Well ... that means that they will borrow 90 percent,” Stringer stated.
“DOT determined that this particular place on 101 met the requirements of the grant. According to their numbers, 32 accidents have happened at that junction in the last (six) years. I reminded them that stoplights had been installed since then. I asked DOT if they had the accident count starting just three years back. They are researching those facts,” according to Stringer.
Stringer also stated, “We discussed the possible impact on the (Lake Cunningham Fire Station’s) ability to respond to calls and the impact the circle would have on the flow of traffic, especially with the new houses being built between there and Blue Ridge High School.
“We also learned that DOT has already built a traffic circle near the fire station in Conestee and claim that it has worked out fine. We are confirming that statement.”
Stringer’s presentation included his concern with the scarcity of transportation dollars for unneeded projects. “If they are looking for a safety hazard, they only need go down 101 where it meets Milford Church Road. Now, that's a hazardous intersection in the mornings. School buses have a hard time making that turn, much less fire trucks.”