Carolina Forest road widening project proposed

Drivers who’ve been getting stuck in traffic pulling out of Carolina forest and onto S.C. 501 are about to get some relief.

Because the intersection frequently gets congested, the Infrastructure and Regulation Committee recommended lengthening the left hand turn lane at the intersection by 275 feet.

Councilman Marion Foxworth says the road lengthening project to alleviate some of the congestion will begin in the next few weeks. But he says, it’s only a “band-aid” solution.

During the day, the light takes more than three minutes to turn from green to red, which backs traffic up on Carolina Forest Boulevard and causes major headaches for drivers.

Sandra Calhoun of Carolina Forest says she when she’s in her car stopped at the intersection it often takes, “a good five to ten minutes, maybe fifteen, depending on what time of the day it is. Usually after five, in between five and seven it’s pretty bad.“

While Foxworth says the project will begin in the coming weeks he says the time period when construction takes place, “probably will add to the headaches people already experience. Hopefully after it’s done, they will alleviate to some degree some of those same problems.“

Foxworth says it should allow for about a dozen more cars to stack up before the light.