District 4 Updates North Charleston SC
Councilman Ron Brinson – January 25, 2019
Bad News Good News Rail Crossings Maintenance – There will be traffic interruptions January 28-31 on major traffic highways, including Ashley Phosphate and Ladson Roads. The sliver of good news is that this upset will be completed about two weeks early after our petitions to Norfolk Southern’s corporate offices. This project is tightly controlled by this trunk-line railroad and the information we have is imprecise, but it is generally helpful.
-Norfolk Southern will do advance track and bed maintenance and install new rail, Monday through Wednesday next week. The contractor usually completes two miles per day. There will be no overnight closings.
– On Monday, Remount Road and Aviation Avenue crossings will be closed, but not at once. These will be four – hour interruptions.
– On Tuesday, Ashley Phosphate will be closed, but the timing is not yet indicated. The detour for westbound traffic will be Northside Drive to Weber Boulevard to Palmetto Commerce Parkway. This routing will be reversed for eastbound traffic. Our city’s police department will direct these detours.
-We have no refined schedule projections for Ladson Road, but we anticipate this will occur Wednesday or Thursday. Again, NCPD will supervise the detours.
Interestingly, these crews work only 7am-5pm, Monday-Thursday. Very little regard for motorists.
Let’s hope that by mid-week, this upset, once and for all, will be over.
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Dorchester Road Maintenance/Improvements – A resurfacing project was awarded to Banks Construction on January 9, 2019 for approximately $1.8 million. The projected completion date is August 31. This project will resurface all lanes and intersections/cross-overs between Indigo Fields and Club Course Drive. This work should begin in late spring. SCDOT funding is insufficient for continuing the work to Wescott Boulevard. The agency has committed to the city that its maintenance crews will continue with any repairs needed until funding is available. The Safety Corridor Project – median and lane improvements between Parlor and Trolley roads – is still in the design and review phases. It is slated for bids May 2020.
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Restaurants – Rusty Crab Seafood Bar & Grill will open soon at 8440 Dorchester Road in North Charleston – Plantation Shopping Center, nee the BiLo store, at the corner of Ashley Phosphate Road. Check its Facebook page for more information. And across Dorchester Road, the Louisiana Cajun Express is replacing Highway 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries in the Publix shopping center.
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Apartments – The project near the Joe Pye Elementary School is taking shape. This District 9 project is permitted under a Planned Development District zoning approved in 2009. Councilman Kenny Skipper and I have scheduled meetings with the developers and contractors. This will include representatives of HOAs in the area. Our goal is to have the contractor commit up front that the project will not become the “project from hell”, as in the Wescott Boulevard project. There, half the units remain in limbo for occupancy. A major gas line must be moved away from a drainage right-of-way.
Please recirculate this little newsletter to your neighbors. I’m glad to add any resident to the mailing list. Just message me at rbrin@aol.com
