The Proposed Alternative
Proposed Alternative 1
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Highway 41 will be widened to two travel lanes in each direction with either a center raised island or two-way left-turn. These improvements will be made from the Wando River Bridge to Highway 17. To keep traffic moving through this key corridor of Mt. Pleasant and to ensure safety, the surrounding intersections will also see proposed improvements.
Sidewalks and multi-use paths
A sidewalk will be added along the east side of Highway 41 and a multi-use path for bicycles and pedestrians will be added along the west side of Highway 41, which will connect to a network of existing and proposed multi-use paths throughout this area.
Dunes West Blvd at Highway 41 (continuous flow intersection)
When traveling east on Highway 41 towards Mt. Pleasant, a significant number of cars turn left onto Dunes West Boulevard, and with the projected growth in this area these traffic numbers will increase over time. To maintain a steady flow of traffic, the proposed design includes a continuous flow intersection here. This new intersection will allow drivers to simultaneously turn left and move straight through the main intersection. This design will maintain a free flow of traffic while allowing vehicles to safely turn left onto Dunes West Boulevard.
Advantages of a continuous flow intersection:
- Improved capacity
- Reduced delays and travel times
- Prevents the need for additional lanes
- Lower cost than other alternatives
Pedestrian Crossings in the Phillips Community between Penders Blvd and Bennett Charles Rd and between Parkers Island Rd and Canyon Lane
To improve pedestrian safety and mobility, crosswalks will be added at signalized intersections throughout the entire corridor. Some un-signalized locations may include the installation of marked crosswalks with flashing beacon signals to alert vehicular traffic of pedestrians crossing. Within the Phillips Community, these beacon signals are proposed at two locations: between Penders Boulevard and Bennett Charles Road, and between Parkers Island Road and Canyon Lane.
Alternative Routes: Highway 41 at Highway 17
This intersection is a critical piece of the regional traffic system and the proposed design will enhance regional traffic flow, improve efficiency by providing alternate routes for traffic, and minimize impacts to properties and businesses in this area. Traffic going towards Mt. Pleasant on Highway 41 will have various options for making a connection to Highway 17, including veering right onto the old Highway 41 Access Road to continue towards downtown Charleston or turning left onto Winnowing Way to go north on Highway 17 or connect to Porchers Bluff Road. Those that need to access Dingle Road or locations near the main 41/17 intersection can continue straight to the new diverging diamond intersection.
Brickyard Parkway at Hamlin Road
Additional turning lanes will be added to Hamlin Road and Brickyard Parkway so cars can turn onto Highway 17 more easily and quickly.
Many cars traveling from Highway 41 turn left onto Hamlin Road to access homes and schools. The Old Highway 41 Access Road merge onto Highway 17 south provides an unsafe weaving distance for those attempting to cross four lanes in such a short distance. Therefore, lefts onto Hamlin Road from Highway 17 will be removed. Instead, there will be two new options for accessing Hamlin Road: When traveling down Highway 41 towards Mt. Pleasant, cars can continue to Winnowing Way and connect to Porchers Bluff Road and Billy Swails Boulevard to reach Hamlin Road. Or, cars can continue past the Brickyard Parkway at Hamlin Road intersection to a new u-turn at Old Georgetown Road.
Access for Businesses
Enhanced access to businesses in this area is an important aspect of the proposed design and there will be improved connections in and out of businesses in this area and for those along Gregorie Ferry Road and Dingle Road.
Bike and Ped at Highway 17
The proposed design incorporates connectivity to Mt. Pleasant Way, the Town’s proposed network of connected multi-use paths intended for non-motorized users to link recreation facilities, parks, schools, neighborhoods, and commercial zones. Although Highway 17 will be widened to include one additional lane in each direction, pedestrians and bicyclists will be able to cross more safely with the new design than they are today. Sidewalks and multi-use paths will be added to connect to Highway 41 and businesses in this area. Winnowing Way will feature a multi-use path that will tie over to Billy Swails Boulevard. Signalized crosswalks will be included and medians will be added so pedestrians and bicyclists can safely cross one section of the road at a time.
Highway 41 at Highway 17: Diverging Diamond Interchange
A diverging diamond interchange at Highway 41 and Highway 17 will help improve safety and mobility at this highly congested intersection. Benefits of a diverging diamond are that they often have less construction costs compared to conventional interchanges, they are intuitive for the driver, and can handle more traffic without having to widen the roadway or build bridges.
As you can see in the video above, traffic on Highway 17 southbound and northbound is stopped for a short period to allow for cars turning off of or onto Highway 41, or to go straight to Dingle Road.
Cars moving through the diverging diamond will approach a stoplight before following the roadway back to the right side of the road.
Winnowing Way at Porchers Bluff Road
A three-lane overpass will be added to keep traffic moving northbound on Highway 17.
For those traveling down Winnowing Way, this new key intersection will allow cars to either turn left or right onto Highway 17, or continue straight onto Porchers Bluff and connect to Billy Swails Boulevard, Hamlin Road, or I-526.
This intersection also allows an easy connection from Porchers Bluff Road to Highway 41. A southbound bridge wasn’t warranted due to cost.