Dec. 20, 2022 • Volume 25, Issue 24 • Complimentary • BlufftonSun.com
INSIDE • Community bids farewell to ardent supporter Dianne Reynolds 10A • Foundation awards 24 teacher grants for cool projects 12A • Communities create sustainable habitats as part of lifestyle 14A • Businesses give away Disney trip to family 19A • Bluffton women seek support for family, friends still in Ukraine 21A
Future Burnt Church changes will ease traffic, increase safety By Gwyneth J. Saunders CONTRIBUTOR
The impetus for a planned transportation project intended to widen Burnt Church Road from Bridge Street to the Bluffton Parkway is improving the safety of pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers. The tentative designs – there are four at the moment – that were presented at a mid-November public meeting included a 6-foot sidewalk, a 10-foot multi-use path and 4-foot bike lanes on both sides of the road. The two-lane road would be widened to also accommodate a center turn lane. “In a complete-street fashion, this provides space for all users,” said Eric Claussen, Beaufort County’s director of engineering. “When there was a discussion about how to use the 2018 transportation tax, a survey went out looking for input on walking and bike paths.” In the summer of 2020, the county created an online survey that asked for input on walking and cycling habits and what the county’s residents wanted. The month-long survey consisted of a multiple-choice question and answer section, and a mapping sec-
tion in which respondents were asked what new facilities or improvements they would like to see. Nearly 2,000 people completed the survey, and nearly 75% felt that investing in bicycle and walking systems were very important. “That’s basically where the idea came from,” said Claussen. “In the most recent comprehensive plan, long-range improvements were proposed for Burnt Church Road. This gave us the opportunity to look at the potential to not only improve pedestrian accommodations but to improve the safety of that corridor.” An increase in development along the route as well as its proximity to, schools, recreational areas such as the boat ramp on Alljoy, and Old Town with its many events made the potential for a boost to bicycle and pedestrian activity. This project connects with the widening and pedestrian accommodations on Burnt Church between the Parkway and U.S. 278, but also ties in on the Bluffton streetscape project on Bridge Street and then the sidewalk improvements to Alljoy. In this concept design phase, the engineers took the center line and turned it into a two-way turn lane.
Happy Holidays! HOLIDAY HOURS: Tues-Fri: 10am-5pm Sat: 10am-4pm Closed December 23-26 & December 31 310 Okatie Highway | (843) 645-7774 PortRoyalSoundFoundation.org
from your friends at the Maritime Center
GWYNETH J. SAUNDERS
Sidewalks and bike paths from the Bluffton Parkway to Bridge Street will enable children to bike or walk to Michael C. Riley Elementary School from nearby neighborhoods.
“The idea is to add that safety element to this roadway for those left turners going into driveways,” Claussen said. “During the busy time when there is travel in both directions,
people get impatient and that’s when they take chances.”
Please see ROADWORK on page 8A