BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.–This week Berkeley County officials announced a proposal to fund the widening of U.S. 176 and Nexton Parkway, shaving years off original timeline without raising taxes.
In a presentation made to Berkeley County Council Monday, April 9, a schedule for work on U.S. 176 and Nexton Parkway was shown and funding sources highlighted.
The presentation showed the improvement projects could be pushed forward, doubling the capacity of both roads. Through a unique funding source, the County will use existing fees collected from large industries to pay for infrastructure, and will not raise taxes to fund the improvements. Construction could start as early as this summer.
Work on Nexton Parkway consists of widening five miles of the two-lane road to four lanes. The approximate cost for the entire expansion project is $12 million. Construction on the road is set to begin Spring 2018 and expected to be complete early 2019. This important expansion project will connect U.S. Highway 176 to Interstate 26, through the Nexton Parkway Interchange project.
The work on U.S. Highway 176 phase 1 includes improvements from U.S. 17A to Nexton Parkway (4.5 miles). Improvements will be made to the U.S. 17A and U.S. 176 intersection. All four legs of that intersection will have double left turn lanes and a dedicated right turn lane (picture attached highlights the proposed improvements). The work is expected to cost $40 million.
Funding for both the Nexton Parkway expansion and U.S. 176 phase 1 will be provided through excess 1% transportation tax and industry fee bonds. The two road improvement projects will cost $52 million combined. The excess 1% transportation tax will cover $27 million and the industry fee bond will cover $25 million, totaling the cost of the project ($52 million).
“These two projects are a one-two punch at alleviating traffic safety concerns on the Cane Bay 176 corridor,” said Berkeley County Supervisor Bill Peagler. “By using industry fees to help fund these much-needed road improvements, I’m proud to say Berkeley County has found a way to expedite these projects without raising taxes.”
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