S.C. 153 Extension Project Raises Questions, Concerns

The S.C. Department of Transportation has been looking for a way to alleviate traffic congestion on Calhoun Memorial Highway for many years and hopes to have found an amiable solution with the proposed S.C. 153 Extension Project.

Easley residents had an opportunity to discuss the project with officials from the Department of Transportation Tuesday night at Easley High School. The DOT had large maps laid out on several tables in the school for residents to view the planned project.

The first phase of the project, which is the only part of the project that currently has funding available, would extend S.C. 153 from where it ends at Calhoun Memorial Highway and extend it west to intersect with Prince Perry Road just past the Easley Town Center development.

"I can't see that this solves anything but putting some folks to work and to spend some money," said Easley resident Glenn Allen.

Allen said he felt the money would be better spent expanding Prince Perry to a four-lane road but still has concerns about added traffic on Saluda Dam Road.

"Saluda is nothing but curves and blind hills, it's dangerous to drive on," Allen said.

On the other hand, Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce President Kent Dykes feels the project will ease the traffic congestion and encourage business growth in the Easley Town Center development.

"It's going to have a very positive impact," Dykes said. "It's going to relieve the pressure off of [S.C.] 123 and add another access road to Easley Town Center."

Project Manager Tommy Elrod said the project only has enough funding currently to extend S.C. 153 to Prince Perry Road, which is estimated to cost approximately $12 million.

"That sounds like a lot of money and it is, but when you're building bridges and roads it doesn't go as far as you'd like it to," Elrod said.

The project could begin as early as next year once SCDOT purchases the right of way from landowners which would cost approximately $1.7 million. Elrod expects construction could begin in 2013 and would take approximately 1.5 years to complete.

Randy Todd thinks completion of just the first phase of the project won't help the situation.

"The question is, if you stop here [Prince Perry Road] why is anybody else going to take that road other than the delivery trucks going to Walmart," Todd said.

Elrod was also hoping to get public input on three options presented for the second phase of the project. SCDOT has proposed three options for extending S.C. 153 to Saluda Dam Road, one of which would simply be to widen Prince Perry Road, and the other two would be to build completely new roads.

For more information on the SC-153 Extension Project visit the SCDOT website.