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The in-person public hearing will be:
Thursday, August 15, 2024, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m
Jerry Zucker Middle School Cafeteria
6401 Dorchester Road, North Charleston, SC 29418
STATION 3
Recommended Preferred Alternative
Recommended Preferred Alternative Overview
The Recommended Preferred Alternative consists of ACR New Location Roadway Alternative 2A and I-526 at West Montague Avenue Interchange Alternative 3. A new location roadway alternative and an interchange alternative must be implemented together for the project to meet the purpose and need. ACR Alternative 2A and Interchange Alternative 3 best meet the purpose and need of the project while minimizing impacts to the environment.
ACR Alternative 2A Highlights
ACR consists of a new 4-lane roadway with a landscaped median from the West Montague Avenue/I-526 Interchange to Charleston International Airport (CHS) at the intersection of International Boulevard and Porsche Boulevard. The roadway would extend along the Santee Cooper and Dominion Energy utility easement, paralleling an existing overhead transmission line. The shared-use path will connect to existing sidewalks along West Montague Avenue and parallel ACR within the power line easement connecting to Collins Park near Michaux Parkway.
The intersection of ACR and Michaux Parkway will be signalized. Michaux Parkway will be widened to 4 travel lanes from ACR to Dorchester Road, with minor improvements to the Dorchester Road intersection.
Interchange Alternative 3 Highlights
A diverging diamond interchange (DDI) will be constructed at I-526 and West Montague Avenue, with West Montague Avenue realigned. West Montague Avenue would curve to the northwest before intersecting with ACR to provide free-flow movement to ACR from the I-526 interchange.
Additional improvements include widening the I-526 mainline and constructing braided ramps from West Montague Avenue to International Boulevard. The improvements along I-526 also include widening the existing bridges over International Boulevard to be consistent with future corridor improvements planned as part of the SCDOT I-526 Lowcountry Corridor West project.
Recommended Preferred Alternative Fly Through Video
Diverging Diamond Interchange
A DDI allows two directions of traffic to temporarily cross to the left side of the road. It moves high volumes of traffic through an intersection without increasing the number of lanes and traffic signals. This movement provides easier access to an interstate.
A DDI allows free-flowing turns when entering and exiting an interstate, eliminating the left turn against oncoming traffic and limiting the number of traffic signal phases. It is easy to navigate, eliminates last-minute lane changes, and provides better sight distance at turns, resulting in fewer crashes.
The design reduces congestion and better moves high volumes of traffic without the need to increase the number of lanes in an interchange.
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