Big upgrades coming to Argent Blvd. Here’s what that means for Beaufort & Jasper drivers
It’s no secret that Hardeeville is booming.
Located about 20 miles from Hilton Head Island, this once quaint and quiet South Carolina city was noted as one of the fastest growing municipalities last year – and the construction popping up across town makes it clear why.
From new neighborhoods and multi-use developments to a Buc-ee’s and major statewide projects like Interstate 95 improvements, Hardeeville is starting to shed its small-town image and staking a claim on the map.
But amid these other big-ticket projects, smaller but critical improvements are also underway on Argent Boulevard, a key connector road linking Beaufort and Jasper Counties’ major routes, S.C. 170 and U.S. 278.
While this two-lane road may not seem like much, it’s classified as a major collector, carrying up to 14,800 vehicles per day, according to a 2023 traffic study by Kimley-Horn, a national engineering and design consulting firm.
To accommodate the city’s rapid growth and improve safety and traffic flow, construction began to improve this corridor in September, aiming to keep the road – and the city – moving forward.
Here’s what folks can expect as this project continues and what upgrades it will bring to this major connecting road.
Why is the construction needed?
The main focus of this $6.6 million project on Argent Boulevard happens at the intersection of Short Cut Road and Jasper Station Road.
Currently, Short Cut Road does not line up with Jasper Station Road, where both approach the busy corridor. Because of this offset intersection, the South Carolina Department of Transportation has been unable to install a traffic signal there, said Josh Gruber, city manager for the City of Hardeeville.
Without those roads being aligned, the SCDOT can’t install a traffic signal.
To solve this, the City of Hardeeville is realigning Short Cut Road, shifting it slightly south so it lines up cleanly with Jasper Station Road.
As folks travel through, the ongoing tree clearing, groundbreaking and cone placements at this intersection reflect this planned shift.
Once the city completes the realignment, which is set to conclude by June 2026, SCDOT will install a fully signalized four-way intersection, easing the flow of traffic and making it easier for drivers to cross or turn in a given direction.
What drivers can expect
Drivers should expect ongoing work in the area, largely occurring in the evenings, to minimize traffic impact.
This schedule will continue until the city completes the realignment. Afterward, SCDOT will follow with the installation of the traffic signal equipment, but a specific timeline for that portion has not yet been released.
Another traffic signal coming to Argent & U.S. 278
In addition to the Short Cut Road improvements, Gruber confirmed that SCDOT is moving forward on a new signal at the intersection of Argent Boulevard and U.S. 278.
While also in early stages, he states that the SCDOT recently put that project out to bid to select a contractor. Once that step is complete, construction on that light will follow.
Once both projects are finished and the signals are installed, drivers are expected to have a much safer and more efficient travel through the corridor – something local residents have long requested.
No widening of Argent this time around
As the city continues with its piece of the project to realign the roads, one aspect that remains open is whether lane widening will take place.
As a part of this project with road realignment and light installation, Gruber clarified that Argent Boulevard will not be widened.
“We’re still at the very beginning of what that entire corridor improvement is going to look like,” he said.
Any future changes to the broader Argent corridor fall under the new Jasper County Transportation Sales Tax program, which only began collecting this year. Surveys and feasibility studies are still needed due to the wetland areas surrounding Argent, meaning that there’s still a lot to uncover about what’s going to be possible in terms of improvements, Gruber states.
What other projects are happening in Hardeeville?
A handful of other projects are currently taking place in the Hardeeville area, ranging from road updates, new developments and more.
Notable construction that folks will see stretching from Argent Boulevard, down to Exit 8 on I-95 includes:
- John Smith Road & U.S. 278 improvements & widening (John Smith Road & U.S. 278)
- Dominion Energy gas line (U.S. 278)
- Carolina Station (U.S. 278)
- Southpoint Development (John Smith Road & U.S. 278)
- Buc-ee’s and Hardee Station (Highway 17, U.S. 278 & I-95)
- Townhomes and single-family units (Brickyard Road & U.S. 278)
- Hillpointe Apartments (I-95 N, behind the Coastal Carolina Hospital & Hampton Hotel)
- I-95 improvements (Savannah River to U.S. 278 at Exit 8)
