‘We don’t have any more time’: County, town to meet DOT to address US 278 corridor concerns
With an urgent deadline approaching in 60 days, town and county officials will meet with the South Carolina Department of Transportation Thursday afternoon to address longstanding questions regarding the U.S. 278 Corridor Project with a focus on the outdated bridge to Hilton Head Island.
The meeting, set for 2 p.m. in Columbia, aims to update cost estimates from SCDOT, understand the feasibility of state Sen. Tom Davis’ alternative plan and address the State Infrastructure Bank’s quickly approaching deadline.
The project, originally designed to replace the aging eastbound Mackay Creek Bridge and improve traffic flow between Moss Creek Drive and Spanish Wells Road, has faced delays due to rising costs and a failed sales tax referendum. The total project cost is estimated at $488 million, leaving a significant funding gap.
With a March 31 deadline to finalize a plan and local funding, officials are now focusing on immediate priorities — chief among them, fixing the aging bridge.
Time is running out
When asked about how much time is left to safely drive on the eastbound Mackay Creek Bridge, Assistant County Administrator Jared Fralix said, “We don’t have any more time.”
Hilton Head Town Council and Beaufort County Council held public workshops this week to identify priorities ahead of Thursday’s meeting. Among the key concerns: How much money will it take to fix the bridge? What interim measures can be put in place? And, what are the project parameters?
Davis, who represents Beaufort and Jasper Counties and played a key role in securing initial funding, has met with both councils to propose a new approach to eliminate the roughly $190 million shortfall. This amount was reiterated in an agenda for the Wednesday workshop.
His plan, presented at a Jan. 10 town council workshop, would use existing state and local funds to cover the most critical elements of the project — including a new three-lane eastbound bridge — without raising property taxes.
With a laundry list of requests brought forward by members of town council, from eliminating traffic lights to adding bike paths, Mayor Alan Perry said that they need to make decisions based on the data and facts, and “first and foremost the dollars” that they have.
One of the goals of the county meeting is to narrow down what can’t be done. During the council’s workshop, Perry, who was in attendance, said that they need SCDOT to firmly provide parameters on what they will not accept. For example, figuring out if reversible lanes or toll bridges are even on the table.
County Administrator Michael Moore said that they are also looking for a breakdown of the different components of the project. That way, if the State Infrastructure Bank decreases their funding, he said during the workshop, the county can figure out what they can do with what they have.
Who will attend the meeting?
At Tuesday’s town council meeting, Perry assured the public that attendees would not be participating in “a secret meeting,” alluding to the backlash from a private Dec. 6 discussion on the project that excluded the public and some elected officials.
Key members from both the town and county will attend Thursday’s meeting including the following:
Town of Hilton Head
Mayor Alan Perry
Council members Alex Brown and Steve DeSimone
Town Manager Marc Orlando and Assistant Town Manager Shawn Colin
Beaufort County
County Administrator Michael Moore
Assistant County Administrator Jared Fralix
While representatives from the State Infrastructure Bank, which has committed $120 million to the project, will not attend, their role remains crucial as officials navigate funding options. The State Infrastructure Bank is a state-run loan fund that provides financing for transportation projects.
Davis emphasized the importance of adopting a clear plan to avoid losing state funding. He referenced a situation in Charleston, where a traffic plan failed after a similar referendum was rejected. When local officials were unable to secure additional local funding and requested more from the State Infrastructure Bank, Davis said the request was not only denied but the money previously allocated for the project was also taken away.
SCDOT has warned that if no progress is made for the corridor project by March 31, the state may withdraw its financial support and proceed with a limited solution, such as constructing a two-lane bridge for $90 million. This alternative would not address the long-term needs of the corridor, Davis said.
This story was originally published January 30, 2025 at 12:42 PM.
