York County’s Road Infrastructure Expansion Aims to Accommodate Projected Population Influx
Fort Mill, SC – The sight of mounds of red dirt along Interstate 77 and traffic cones diverting vehicles has become a common scene throughout York County. Construction crews are working tirelessly to ramp up the region’s road infrastructure, notably introducing a new Interstate 77 interchange and revamping the highway’s Exit 85.
Investing in Infrastructure for Expected Growth
The construction projects are part of a wider initiative to anticipate and accommodate the area’s forecasted population explosion over the coming years. “Right now, we’re just over 300,000 people in York,” noted Dave Hooper, director of the Rock Hill – Fort Mill Area Transportation Study. He continued, cautiously positing “Imagine how the area will function when it reaches 500,000 over the next couple of decades. We need to be well ahead of the arrival of all those additional people.”
Population projections suggest that York will be one of the top five Palmetto State counties for future growth. Accordingly, infrastructural development efforts are high on the priority list, with the view on preserving commute effiency and improving quality of life for current and future residents alike.
Public Opinion and Road Improvement Projects
Residents of York County will have the opportunity to examine and contribute to the region’s traffic development plans in the upcoming weeks. Public meetings organized by Hooper’s group, RFATS, will be held to gather insights and opinions on their long-range transportation strategy. This offers locals the chance to directly shape the development of their community as it descends upon this anticipated period of growth.
Voters to Decide on Road Improvement via Referendum
In under four months, on November 5, County voters will decide whether to push forward with the next wave of road improvements through the ‘Pennies for Progress’ referendum. This initiative involves a taxpayer-approved sales tax specifically for the funding of county road projects. York was the first county in South Carolina to adopt this innovative approach to fund infrastructural development fiercely needed to support it’s escalating population.
Preempting Traffic Snarls Amid the County’s Economic Expansion
As one of the busiest interchanges in York County, the renovation of Exit 85 comes as a much-needed upgrade for locals. With a substantial development, Kingsley, located just off the exit – which hosts numerous large-scale employers and retailers – traffic delays were becoming a genuine concern for the area’s growing economy. With employees reportedly experiencing turnover due to traffic-related frustrations, officials are hopeful that the renovations will ease off the pressure and foster a more conducive traffic flow.
The DOT and County officials are focussed on minimizing traffic disruption during construction and look forward to revealing the fresh asphalt that they believe will be a vital component to accommodating the area’s projected growth. Motoring officials ask for the public’s understanding and patience as they forge ahead with these essential upgrades.
Onward, to Further Roadway Improvements
Looking to the future, the transportation study group has Exit 82 in Rock Hill on their radar as the next major junction poised for an upgrade. As ambitious as these developments seem, they are critical in ensuring York County is ready to welcome the impressive growth it is expected to experience in the years to come. As one traffic official aptly put it, “I get the perception from the public standpoint of seeing all this road construction and how it impacts many routes; but that’s progress. That means things are happening, things are getting done.”
