DESCRIPTION: The project involved a new right turn lane from International Boulevard onto Tanger Outlet Boulevard. The original project was to replace an existing 5-ft sidewalk with a 10-ft shared-use path, approximately 600 LF, within the grassed area between SC 171 (Old Towne Road) and Ingram Road (local), beginning at the SC 171/Old Town Plantation Road (local) intersection and ending at SC 171/Charlestowne Drive (local)/Donahue Drive (local) intersection. A portion of the existing 5-ft sidewalk to be replaced is located within the Charles Towne Landing park. The project also required coordination with SCDOT, the City of Charleston, and the state park service. While designing the original project, the County requested to extend it to tie to another project for approximately 400 LF south of Old Town Plantation Road to Miles Drive intersection. The extension also required coordination with SCDOT and the City as well as USACE and OCRM. 

Although this is a short project, there were 3 major design elements for consideration: 1) delineated wetlands/critical area at a crossline pipe, 2) path alignment through state park entrance, and 3) existing drainage ditch and landscaping. JBC prepared 3 options for discussion, with all avoiding the wetlands/critical area, but all affected the existing landscaping along Ingram Road to retain the drainage ditch:

• Option 1 – follows existing sidewalk alignment, with permission or right of way (R/W) from state park
• Option 2 – follows existing sidewalk with a minor alignment change to improve a curve for bicycles and requires permission or R/W from state park
• Option 3 – follows existing sidewalk with a major alignment change at the park entrance and does not require permission or R/W from state park

The County selected option 2 and J. Bragg Consulting (JBC) prepared preliminary plans. During the on-site review, other County representatives discussed the removal of the landscaping and the potential issues the City and the neighborhood may have with its removal. JBC presented two alternatives: 1) retain the landscaping by installing a closed drainage system or 2) replace the landscaping, but these were not feasible due to cost. Since the County had another project in the vicinity requiring coordination with the neighborhood, this project was placed on hold so the County could perform the public involvement for both projects. 

Also, through coordination with SCDOT, SCDOT required a change to the alignment through the state park property, preferring the original Option 3 alignment at the park’s entrance by having the path cross at the intersection versus internal to the park’s entrance, even though there was no accident history with the sidewalk crossing. The option 3 alignment required revising concrete medians for the path and updating the existing signal for pedestrian signals. The project was also re-scoped based on the public involvement by the County to 1) retain the existing 5-ft sidewalk and landscaping along Ingram Road and 2) provide a connection from the 10-ft path to Ingram Road with signs designating Ingram Road as the bike route. It also required new R/W from the state park to improve the alignment for bicyclists for connection to Ingram Road.

Responsibilities: JBC performed project management and roadway and drainage design to develop conceptual, preliminary and construction plans. JBC coordinated with subconsultants for the survey and R/W plat, signal design, and wetland/critical area delineation. JBC also coordinated with the County, City, SCDOT, and state park.

JBC also developed pavement marking & sign, traffic control, and erosion control plans; quantities and construction cost estimates; details to reconstruct the concrete medians and the park’s raised planted median. JBC also obtained the encroachment permit, obtained City approval for the project including MS4 permit, and coordinated with the subconsultant on the Coastal Zone Consistency approval.