BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) – As the Lowcountry continues to grow, so does the infrastructure–including new projects at busy intersections, like U.S. Highway 176 and Black Tom Road.

If you come to a stop on Black Tom Road and have to turn on or off US-176, many community members say you could be risking getting into an accident.

“It’s terrible. A red light would be a blessing to a lot of people,” community member Henry Bowie said.

With the kind of growth the county has seen, there are now more cars on the roads.

“I think the intersection is on our sheriff’s mind every day at that intersection. It being signaled and allowing traffic, especially that left turn you’re trying to make. The left turn at all of those corners is going to be significantly safer than it has been in a long, long time,” Berkeley County Supervisor Johnny Cribbs said.

While the intersection is on its way to getting a traffic light, Cribbs said this is only a temporary fix as they continue to work on the long-term solution for their US-176 project on the county’s referendum.

“To make an intersection safer for a year or two is always worth it, especially if you know it’s got a chance for accidents,” Cribbs said.

This intersection project costs $4.9 million of state, local and federal funding, but for someone like Bowie who’s been driving this road for 15 years, that dollar amount is worth saving a life.

“I drive an 18-wheeler down and through those roads, so it’s tough. It’s tough to get in and out of it,” he said.

Because this is a state-owned road, it is a state-level project, but Berkeley County community members have been wanting this kind of safety measure for a while now.

“I mean, it’s a big deal for public safety for the county. It’s been a failing state intersection for quite some time. In order to make multiple turns out there, you almost need another motorist to violate some traffic law, stop in the middle of the road just to let you out,” Cribbs said.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation said crews have completed the intersection realignment and the actual installation of the traffic lights. Next steps for the project include minor shoulder widening, final paving, restriping the intersection into its final configuration, and getting the traffic lights to work.

“It’s years too late frankly. It’s going to be better late than never,” Cribbs said.

Although it may be later than what some community members have wanted, SCDOT says the project is on track for its contract completion date on Nov. 30 and has not experienced any delays.

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