folly homepage image
GLENN McCONNELL
PARKWAY WIDENING

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The goal of this project is to relieve traffic congestion on Glenn McConnell Parkway by widening the road from four-to-six lanes between Bees Ferry Road and Magwood Drive.

This project also intends to improve bike and pedestrian facilities through the addition of a multi-use path allowing safe pedestrian access across the CSX Railway.

The County will examine various improvement alternatives that would ease traffic congestion while remaining sensitive to existing site conditions such as drainage.


PROJECT STATUS

This project is currently under construction. Construction will take two years to be completed.

Construction Timeline:

Phase 1 West Bound shoulder work from Bees Ferry to Magwood.
  • Includes preparation work for the installation of additional travel lane and minor drainage modifications
  • Multimodal improvements (bus shelters).
Phase 2 Median and East Bound shoulder work from Bees Ferry to Magwood.
  • Includes preparation work for the installation of additional travel lane, intersection improvements, and drainage modifications.
Phase 3 Shared-Use Path installation adjacent to East Bound Lanes
  • Includes multimodal improvements (bus shelters), and landscaping and irrigation improvments.
Lake Dotterer drainage improvements possible to integrate into this phase before paving. *Certain elements and phasing of construction are subject to change

BUDGET

Charleston County Council approved $25,000,000 from the 2016 Transportation Sales Tax to fund the design and construction of this project.


Multi-Modal Plan

Click to enlarge

Drainage

Click to enlarge

Glenn McConnell Parkway is located directly adjacent to the Church Creek drainage basin, which has known flooding issues. The above exhibit illustrates the existing drainage patterns along Glenn McConnell Parkway with respect to the Church Creek drainage basin.

This drainage exhibit demonstrates that most of Glenn McConnell Parkway drains via stormwater pipes and open ditches to Long Branch, which currently has no connection to the Church Creek basin. A portion of Glenn McConnell Parkway, from Bees Ferry Road to just east of the existing bridges at the CSX railway, drains to the Church Creek basin.

The design includes the installation of control structures in the roadside ditches. The roadside ditches will hold stormwater, slowly releasing the water into the Church Creek and Long Branch drainage basins. These structures will ensure that the widening project does not have a negative effect on the existing drainage. The drainage system will meet the City of Charleston’s stormwater design standards for special protection areas with known flooding issues.

The City of Charleston is currently evaluating the possibility of providing an emergency relief connection from Lake Dotterer to Long Branch. This is a separate project from the Glenn McConnell Parkway widening, but the County is collaborating with the City as their evaluation continues.