Residents of the Red Road community in Summerville, South Carolina, voiced urgent concerns during a recent government meeting regarding significant infrastructure projects threatening their historic neighborhood. Victoria Singleton and Valbi Grant, both long-time residents, highlighted the potential destruction of their community due to the proposed Burlingame Parkway Extension and the Chester County Orangeburg Loop project.

Singleton detailed how the Burlingame Parkway Extension is expected to increase traffic on Orangeburg Road, exacerbating existing safety issues. She recounted personal experiences of near-misses while attempting to enter her driveway, emphasizing the disregard for local residents by speeding drivers. The Orangeburg Loop project poses an even greater threat, with plans to eliminate 21 homes and encroach on residents' properties by moving easements 30 feet into their yards. Singleton expressed frustration over the inadequate compensation offered to homeowners, which she argued fails to reflect the true value of their properties and the impact on their quality of life.

Grant echoed these sentiments, stressing the historical significance of the Red Road community, which has existed for over a century and includes cemeteries dating back to that time. She reiterated the community's plea for Dorchester County to collaborate on solutions that would preserve their Gullah Geechee heritage while addressing the infrastructure developments.

In a separate agenda item, the county announced the successful acquisition of a $1 million community development block grant aimed at improving water services in the Ashley Phosphate area, marking a positive step forward for local infrastructure improvements. However, the concerns raised by the Red Road community underscore the ongoing tension between development and the preservation of historical neighborhoods.