Hardeeville presents package of signal, turn‑lane and interchange projects for US‑278/I‑95 corridor

Deputy City Manager Matt Davis gave the Hardeeville Planning Commission a high‑level briefing on traffic projects affecting US‑278, I‑95/Exit 8 and local connector roads, saying the city is coordinating signal timing, lane work and larger interchange construction with SCDOT, Beaufort County and regional developers.

The presentation outlined a bundle of ongoing and planned work: third‑party reviews of developer traffic impact analyses; a temporary signal installation at Argent/New River East Argent Parkway; lengthened and additional left‑turn lanes at US‑278 and Latitude Lakeside Boulevard; the Argent Shortcut/Jasper Station intersection redesign with right‑of‑way acquisition and an expected bid that Davis estimated “probably in excess of $5,000,000”; and the SCDOT‑led Exit 8 diverging‑diamond interchange with a relocated Medical Center Drive signal and new back‑edge (frontage) roads to serve businesses. Davis also described plans for two left‑turn lanes and new signals at the planned Buc‑ee’s access on US‑17/US‑278 and said the city has paid into several local intersection improvements.

Why it matters: the city said the package aims to reduce morning backups on US‑278 and on neighborhood approaches that now spill back onto higher‑speed lanes. Davis noted that Beaufort County currently controls timing for some signals on 278 even where jurisdiction crosses county lines, and the city is working with Beaufort County and SCDOT to extend green time in peak hours and add dedicated left‑turn arrows for problem movements. The city has also begun requiring a third‑party review of developer traffic studies so analyses are comparable across projects.

Supporting details: Davis described the Argent Shortcut/Jasper Station project as including nearly a half‑mile BJWSA waterline relocation and substantial right‑of‑way purchases before bidding. He showed the Exit 8 diverging‑diamond plan, explained the relocated signal for Medical Center Drive and the proposed back‑access road network that will feed businesses from the rear instead of direct US‑278 curb cuts, and described frontage‑road and roundabout work near the hospital and Brickyard Drive. He said work to lengthen turn lanes at Latitude Lakeside Boulevard should begin in the next month or two. On the John Smith Road bridge, Davis told commissioners he understood SCDOT’s schedule estimates the replacement will close the bridge “for some period of time — I think they’ve estimated what, nine months,” and that traffic will be detoured while the bridge is replaced.

Public and process notes: Davis and staff emphasized the projects are a mix of city, county and SCDOT work and that funding, right‑of‑way and permitting issues will determine timing. He directed commissioners and the public to mdavis@hardeevillesc.gov for follow‑up questions and said the city will continue coordinating corridor work, developer mitigation and DOT projects so improvements are not planned “in a vacuum.”

Next steps: the city will continue its corridor study coordination, require third‑party review of developer traffic studies, advance design and right‑of‑way for city‑led intersections, and work with Beaufort County and SCDOT on signal timing and Exit 8 phasing.