Johns Island Elementary construction on track; roundabout and storm‑sewer work advancing

Jeff Burrowy, chief operating officer for the school district, told the Transportation Committee that Johns Island Elementary School construction is ahead on the building shell and interior finish work and that roadwork tied to the school is advancing.

Burrowy said the school building is “sealed up” with flooring and HVAC nearly complete and that the district expects to open the school on Aug. 12. He reported active earthwork at the roundabout and that the project has the necessary permits to proceed for that section; storm‑sewer structures have been ordered and the team is installing piping. Burrowy said the work includes about 1,000 lineal feet of storm sewer piping on each side of the roundabout approaches and roughly 900 feet along the south side of River Road.

He said the storm piping is intended to allow additional shoulder to be added on River Road. The district reported that St. John’s Water approvals are complete for a water line and Charleston Water comments on the sewer line were recent; the district expects the final permits and short‑duration construction permits to be secured quickly. Staff told the committee the turn‑lane work and roundabout approaches are on a tight schedule but remain planned for completion in time for school opening.

Committee members discussed sidewalks and speed‑mitigation in adjacent neighborhoods. City staff explained that some subdivisions were originally approved without sidewalks at the request of residents; staff said newer subdivisions are being built with sidewalks and agreed to provide a timeline for when the policy shifted. On traffic calming, city staff said the city’s traffic‑calming program requires a petition signed by 75% of residents on the affected street before installing traffic‑calming devices; staff recommended residents begin collecting signatures now so the petition process is in place when school opens and traffic counts can be conducted.