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Charleston County provides monthly update on Transportation Sales Tax projects and staffing shortfalls
Summary
Public Works reported recent completions, ongoing construction and project pipeline for the transportation sales tax (TST) and county transportation committee (CTC) programs, and warned of engineer vacancies that could slow delivery of projects.
Alex Oziak, capital programs manager for Charleston County Public Works, presented an update on the county—s transportation sales tax (TST) program, reporting recent project completions, active construction, and upcoming bids while flagging staffing shortages that could affect delivery schedules.
Oziak said Public Works completed two paving projects in the prior three months, and across fiscal year 2025 the department completed 18 TST projects with a combined value of more than $45 million. He said construction spending averaged about $3.7 million per month and that the department had 10 projects under various phases of construction and many more in design or advertisement.
Major projects discussed included the Main Road project (a design-build US-17 flyover with extensive utility relocations and a trestle bridge), the Pro-bridal Commerce interchange (new I-26 to Weber Boulevard connection, more than 80% complete), and the Oak/Deerwood intersection realignment to reduce angled crashes. Oziak said some larger projects had previously failed to attract bidders and staff had worked with SCDOT to adjust specifications and work windows to improve bidder interest.
He also described a pavement rejuvenator program treating nearly 200 roadways, as well as several sidewalk, drainage, and complete-streets projects around the county. Oziak said the TST and CTC pipelines together represent more than $825 million in projects at various stages and that Public Works currently has a roughly 40% vacancy rate among engineers and project managers; he said two more employees were about to go on extended leave and that retaining staff amid market competition remains a challenge.
Council members asked staff to follow up on specific local concerns (including the Azalea/bridge interchange and East Bay Street sidewalks) and urged the county to consider pay or retention measures to avoid losing experienced project managers.
