County approves $3.6 million sidewalk and crosswalk project linking Woodland Shores to Maybank

Charleston County’s Finance Committee voted to approve a construction contract for a multiuse path and sidewalk connection that will link Woodland Shores to Maybank Highway and add a raised median and crosswalk at a known pedestrian crash location.

Committee members discussed funding and right-of-way questions before approving the measure. Staff said the total bid on the table was “just over $3,600,000.” Committee members and staff described a funding mix that includes federal funds, state transportation funding through the Charleston Transportation Commission (CTC), CHATS (the local regional allocation), and a county match drawn from the county’s transportation sales tax allocation.

The project was described as bringing “connectivity” from Woodland Shores into the county’s Riverland Drive project and adding a raised median and crosswalk at the intersection between the Poor House and the TRS Theater — a location Councilwoman Honeycutt identified as the site where a community member, David Massey, was struck and killed in 2019. Honeycutt said the project began after that crash and evolved to link sidewalks through Woodland Shores into the larger nearby project. Staff told the committee the project is primarily grant funded and that CTC provides most of the match required by the grant.

On details of cost shares, committee members pressed staff for precise numbers. Staff stated the bid amount was “just over $3,600,000” and later summarized funding as roughly: CHATS about $2.9 million, CTC covering about $731,000, and the county portion described at different moments as $187,000 and, separately, as about $18,000 for the county construction portion. Staff said the CTC funding includes a stipulation that it cannot be used for right-of-way acquisition; where property owners agreed to dedicate land the sidewalk will be widened to about 8 feet, and where they did not, the design was narrowed to avoid acquiring property.

Committee members confirmed no new property takings were required in the portions where owners did not dedicate land. After questions and discussion the committee moved, seconded and voted to approve the contract.

The committee’s approval clears the project to proceed under the funding and conditions described by staff. Additional details on final contractor terms, precise county cost responsibilities and any remaining design changes were not specified on the record.

Ayes were recorded and the motion carried.