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SCDOT, consultant outline Columbia Avenue corridor work; board approves county easement affecting Chapin High School access
Summary
Consultants from Mead & Hunt and a SCDOT representative described a long‑running corridor project and said construction will require temporary work in the Chapin High School area; the board approved the Lexington County easement 7–0.
Representatives from Mead & Hunt and the South Carolina Department of Transportation presented background and a construction timeline for the Columbia Avenue corridor improvement project during the Sept. 22 board meeting. The board approved a required Lexington County easement on the public record.
Consultant Barry Steele (Mead & Hunt) told trustees the project—studied since 2015 with dozens of alignment options—includes a new parallel roadway and frontage changes that will affect entrances behind Chapin High School. Steele and the SCDOT representative said the project team will sequence work to minimize disruption to the school and that early work will include moving a retention pond and undergrounding utilities in the upper bus parking area.
Key points from the presentation - Project history and scope: The corridor study dates to 2015 and has examined many alternatives; the selected work includes New Road alignments to avoid constraints at I‑26 and the railroad. - School access and schedule: Consultants said the district and its engineer (Mr. Jackson) worked with the project team to revise staging. The plan described a temporary closure of one high‑school entrance starting roughly April 15 with the intent to reopen in time for the next school year (target July 30), and options to provide passable bus access if paving is not complete. - Underground utilities and retention pond: The contractor will perform undergrounding of sewer and water and will relocate a retention pond; the district noted coordination to place the pond and rebuild the road access under one contract to reduce conflict.
Board action: The board voted 7–0 to approve the Lexington County easement for the Columbia Avenue corridor improvement.
Trustee questions focused on contingencies in the timeline, the district’s plan to keep bus circulation functional during work, and how the district and contractor will coordinate to ensure temporary access during football season and the opening of school.
