Charleston County outlines signal and roundabout projects on James Island to reduce crashes

Sheila Parker, project manager for Charleston County construction management, told residents on Tuesday that the county will deliver two nearby James Island intersection projects funded by the 2016 transportation sales tax and is beginning construction activity.

Parker said the county will “install traffic signals” at the Fort Johnson and Secessionville intersection and build an urban compact roundabout at the Camp/Fort Johnson location to improve safety and maintain traffic flow. “So because of that, those these 2 projects are a reality today,” Parker said.

The projects were framed as safety-driven. John, a project team member, said the Fort Johnson/Secessionville intersection was prioritized after “40 accidents that occurred over a 5 year time span.” The Secessionville redesign includes a signalized intersection, left-turn lanes on Fort Johnson and Secessionville, new sidewalks, curb and gutter, marked crosswalks, pedestrian refuge islands, upgraded pedestrian signals, new drainage and relocation of some water and sewer mains to accommodate the drainage work.

At the Camp/Fort Johnson site, the project team selected an urban compact roundabout that officials described as fully traversable so fire apparatus and large trucks can pass. John said the roundabout was chosen to avoid removing large…