Mount Pleasant Magazine Fall 2011

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highway and the two frontage roads.
While they’ll look nicer than the cur-
rent shoulder and median edges, they
also will improve safety and drainage,
alleviating the deep puddles that now
appear during heavy rains.
The median between the north-
bound and southbound lanes will be
landscaped with plants, hedges and
trees, and street lighting there will be
enhanced. The green spaces between the
highway and the frontage roads also
will have new grass, plants and trees.
The major intersections with
Johnnie Dodds Boulevard are be-
ing improved with upgraded traffic
lights and pedestrian crosswalks at
Magrath Darby Boulevard, Mathis
Ferry Road/Houston Northcutt
Boulevard, Shelmore Boulevard and
Anna Knapp Boulevard. Dedicated
turn lanes are being installed in
some locations where they don’t cur-
rently exist, with the option of add-
ing a second lane off Johnnie Dodds
onto Anna Knapp and Shelmore if
they are needed in the future.
The frontage roads on both sides
of the highway are being widened,
and, along with the current one-lane
in each direction for automobiles,
marked bicycle lanes and sidewalks
are planned. New traffic lights are be-
ing installed where East Frontage Road
intersects with Houston Northcutt
Boulevard. Along West Frontage
Road, intersections at Mathis Ferry,
Anna Knapp and Bowman are get-
ting new traffic signals.
In addition to making it safer to
cross over and make left turns at these
Frontage Road intersections, the traffic
signals’ timing will be coordinated
with those on Johnnie Dodds to help
traffic flow more smoothly.
The biggest change, both visually
and in project scope, is the addition
of a bridge. Johnnie Dodds Boule-
vard is being elevated above Bowman
Road, alleviating backups on both
roads during heavy travel times. If
you think the view of the Ravenel is
dramatic now, imagine what it will
look like from the new overpass.
Bowman Road is being widened
to five lanes to where it crosses
Shem Creek, and a new bridge will
be constructed over the creek, with
sidewalks and drainage improve-
ments. On the west side of Johnnie
Dodds, Bowman is being widened,
and an improved intersection will be
added at Hospital Drive. On both
sides, traffic lights will be installed
where the new offramps from John-
nie Dodds connect to Bowman.
It all sound very complicated, but
it’s worth the temporary inconve-
nience. With today’s configuration,
one car turning left onto Johnnie
Dodds Boulevard from Bowman
Road during rush hour can trigger
a light change that backs up traffic
on the main thoroughfare for 50 or
more other vehicles.
While rumors that you’ll be able
to travel along Johnnie Dodds
from the Ravenel to I-526 without
stopping at a single light are false,
congestion on the bridge will be
lessened. The standstill at Bowman
Road will be gone. Businesses along
the frontage roads will benefit from
increased foot traffic with the addi-
tion of sidewalks and landscaping.
And we’ll all enjoy the improved
view of the thoroughfare from our
new flyway 30-feet above Bowman.
Mount Pleasant residents who
would like to know more about the
project, view a model of the Bowman
overpass or see aerial photographs of
the design plans for the entire U.S.
Highway 17 expansion are welcome
at the project information office at
1603 N. Highway 17, at the corner of
Hungryneck Boulevard. Ed Barbee,
If you think the
view of the Ravenel
is dramatic now,
imagine what it will
look like from the
new overpass.
The Bowman Road intersection
looking north, as it looks now (left)
and as it will look at the completion
of construction (right).
Left:
Coleman-Snow Consultants.
Right:
Town of Mount Pleasant