Highway 17-A Widening: Your Chance to Weigh In by August 16

If you drive between the Ridgeville side of the county and Summerville, this one is worth two minutes of your attention, and you have until August 16 to weigh in.

Dorchester County is studying a plan to widen about 6.5 miles of Highway 17-A along Boone Hill Road. Here is the gist:

• Widening from 2 lanes to 5 along the corridor.
• Improved intersections at Research Center Drive and Luden Drive.
• Added bike and pedestrian space.

The county held a drop-in meeting on July 16 at Summerville High School. Traffic studies project more than a 200 percent increase in volume on parts of the corridor by 2050, and construction could begin around 2030, pending funding.

Why it matters: this is one of the main commuter routes for this side of the county, and it is exactly the kind of "what is the commute like?" question I hear from families considering a move to the Ridgeville and Summerville area. It is good news that improvements are in the pipeline, and residents still have a say while the plan takes shape.

How to weigh in: online comments are open through August 16 at dorchestertransportation.com. If you drive this corridor, your input counts.

Curious how road plans and growth affect a specific neighborhood you are considering? That is the kind of local detail I dig into. Just call Jess.

Jessica Cherie Blommaert, REALTOR®, brokered by eXp Realty LLC, licensed in South Carolina. General information only; verify project details and the comment deadline with Dorchester County.