Proposed traffic improvements along Savannah Highway cause concern for some
by Bill Davis | News Editor
Residents from both the Byrnes Downs and Avondale neighborhoods hammered a county official last month about plans that could improve traffic along Savannah Highway at the expense of their neighborhoods’ quality of life.
Late last month, a double-barreled neighborhood association informational meeting put together by County Councilman Brantley Moody invited Herbert Nimz, the county’s point man on the project to improve intersections along the Savannah Highway corridor, to the parish hall at Blessed Sacrament.
Moody said the project was “long overdue.”
Nimz attempted to inform those assembled that the county—with the blessing and funding from the half-cent sales tax referendum—was intent on improving intersections along West Ashley’s traffic artery from Savage Road to Nicholson Road in Byrnes Downs.
And eventually he got the message out, but not before several residents unloaded their concerns that traffic counts on cut-through roads in their neighborhoods could soar just so that cars could move more smoothly on Savannah Highway.
The Avondale neighborhood, which now boasts its second million-dollar residential listing in a year, is already crisscrossed by two cut-throughs for motorists zipping between Savannah Highway and St. Andrews Boulevard— Riverdale and Avondale roads.
Nimz repeatedly reiterated that the project would not increase posted speed limits on Savannah Highway, and that its focus would also include increasing pedestrian-cyclist safety and awareness along the corridor.
The Avondale Point area was hit with several serious pedestrian accidents in years past that prompted enhanced safety measures, like the median that now exists at the bar-heavy intersection where Magnolia Road hits Savannah Highway at a roughly 45-degree angle.
Nimz said the county plan, as it exists now, would be to change that to a 90-degree angle, which would stop cars from carrying dangerous amounts of speed from Savannah Highway into the shopping district.
With that intersection at a perpendicular, the traffic light at the intersection would be removed, and the intersection of Avondale and Savannah Highway would be moved so that it aligned with Nicholson Drive in Byrnes Downs.
That realignment would result in the demolition of the building that houses several small businesses, including DB’s Cheesesteaks, a new light would be erected further down the highway closer to the peninsula.
That realignment could drive more traffic through Avondale, several of its residents bemoaned. Those for and against the plan were given an extension buy the county to voice their opinions until Friday, Sept. 23.
Ken Marolda, a planner by day and the neighborhood president of the Avondale Civic Club, said the plan as he understands it would not “incentivize” drivers to change their routes through his neighborhood, and would improve the “commuting path” of those traveling downtown or further out in the opposite direction
Marolda said he hopes to convince county planners and engineers to “tweak” their plans to protect his neighborhood. “The plan overall is a good plan,” he said.
He makes the point that renovations to these roads are far overdue, since he found through study that they are merely paved country roads dating back a hundred years, at least.
Back then, Marolda said, the intersections could easily handle two horse carts travelling in opposite directions at low speed. But now, car speed far outstrips the original layouts and must be addressed for safety and convenience.
Eric Pohlman, the city planning official in charge of West Ashley, was in attendance. After the meeting he said that the city will “continue partnering with and supporting the county-led initiative to improve intersections to improve both traffic flow” and pedestrian safety through continuing to gather community input.
Ed Kronsberg calmed many of the riled attendees by speaking on his association with the project. Kronsberg is the property manager for big chunks of the Avondale Point business district, and has been meeting with officials for years, some on ZOOM, on this project.
Kronsberg understands the concern of the community and his tenants who are losing their spot for a bit. But he said his firm stands committed to building a new building for the current affected businesses on the acre-plus lot the intersection relocation would create.
Kronsberg added that there is a possibility to partner with another tenant there and build a multi-story parking deck on the back of the new building, alleviating parking pressures on neighborhoods and area businesses.
Regardless of whether a parking deck could be built, Kronsberg said the shopping district would net 140 more parking spots than it has right now.
“I was also happy to hear the county’s commitment to build sidewalks along Avondale and Riverdale roads as part of this project,” said Kronsberg.
Nimz, a few days after the meeting, said that the county has no intention through its plan to increase traffic counts in either neighborhood. Pohlman said that the city has a “host” of traffic calming options beyond the already present speed bumps.
There will be more county information meetings scheduled. Please check
www.savannahhighway.com/avondale
for more information and times.
