Councilman provides update on several DI projects, issues

I wanted to provide a few updates from the City of Charleston.

 

We’ve had a few projects that have been ongoing that I wanted to keep everyone informed about, and some new projects that I think will be great additions to the Cainhoy Peninsula and enhancements to our quality of life.

 

First, construction of the Nowell Creek Pedestrian Bridge is scheduled to start in the fall. This will connect into the pedestrian crossing and sidewalk back to the Beresford Creek Bridge on one side and the Shell Ring trail on the other side and will allow for safer pedestrian crossing. This will not require closure of the roadway, as this is a pedestrian crossing only.

 

We have designed a new drainage system for the Governors Park field, and we will be starting the procurement process for that project. The Parks Department has done an excellent job of top-dressing Governors Park with sand, and it has made a huge improvement to the field. Even with all the topdressing, after a rain event the field can remain waterlogged, and we have to cancel recreational sports for the day after a rain event so we don’t ruin the grass. 

 

This project will install subsurface drainage that will be more effective at drying out the field after rain events and should minimize field closures due to rain.

 

We have also finished designing the pedestrian improvements at Pier View Street. This will be a crosswalk similar to that at Credit One Stadium and Truist Bank. Dominion (Energy) just installed a new streetlight there, which has made it much easier to see pedestrians at night, and these additional improvements should make it far safer to cross.

 

The City has completed the street tree survey. We recently hired a contractor to inventory all the street trees in the City and to inventory those trees in a software that will track impacts to sidewalks and curbs. This will provide a more strategic approach to addressing maintenance issues with street trees on Daniel Island and the rest of the Cainhoy Peninsula.

 

The City is also actively acquiring property for future fire stations, police stations, and a public works facility on Clements Ferry Road. We are all aware of the tremendous growth on the Clements Ferry corridor, and these facilities are critical for public safety, infrastructure maintenance, and our quality of life.

 

Finally, I’m aware of the frustration with e-bikes on sidewalks. I would like to point out that Section 19-125, Paragraph (g) of the City Code states that “No person shall ride or operate a motorized bicycle, a rickshaw, a pedicab, or similar device upon a sidewalk or a shared-use path.” If you have a child with an ebike, please talk to them about staying off the sidewalks. Violation of this rule is subject to a fine of $50, but our police officers have much more important things to do with their time.

 

Thank you for allowing me to serve. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

 

The best way to reach me is by my city email address: greggb@charleston-sc.gov.