Long-Awaited Overpass Opens Sunday

UPDATED: Charleston County says the overpass at Bowman Road will open by Sunday morning. Though traffic may alternate at times as construction continues, the overpass opening will be permanent, according to a news release.

The original story, as posted on Wednesday, is as follows:

Construction-weary Mount Pleasant motorists can rejoice for one huge hurdle in the overhaul of Johnnie Dodds Boulevard will soon be complete.

The overpass at Johnnie Dodds Blvd. and Bowman Rd. will open Sunday, according to the project manager. Signs announcing the "lane shift" went live Tuesday evening.

Crews will work overnight Saturday with finishing touches, including paving and signage, said Steve Thigpen, the county project manager overseeing the work. The road should be open before 9 a.m. Sunday, he said.

The overpass is one part of a massive overhaul meant to ease congestion along Hwy. 17 from the Ravenel Bridge to Wando High School.

The five-lane overpass at Bowman Road allows north and southbound motorists to move through the busy intersection without stopping. Currently all traffic is using what will be the on and off ramps for the overpass.

The overpass has a five-lane configuration — two lanes northbound and three lanes southbound.

"From strictly a capacity standpoint, the bridge requires two lanes in each direction to handle anticipated future volumes," said Brad Morrison, the town's traffic engineer.

But since most of Hwy. 17 will be six lanes, the schematics raised questions among Traffic planners are expecting a significant number of cars to leave Hwy. 17 at Bowman Road.

"The reason the third lane is needed for the southbound direction is to simplify and facilitate the vehicle weaving that must occur in the relatively short distance between the I-526 off-ramp to U.S. 17 and the Bowman Road interchange ramps," Morrison said.

The Hwy. 17 overhaul calls for a second overpass at the Hungryneck Blvd. intersection. That project is beginning to take shape.