Video: Public Concerned About Batesville Road Project's Shortcomings

SCDOT Project Manager Tommy Elrod freely admitted Thursday during a public hearing on the proposed improvements for Batesville Road that the project would not help alleviate traffic flow in the area at peak times. 

The stretch of Batesville Road that will be effected by the project - from S.C. 14 to Roper Mountain Road and throughout the Pelham Falls and Anderson Ridge Road areas - is in the middle of a significant high traffic area due to its proximity to S.C. 14, Greenville-Spartanburg Airport, Interstate 85 and Interstate 385. 

Some of the residents at the meeting vocalized their concerns about the project's clear shortcoming - its inability to resolve the true issue along the stretch of road, which is the immense traffic at peak times. 

Two speakers also strongly advocated for a 35 miles per hour speed limit there. 

As part of the project, some 2,200 feet of roadway will be relocated to the west side of Ebenzer Church to avoid impacts to cemetery property there, and a new bridge will be constructed over Rocky Creek, with new traffic signals intalled at Pelham Falls Drive at Anderson Bridge Road and Roper Mountain Road. 

The project is aimed at improving traffic operations and safety, as some 70 crashes were reported on the 2.2 mile stretch from January of 2007 to February of 2010. Some 11,300 vehicles pass on Batesville Road per day, according to the SCDOT. 

Elrod said the project, which is projected to cost roughly $11 million in gas tax money, won't hit the construction phase until the Spring of 2015. In the meantime, SCDOT is still in the proces of acquiring right-of-ways on adjacent properties. The state is offering to buy some slivers of property along Batesville Road to make room for the project. If negotiations are not successful, SCDOT can utilize eminent domain to acquire the property needed. Right-of-way planning is expected to be completed by this summer, with acquisition expected to be completed by as late as next year. 

Construction won't be completed until the Spring of 2017.