People in the path

The widening of Maybank Highway would transform the existing two-lane road.

Here is what some people along the road have to say:

Mic Smith
The Post and Courier

H. Barney Limehouse Jr

'Put the skids on,' business owner says

H. Barney Limehouse Jr. has lived on Johns Island for the past 44 years. His paint and body shop/fireworks stand is a hot spot on holidays.

It's hard to miss the mustard yellow fireworks stand with American flags and light bulbs strung all over. He's proud of the shop that he opened in his early 20s. He even lived in the shop for awhile with his wife and oldest child before they had a place to call home.

Now, at 66, he's worried that the county's plans to widen Maybank Highway could mean the end of his shop. If they widen it just a few feet his way, he'll lose most of the already tiny parking area by his garage door. "It would hurt us bad," he said.

Really, he doesn't want to see the road widened at all. "It's time for Johns Island people to put their foot down and put the skids on."

Mic Smith
The Post and Courier

Sheila Futch

Homeowner loves island's character

Sheila Futch, 43, loves the rural character of Johns Island. But she has a front-porch view of how the sea island is changing. She'll sit in her white rocking chair and watch the cars zoom by. Her shingles clink and tinkle above. Nights are the worst. Her bedroom window is closest to the road. She hears cars whizzing by until the wee hours of the morning. She turns on fans to drown out the noise. "I can still hear it," she said.

A wider road would bring traffic even closer. She gazes back to Maybank. "I hope they don't widen that road. Honey, it'd be a mess."

Mic Smith
The Post and Courier

Karl Ristow

It's matter of safety to fire district chief

Karl Ristow has been chief of the St. Johns Fire District for more than nine years. His firefighters sometimes complain about how difficult it is to get past cars on Maybank Highway's two lanes. He hopes the county will turn it into a five-lane highway, and not a four-lane design with a planted median. They could lose time if the fire truck driver has to travel far down the road to make a U-turn to get to a fire on the other side of the road.

Mic Smith
The Post and Courier

Rev. W. Brooks Harrison

Minister foresees parking worsened

The Rev. W. Brooks Harrison has been pastor of St. Stephens AME Church for three years. His church is a landmark, dating back to 1879.

Every Sunday, cars belonging to its 321 members pack the church parking lot. They create spots on the grass lining Maybank Highway and even park across the street and at nearby businesses.

"Once it's widened, it's going to be even worse," he said. Where will people park?