Expressway would ruin Johns Island

We oppose the Cross Island Expressway between Bohicket, River and Maybank roads on Johns Island.

The proposed toll road would not serve motorists who use Limehouse Bridge to connect to the mainland. Limited access would not relieve unwanted traffic congestion as it would be impractical for residents of Wadmalaw and most of Johns Island to use a route that runs from Betsy Kerrison Parkway to the James Island bridge.

Edward C. Fennell/The Post and Courier/File

Trees providing a natural canopy for two-lane Bohicket Road are a vivid element of Johns Island’s scenic beauty.

The majority of Johns Island residents have never favored a wholly new road because it cannot solve our problems. We voted the recent sales tax increase primarily to repair, improve, and maintain existing roads without destroying their natural beauty.

As demonstrated at the June 19 St. Johns High School public meeting, the proposed expressway is being promoted primarily by residents off Kiawah, Seabrook and their employees, many of whom are not year-round residents. They were a well-organized minority at the meeting and do not represent the voting majority.

A four-lane expressway dividing Johns Island, including family properties, would detract from its attractive natural ambience. Inevitably, long term residents would be displaced, and farm land, grand trees, and wetlands would be destroyed by an unneeded new route. Noise pollution would be audible over two miles beyond the pavement, and air quality would be degraded.

In contrast, turn lanes at key points along Bohicket Road, adjusting the timing of lights appropriate to traffic flow, establishing connectivity between secondary roads, sidewalks, and bicycle trails appropriately protected by curbs would improve general welfare. Off-road parking in selected areas would enable motorists to pause for refreshment by enjoying our unique scenery. Busing employees on existing roads would cost a fraction of a new road and should be considered as it would significantly reduce traffic on Bohicket and Main Roads. Employees would save money on expensive fuel, and air pollution would also be reduced.

All roads are dangerous. Freeways built for safety have many fatal accidents. Most accidents on Bohicket and River Roads are attributable to speeding. Long-term residents would welcome stringent enforcement of a 35 mph speed limit on these roads and for all trucks everywhere on Johns and Wadmalaw islands (51 feet per second for a lethal projectile weighing tons). Driving while intoxicated, talking on cell phones, or eating is unsafe and intolerable.

Those indulging in breakneck speeding across the sea islands should consider leaving permanently before they kill innocent persons. This would enable others to safely walk beside these historical roads once more.

Prior to investing here, Kiawah and Seabrook property owners, beguiled perhaps by beautiful Bohicket Road, should have investigated what it really means to live on small unique islands surrounded by a sea that regularly hosts violent hurricanes.

Old-timers realized from experience that building next to sea level near a rising ocean was always dangerous so they built shacks, not mansions. Inland traffic congestion complicates escaping the sea islands during an approaching tropical storm.

Unless one leaves the coast for distant up-country at least a day in advance of a storm's predicted landfall, exposure to high winds while trapped in a traffic jam well beyond the coast is another risk.

We hope these relative newcomers can adjust to the less stressful, more sedate pace of our sea island environment without an expressway. As it would open more rural land for development, stricter adherence to zoning regulations is essential to prevent excessive development.

Everyone should realize that re-zoning to accommodate speculators buying agricultural and forest lands for development is wrong. Unless all of us contribute according to our means, our fragile island ark will sink under uncontrolled growth, and future generations will have poorer options.

CARMEN and HENRY RIVERS

Belvedere Road

Johns Island