Berkeley road projects expected to save lives, bring jobs

MONCKS CORNER — Berkeley County is close to securing funding for two highly anticipated road projects expected to save lives and bring jobs.

The State Infrastructure Bank on Monday tentatively approved a $50.5 million loan that will pay for the widening of a dangerous 10-mile stretch of U.S. 17A and replace the Jedburg Road overpass on Interstate 26.

Last year the bank promised the county $115.8 million to complete those projects and more, but because the state legislature probably won't replenish the bank this year, county officials say they will make do with the loan until the bank receives the funding.

Of all the projects, U.S. 17A and Jedburg Road were considered the highest priority.

Seventeen people have died on U.S. 17A between Summerville and Moncks Corner in the past five years. Authorities say all but two of the deaths, including a 48-year-old Moncks Corner woman who died in a four-car wreck Monday, occurred within the two-lane section between Cypress Gardens Road and Moncks Corner.

"There are people being killed every day that road is not widened," Supervisor Dan Davis said.

Read more in Wednesday's edition of The Post and Courier.