Highway 1 corridor study gets OK

Plans have been approved for a corridor study along the Aiken/Augusta Highway (U.S. Highway 1) and U.S. Highway 78.

The Augusta Regional Transportation Study's Policy Committee gave the OK Thursday to the corridor study, which will stretch from the Savannah River to Aiken city limits where Hitchcock Parkway starts at Richland Avenue.

Skip Grkovic, director of Planning and Economic Development for North Augusta, said the study will look at several issues including current and future traffic volume, access management and street beautification. The study can help create a long-range plan for the area and produce land use suggestions.

It is estimated the study will cost $300,000, which will come from planning funds the federal government filters to the South Carolina Department of Transportation.

This area will provide a $60,000 local match.

Burnettown Mayor C.H. Williams was happy to approve the study, citing a steady increase in the volume of traffic he sees along Highway 1 between North Augusta and Aiken.

In addition, a new development called The Vista, which is being constructed near the Reid's grocery store in Langley, is expected to add to the traffic volume.

It will feature 116 town homes fronted by an area for commercial businesses.

A contract on the study will be available in the spring of next year.