City planning for Powderhouse extension road 10/28/2009 12:46 AM By APRIL BAILEY Staff writer
The City of Aiken is moving ahead with plans for a Powderhouse extension road.
Aiken City Council members unanimously approved the purchase of property located at 2340 Whiskey Road on Monday that will allow the new roadway to be built. The property is owned by Shirley Dyer and will cost the City $850,000.
According to City Manager Roger LeDuc, a committee composed of Council members for the City and the County, as well as several residents, has worked to find the best possible route for the extension for the past two years.
The committee has come up with a preliminary route which runs from East Gate Drive and connects Whiskey Road to Powderhouse and Old Powderhouse Road.
LeDuc said the route could change, depending on where the City is able to acquire property and the developers' needs. The project will not begin for another three to five years, as the City has to acquire several miles of property before construction starts, he said.
The new route will provide another alternative for access to the Aiken Mall from areas such as Couchton, Montmorenci and those traveling along East Gate Drive.
"We need to find alternate ways for people to get to the mall area other than going up and down Whiskey Road," he said.
City Councilman Dick Dewar stressed that forward planning is needed before the City builds the road.
"If that road is not developed properly, that could be disastrous for our traffic situation here in Aiken even if we have a new road," he said.
Aiken City Council members also approved the final reading of a proposal that will allow the City to save taxpayers more than a quarter-of-a-million dollars.
Council members unanimously approved the City's request to refinance its water and sewer bond, which will save the City approximately $259,250.50. The City has decided to go with First Citizens Bank to purchase the debt. The City will begin receiving bids from local banks at noon on Monday. First Citizens offered the City the lowest interest rate at 2.98 percent.
In other action, Aiken City Council members:
* Approved the second reading of an ordinance accepting the audited financial statements form fiscal year 2008-09
* Approved the first reading of an ordinance to annex property at 103 Thomas St.
* Approved the first reading of an ordinance to annex property at 138 Lynwood Drive
* Approved a resolution accepting the Corners Deed of Dedication
Contact April Bailey at abailey@aikenstandard.com.
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Comment Title:
I didn't even know the mall was still open.
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Posted by: South Side Resident On: Thursday, October 29, 2009 8:05 AM
Comment Title: Wrong road is being planned
The county is planning the wrong road. The traffic is not going to the mall. They are going to the businesses down from the mall. Whiskey would be better served if the extension ran from Old Powderhouse down to the other side of Aiken Office Supply. Another road that is needed is a connector from Silver Bluff to the Brookhaven Drive Area. But the stuckups in Woodside will not allow that. Anderson Pond road will not be a benefit when paved as it connects to far down Whiskey.
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Posted by: On: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 4:57 PM
Comment Title:
If the situation with the lack of stores in the "mall" doesn't improve, or if they keep closing, there won't be a need for that connector road because no one will want to go to the mall!
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Posted by: On: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 11:45 AM
Comment Title: What about traffic lights??
I moved here about a year ago and simply cannot believe that this city lacks safe, dedicated green turn lights on most of its roads. Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't understand why a new road is going to be built when our intersections aren't safe as it is. Every day I see cars narrowly being hit (and sometimes they do get hit) just because this city doesn't believe in green turn arrows. Let's get the current roads safe before adding new ones.
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