Improved interchange is open to public

The economy may have received an inadvertent boost with the opening of a new, improved interchange at U.S. Highway 1 and the Fifth Street Bridge access.

A ribbon cutting was held Monday morning to officially open the interchange that has actually been operational since Oct. 30.

Mayor Lark Jones of North Augusta led the ceremonies, which included local and state dignitaries.

RiverNorth developer Carl Sanders Jr. called the changes in the interchange “the difference in night and day” and was pleased with the prospects for his subdivision expanding as a result.

Realtor Bob Bolton agreed. He said since the new traffic circle opened, there has been a great deal more interest in RiverNorth.

“There are more people checking it out,” he said, acknowledging that it is a vast improvement in the gateway to the City of North Augusta.

Jeff Terry, DOT site engineer for the project, agreed that the project is a great improvement and thanked those who put together the funding for it. The project was underwritten with dollars from “earmarked” federal funds, from Aiken County’s Infrastructure Improvement Fund and from the RiverNorth developer.

Larry Goolsby with Mabus Bros. Construction Co. called it “pretty darn exciting” that people could now get to RiverNorth “without going over that little bump to get here.” He referred to the previous route that was necessary, which took folks coming from Georgia over the Fifth Street Bridge in order to enter the subdivision. He praised Terry, saying the DOT representative had coordinated everything with a “great demeanor” and had finished on time.

In recognizing the principals in getting the interchange into the realm of reality, Jones mentioned former County Councilman Eddie Butler, along with the other County Council representatives – LaWana McKenzie, whose district includes RiverNorth; North Augusta area County Councilman Chuck Smith and County Council Chair Ronnie Young. He likewise recognized Martin Becker and Sanders, both representing RiverNorth, whom Jones identified as the catalysts for the project.

Becker thanked the many people who made the project possible and commented that it was good that so many people were involved but “all were going in the same direction to get the project done.” He specifically mentioned Warren Davis, now retired from DOT, who served as the head designer for the project, Sanders agreed, specifically mentioning Aiken County, S.C. DOT and the City of North Augusta.

The project was touted as the foundation of the Westobou plan. Augusta Tomorrow, an organization of business people, has produced a strategic plan for both sides of the river, entitled Westobou Crossing.

The vision included in the Westobou Crossing plan includes a corridor for shops in the old Hamburg area at the South Carolina foot of the Fifth Street Bridge. The City of North Augusta recently purchased a critical parcel of land that will likely be important to those future plans.

Regarding some murmurings of eventually closing the Fifth Street Bridge, McKenzie commented that it seems that would cause traffic to circle away from the downtown of Augusta and defeat the concept of drawing people in.

“This project is certainly an asset to Augusta and North Augusta,” Young said of the new interchange.

Terry noted that despite a few hitches along the way, the design in large measure worked as expected. He said, “It came out nice.” He said he hopes the interchange lasts a long time.

Other dignitaries attending the ribbon cutting include North Augusta City Councilmen Jason Whinghter and Jimmy Adams, S.C. Sen. Shane Massey, City Administrator Sam Bennett and County Administrator Clay Killian.

The new interchange makes it possible for residents of the RiverNorth subdivision to exit their neighborhood and take a ramp directly onto U.S. Highway 1 toward Augusta. Before the current improvements, residents of RiverNorth could go only farther into South Carolina or into downtown Augusta.

A total of three ramps and one loop were constructed for the roadway.

The improvements to the intersection were set in motion when principals with RiverNorth went to then-Sen. Fritz Hollings, D-S.C., and then-Gov. Zell Miller of Georgia for funding. Legislation was required at the time to move some funds into the South Carolina pot, and, once accomplished, the project was able to move forward.