The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has scheduled a public hearing Thursday, August 21, concerning the proposed US 52/401 (North Governor Williams Highway) widening project in Darlington County.

The hearing will be between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Darlington High School Cafeteria,  525 Spring St., Darlington.

From 5 p.m. until 6 p.m., the hearing format will be informal, with aerial displays of the entire project available for viewing and project team members from SCDOT present to discuss the project with interested citizens on an individual basis.

At 6 p.m., SCDOT will make a brief, formal presentation in the cafeteria about the project purpose and need, schedule, and potential natural and human impacts to the community.  Immediately following the presentation, citizens will have the option to make formal, verbal comments regarding the proposed project.  Anyone who wishes to verbally comment must sign up between 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. when entering the public hearing.  Each comment will be limited to two minutes and may not be transferred.  The informal portion of the public hearing will continue during this time.

The purpose of the hearing is to provide an opportunity to review and discuss preliminary plans for the proposed improvements to US 52/401 from US 52 Business (North Main Street) in Darlington, to S-41 (Flatnose Road) in Dovesville. The proposed improvements consist of widening US 52/401 from two lanes to four lanes, with a 48-ft grassed median, as well as the replacement of a bridge and two intersection improvements.  In addition, an opportunity will be provided for comments on the project’s impacts to Darlington County’s Dovesville Ballfield. 

For more information concerning the project, the public may contact Program Manager Chris Gossett at (803) 737-1471 in Columbia. 

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