The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has scheduled a public hearing Tuesday, May 26, in Inman concerning preliminary plans for the proposed widening of SC 9 for 4.3 miles from Rainbow Lake Road to Fagans Creek Drive.
The hearing will be between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Oakland Elementary School cafeteria, 151 Mud Creek Road, Inman.
The proposed improvements consist of widening SC 9 from existing two lanes to five lanes with bicycle accommodations, curb and gutter, and sidewalks The proposed project also includes a combination of raised landscaped and paved asphalt medians. The entire project would include a 4-foot integrated bike lane and separated sidewalks on both sides. Right of way width is proposed to be 60 feet each side of the centerline along most of the new road, with some variation in width due to topography. Another purpose of the hearing will be to gather information from the public or any interested organization on historic or cultural resources in the area.
From 5 p.m. until 6 p.m., the hearing format will be informal. Large displays of the entire project will be available for viewing, and representatives of SCDOT will be 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 5:55 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.
Project details, including environmental documentation of the project’s effects, will be provided. Maps and drawings of the proposed improvements will be available, and citizens may ask questions and provide comments regarding the possible social, economic, and environmental effects of the project. Property owners and business owners on or near the project are urged to attend.
Related maps and or drawings, environmental assessment, and other pertinent data will be available for public review at least 15 days prior to the public hearing, at the SCDOT District 3 Office located at 252 South Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, SC, 29607 (864-241-1010) and the Spartanburg Construction Office “B” located at 8890 Fairforest Rd. Spartanburg, SC, 29303 (864-587-4721). Additional information concerning the project may be obtained by contacting SCDOT Assistant Program Manager Penny L. Phillips at (864) 241-1010. Persons with disabilities who may require special accommodations should contact Ms. Karen Davis at (803) 737-1549.
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