Hilton Head Town Council Approves 278 Corridor Independent Study

The Town Council has unanimously approved a resolution authorizing bids for the very first truly independent study of the 278 Corridor Project.  Once an engineering firm is selected, the end to end study will commence and is expected to be completed in about six months. 

Important components of the Town’s Study include: an end-end scope  that covers our actual congestion area, the freedom to look at alternative solutions, and transparency to the public, including a Citizens Advisory Committee, features specifically withheld by the County.

“We have been asking for more than four years for an Independent Study and it’s gratifying that the Town Council by unanimous vote agreed with us”, said members of the Technical Working Group (TWG).

The TWG are organizers of the petition drive which has garnered more than 10,000 signatures to date asking for a transparent Independent Study of the Project to provide an informed second opinion to ensure that it will meet our needs. 

The study will take a fresh look at the 278 traffic congestion and explore all options including alternative solutions. Many people and the TWG view the State DOT plan for the 278 Corridor as a poorly designed and likely defective product that misses major congestion points, safety analysis, and alternative solutions. Despite costing close to 1/3 billion dollars, the State plan cannot be shown to solve our traffic congestion issues, and may displace better solutions.

The secretive Greater Island Council (GIC) had been advocating that the town grant municipal consent for the project before the independent study was even started. Representatives of the GIC showed up in force at the Council meeting but were vastly outnumbered by those supporting an Independent Study. 

To view the June 6 Council meeting, click here

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFg4dN9SZCV3FEdhX-hcX2irJKfAu1r9O