A Citizens View of the Status of the Route 278 Corridor Project

Many people have been asking us for the status of the Route 278 Corridor Project. Here is what we know:

1.   As a result of Citizen efforts, the Town of Hilton Head is pursuing an Independent Study of the project via funding secured by Senator Davis. Two consulting firms have responded and a selection is expected to be made shortly. We estimate that the study will be complete late in 1Q24.

This study is very important since it has not been proven or shown that SCDOT’s current plan will meet key project goals of safety and congestion improvement in any meaningful way. SCDOT has avoided rigorous analysis of that, as well as full comparisons (including end-end throughput, safety, local and environmental impact, missing and hidden parts, total cost) with other alternatives such as overpasses, underpasses, bypasses, bridge repair/expansion, new second bridge, etc. that might improve performance and safety. It also appears that they have not consulted with the County Sheriff’s department for a safety analysis. We would also like to see provision of short-term and longer-term plan options aimed at both rapid and longer lasting relief. 

2.   Given that, we have strongly urged that no application for a FONSI (Finding of No Significant Impact, which is based mainly on environmental impact) be made by SCDOT and Beaufort County until the Town’s Independent Study is complete and the results published and digested by Citizens and Town Government. 

Many of the issues and problems with SCDOT’s direction and plans have brought up by us in letters and comments since 2020, with little to no satisfactory response by SCDOT. (For example, we believe that their plan, which minimizes environmental impact down to 40 acres of wetlands, but does not solve our traffic or safety problems, and may make them worse, is a waste of 40 acres of wetlands.)  Our latest attempt to document and get closure on these issues was sent to SCDOT, Town and County Councils and Federal authorities on March 31, 2023. (Readers are urged to request a copy of this letter and 18-page report.) No meaningful answers were received. Had there been an understanding and dialogue on these issues during the more than 3 ½ years they have been identified, we feel that the project would be much further along.

3.   Beaufort County is also pursuing what they call an Independent Study with results expected later this year. However, public visibility and oversight has been very specifically disallowed in this new County Study. This pattern continues the County’s disregard for Citizen input and oversight evident from FOIA searches and leaked documents shown in Section 7, of the March 31, 2023  document above. As a result, we have little confidence in the results of the County Study.

4.   We continue to have cautious optimism for the Town’s Study, which specifically includes Citizen visibility and oversight via a 5-person team, and public meetings. We believe that this is a one-time opportunity to plan this corridor well. We must not be pushed into an incomplete and untested plan that may preclude better options, and will likely require another tax to fix its missing and hidden parts. Thus, we very strongly urge that NO FONSI application be initiated, or Municipal Consent provided, until the Town’s Study is complete and understood. We will keep you posted.

The Technical Working Group (for over 10,000 petition signers)

hiltonhead.twg@gmail.com