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Roadwork planned to improve traffic flow and safety at busy Columbia intersection

Richland County officials announced plans are underway to make repairs to one of the busiest intersections in Columbia that are expected to improve both traffic flow and safety.

The fixes are for the juncture where Elmwood Avenue and Bull Street meet, officials said Thursday in a news release. That’s in the downtown area, close to the Babcock Building and the end of Interstate 126.

The construction will be funded by the Richland County Penny Tax Program, according to the release.

Information about when construction will begin, potential delays, and how long it will take for the roadwork to be completed was not available.

More information is expected to made public at a news conference scheduled on Dec. 8.

The Richland County Penny Tax is going to make improvements to the intersection of Elmwood Avenue and Bull Street
The Richland County Penny Tax is going to make improvements to the intersection of Elmwood Avenue and Bull Street

What is known is the project will involve adding a lane to the eastbound side of Elmwood Avenue, creating a dedicated straight lane across the intersection with Bull Street, according to the release.

The existing southbound right-turn lane from Bull Street to Elmwood Avenue will be “channelized” to allow traffic to continue to flow through freely, officials said. Channelized turns are designed to increase the number of vehicles that move through intersections, reduce delays by allowing drivers to turn at higher speeds, and cut down on unnecessary stops, among other benefits.

Bull Street will also be restriped to add an additional northbound through lane and remove a southbound dedicated right-turn lane onto Calhoun Street, according to the release.

Officials estimate the improvements will reduce driver wait times by nearly 60 percent, which should result in fewer cars waiting for traffic signals to change, as well as increased safety for those in vehicles as well as pedestrians.

“There is a significant delay reduction for this intersection,” Richland County Transportation Director Michael Maloney said in the release. “That will provide an immediate improvement by allowing more commuters and downtown patrons through the intersection, but it also will accommodate growth in the area for years to come.”

Officials said other elements of the construction include:

Resurfacing and restriping the roads

Improving drainage

Adding landscaping along Elmwood Avenue

Upgrading traffic signals

Constructing, removing and rebuilding concrete islands

Improving pedestrian crossings

Richland County Councilman Paul Livingston, who represents District 4, said the improvements are going to be “crucial” as the BullStreet District continues to grow.

A lot has been happening at BullStreet, where development momentum has been gaining on the sprawling 180-acre site that once housed the State Mental Hospital.

Smoke flows from where the cupola stood following a fire at the historic Babcock Building in the BullStreet District near downtown Columbia, SC, Sept. 12, 2020.
Smoke flows from where the cupola stood following a fire at the historic Babcock Building in the BullStreet District near downtown Columbia, SC, Sept. 12, 2020.

In addition to Segra Field, home of the Columbia Fireflies baseball team, BullStreet has recently added a new Publico restaurant and construction also is underway on Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant that’s not far from where a Starbucks and REI Outdoor store are located in the district.

Additionally, the Bennet at BullStreet apartments are under construction, and, despite a massive fire two years ago, work is being completed on a $55 million project to turn the historic Babcock Building into more than 200 apartments, where some residents have already moved in.

Businesses are occupying the WestLawn building, and Columbia City Council recently gave initial approval to build an $80 million housing development which would also include an art walk and plaza.

“With more businesses and visitors coming to this area, these changes will ensure continued access for both drivers and pedestrians,” Livingston said in the release.

In 2018, it was estimated that the roadwork project at the intersection of Bull Street and Elmwood Avenue would cost $3.2 million. There was no word if that figure has changed.

The work was originally scheduled to begin in the fall of 2019 and end in the spring of 2020. Information about why the project was delayed was not available.

At that time, then-Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin cautioned drivers to be patient as traffic caused by the construction would likely lead to frustration.

But officials said making fixes to the intersection will be a needed improvement because of the significant amount of vehicles that travel through the area.

“This intersection is a major thoroughfare for many Richland County residents, and it is particularly busy during peak commuting hours in the morning and evening,” said Councilwoman Jesica Mackey, who chairs the county’s Transportation Ad Hoc Committee and represents District 9. “These improvements are going to help that traffic flow more efficiently, which will benefit a great deal of people and the businesses in the surrounding area.”