Mathews Drive Roadway Widening
& Pathway Project History

Mathews Drive is maintained by the South Carolina Department of Transportation. It used to serve as the main thoroughfare for north-south island traffic in the area, prior to the widening of William hilton Parkway (US 278 Business).

The “Widen Mathews Drive” project was included in the Town’s 1994/95 budget as a result of a 1991 Transportation Plan, primarily to provide traffic relief on US 278.  Mathews Drive was being used as cut through by the US 278 (north-south) traffic. The project would have widened Mathews Drive to five lanes (four lanes with turning lane) in order to increase capacity and efficiency. The project was originally programmed into three phases with pathways listed as a part of the road project:

• Widen Mathews Drive from Marshland to Folly Field;
• Widen Mathews Drive from Marshland to US 278; and
• Widen Mathews Drive North from US 278 to Beach City Road

A design with sidewalks at the edge of the road pavement was presented to the public and soundly rejected in 1995. The scope of the project was then focused on additional acquisition of Right of Way (ROW) and installing off road pathways.  Debate began on how many lanes the road really needed in an effort to reduce the requirement for adjacent pathway ROW.

Construction of the Mathews Drive Widening project from Folly Field Road to Marshland Road was done in 1997  .

SCDOT committed to building the Cross Island Parkway during 1997.  The addition of the Cross Island Parkway was estimated to reduce traffic on US 278 by 25 – 28%. The Cross Island Parkway opened in March 1998. Consequently, use of Mathews Drive as a cut through for US 278 traffic was reduced. SCDOT also resurfaced Mathews Drive in 1998.  This new road surface lowered the priority of rebuilding Mathews Drive.

Debate resumed on the purpose of the road, e.g. should it still be constructed to serve as a high volume cut through or turned into a more efficient and aesthetically pleasing secondary road to serve residences and businesses?  Town Council committed to Initiative Area Studies and Plans in 1998/99 which were to be developed during 2000 and 2001.  The Chaplin Plan was finally adopted in August, 2004. The plan prioritized construction of the southern segment of Mathews Drive in 1 to 3 years and the northern segment in 7 to 10 years. Additionally, the plan, in concert with the ongoing debates, dictated additional elements to be incorporated into the project:

• Roundabouts at Marshland Road (Children’s Center), BiLo, and Beach City Road intersection
• Area wide drainage with culvert under US 278
• Powerline burials
• Mathews Area Connectivity Improvements to intersections and adjacent roads

The Town contracted with an engineering firm to conduct a traffic study and design of Mathews drive in February, 2005. A Mathews Drive Area Traffic Study was needed to determine whether the initiatives and recommendations of the Chaplin plan could be implemented without an adverse impact on future traffic flow the in the Mathews area.  This study was completed in September, 2005.   Determination from these studies, the initiate area plan and public meetings resulted in the decision to build a three lane road with a landscaped median that would provide limited storage areas and median cuts for left turns at strategic intersections.

The Planning Commission approved the road concept and streetscape landscaping in October, 2005 under the Public Project Review. Public Meetings have been held to solicit input from and inform the public on project details and status.  These were held in May, 2005 (explaining project objectives and soliciting public input), September 2005 (to present traffic studies and alternatives and receive feedback) and October, 2006 (to present final design).

Staff applied for an SCDOT encroachment permit in January, 2006.  After many revisions and negotiations, final approval was given in April, 2007. The project was bid three times before an acceptable responsive bid was received.  These bids were done this past October, January and March.  APAC was selected as the most qualified offeror in April, 2007.

Utilities were relocated in advance of the roadway construction.  This will greatly reduce the potential for utility conflicts, contractor change orders and delays.

For more information regarding this project, please contact Jeff Buckalew, Engineering Project Manager, (843) 341-4772