Aiken County officials and consultants recently presented preliminary recommendations for improvements to Ascauga Lake Road, aiming to reduce congestion and enhance safety along the 7.5-mile corridor. A public information meeting held on August 11 at Graniteville Elementary School allowed residents to review proposed changes and offer feedback.
The study, conducted by AECOM for Aiken County, addresses areas with high traffic accidents and anticipates future traffic increases. Joel Duke, Aiken County’s Chief Development Officer and assistant county administrator, stated that the meeting served to present answers to concerns identified in an initial public meeting and to reveal new issues found by the study for further public comment. Duke noted that this is not the final published study.
Ascauga Lake Road, which stretches from Edgefield Road to Canal Street, currently sees nearly 11,900 vehicles daily. Proposed short-term and long-term intersection upgrades include the installation of turn lanes and a future traffic signal at Blanchard Road, realignment of Sudlow Lake Road with turn lanes, and the construction of roundabouts at Ridge Road/Woldus Road and Chalk Bed Road/Old Powderhouse Road. Turn lanes are also suggested for Breezy Hill Road and Hillview Drive, along with the realignment of Rainbow Falls Road and turn lane installations.
Long-term improvements also recommend constructing a new road from Bettis Academy Road to U.S. Route 1 to divert traffic around Graniteville, particularly Canal Street, which experiences significant congestion. Additionally, a shared use path for bicycles and pedestrians on Ascauga Lake Road, from Whitehall Road to Ergle Street, and a two-way left turn lane are proposed.
A resident, Lorry Rightler, who lives on Whaley Pond Road, expressed approval for the two roundabouts on Ascauga Lake Road, citing the intersections as dangerous. However, Rightler also voiced concerns about the pace of development in the area. County Council member Phil Napier, representing District 6 where Ascauga Lake Road is located, supports the proposed improvements but believes the projected five to six-year timeline for completion is too long, advocating for immediate action.
The Ascauga Lake Road Corridor Study has an approximate cost of $200,000. Aiken County is responsible for 20% of this amount, with federal government funds covering the remaining portion, according to Duke.
