James Island, SC – Charleston County Council is set to discuss a major safety improvement project for Fort Johnson Road during their meeting on August 21, 2025. The project aims to address dangerous intersections at Secessionville Road and Camp Road, which have been known for accidents, including fatalities.
Addressing Dangerous Intersections
The Secessionville Road and Fort Johnson Road intersection, as well as the Camp Road and Fort Johnson Road intersection, have been identified as particularly hazardous due to fast-moving traffic and poor visibility. Brook Lyon, the mayor of James Island, emphasized the danger of these intersections, noting, “There’s been so many accidents. There’s been a number of fatalities at that intersection.”
Project Plans and Improvements
After struggling to secure individual bids for the two intersections, the county has decided to combine the two projects into one construction contract. John Martin, construction manager for Charleston County, shared that the plan includes traffic calming measures such as stoplights at Secessionville Road and a mini roundabout at Camp Road. The urban compact roundabout will be the smallest possible design that meets the South Carolina Department of Transportation regulations and can accommodate larger vehicles, such as those pulling trailers or boats. This design also minimizes the impact on surrounding trees.
Timeline and Expectations
If the county council approves the contract, the project is expected to break ground this fall with an anticipated completion time of 1.5 years. The goal is to improve traffic flow and safety, addressing the explosive growth seen on James Island in recent years.
Mayor Lyon expressed gratitude for the improvements, stating, “We absolutely need new traffic calming measures, like the mini roundabout, like the stoplight. We’re very grateful to the county for helping James Island be a much safer, better place to live.”
Council Discussion
The Charleston County Council will discuss the award of the contract at their meeting on August 21 at 5 p.m. If approved, construction is set to begin soon after the pre-construction meeting.
