ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. — As early warm weather brings large crowds to the beaches of Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island, local authorities are preparing for increased traffic and congestion in the coming weeks.
Isle of Palms Police Chief Kevin Cornett stated that when the first beautiful weekend hits, the area sees an influx of beachgoers. With the crowds expected to grow, the Isle of Palms Police Department is already working on ways to manage both traffic flow and crowd control.
AI Traffic Signal to Improve Traffic Flow
One potential solution being tested is the installation of an artificial intelligence (AI) traffic signal at the intersection of the Isle of Palms Connector and Palm Boulevard. The AI system will analyze the number of cars waiting at traffic lights and prioritize the area with the most vehicles to help alleviate traffic bottlenecks.
“The system will look at the stacking pattern to see how many cars are stacked up and prioritize the area that has the most cars,” Chief Cornett explained. This should help address the frequent congestion at the Isle of Palms Connector, especially when drivers are merging onto the island.
Zipper Merge for Better Traffic Flow
In addition to the AI traffic signal, the Isle of Palms Police are working with the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) to improve merging practices.
The zipper merge method, where cars alternate merging like a zipper, is vital to maintaining smoother traffic flow. Police plan to install additional signage encouraging drivers to use the zipper merge correctly.
Chief Cornett added, “The thing we noticed is that when people are coming to the island, they forget to merge. That zipper merge is really important because if you do it right, it keeps traffic moving and at a better pace.”
The hope is that with more education through signage, drivers will better understand the importance of the zipper merge.
New Parking Solutions for Busy Weekends
Parking remains a challenge, especially on warm weekends when the beach draws large crowds. To address this, the Isle of Palms Police are working with PCI Municipal Services to potentially integrate a new feature into the ParkIOP app. This feature would allow beach visitors to check real-time parking availability before heading to the beach.
“We’re working with the parking company, where maybe we can have an app that people can look at to see where parking is full or where it’s not,” said Chief Cornett. This feature is expected to roll out later this year, providing an easier and more efficient way for visitors to find parking.
Plans for the Upcoming Beach Season
Authorities are hopeful that these new solutions will be in place for the upcoming beach season, making the beach experience more enjoyable for everyone. Both the AI traffic signal and the enhanced parking app should help reduce congestion and improve the flow of people to and from the island.
