Project Resources 

The HWY 78 Corridor is a known source of congestion in the tri-county area. HWY 78 serves as a vital connection to I-26 and provides a direct route between Summerville and North Charleston. Important features along the corridor include the Wannamaker County Park, Trident Medical Center, Charleston Southern University, and the Exchange Park (fairgrounds). The corridor also contains dense commercial, industrial, and residential development with numerous driveway access points and unsignalized intersections.

Charleston County is leading the project in close communication with major local agencies and entities like SCDOT and the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG). The Charleston District of the US Army Corps of Engineers is anticipated to be the lead federal agency under the requirements of the Federal Environmental Process for the project.

At this time, the Charleston County Transportation Sales Tax Program is funding the project. This project was included as a project of local significance in the 2016 Half Cent Sales Tax  Referendum Ordinance.

There is currently $47 million allocated to the project. Detailed cost estimates will be developed during the project design process.

No. During Phase 1, the project team will be studying and considering multiple alternatives for the HWY 78 improvements. The range of alternatives will be developed using data from previous studies, traffic modeling and evaluation, environmental impacts, agency input, and community and stakeholder input. The project team will identify its preferred alternative after the environmental studies have been completed and public comment has been taken into consideration during Phase 2 of the project.

Construction is anticipated to begin in early 2027. The Low Country Rapid Transit(LCRT) project is currently under design. Construction start could change based the on the LCRT project schedule and the alternative that is ultimately approved for the Charleston Country's HWY 78 project.

Construction is anticipated to take approximately two years to complete and would end in early 2029.
The Low Country Rapid Transit(LCRT) project is currently under design. Project completion could change based the on the LCRT project schedule and the alternative that is ultimately approved for the Charleston County's HWY 78 project.

Some traffic delays are expected to occur during construction and those impacts will be considered during the selection and design of the preferred alternative. Once constructed, the project will ease traffic congestion, improve safety for commuters and play a significant role in positively influencing the long-term transportation planning of Charleston County.

The project team will analyze multiple alternatives and will make every effort to consider public comment and avoid and minimize impacts to businesses and residences. More information will be available as the project progresses. Information about right of way acquisitions and relocation assistance can be found in SCDOT’s Highways and You Brochure.

Pedestrian safety is an important consideration of the project. The project will incorporate safe opportunities for bicyclists and pedestrians as part of the project design where feasible.

EO 12898: Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations requires federal agencies to identify and address disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of their programs, policies, and activities on minority and low-income populations. It also requires the agencies to develop strategies to address this problem. The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) follows the US Environmental Protection Agency guidance, which defines environmental justice as “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.”

Preliminary demographic analysis and coordination with localities indicates that there are Environmental Justice populations within the project study area. Impacts to Environmental Justice communities will be avoided and/or minimized throughout the planning stages and any impacts to these communities will require a mitigation plan that will be addressed during the development of the environmental document in Phase 2.

Community engagement and input is critical to the success of this project. The project team highly encourages all members of the community and stakeholders to participate and stay engaged in the project. You can stay informed by signing up for the email and newsletter list and visiting our project website for more project information and public involvement opportunities. Please visit the Contact page and enter your information to sign up for the email list. Public meetings will also be announced on the project website, notifications will be distributed to those on the email list, signage will be placed along the corridor with public meeting information, post cards will be mailed announcing public involvement activities to those in the vicinity of the project, and announcements will be made on traditional and digital media sources. Stakeholder, business, and elected officials’ meetings will also occur during public outreach activities, as needed. Specific community-based meetings are also planned to occur during the project development process as needed.

The LCRT project is a separate project being administered by Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG), funded by the Charleston County Transportation Sales Tax Program. Some segments of the LCRT project fall within the HWY 78 project limits, from Exchange Park & Fairgrounds to Rivers Avenue. Due to this overlap the Country project team has been developing the HWY 78 project in close coordination with the BCDCOG, and that coordination will continue untill the HWY 78 Improvements project is complete. Visit the LCRT project website for more information.

SCDOT = South Carolina Department of Transportation
FHWA = Federal Highway Administration
USACE = US Army Corps of Engineers
BCDCOG = Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments
LCRT = Lowcounty Rapid Transit
BRT = Bus Rapid Transit
EA = Environmental Assessment
FONSI = Finding of No Significant Impact