MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCSC) — The Mount Pleasant Town Council voted 5-4 Tuesday to approve municipal consent for the current design of the Highway 41 Corridor Improvement Project.
The nearly $250 million project would widen Highway 41 to four lanes for most of its length, with a three-lane section through the historic Phillips Community. The plan also includes the Laurel Hill Parkway, a new two-lane connector road that drew the most opposition from residents due to its impact on Laurel Hill Park.
Environmental groups supported the project, saying it was the option with the least environmental impact. Residents in opposition said the project does not fix the traffic problem and called for other solutions to be explored.
PRIOR COVERAGE: $250M Highway 41 widening project moves toward eminent domain vote
Council members who voted against the project said it felt as though the project was like a gun being held to their heads and that other options should have been considered.
Charleston County said if municipal consent was not granted, project funding would have been at risk. The vote came down to balancing the use of taxpayer dollars, protecting historic communities, the environment and the need for traffic improvements to accommodate growth.
The county plans to finalize permits in September and hopes to break ground by the first of the new year.
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